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http//bmy88 Former President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29 at age 100, was a guest at the Monitor Breakfast nine times: first in 1971 as the new governor of Georgia; four more times before the 1976 election; once as president; and three times as a former president. His most memorable appearance may have been the morning of Dec. 12, 1974, when he handed the assembled reporters a scoop: He was running for president. But his disclosure was so low key that it generated little buzz. The Monitor’s story ran on Page 3. On June 24, 1976, before his nomination at the Democratic National Convention, Mr. Carter said at another breakfast that he would not bring up Watergate in the campaign, nor mention President Gerald Ford’s pardon of former President Richard Nixon. (Later, however, Mr. Carter seemed to change his tune; the Nixon pardon is widely seen as a key factor in his defeat of Mr. Ford.) At his final Monitor Breakfast , in 2005, Mr. Carter was critical of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and warned of what he called “a merger of the church and the state, of religion and politics.” But he did not spare himself in his critiques. “I am a better ex-president than I was a president,” he said, adding: “I would like to be remembered as someone who promoted peace and human rights.” On that, he has surely succeeded. Over the years, many an American president – and presidential wannabe – has graced the Monitor’s breakfast table, but almost none as frequently as Jimmy Carter. Former President Carter, who died Dec. 29 at age 100, appeared at our breakfast nine times: first as the newly inaugurated governor of Georgia, early in 1971; four more times before the 1976 election; once as president of the United States; and three times as a former president. In hindsight, his most memorable appearance may have been the morning of Dec. 12, 1974, when he handed the assembled reporters a scoop: He was running for president. But his disclosure was so low key, Governor Carter so unassuming, that it generated little buzz. The Monitor’s story on that breakfast ran on Page 3. “We didn’t rush to the phones,” Godfrey “Budge” Sperling wrote in a 1997 column reminiscing about politicians suggesting or outright announcing their presidential campaigns at his famous newsmaker breakfasts. “A few of the reporters, in a post-breakfast conversation, said they thought Carter’s prospects were nil. One sage uttered this pronouncement: ‘Carter isn’t forceful enough to become president.’ Others agreed.” That evening, Governor Carter made it official, announcing for the 1976 presidential race in a speech at the National Press Club. The rest is history. By December of 1974, Mr. Carter was already well familiar to Mr. Sperling and by extension, readers of the Monitor. Mr. Sperling and his wife, Betty, had gotten to know Mr. Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, at governors’ conferences. That friendship continued into the Carter presidency, says former Monitor editor David Cook, who hosted Monitor Breakfasts from 2001 to 2018. “Thus it was that the Sperlings had dinner with the President and First Lady in the White House Residence Quarters in July 1979,” Mr. Cook says in an email. That kind of socializing between reporters and presidents is much less common these days. But back then, Mr. Sperling used his gregarious nature to great effect in securing breakfast guests. And he was bipartisan in his outreach. The Sperlings were also friendly with Mr. Carter’s predecessor, Republican President Gerald Ford, and his wife, Betty. For the record, former President Ford appeared at Monitor Breakfasts 10 times: once during his presidency, five times before, and four times after. Mr. Ford and Mr. Carter both found the Monitor Breakfast to be a good fit – an opportunity to interact with reporters respectfully, on the record, and discuss policy and politics over bacon and eggs. But even if, early on, the Georgia governor came across as lacking forcefulness to hard-bitten Washington reporters, his outsider status ended up appealing to voters weary from the Watergate scandal and its aftermath. Mr. Carter’s intelligence and wide smile were also assets. In a 2002 column, Mr. Sperling reminisced about his first Carter breakfast. “I must admit I liked Jimmy Carter from the moment I first met him – when he popped up as a guest at a Monitor breakfast back in 1971,” Mr. Sperling wrote. “Los Angeles Times newsman Jack Nelson had suggested that we invite this Georgia governor to meet with us. At that point I had heard little about Carter. ‘We should keep our eye on him,’ Mr. Nelson said, because someday Carter was going to run for president.” Coverage of Mr. Carter’s many Monitor Breakfasts reveals a man ready to shake things up, in his own way. At the 1974 gathering, when he publicly revealed his presidential aspirations, he said he would ask for the power to use wage and price controls to address the struggling economy – “but I would use it circumspectly,” he added. Mr. Carter, a devout Baptist, also promised to issue a code of ethics “that will guide my campaign and administration.” On energy, he said he’d ask Americans to reduce consumption. On June 24, 1976, before his formal nomination at the Democratic National Convention in New York City, Mr. Carter sat down with 35 reporters at another Monitor Breakfast and addressed three main topics: whether he’d be willing to debate his general election opponent (probably); a sex scandal involving Democratic Rep. Wayne Hays of Ohio (Mr. Carter declined to disavow the congressman “at this time”); and his biggest challenge in defeating President Ford, if he won the GOP nomination (“the power of incumbency”). At the time, it wasn’t clear if Mr. Ford would be able to fend off a spirited convention challenge from former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. Mr. Ford won the nomination, handing Mr. Carter his biggest campaign weapon: Mr. Ford’s pardon of President Richard Nixon. But shockingly, at least by today’s standards, Mr. Carter said at his 1976 Monitor Breakfast that he would not bring up Watergate in the campaign, nor would he mention the Ford pardon of Mr. Nixon. Instead, Mr. Carter seemed to defend Mr. Ford, saying that the president had pardoned Mr. Nixon “because he thought it was the right thing to do.” Just a month later, however, Mr. Carter seemed to change his tune. At a news conference in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, he expressed disagreement with the pardon, saying Mr. Ford should not have done that “until after a trial had been completed” into Mr. Nixon’s alleged crimes around the Watergate scandal. The Nixon pardon is widely seen as a key factor in Mr. Carter’s defeat of Mr. Ford in 1976. In a 1989 column , Mr. Sperling cited Mr. Carter’s “decency” as another ingredient in his rise to the presidency. “Remember how Carter, as a new president, strove to put an end to the ‘regal presidency’ – the kind of pomp that had grown to ridiculous proportions under Richard Nixon?” Mr. Sperling wrote. “Carter wore a sweater at his early TV fire-side chats with the American people. He had walked hand-in-hand with Rosalynn back from the inaugural. Jimmy was always saying, through his actions: ‘Just because I’m president, I don’t think I’m any better than any other American.’ “This show of modesty played very well for a while with the public. Then – somehow – people tired of this.” As with any presidency, Mr. Carter’s had its highs and lows. He helped broker Middle East peace with the Camp David Accords and established the departments of Energy and Education, but also faced economic woes, including long gas lines, and the Iran hostage crisis. The Carter presidency ended after one term. But over time, he rehabilitated his image, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his advocacy of global human rights, and helping build houses for Habitat for Humanity well into his 90s. In his first post-presidency Monitor Breakfast, in 1982, a “relaxed” Mr. Carter seemed to be enjoying life “free from the burden of the Oval Office,” as Mr. Sperling put it . He commented on the 1984 presidential race, arms control, and Middle East developments. When asked if he might get back into politics, he said, “I have no thoughts on running again.” Afterward, Mr. Sperling notes, reporters commented that the reply left “ample room” for possibly seeking the presidency again. But unlike the most recent one-term president, Mr. Carter never went there. At a Monitor Breakfast on April 2, 1985, Mr. Carter came to promote his latest book, “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East.” He criticized President Reagan, saying his Mideast policies were headed down a “dead-end street,” in part because of a failure to get involved directly in the peace process. Mr. Carter also admitted to mistakes in his own presidency, saying his White House “tried to do too much, too fast ... particularly in foreign policy.” But he also pushed back on an episode in which he felt unfairly treated: press coverage of his so-called “malaise speech” in 1979, aimed at soothing a weary nation struggling with an energy crisis – and which famously did not include the word “malaise.” Mr. Carter called it “one of the best speeches I ever made.” In his final Monitor Breakfast , hosted by Mr. Cook in 2005, Mr. Carter came to promote the 20th book of his post-presidency, called “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis.” He was harshly critical of the Bush administration’s decision to invade Iraq, saying: “The attitude of going to war against a relatively defenseless country in order to prevent violence in the world is a complete fallacy.” At the same time, Mr. Carter also warned of what he called “a merger of the church and the state, of religion and politics.” And he didn’t spare his own party, saying he believed Democratic leaders were “overemphasizing the abortion issue,” and wrongly making it a “litmus test” that had hurt the party. More broadly, he lamented an “aversion” among Democratic leaders to showing “compatibility with the deeply religious people of this country.” Some two decades later, President Joe Biden may be the most openly religious Democratic chief executive since Mr. Carter. But there can be little doubt that the religious polarization identified by the 39th president has grown even more acute. Staff writer Harry Bruinius assisted with this report.

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Trump Cabinet picks, appointees targeted by bomb threats and swatting attacks

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Forthright and fearless, the Nobel Prize winner took pot-shots at former prime minister Tony Blair and ex-US president George W Bush among others. His death came after repeated bouts of illness in which images of the increasingly frail former president failed to erase memories of his fierce spirit. Democrat James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr swept to power in 1977 with his Trust Me campaign helping to beat Republican president Gerald Ford. Serving as 39th US president from 1977 to 1981, he sought to make government “competent and compassionate” but was ousted by the unstoppable Hollywood appeal of a certain Ronald Reagan. A skilled sportsman, Mr Carter left his home of Plains, Georgia, to join the US Navy, returning later to run his family’s peanut business. A stint in the Georgia senate lit the touchpaper on his political career and he rose to the top of the Democratic movement. But he will also be remembered for a bizarre encounter with a deeply disgruntled opponent. The president was enjoying a relaxing fishing trip near his home town in 1979 when his craft was attacked by a furious swamp rabbit which reportedly swam up to the boat hissing wildly. The press had a field day, with one paper bearing the headline President Attacked By Rabbit. Away from encounters with belligerent bunnies, Mr Carter’s willingness to address politically uncomfortable topics did not diminish with age. He recently said that he would be willing to travel to North Korea for peace talks on behalf of US President Donald Trump. He also famously mounted a ferocious and personal attack on Tony Blair over the Iraq war, weeks before the prime minister left office in June 2007. Mr Carter, who had already denounced George W Bush’s presidency as “the worst in history”, used an interview on BBC radio to condemn Mr Blair for his tight relations with Mr Bush, particularly concerning the Iraq War. Asked how he would characterise Mr Blair’s relationship with Mr Bush, Mr Carter replied: “Abominable. Loyal, blind, apparently subservient. “I think that the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world.” Mr Carter was also voluble over the Rhodesia crisis, which was about to end during his presidency. His support for Robert Mugabe at the time generated widespread criticism. He was said to have ignored the warnings of many prominent Zimbabweans, black and white, about what sort of leader Mugabe would be. This was seen by Mr Carter’s critics as “deserving a prominent place among the outrages of the Carter years”. Mr Carter has since said he and his administration had spent more effort and worry on Rhodesia than on the Middle East. He admitted he had supported two revolutionaries in Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, and with hindsight said later that Mugabe had been “a good leader gone bad”, having at first been “a very enlightened president”. One US commentator wrote: “History will not look kindly on those in the West who insisted on bringing the avowed Marxist Mugabe into the government. “In particular, the Jimmy Carter foreign policy... bears some responsibility for the fate of a small African country with scant connection to American national interests.” In recent years Mr Carter developed a reputation as an international peace negotiator. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his commitment to finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, his work with human rights and democracy initiatives, and his promotion of economic and social programmes. Mr Carter was dispatched to North Korea in August 2008 to secure the release of US citizen Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who had been sentenced to eight years of hard labour after being found guilty of illegally entering North Korea. He successfully secured the release of Mr Gomes. In 2010 he returned to the White House to greet President Barack Obama and discuss international affairs amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. Proving politics runs in the family, in 2013 his grandson Jason, a state senator, announced his bid to become governor in Georgia, where his famous grandfather governed before becoming president. He eventually lost to incumbent Republican Nathan Deal. Fears that Mr Carter’s health was deteriorating were sparked in 2015 when he cut short an election observation visit in Guyana because he was “not feeling well”. It would have been Mr Carter’s 39th trip to personally observe an international election. Three months later, on August 12, he revealed he had cancer which had been diagnosed after he underwent surgery to remove a small mass in his liver. Mr Obama was among the well-wishers hoping for Mr Carter’s full recovery after it was confirmed the cancer had spread widely. Melanoma had been found in his brain and liver, and Mr Carter underwent immunotherapy and radiation therapy, before announcing in March the following year that he no longer needed any treatment. In 2017, Mr Carter was taken to hospital as a precaution, after he became dehydrated at a home-building project in Canada. He was admitted to hospital on multiple occasions in 2019 having had a series of falls, suffering a brain bleed and a broken pelvis, as well as a stint to be treated for a urinary tract infection. Mr Carter spent much of the coronavirus pandemic largely at his home in Georgia, and did not attend Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration in 2021, but extended his “best wishes”. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Mr Carter during his term as US president, died in November 2023. She had been living with dementia and suffering many months of declining health. “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” Mr Carter said in a statement following her death. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”NEW YORK — Several of President-elect Donald Trump 's Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and "swatting attacks," Trump's transition said Wednesday. "Last night and this morning, several of President Trump's Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them," Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks "ranged from bomb threats to 'swatting.' In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action." President-elect Donald Trump arrives to speak at a meeting of the House GOP conference, followed by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Swatting entails generating an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses. The FBI said in a statement that it is "aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners. We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement." Among those targeted was New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is seated before President-elect Donald Trump arrives at a meeting of the House GOP conference, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Her office said that, Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. "New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism," her office said in a statement. "We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7." In Florida, meanwhile, the Okaloosa County sheriff's office said in an advisory posted on Facebook that it "received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz's supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area around 9 a.m. this morning." While a family member resides at the address, they said "former Congressman Gaetz is NOT a resident. "The mailbox however was cleared and no devices were located. The immediate area was also searched with negative results." Gaetz was Trump's initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration amid allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by unusual violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The U.S. Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump's West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. 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 is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. 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. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump 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) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. 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. Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker contributed to this report from Washington. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Jimmy Carter, the 39th president and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, has died at 100

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Brayden Point scored twice and added two assists, and the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning downed the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Sunday. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two helpers for the Lightning (14-9-3), while Jake Guentzel put away the game winner on a power play late in the third period. Captain Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood found the back of the net for the Canucks (14-8-4), who fell to 4-6-3 at home. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 22 of the 24 shots he faced and Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves for Vancouver. OH CAPTAIN❗️ MY CAPTAIN❗️ Canucks: Hughes took a stick to the face 55 seconds into the game, missed more than 11 minutes, then returned to open the scoring 16:08 into the first period. It was the 50th goal of the defenceman’s career and extended his points streak to seven games with three goals and 10 assists across the stretch. Lightning: Kucherov, who returned to the lineup Sunday after missing two games with a lower-body injury, added another potent piece to Tampa’s red-hot power play. The Lightning were 2-for-4 with the man advantage and scored a power-play goal for the sixth straight game. Tampa took the lead 6:29 into the second when Kucherov sliced a pass to Point at the bottom of the faceoff circle and the Lightning winger blasted it in past Lankinen for his 17th of the season. Kucherov put the visitors on the board just a minute and 49 seconds earlier. Point scored his league-leading 10th power-play goal of the season. He’s one away from becoming the third player to score 100 power-play goals for the Lightning Canucks: Continue a six-game homestand Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Lightning: Visit the Oilers in Edmonton on Tuesday.NEW YORK — The confetti fell not once, but twice. As the clock expired on the Nebraska football team’s 2024 season, a group of Huskers rushed to dump green confetti all over head coach Matt Rhule. On a rainy, cold day, the confetti stuck to Rhule’s face and coated players’ helmets, several of whom paused to throw the small pieces of paper in the air. And when Nebraska received its trophy for winning the Pinstripe Bowl, the confetti that rained down was red instead. Hours after the Huskers departed New York City to head home, pieces of red confetti still blew around the Yankee Stadium concourse and field. The players were gone, but the proof of their hard work remained — a lesson that the Huskers should take to heart moving forward. Let’s drop into coverage: Another Nebraska football season has now come to an end. In a memorable 2024 season, here are the key moments: * Bowl streak: Not only did Nebraska make it back to the postseason, which it had failed to do in the seven years prior, but it also ended its season with a bowl game win. The importance of heading into the offseason and the spring with momentum can’t be understated. The 2024 team will forever stand as the group that brought a winning record back to Lincoln. * Storming the field: Fans stormed the field at Memorial Stadium twice this season. Wins over Colorado and Wisconsin were special for different reasons, and the on-field emotion present after both Husker victories won’t be forgotten any time soon. * Dylan Raiola: The five-star freshman not only hit the ground running as Nebraska’s starting quarterback, but he started all 13 games, led NU to a winning record and was a steady, dependable leader. That doesn’t happen often with true freshmen quarterbacks. * In-season coordinator change: Rhule’s in-season decision to move on from Marcus Satterfield as the team’s offensive coordinator and hire Dana Holgorsen instead was a bold choice, but it was one that undoubtedly paid off. * Big-time defense: Apart from a blowout loss to Indiana, the Husker defense made big plays and kept their team in the game all season long. The likes of Nash Hutmacher, Ty Robinson, Isaac Gifford, John Bullock, MJ Sherman and DeShon Singleton have now played their final games as Huskers — and their hard work won’t be forgotten. A bowl game win deserves to be celebrated, but the national college football landscape waits for no one. That’s why even in the moments after Nebraska’s win, Rhule was already thinking about what happens next. “To be what we want to be next year, we have to be the same defensively and probably a little better in some areas,” Rhule said. “We have to really improve on offense, and on special teams we need a total overhaul of that.” Reaching a bowl game was the minimum requirement for a successful season in year two under Rhule, but finishing with a 7-6 record reflects plenty of progress. After a two-win improvement from NU’s record of 5-7 a year prior, could the Huskers again add two more wins to their resume next season? A nine-win campaign, once the benchmark for Nebraska football, would again reflect a high level of progress — but Rhule wants his players to dream bigger. “To go a bowl game, you have to get used to going to the postseason,” Rhule said. “We want to go to the College Football Playoff; we want to win national championships.” And in order to get there, Rhule’s philosophy of team building hasn’t wavered. Adjustments have been needed in the modern era of college football, but Rhule’s message to the team in the aftermath of Nebraska’s win over Boston College showed that the program’s process remains the same. “The old-school things of hard work, they work; they’re better now than they were earlier in the year and they’re better now than they were three weeks ago,” Rhule said of the Nebraska roster. “We have big plans when we come back on Jan. 20, we’re going to work and we’re going to double down on what we’ve done. I think they all understand that, and I think they all have aspirations of something really special at Nebraska.” Nebraska’s offensive outlook moving forward is a positive one, especially given the dynamism the Huskers have shown in Holgorsen’s four games as the team’s playcaller. However, the Huskers still need to get better. Raiola’s level of play, excellent for a freshman quarterback, will need to improve as a sophomore. “He’s gotten so much better as the year’s gone on in terms of his feet, his movement and those things,” Rhule said of Raiola. “He’ll have a great offseason, and he’ll make another huge jump; really, the sky’s the limit.” The personnel around Raiola will be taking a jump too. Impact transfers Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter will join Jacory Barney Jr., Jaylen Lloyd and Carter Nelson as Nebraska’s top pass-catchers, with several other young wide receivers looking to continue their growth as well. The continued presence of Emmett Johnson at running back should power a steady Nebraska run game, and the Huskers’ offensive line has experienced steady growth under the coaching of Donovan Raiola. The Huskers may look for an experienced transfer at offensive tackle, but three of the five players who started NU’s bowl game are set to return for next season. The Pinstripe Bowl win also showed that Nebraska has some serious talent in its tight end room. Thomas Fidone II caught five passes, Luke Lindenmeyer looked ready for a bigger role and Heinrich Haarberg’s potential shone through. It won’t be easy to replace all the departing talent, but there have been flashes of the future from Nebraska’s young core. Those returning Huskers will combine with several transfer portal additions to make an interesting mix of talent on the Nebraska defense. The defensive line, one of NU’s most consistent and productive units over the last two seasons, will face some pressure to hit the ground running right away. Elijah Jeudy, who was visibly fired up on the Yankee Stadium field after Nebraska’s recent win, will be a veteran leader in the young room. Cameron Lenhardt, Keona Davis, Riley Van Poppel and Sua Lefotu are among the players to expect big things from next season, while the additions of Williams Nwaneri and Jaylen George could transform the unit as well. At linebacker, Dasan McCullough is a key transfer pickup, but it’s Vincent Shavers who’s a star in the making. Having earned a Blackshirt in the lead up to Nebraska’s bowl game, Shavers “was all over the field” on Saturday, Rhule said. Willis McGahee IV will be another key player to watch moving forward. A new-look secondary will need to be figured out as well. Ceyair Wright, Marques Buford and Malcolm Hartzog are the top returning contributors, but how do incoming transfers Andrew Marshall and Justyn Rhett fit into the mix? Then there’s Blye Hill, who was poised for playing time at cornerback before redshirting due to injury, and several young Huskers such as Amare Sanders, Caleb Benning, Mario Buford and Donovan Jones who’ll all want to earn playing time. That defensive back rotation will surely be difficult to crack. Elements of Nebraska’s coaching or strategic approach to special teams play will need to change. Converting a fake punt makes a difference, but miscues nearly cost Nebraska the game on Saturday — and Rhule knows it. NU’s special teams unit “has not been good enough this year,” Rhule said after the game. There’ll be a new punter and long snapper in Lincoln next season, but what happens at kicker? John Hohl was money down the stretch while Tristan Alvano redshirted after battling injuries. Both players will be sophomores next year.

It's hard to believe that in 1997, less than a tenth of the UK population used the internet. The rise in connectivity was so rapid that by 2001, over a third of the population was online, and today, more than 95 per cent of us are connected. For many under 30, a world without the internet is unimaginable, and the concept of only using it occasionally on a spare room PC is alien to the smartphone generation. Billions worldwide now use the internet daily and would struggle to live without it. Rewinding to the start, it was just 30 years ago, in March 1992, when the UK's first commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP) launched. Back then, the internet was seen as a novelty for tech enthusiasts, with few understanding or feeling they needed it. Broadband arrived in the UK in 2000, causing usage to soar, but many households continued to use dial-up connections for some time. While the Internet had existed in some form for much longer, it wasn't until the World Wide Web launched and ISPs provided a service to connect to it, that home access became possible. Whether the term 'dial-up' conjures up feelings of nostalgia or is completely alien to you, there's no denying the charm in reminiscing about the early days of what has become one of the most transformative technologies in human history. Before the advent of the World Wide Web, the closest thing we had was Prestel, a service provided by the Post Office akin to Ceefax, which debuted in 1979 and gradually disappeared in the early '90s. However, the World Wide Web was set to be a far more significant entity. Zen Internet's founder and chairman, Richard Tang, commented: "The effects the Internet has had on our society are incalculable. We have a world of knowledge, entertainment and convenience at our fingertips, and that's not to mention the many businesses and innovation the Internet has helped foster." He added: "With so much reliance on the Internet today, it's hard to imagine there was once a view that it would ultimately amount to nothing. In fact, 96 per cent of UK households now have access, and while internet fads come and go, it's fair to say it's unlikely we'll be going back to using a CD on the front of a magazine to get online anytime soon." Richard reminisces about a time when pagers were the norm instead of smartphones and shares some of the quintessential experiences for anyone who went online during the 1990s, including those unforgettable dial-up tones. In stark contrast to today's world of video streaming, online gaming and Zoom calls, the early days of internet access were dominated by dial-up modems. These devices emitted a series of alien-like sounds as they established a connection. In an era when the online world was largely silent - primarily because anything larger than text and small images took an eternity to download - it is these distinctive chirps and whistles that many of us may remember, and probably do not miss. In the 90s, downloading a film would typically take about a month, so physical media reigned supreme. Blockbuster video stores were thriving, boasting over 500 stores across the UK at their peak. How many of us spent our Friday evenings scouring the shelves for something to watch, only to end up paying late fees because we forgot about a VHS left at home somewhere? Around this time, of course, came email, a tool we still use in a very similar form today. Like the internet more broadly, this technology had existed in other formats for some time before it was popularised for consumers, with the first email message thought to have been sent in 1971. There was a lot of scepticism, and some people needed convincing of the benefits of email over sending a fax, writing a letter or making a phone call. By the 1980s and 90s, email had become popular across business, government, and academic environments, before achieving mainstream status by the 2000s. An email account became something included with your home internet access, helping kick start the period of, depending on your generation, those embarrassing first attempts at usernames and email addresses that seemed fun or cool at the time. Many computers didn't even come with the software needed to get online. Internet providers had to supply new customers with a CD containing this instead. It's strange to think how many of us might have first got online thanks to a CD or even a floppy disk that came for free in the post or we found on the front of a computer magazine. Early internet users will remember using search engines like Alta Vista or WebCrawler, which dominated before Google launched in 1998. Many spent their time on forums, or Internet Relay Chat (IRC) interacting with others they could be called the earliest forms of social media. Before the reign of social media, for those of us in our youth, the internet was a magical realm where real-world limitations didn't apply. Websites were awash with vibrant colours, loud designs, GIFs and animated cursors, with platforms like Geocities and Myspace offering users the chance to carve out their own personalised web spaces. These were the precursors to today's online communities and the foundation of modern social media sites. As internet speeds and bandwidth expanded, digital audio became more viable. The dawn of the 2000s saw the introduction of devices like the iPod in 2001, followed by the iTunes Store in 2003. Suddenly, songs available for 99p meant many of us were abandoning our CDs and purchasing new music online, all thanks to our increasingly efficient connections. You might recall the hours spent transferring your physical music collection to iTunes, or waiting for your newly bought songs to sync to your iPod before leaving home. This paved the way for video streaming, online gaming and eventually, the always-connected, multi-device world we inhabit today. Back in the day, being online required dedication. With loading times that would be considered painfully slow today, and no possibility of staying connected throughout the day, dial-up was a different beast. Since it utilised the phone line, online time usually cost 1p per minute for a local rate call. You might recall the domestic disputes sparked by one person hogging the connection, preventing anyone else from using the phone simultaneously.Trump Speaks Out on Abortion, His Absent Medical Records, and Who He Plans to Pardon

Trump Cabinet picks, appointees targeted by bomb threats and swatting attacksSaquon Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season as the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East title with victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The 27-year-old achieved the feat with a 23-yard run during the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ crushing 41-7 success at Lincoln Financial Field. Barkley is 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams, ahead of next week’s regular season finale against the New York Giants. Single-season rushing record in reach. @saquon @Eagles pic.twitter.com/iSHyXeMLv1 — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 However, he could be rested for that game in order to protect him from injury ahead of the play-offs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept alive their dreams of reaching the play-offs by overcoming the Carolina Panthers 48-14. Veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield produced a dominant performance at Raymond James Stadium, registering five passing touchdowns to equal a Buccaneers franchise record. he BAKED today 👨‍🍳 pic.twitter.com/eFX9fd1w5P — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 The Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC conference number two seed for the post season with a 40-14 success over the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium. Josh Allen passed for 182 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another. Buffalo finish the 2024 regular season undefeated at home, with eight wins from as many games. The Indianapolis Colts’ hopes of reaching the play-offs were ended by a 45-33 defeat to the Giants. FINAL: Drew Lock accounts for 5 TDs in the @Giants victory! #INDvsNYG pic.twitter.com/N8HJYth09F — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 Malik Nabers exploded for 171 yards and two touchdowns and Ihmir Smith-Marsette broke a 100-yard kick-off return to give the Giants their highest-scoring output under head coach Brian Daboll. Quarterback Drew Lock threw four touchdown passes and accounted for a fifth on the ground to seal the win. Elsewhere, Mac Jones threw two touchdowns to help the Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the Tennessee Titans 20-13, while the Las Vegas Raiders beat the New Orleans Saints 25-10.Share Tweet Share Share Email Did you know that over 40% of websites on the internet are built using WordPress? It’s the most popular content management system (CMS) by far, and for good reason. WordPress is trusted by businesses, bloggers, and developers worldwide because it’s powerful, flexible, and easy to use. If you’re looking for a platform to create and manage your website, here’s why WordPress is a top choice. Advantages and Drawbacks of Using WordPress as a CMS Before diving into the 14 reasons to use WordPress, it’s important to look at both the advantages and drawbacks of the platform. Advantages of WordPress Ease of Use : WordPress is known for its user-friendly interface, even for beginners. Cost-Effective : WordPress is free to use, and many themes and plugins are also available at no cost. Customization : WordPress allows you to add features and design your site exactly the way you want. This makes it a preferred choice for businesses seeking web development in Toronto , as it ensures their website reflects the city’s unique market trends. Support : WordPress has a large community, meaning finding help or answers to your questions is easy. Drawbacks of WordPress Security Risks : Because WordPress is so popular, it’s a common target for hackers. Regular updates and good security practices are essential. Performance Issues : WordPress websites can become slow if not maintained properly, especially with many plugins. Learning Curve for Advanced Features : While WordPress is easy to use for beginners, more complex features may require some learning or expert help. Despite the drawbacks, WordPress remains the go-to CMS for most users because its benefits far outweigh the challenges. 14 Solid Reasons to Use WordPress as a CMS 1. Easy to Learn and Use WordPress is designed for users of all skill levels. The platform has an intuitive dashboard, and most tasks, like creating pages, writing posts, and adding media, can be done with just a few clicks. You don’t need to be a web developer to manage your website. 2. Open-Source Software Benefits WordPress is open-source, meaning its source code is freely available for anyone to use and modify. This gives users a lot of flexibility to customize the platform to fit their specific needs. Since it’s open-source, there are no licensing fees, making it a budget-friendly option for businesses of all sizes. 3. Expansive WordPress Community With millions of users worldwide, WordPress has a large and active community. This community includes developers, designers, and enthusiasts who create helpful guides, plugins, and themes. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, you’ll find plenty of support online. 4. SEO-Friendly Features WordPress is built with SEO in mind. It offers a variety of tools and features that help you improve your search engine rankings. From customizable permalinks to the ability to add meta tags and descriptions, WordPress makes it easier to optimize your content for search engines. Plus, with plugins like Yoast SEO, you can take your SEO game to the next level. 5. Popularity and Global Reach WordPress powers over 40% of websites globally, making it the most popular CMS. This wide adoption means that it’s constantly evolving with updates, new features, and security patches. Because so many businesses use WordPress, it’s easier to find developers and designers who are familiar with the platform. 6. Themes and Plugins for Customization One of the greatest strengths of WordPress is its extensive library of themes and plugins. Themes control the look and layout of your website, while plugins add functionality. Whether you need an online store, contact form, or social media integration, there’s likely a plugin available for it. You can create a completely unique website without needing to write code. 7. Full Ownership of Content With WordPress, you own all of your content. Unlike some website builders that host your site on their servers, WordPress allows you to host your site wherever you choose. This means you have full control over your website’s data and can move it to another host if needed. 8. Scalability for Growing Businesses As your business grows, so can your website. WordPress can handle websites of all sizes, from small blogs to large e-commerce stores. Whether you’re expecting more traffic or adding new features, WordPress can scale with your business’s needs. 9. Straightforward Maintenance Maintaining a WordPress website is relatively easy. Regular updates to the WordPress core, themes, and plugins are important for keeping your website secure and running smoothly. The platform provides built-in tools for managing updates, backups, and troubleshooting, making it easier to maintain your site over time. 10. Robust Security Measures While WordPress websites can be vulnerable to attacks, the platform offers several built-in security measures to protect your site. Features like two-factor authentication, regular updates, and secure passwords help safeguard your website. There are also security plugins, such as Wordfence, that can provide an added layer of protection. 11. Ideal for Bloggers and Content Creators WordPress started as a blogging platform, and it remains one of the best choices for content creators today. The platform’s publishing tools are top-notch, allowing you to easily create, manage, and organize content. Whether you’re writing blogs, creating videos, or sharing images, WordPress makes it easy to manage and present your content. 12. Multilingual Support WordPress supports multiple languages, making it easy to create a website that can reach a global audience. There are plugins like WPML and Polylang that allow you to translate your website into any language. This is especially useful for businesses with international customers or markets. 13. Media Compatibility WordPress is highly compatible with different media types, including images, videos, audio files, and documents. The built-in media library allows you to easily upload, organize, and manage your media files. You can also integrate third-party media services like YouTube, Vimeo, and SoundCloud to enrich your content. 14. Flexibility for Diverse Website Needs WordPress can be used to create almost any type of website. Whether you’re building a personal blog, an online store, a portfolio, or a business website, WordPress offers the flexibility to meet your needs. With the right themes and plugins, you can create a website that fits your exact specifications. Is WordPress a Suitable CMS for Businesses? Absolutely, WordPress is an excellent platform for businesses of all sizes. Opting for web design and development tailored to your business ensures your WordPress website stands out and performs optimally. The platform’s flexibility, scalability, and extensive customization options make it an ideal choice for growing businesses. Whether you’re a small local enterprise or a large corporation, WordPress offers the tools to build a professional, user-friendly website that supports your goals. With the right approach to web design and development , businesses can leverage WordPress to create a distinctive and impactful online presence, driving growth and engagement effectively. Final Thoughts WordPress remains a top choice for businesses looking to create flexible, custom websites. Its open-source design gives businesses the freedom to add features that suit their specific needs. While there are some challenges, such as security and performance issues, these can be addressed with regular updates and security plugins. For growing businesses, WordPress offers the scalability and control needed to keep up with changing demands. With proper management and development, WordPress can help businesses build a strong and lasting online presence. Related Items: Use WordPress as Your CMS , WordPress as Your CMS Share Tweet Share Share Email Comments

The Vikings announced a series of roster moves on Wednesday, They have signed long snapper Jake McQuaide to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and they signed tight end Nick Muse to the practice squad. They also waived linebacker Gabriel Murphy, who was activated from injured reserve on Tuesday. McQuaide has appeared in the last three games for the Vikings as a temporary elevation. He played 160 games for the Rams and has had shorter stints with the Cowboys and Lions over the course of his NFL career. Murphy was signed as an undrafted free agent this offseason and has not appeared in any regular season games. Muse, who was waived to make room for Murphy, played in three games for the Vikings.

Toray Industries, Inc. ( OTCMKTS:TRYIY – Get Free Report ) was the target of a large decrease in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 28,000 shares, a decrease of 46.9% from the November 30th total of 52,700 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 54,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days. Toray Industries Price Performance Shares of OTCMKTS TRYIY opened at $12.68 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $12.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.34 billion, a PE ratio of 32.51 and a beta of 0.77. Toray Industries has a fifty-two week low of $8.74 and a fifty-two week high of $13.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.76. About Toray Industries ( Get Free Report ) Read More Receive News & Ratings for Toray Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toray Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Online child exploitation spiked during lockdowns. Police worry it's here to stay