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www.jilibay Jimmy Carter had the longest post-presidency of anyone to hold the office, and one of the most active. Here is a look back at his life. 1924 — Jimmy Carter was born on Oct. 1 to Earl and Lillian Carter in the small town of Plains, Georgia. 1928 — Earl Carter bought a 350-acre farm 3 miles from Plains in the tiny community of Archery. The Carter family lived in a house on the farm without running water or electricity. 1941 — He graduated from Plains High School and enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus. 1942 — He transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. 1943 — Carter’s boyhood dream of being in the Navy becomes a reality as he is appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 1946 — He received his naval commission and on July 7 married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. They moved to Norfolk, Virginia. 1946-1952 — Carter’s three sons are born, Jack in 1947, Chip in 1950 and Jeff in 1952. 1962-66 — Carter is elected to the Georgia State Senate and serves two terms. 1953 — Carter’s father died and he cut his naval career short to save the family farm. Due to a limited income, Jimmy, Rosalynn and their three sons moved into Public Housing Apartment 9A in Plains. 1966 — He ran for governor, but lost. 1967 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s fourth child, Amy, is born. 1971 — He ran for governor again and won the election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on Jan. 12. 1974 — Carter announced his candidacy for president. 1976 — Carter was elected 39th president on Nov. 2, narrowly defeating incumbent Gerald Ford. 1978 — U.S. and the Peoples’ Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. President Carter negotiates and mediates an accord between Egypt and Israel at Camp David. 1979 — The Department of Education is formed. Iranian radicals overrun the U.S. Embassy and seize American hostages. The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty is signed. 1980 — On March 21, Carter announces that the U.S. will boycott the Olympic Games scheduled in Moscow. A rescue attempt to get American hostages out of Iran is unsuccessful. Carter was defeated in his bid for a second term as president by Ronald Reagan in November. 1981 — President Carter continues to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran. Minutes before his term as president is over, the hostages are released. 1982 — Carter became a distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta, and founded The Carter Center. The nonpartisan and nonprofit center addresses national and international issues of public policy. 1984 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer one week a year for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps needy people in the United States and in other countries renovate and build homes, until 2020. He also taught Sunday school in the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains from the mid-’80s until 2020. 2002 — Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 2015 — Carter announced in August he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain. 2016 — He said in March that he no longer needed cancer treatment. 2024 — Carter dies at 100 years old. Sources: Cartercenter.org, Plains Historical Preservation Trust, The Associated Press; The Brookings Institution; U.S. Navy; WhiteHouse.gov, GallupKobe Sanders, Nevada beat Oklahoma St. for fifth place in Charleston

No. 2 Ohio State takes control in the 2nd half and runs over No. 5 Indiana 38-15 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana 38-15. All Ohio State has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. Man City routed 4-0 by Tottenham in fifth-straight defeat as crisis deepens for Pep Guardiola What started as an evening of celebration for Manchester City ended with the four-time defending Premier League champion falling to a fifth-straight loss in all competitions and facing a deepening crisis in a season that is threatening to unravel. A 4-0 defeat to Tottenham left City five points behind league leader Liverpool, having played a game more. Two goals from James Maddison inside 20 minutes at the Etihad Stadium stunned the home crowd. Pedro Porro scored a third for Tottenham after halftime. Brennan Johnson added a fourth in the third minute of stoppage time. City manager Pep Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension this week. Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton all won and closed the gap on Liverpool to six points. Florida knocks No. 9 Ole Miss out of College Football Playoff contention, 24-17 in the Swamp GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — DJ Lagway threw two touchdown passes, Montrell Johnson ran for 127 yards and a score, and Florida upset No. 9 Mississippi 24-17 on Saturday to knock the Rebels out of College Football Playoff contention. The Gators beat ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2008 and became bowl eligible. The late-season spurt provided another vote of confidence for coach Billy Napier, who is expected back for a fourth season. Ole Miss lost for the first time in four games and surely will drop out of the 12-team playoff picture. Jennings has 3 TDs as No. 13 SMU routs Virginia 33-7 to clinch a spot in the ACC title game CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Kevin Jennings threw for a career-high 323 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another, and No. 13 SMU clinched a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game by routing Virginia 33-7. Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte each had two sacks to help the Mustangs extend their winning streak to eight. They would earn an automatic bid into the expanded College Football Playoff by beating 11th-ranked Miami or 17th-ranked Clemson in the ACC title game on Dec. 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina. UVa must beat rival Virginia Tech next week to become bowl eligible. No. 11 Miami pulls away late to beat Wake Forest 42-14 and move one win from the ACC title game MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward passed for 280 yards and threw two touchdowns to Jacolby George on another record-breaking day, Mishael Powell ran an interception back 76 yards for a touchdown and No. 11 Miami pulled away late to beat Wake Forest 42-14. The 10-1 Hurricanes can clinch a berth in the ACC title game with a win at Syracuse next weekend. Ward completed 27 of 38 passes, plus ran for a score. Demond Claiborne had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for 4-7 Wake Forest. No. 24 Illinois stuns Rutgers on Bryant's 40-yard TD reception with 4 seconds left PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending No. 24 Illinois to a wild 38-31 victory over Rutgers. Illinois was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched. Andy Murray will coach Novak Djokovic through the Australian Open Recently retired Andy Murray will team up with Novak Djokovic, working with him as a coach through the Australian Open in January. Murray’s representatives put out statements from both players on Saturday. Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam champion who has spent more weeks at No. 1 than any other player in tennis history. Murray won three major trophies and two Olympic singles gold medals who finished 2016 atop the ATP rankings. He retired as a player after the Paris Summer Games in August. Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini lift Italy past Australia and back to the Davis Cup final MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Top-ranked Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini won their singles matches to lift defending champion Italy past Australia 2-0 and back into the Davis Cup final. Sinner extended his tour-level winning streak to 24 sets in a row by beating No. 9 Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday on an indoor hard court in Malaga, Spain. That came after Berrettini came back to defeat Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5. Italy will meet first-time finalist Netherlands on Sunday for the title. The Dutch followed up their victory over Rafael Nadal and Spain in the quarterfinals by eliminating Germany on Friday. Formula 1 expected to expand grid to 11 teams as early as next week for Cadillac to enter in 2026 LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 is expected to approve grid expansion for an 11th team originally started by Michael Andretti as early as next week. The team will be called Cadillac F1 and powered by Ferrari engines when it enters the sport in 2026. General Motors is expected to complete its own Cadillac power unit ahead of the 2028 season. Multiple industry insiders spoke to The Associated Press about the grid expansion on condition of anonymity because an announcement ahead of Saturday night’s Las Vegas Grand Prix could potentially steal the spotlight from the showcase event on the F1 calendar. Shiffrin wins World Cup slalom and takes quest for her 100th victory to North America GURGL, Austria (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin has earned her record-extending 99th career World Cup win to take the quest for victory No. 100 to North America. The American ski star held on to her first-run lead in the season’s second slalom to beat Italian prodigy Lara Colturi and Swiss skier Camille Rast. They both got their first career podium result. Shiffrin next enters a 16-day North American sweep of the World Cup starting next weekend. She said “I guess there is a bit of pressure around it.” No other skier has won more than 86 World Cup races. Shiffrin set the best mark when she overtook Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark in March 2023.As Jalen Suggs watched from the bench in the second half of Saturday’s contest between the Magic and the Pistons at Kia Center , the fourth-year pro noticed something in particular about his team. “When you look at those really good teams around the league, those playoff teams, veteran-led teams, no matter how the game flow goes, first quarter, second quarter,” he told reporters in the locker room. “There’s never a thought or feel that they’re going to lose those games. “We’re starting to garner that,” he added about coach Jamahl Mosley ‘s squad that won its eighth in the last nine games. Suggs, who exited Orlando ‘s 111-100 win early in the second quarter due to a sore left hamstring, was the latest Magic starter to suffer a injury this season following Paolo Banchero (torn right abdominal muscle) and Wendell Carter Jr. (left foot plantar fasciitis), who haven’t played in weeks. But even without that core trio on the court, the Magic (11-7) found a way to extend its second half lead to as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter against Detroit (7-11) and remain undefeated (8-0) at home. “Knowing we walk into these games hurt, tired, long-stretch, a lot going on, there was never a believe that this team was going to come in and beat us,” Suggs said. “Which isn’t a discredit to them. They’ve got some good basketball players over there and really been playing good this year. “And they were down Cade [Cunningham] which, I hope he gets well, but [the result] more speaks on us and the growth and maturity that we’re applying over here,” he added. “Everyone stepped up.” Beede’s Breakdown: How Magic handled business vs. visiting Pistons And the Magic guard is right. As has been the case since Banchero’s injury, Franz Wagner continued to score with ease (30 points on 50% shooting from the field) and had help from the Magic’s bench that outscored Detroit’s 55-45. That help included 18 points and 7 rebounds from his older brother, Moe Wagner, and 12 rebounds and 3 blocks from Jonathan Isaac, who added 5 points. There was also Anthony Black, who had 11 points with 5 assists and 2 steals after starting the second half in place of Suggs. And Franz Wagner will need more of the same from his supporting cast when Orlando travels to Charlotte (6-10) on Monday, especially if Carter isn’t available. Suggs declined to speak at length about his hamstring injury but told reporters in the locker room he’s “good.” “I’m solid,” he said. “I’m good. Good win [Saturday night].” Orlando’s initial injury report for the Charlotte game confirmed his post-game comments. Suggs wasn’t even listed on the report, meaning he’s expected to be available despite missing most of Saturday’s contest. Carter, who’s again considered questionable to play, continued to do some work pre-game on the court but was ruled out for his 11th consecutive contest. “He’s gone through some pretty, pretty strenuous workouts so we’re going to continue to see how he responds to those and we’ll go from there,” Mosley said of the Magic center, who hasn’t played since Nov. 3 at Dallas. Regardless, Orlando’s mindset doesn’t change entering the game at the Hornets, whom the Magic defeated by 25 points at home two weeks ago. “We talk about doing it by committee,” Mosley said. “One guy goes down and each guy knows the next person is able to step up and make the right plays for this team.” Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

Year in tech: As AI becomes more popular, time to have proper regulationsThe Parliament of Zimbabwe had a busy year, passing five bills while still having at least 10 outstanding. This reflects its ongoing commitment to fulfilling its constitutional mandate to create laws that ensure peace, order, and good governance. Notably, this year marked the second anniversary of sessions held in the new Parliament building in Mount Hampden. This modern facility is spacious and equipped with advanced technology, a significant upgrade from the previous, more cramped quarters. Additionally, President Mnangagwa delivered his State of the Nation Address (SONA) and legislative agenda at this impressive six-storey structure, which symbolises the strengthening of bilateral relations with China, the building’s benefactor. This year has seen legislators actively engaging in debates, fulfilling their roles in legislation, oversight, and representation. One of the Bills that drew a lot of attention was the Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) Amendment Bill which seeks to demand better financial accountability of private voluntary organisations through tightening of financial accounting. It demands that PVOs remain solely within listed functions, while it will deal with criminals carrying out undesirable and harmful illegal activities under the name of charity in compliance with the Financial Action Task Force, which is the world’s police against money laundering by ensuring that charitable trusts are not misused as means for channelling funds to sponsor terrorism and other criminal activities or to launder the proceeds of criminal activities by buying properties in Zimbabwe and other countries. The Bill was sent back to Parliament last year after President Mnangagwa expressed reservations on some clauses he wanted cleaned up but it subsequently lapsed owing to the prorogation of the Parliamentary session before it was eventually dissolved to pave the way for general elections in August last year. One of the Bills that have sailed through is the Death Penalty Abolition Bill which seeks to abolish capital punishment in the legal statutes, a move that has been welcomed by human rights activists. The Bill was initially brought before Parliament by Dzivarasekwa Member of Parliament, Mr Edwin Mushoriwa as a Private Members Bill before the Executive, represented by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi took over in a show of convergence between legislators and the Executive on the need to remove capital punishment. The Bill sailed through Parliament and now awaits presidential assent before it has legal force and effect. Another law that has passed and now awaits Presidential assent is the Administration of Estates Act which seeks to confer some autonomy on the Master of the High Court by removing the office from the Judicial Service Commission. The Act has also rationalised some powers used to be conferred on the Master of the High Court. They include the powers to unilaterally dispose of assets of an estate or powers to remove an executor without going through the due process of approaching the court and arguing his or her way. The new measures are meant to enhance transparency and protection of widows, widowers and orphans in the exercise of their rights on deceased estates. Another Bill is the Persons with Disability Amendment Bill meant to advance the interests of people living with disability. The Person with Disabilities Bill seeks to provide for the alignment of the law over disabilities to the Constitution and reflects a human rights-based approach to disability, fundamental rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities. There is also the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill, Medical Services Amendment Bill and Civil Aviation Amendment Bill that are still under consideration. The Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill that seeks to among other things make it mandatory for motorists to buy a radio license before buying a vehicle licence and insurance cover is also going through a public hearing through the relevant portfolio committee. The public hearings are part of the requirement by legislators to gather views from members of the public on a Bill in fulfilment of Constitutional requirements. Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere tabled the Bill in the National Assembly last Thursday where it was read for the First time. The Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, which has been on the cards for more than six years, seeks among other issues, to reserve the small-scale mining sector for local people and build up the rights of a farmer ahead of a miner in a case where a mineral is found on actively farmed land. There has been a long wait on the Bill as stakeholders wait in anticipation that it will end the farmer and miner dispute, particularly on whose rights take precedence. The Medical Services Amendment Bill seeks to align the principal Act with the Constitution, especially in the Declaration of Rights where the right to health care for all citizens and permanent residents is entrenched along with the rights of children, rights of the elderly, rights of the disabled and rights of war veterans where medical services are a factor. The Insurance and Pension Commissions Amendment Bill, which seeks to revolutionalise the insurance sector, is also under consideration, as is the State Service Pension Fund. The State Services Pension Fund seeks to ensure that Members enjoy a decent standard of living in retirement by providing Pensions, gratuities, and other benefits as part of providing social security to retired civil servants. Other Bills include the Finance and Appropriation Bill currently under consideration which is meant to give legal force and effect to various fiscal policy measures that were introduced by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube. With all these Bills, one hopes they will be concluded soon so that they begin to have an impact on the National Development Strategy 1. Mukudzei Chingwere, Herald Reporter The flames of independence were kept ablaze by music before and during the protracted liberation struggle in high-density suburbs like Mbare, Highfield, Makokoba, Mpopoma, Mtapa and Sakubva, among others, President Mnangagwa has said. He was speaking at the presentation of gifts to Mbare Chimurenga Choir Groups on Boxing Day at State [...] Crime Reporter At least 77 people were killed while 401 others were injured in 1 211 road traffic accidents recorded countrywide between December 15 and yesterday. During the same period last year, 71 people were killed while 393 others were injured in 1 454 road accidents recorded. In a statement, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul [...] Gibson Nyikadzino, Herald Correspondent FRANCE is happy about the improving business and trade ties with Zimbabwe and will continue nurturing them to allow more cooperation between the two countries, French Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Paul-Bertrand Barets, has said. Ambassador Barets said relations between the two countries “can still be improved a lot and developed”, adding that [...]Erik Pratt scores 20 as Milwaukee defeats North Central College 92-57

The Disney Treasure has officially begun its Maiden Voyage and has become the sixth Disney Cruise Line ship to embark on its first journey across the sea. Disney invited me aboard its latest ship to share with the world why this is one adventure that simply shouldn't be missed, and I'm excited to do so. Before we get started, I do want to share that I discovered the meaning of the name Disney Treasure is not so much gold or gems, but the love we have for each other. I know this may sound sappy, but it's easy to take for granted these once-in-a-lifetime moments we get to share with our loved ones that are worth more than any amount of riches one can ever hope to earn, and this ship really took that to heart. From the outstanding Tale of Moana with a cast and crew that has many members from the islands that inspired this story to the Plaza de Coco that reminded us our family will be with us forever and so much more, the theme of family, our love for each other, honoring those that mean the most to us, and being proud of where we came from was a part of every corner of the ship and it really made it feel like magic. So, without further ado, let me share with you why the Disney Treasure is so special, and be sure to let me know your thoughts below! Food Plaza de Coco Was an Emotional Dining Experience I Won't Soon Forget World of Marvel Is a Fun Adventure Through the MCU 1923 Is a Celebration of Disney's Past Marceline Market Is The Gold Standard for a Buffet at Sea Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods Gives You More Choice on Where to Dine Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement Is One of the Finest Dining Experiences at Sea Palo Steakhouse Is an Adult-Exclusive Meal Worth the Extra Cost Jumbeaux’s Sweets Is a Love Letter to Zootopia Entertainment The Tale of Moana Is One of the Greatest Shows I've Seen for One Very Special Reason Beauty and the Beast and Disney Seas the Adventure Are Fantastic Broadway-Style Productions AquaMouse Is a Water Slide Starring Everyone's Favorite Mice Pools and Water Play For All Ages Hero Zone Is an Incredible Excuse to Have Fun Sarabi Is a Lion King-Themed Theater With So Many Great Options Wonderland and Never Land Cinema Brings the Newest Movies to the Disney Treasure Lounges and Cafes The Haunted Mansion Parlor Is the Perfect Extension of the Disney Parks Attraction Skipper Society Brings the Jungle Cruise to This Disney Cruise Scat Cat Lounge Is a Piano Bar with an Aristocat Flair Periscope Pub Is a Wonderful Excuse to Go 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea The Rose Is a Beautiful Place to Share a Drink and a View Jade Cricket and Heihei Cafes Are Delightful Walkup Cafes Oceaneer Club and the 'it's a small world' nursery Are the Definition of Disney Magic Staterooms and The EPCOT-Themed Tomorrow Tower Suite Disney Treasure Merchandise Food Plaza de Coco Was an Emotional Dining Experience I Won't Soon Forget Of all the dining options aboard the Disney Treasure, Plaza de Coco won my heart as it was one of the most delicious and emotional dining experiences I’ve had in quite some time. As the name suggests, Plaza de Coco is based on Pixar’s Coco and transports guests to Santa Cecilia three years after the events of the film. This all begins with the first few steps as you get to see recreations of the Rivera family’s shoe workshop, pictures of the family, the letters Héctor wrote Coco when she was little and the song lyrics and notes of all the songs we love from the film, and so much more. However, the tears really start flowing when you arrive at Rivera’s Ofrenda, as it is complete with the restored photo of Héctor, Mama Imelda, and Coco and the photo of an older Coco now that she has passed. This feeling of celebrating those we love reverberates throughout the whole experience, and that’s even before we get to the main event. The Plaza de Coco experience takes place over two nights, with the first reintroducing us to Miguel and the Rivera family and the second night turning the plaza into a Dia de los Muertos celebration that stars our favorite characters and songs from the film. The show was very good, and they even included an emotional moment where we all got to honor the loved ones we have lost, but I do want to warn that your experience may vary depending on where you are seated. We were in a far corner and it was hard to keep track of everything going on and we didn’t have the best views of what was happening in the middle. Not a deal breaker by any means, but something to be aware of! And the food! Plaza de Coco had my favorite bite of the entire cruise in the Michoacán Carnitas Tacos. The pork was so tender and crispy in the perfect places and it came with delicious tortillas, pillowy-soft cilantro-lime rice, and a perfectly spicy Salsa Roja Asada. It really was remarkable. Other highlights included Miguel’s Churros Calientes, which were everything you’d hope a churro would be from its crispy outside and soft inside, the Beef Birria Empanada, which is the perfect appetizer, and the Red Chicken Enchiladas, which hit all the right notes for me. There also is a different menu on the first and second night, so you get the chance to try a ton of authentic Mexican food that has been crafted with a lot of love! World of Marvel Is a Fun Adventure Through the MCU World of Marvel is the other big themed dining experience on the Disney Treasure, and it’s a fun journey into the MCU. We were seated for the Marvel Celebration of Heroes: Groot Remix show and it was a fun experience that featured some of your favorite songs from the Guardians of the Galaxy films. It was fun to see Groot plan a surprise party for Rocket, but the real star of the show for us was the trivia you could participate in on the table. They have these Quantum devices on the table and they ask Marvel questions in-between the big Groot moments, and they were the perfect distraction as we waited for our food. My son, who is 5, was so excited when he got the answer right and couldn’t get enough! I will say, while the Groot show was entertaining and the payoff was sweet, it wasn’t the most memorable night. I think what it was missing was a big moment where a Marvel character came out to greet all the guests, like in the other show - Avengers: Quantum Encounter. In that show, Spider-Man comes out and runs around to say hi to everyone and it’s a really special thing. As for the food, it was good meal with the highlight being the Malaysian Chicken Satay appetizer. The chicken was so tender and juicy and it paired perfectly with the roasted peanut dipping sauce and spicy cucumber salad. I was also able to try the Beef Wellington and it was tasty, but could have used a bit more sauce and texture. Everything was just a bit mushy. For dessert, I had the Orchard Peach Tart with vanilla sauce and dulce de leche ice cream and it was a nice end to a fun meal! 1923 Is an Celebration of Disney's Past 1923 is the main dining room experience aboard the Disney Treasure and, while it doesn’t have any show component, it celebrates the over 100-year history of The Walt Disney Company with storyboards, sketches, props, and more. I got the California Riesling Risotto and it was surprisingly good. What I love most about cruises is trying food you may have never had before, and this combination of Sweet Green Pea, Fava Bean, Malabar Spinach, and Toasted Pine Nuts was the perfect example of that. It’s also home to the Chocolate Lava Cake, which is always a delight. Marceline Market Is The Gold Standard for a Buffet at Sea Marceline Market, which is named after Walt Disney’s early childhood home, is the cruise buffet restaurant and it is really wonderful. It’s kind of a tradition for guests to make Marceline Market one of the first stops when you get on the cruise as your room usually isn’t quite ready, and that meal is so special because it is delicious and it means your cruise has officially arrived. And what’s a better feeling than that? We had one lunch and one breakfast at Marceline Market on our three-day trip and some of the highlights included the Chicken Tikka Masala, chicken fingers, mac and cheese, POG (Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava) Juice, the charcuterie board, Mickey Waffles, and Eggs Benedict. There are so many options at Marceline Market that I couldn’t even try the raw bar with crab and shrimp cocktail, all the single desserts, plentiful soup and salad options, and much more. On the Disney Wish, where I was able to to eat at Marceline Market multiple times, I will say it did get a bit old as they didn’t change up the dishes all that much. That being said, it’s a great option for those who want a quick and delicious meal! Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods Gives You More Choice on Where to Dine If you leave Marceline Market and head across the pool deck, you will enter Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods. This festival contains Mickey’s Smokestack BBQ, Donald’s Cantina, Daisy’s Pizza Pies, Goofy’s Grill, and Minnie’s Delights, and they are another great option for switching up your dining experiences. Mickey’s Smokestack BBQ was the best of the bunch for me as the ribs and brisket were so tender, fall apart, and delicious. There are a bunch of other options and a few BBQ sauces to try, and I found myself wanting to come back for more A LOT. Donald’s Cantina won second place for me as it is the Disney Treasure’s take on a Chipotle-style meal. You can get a burrito, bowl, or tacos, and there is an extensive salsa and hot sauce bar that gives you a lot of customization options to make the perfect dish. Goofy’s Grill is where you’ll go if your craving a cheeseburger, hot dog, chicken fingers, or some french fries. They are classic and delicious and, like many of these other options, I just wish they were open a bit later. The only stall that is open late is Diasy’s Pizza Pies, and they sadly don’t make the greatest pizzas of all time. It is good as far as pizza goes, but it was probably my least favorite stall. Lastly, we have to talk about Minnie’s Delights, because this shop is the home of the legendary cruise ship soft serve. You can get chocolate, vanilla, swirl, and more and it hits the spot every single time. 10/10. Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement Is One of the Finest Dining Experiences at Sea For those looking for a truly high end dining experience, you all need to look no further than Enchanté by three Michelin-starred Chef Arnaud Lallement. Lallement is also responsible for the menus of Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy’s Remy, and he returns for this Beauty and the Beast-themed multi-course meal that is adult-exclusive and features French-inspired cuisine. I wasn’t able to try Enchanté this time, but I’ve heard nothing but great things! Palo Steakhouse Is an Adult-Exclusive Meal Worth the Extra Cost Those who have sailed on the Disney Magic, Wonder, Dream, or Fantasy may be familiar with Palo, the Italian-inspired adult-exclusive restaurant that costs an extra $50/person. However, the Disney Treasure and Wish have Palo Steakhouse, an “evolution” of the original inspired by Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast. My wife and I were very grateful to Disney for treating us to brunch at Palo Steakhouse, and it just so happened to be one of my favorite meals in years. Beyond offering stunning floor-to-ceiling views of the ocean, this multi-course meal was so fresh, delicious, and inventive that it has me dreaming of my return trip in the future. $50 gets you everything on the menu minus a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and that includes as many portions as you can reasonably handle. While we’ll get to the food in a second, I also have to applaud the wait staff for their INCREDIBLE service, friendliness, and enthusiasm for guiding us through the menu. We honestly let them steer the ship for this brunch and I’m so happy we did. We began with both Antipasti Selections - one seafood-focused and one meat-and-cheese-focused - and they were both fantastic. Some of the highlights included the Jonah Crab Claw, Lemon-Marinated Shrimp, Sliced Bresaola, and the Caciotta a Tartuffo. The Bresaola was an air-dried, salted beef that had so much wonderful flavor, and it paired perfectly with the Caciotta a Tartuffo and its divine cheesy and truffle flavor. We also have to talk about the bread service, because I don’t think I’ve ever had such pillowy soft bread in my life. There was a combination of breads, breadsticks, and more, but the winner was the olive and sun-dried tomato bread that had so many flavors packed into one bite. We then ordered the non-alcoholic Cipriani Bellini, and let me tell you that I instantly went online to see how I can order these at home. They were SO tasty and had a non-artificial-tasting Peach flavor with a carbonated bite that caused me to drink it way too fast. The egg course was next and we tried the Rosemary Ham and Hollandaise Benedict and the Spinach, Asparagus, and Mornay Sauce Benedict and they were very good, even if I wish they had a bit more texture and weren’t as soft. Before our main course we tried the Heirloom Tomato and Basil Soup and it tasted as if the tomatoes were picked right off the vine. There was no filler here, it was delicious tomato flavor that had me looking around for the garden. Finally we reached the Entree course and we split the famous Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Breast with Creamy Risotto, Veal Saltimbocca, and Lasagna Bolognese. Everyone hyped up the Parmesan Chicken before our brunch, and I’m so happy to report it lived up to it. Chicken Parmesan and Risotto are two of my favorite things in the world and they are somehow even greater when paired together. The Veal had a very strong wine flavor from the Barolo Wine Jus which I wasn’t the biggest fan of, but I did appreciate how inventive it was with the Black Garlic Rapini. What surprised me the most, however, was the Lasagna. It may look simple, but it was hiding so many layers of flavor and cheese and was the dish we finished the fastest. To end, we split the Warm Amaretto Chocolate Fondant with Espresso Gelato and the Limoncello Almost Torte. Much like everything else on the menu, these were wonderful and the mix of chocolate and tart worked wonders. I understand I didn’t have to pay for this particular meal, but I do strongly believe Palo Steakhouse is more than worth the price for the views, impeccable service, as much fantastic food as you’d like, and an excuse to treat yourselves on a beautiful cruise ship day or or night. Jumbeaux’s Sweets Is a Love Letter to Zootopia Jumbeaux’s Sweets is a Zootopia fan’s dream come true and is the place to get a sweet treat when aboard the Disney Treasure. While they don’t yet have the Pawsicle (It’s on its way!), they do have Pawsicle-shaped treats, a ton of gelato and ice cream, and specialty goodies like the Judy Hopps Carrot Cupcake, Nick Wilde Raspberry ‘n Cream Cupcake, and more. The theming is also top notch and features a life-size statue of both Nick and Judy, the adorable Lemmings eating their Pawsicles and hopping up and down their private elevator, and more. What really sets Jumbeaux’s Sweets apart, however, is how much the team really cares about honoring Zootopia. Pastry Chef Greg McClure shared with me how he was most proud of how they developed the unique Sahara Squares - a whole new cupcake/cake hybrid named after a location in Zootopia that brings the world of the film to the Treasure. Entertainment The Tale of Moana Is One of the Greatest Shows I've Seen for One Very Special Reason I’m not exaggerating when I say my time aboard the Disney Treasure was one of the greatest three days of my life, so I hope you can understand how impressive it is when I say The Tale of Moana was THE highlight of the entire trip for me. This show was not only one of the greatest stage shows I’ve ever seen on land or sea, but it’s truly special because of the story behind it. Much like the film that inspired it, The Tale of Moana is an incredible celebration of the people and culture of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. And this isn’t just lip-service either as Disney went and recruited much of its cast and crew from those islands, and it was one of the best decisions they’ve ever made. I was speaking to one of my Disney reps and they shared with me a story about how she was speaking to Jodi Kimura, the Hawaiian actress behind the production’s Gramma Tala, and she asked why she chose to leave Broadway to come perform on a Disney Cruise. The reason was beautiful - it was the first time she was going to be able to perform with her people. And yes, that means she was able to share the stage with Moana herself, Kaenaonālaniowaianuhea Kekoa. Kekoa is another Hawaiian actress and I don’t know how to praise her any better than saying she is Moana. She had such a command of the stage with power, emotion, and joy and it sailed straight into our hearts. I had the chance to speak with Kekoa after watching The Tale of Moana, and here’s what she had to say about when she really felt she was Moana, as I think iy strengthens my points better than I could ever hope to; “It was probably the moment when I'm on the boat with Gramma Tala, right before the song ‘I am Moana’ and she's sings, ‘I'm a girl who loves my island, and a girl who loves the sea,’” Kekoa said. “That really got to me as I am a girl from an island and I love the sea and my people and being able to share that with the world... that's probably the moment I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I am this girl... but we are all this girl! “We all have ancestors whose legacy we have the honor of carrying on and passing down. So I hope that everybody can see that and a piece of Moana in themselves.” I strongly encourage you to check out my full write-up on The Tale of Moana so you can hear from more of the creatives, but I think it’s amazing that I’ve gone this far and haven’t even mentioned how remarkable the show itself was. From people dancing and acting as the ocean and carrying Moana across the stage to the massive and unbelievable Te Ka puppet that transformed back into Te Fiti on stage to Gramma Tala as a manta ray soaring across the theater, there were so many moments that all led up to one of the most impressive standing ovations I’ve ever been a part of. I don’t have enough good things to say about The Tale of Moana, and my only regret is that only those on the Disney Treasure will be able to see it. Here’s hoping one day it is able to sail beyond the reef and make its way to Broadway or elsewhere because the world needs to see this truly fantastic adaptation of Moana. Beauty and the Beast and Disney Seas the Adventure Are Fantastic Broadway-Style Productions The other two shows on the Disney Treasure - Beauty and the Beast and Seas the Adventure, were also very, very good, but I want to start with Beauty and the Beast. We all love the story and music from that classic Disney film, but what made this show special is the cast of The Tale of Moana also performed Beauty and the Beast. Why is this special? I’ll let Jenny Weinbloom, VP of Disney Live Entertainment, tell you. "The Tale of Moana is so powerful, but what I also love about what we do at Disney Cruise Line is that our shows are all performed in rep, which is to say this same cast is performing our other big shows on the ship like Beauty and the Beast,” Weinbloom said. “The first time I saw this cast, who I'd fallen in love in The Tale of Moana, perform Beauty and the Beast, I was struck and I found myself weeping in the middle of that opening number because Belle's little provincial French village looked like Motonui. “I just thought, what a beautiful little sense of connection that both of these little villages now have, no matter what the people look like, no matter where our performers may be from, these little villages have so much more in common than we might think. It really is beautiful.” As for Disney Seas the Adventure, it’s a much shorter show that is the perfect kick-off for a cruise. This show sees Goofy steering a ship and getting swept away to the worlds of our favorite films like The Princess and the Frog, Moana, Frozen II, and more. There are also some numbers where they combine beloved characters and songs together in a mash-up, and those were some of my favorites. AquaMouse Is a Water Slide Ride Starring Everyone's Favorite Mice AquaMouse is the big water slide ride on Disney Cruise Ships and the Disney Treasure features an all-new Mickey and Minnie Mouse short called Curse of the Golden Egg. This is a very fun water slide that isn’t too scary, and will definitely be a highlight for the younger guests. Pools and Water Play For All Ages Speaking of water activities, there are plenty of ways to cool off on a hot day aboard the Disney Treasure. You can hop into one of the 10 pools and play areas inspired by Mickey Mouse and his friends, the younger guests can enjoy the delightful Toy Story Splash Zone, and the whole family can hop on the Slide-a-Saurus Rex slide for a thrilling few moments of fun. And yes, there are adults-only pools for those times you want some peace and quiet. Hero Zone Is an Incredible Excuse to Have Fun The Hero Zone is an Incredibles-themed room that transforms and offers a ton of fun experiences for guests of all ages. One of the best times to visit is when the Incred-Games are happening, which encourages families to come and compete in challenges in an inflatable obstacle course. Some of the obstacles include busting through a “brick wall,” getting through Jack-Jack’s Whack-A Rac, testing your flexibility in Elastigirl’s Stretch-O-Rama, and much more. Hero Zone is also home to the ADORABLE Jack-Jack’s Incredible Diaper Dash, Tink’s Neverland Challenge, and Free-Play Sports. Sarabi Is a Lion King-Themed Theater With So Many Great Options Sarabi is just one of the many lounges aboard the Disney Treasure, and it is home to musical performances, comedy acts, family game shows, trivia, dance parties, and so much more. While there are other venues that offer similar activities, the Lion King-themed Sarabi is the main theater for these events that can fill out your cruise day. The best show I saw during our cruise was the brand-new ‘Choose Wisely! An Indiana Jones Comedy Adventure.’ This show not only went through the events of all the Indiana Jones films and tastefully made fun of them, but the INCREDIBLE and HILARIOUS hosts - Sage and Coriander - led guests through a choose your own adventure. There would be a choice one of the characters would need to make, and the hosts would be “whipped” back to reality to ask guests in the audience to “choose wisely” and make the right choice. Of course, a lot of the fun happened when we didn’t choose wisely! Strongly recommend this show! Wonderland and Never Land Cinema Brings the Newest Movies to the Disney Treasure Considering Disney has created some of the most beloved films of all time, it only makes sense that Disney Cruises would have a way to watch some of them in the middle of the ocean. However, what makes these theaters special is they oftentimes include the newest movies that are still in theaters. During our trip, Moana 2 was showing multiple times and you could bring your loved ones or yourself, grab some popcorn and treats, and enjoy a film at sea! Lounges and Cafes The Haunted Mansion Parlor Is the Perfect Extension of the Disney Parks Attraction One of the things that makes the Disney Treasure so special is it is the first time Disney has brought Disney Parks experiences aboard a Disney Cruise Ship. We’ll get to the Jungle Cruise-inspired Skipper Society shortly, but I can’t wait to talk about The Haunted Mansion Parlor. This is, simply put, the perfect extension of The Haunted Mansion itself and may just be one of the best lounges/bars I’ve ever been to in my life. Listen, I know I’m making some grand statements here, but these spaces are just that good. The Haunted Mansion just screams (pun intended) authenticity, from the iconic ticking clock sound to a floating Madame Leota to eerily familiar paintings that hide dark secrets to hitchhiking ghosts and the always wonderful 'Grim Grinning Ghosts,' there is so much love and care put into every inch of this lounge. It also has its own story with a nautical twist, and that makes everything happening around you a little more meaningful. The centerpiece of The Haunted Mansion feeds into this story and it is the ghost fish aquarium. This is a feat of Disney Imagineering marvel and its history is just as impressive as the aquarium itself. The piece is an homage to Imagineer Rolly Crump and his Museum of the Weird that was set to be a walkthrough experience next to The Haunted Mansion. While it never saw the light of day, this aquarium now lives on in The Haunted Mansion Parlor. This wasn’t an easy thing to build either, as it came down to the wire to get the effects working properly, especially considering you can approach the aquarium from all sides. The tributes to Crump didn’t end there, however, as there is also a bust of the Imagineer in the parlor that is a nod to the Haunted Mansion and his Museum of the Weird. "Another character we all loved from the Museum of the Weird was Rolly Crump's Candleman," Joseph said. "Sadly, Rolly passed away during the development of the Haunted Mansion Parlor and we were all saddened by that and the fact he'd never get to see it completed. "So, we knew we wanted to do a bust in there no matter what just like you'd find in the Haunted Mansion, but we then knew the perfect choice was to make it of Rolly. To make it even more special, one of our team members suggested we do Rolly partially as the Candleman and make sure the side of his head that's melting is next to the fireplace. This was a huge honor and another really detailed thought and the authenticity of the design that follows suit with everything else in the Mansion parlor." It’s all these little details that make this lounge so special, and that obviously extends into the drinks. I don’t really drink alcohol, but I loved that references the drinks made, from The Chilling Challenge to Regions Beyond to the Happy Haunts IPA and Pallor Mortis Pale Ale to the Spirit-Free Bottled Soda ‘Potions.’ There’s also an awesome secret menu that guests can discover for themselves. I won’t spoil it here for you, but I will say that sometimes the answer requires a different perspective. Skipper Society Brings the Jungle Cruise to This Disney Cruise As I previously mentioned, Skipper Society is a lounge inspired by the Jungle Cruise and it’s one of the Disney Parks attractions that now has a home on the sea. Much like The Haunted Mansion Parlor, there is so much love and care put into this lounge that would make even the most die-hard Jungle Cruise fans proud. One detail that I love is they used exact replicas of the greenery from the actual Disneyland attraction to adorn the ceiling, making it feel even more as if you are in queue getting ready to hop on a Jungle Cruise boat. Another special addition is the nameplate of the EMS Express Boat in the bar. Many may not realize it, but this is a nod to the Ems river in Germany where the Disney Treasure first sailed to the sea after its construction was finished. I could go on and on about the radios that feature Skipper talking with their very specific brand of humor, the ‘Missing’ poster for the infamous playwright cat, the stage with a beautiful wooden-carved wall of animals, the art piece that is a map of the Disney Treasure attractions if they were on the river, and so much more, but a lot of the fun is discovering these surprises for yourself. I will mention the delicious drinks and food on offer at Skipper Society, and some of the notable ones are the Apple Cinnamon or original waffles, the Hippopotomai-Tai, Safari So Good, and Jungle Juice. Scat Cat Lounge Is a Piano Bar with an Aristocat Flair The Scat Cat Lounge is a piano bar themed after 1970’s The Aristocats and it is just so great. It’s very classy lounge that has the feel of an old-school jazz club with the little touches that add the Disney Magic. I particularly like that paint-covered paw prints left by Toulouse on the piano, the ‘Ev’rybody wants to be a cat’ light fixture on the wall, and the poster that features cats from the team that helped bring the Scat Cat Lounge to life. What also makes this lounge special is that it is right next to the Agrabah-inspired Grand Hall and it takes the Aladdin and Aristocats theming to heart and blends them together wonderfully so the transition isn’t so jarring for guests. Periscope Pub Is a Wonderful Excuse to Go 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Periscope Pub is such a cool area that honors 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and the now-closed attraction inspired by the film at Disney World, and it’s meant to make you feel as though you were underwater in a submarine. You can see fish, sharks, and even giant squid swim above you as you are enjoying a drink or grabbing a bite, and can enjoy sporting events and more in this mostly adult-exclusive space. There’s also a fun Easter Egg to lookout for in Periscope Pub as you can see the number 718 on a pressure gauge. This number is in reference to what Meyer’s Werft shipyard calls the Disney Treasure - 718. The Rose Is a Beautiful Place to Share a Drink and a View Right outside of Palo Steakhouse and Enchanté sits The Rose, which may be one of the most gorgeous lounges I’ve ever been in. This Beauty and the Beast lounge, much like Palo, has incredible views of the ocean and it’s all adorned in gold and features artwork inspired by that famous rose from the film. However, the true star of The Rose is the hallway, which has you walk past portraits of characters from Beauty and the Beast until you get to the rose itself under glass. It’s simple, but so, so beautiful. Jade Cricket and Heihei Cafes Are Delightful Walkup Cafes Even the walkup cafes have a touch of wonder, and the Disney Treasure has the Moana-themed Heihei Cafe and the Mulan-themed Jade Cricket Cafe. While they aren’t overly themed, there are some incredible little touches, including a jade sculpture of Cri-Kee in a cup of tea and a statue of Heihei. Oceaneer Club and ‘it’s a small world’ nursery Are the Definition of Disney Magic On the Disney Treasure, there may be no place that has quite as much magic as the Oceaneer Club and ‘it’s a small world’ nursery. These kids clubs are absolutely incredible and there is so much love and care put into them. My son couldn’t get enough of the Oceaneer Club, which is for kids ages 3 to 10, and I learned why when I got a tour of the space. The Oceaneer Club is gated and you need to check your child in, so it’s a great place to drop them off if you want to experience one of the adult-exclusive meals or otherwise, and once you enter you have the choice to go right of left. To the left is both Marvel Super Hero Academy and Star Wars: Cargo Bay, and these are both places to meet characters, build your own Marvel Super Hero Suit, interact with creatures from a galaxy far, far away like a porg and Loth-cat, and much more. When you go right, you can enter Fairytale Hall and visit rooms inspired by Tangled, Beauty and the Beast, and Frozen. And yes, the characters will show up here and interact with the kids. When I was there, Rapunzel and Flynn showed me around Rapunzel’s room and discussed all her drawings and more. It was wonderful. The Walt Disney Imagineering Lab is next and this was one of my favorites as I love the Imagineers and how they are instrumental in creating real-life Disney Magic. In this room, kids can learn what it takes to build and design experiences and attractions for Disney Parks and Cruise Ships, experience a virtual roller coaster, and even see cool tricks like this butterfly below. The last space in the Oceaneer Club is Mickey and MInnie Captain’s Deck and it’s a wonderful indoor playground themed to Disney Cruise Line. As you can see, there is something for everyone, and we didn’t even mention the dance parties or themed games and activities that happen all throughout the cruise. I was so amazed by the details and care put into this space, and that was all before I wandered into the nursery. The ‘it’s a small world’ nursery literally brought me to tears, especially considering I have a one-year-old. This whole room is themed after the beloved Disney Parks attraction, but this time it features characters from all your favorite Disney, Pixar, and Marvel characters. Oh, and Disney lullabies are being played at all times which caused my waterworks to go into high gear. It’s such a beautiful and lovely space and, combined with the outstanding staff, is a place I feel so comfortable leaving my most important little ones. Staterooms and The EPCOT-Themed Tomorrow Tower Suite The Disney Treasure has very comfortable staterooms in 4 main categories - Inside, Oceanview, Verandah, and Concierge. We stayed in a Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah and it had a beautiful balcony that let you sit and enjoy the ocean breeze whenever you desired. The rooms were also pretty spacious and featured a variety of different themes based on Disney movies. We had a Luca room, and there was a beautiful mural above the bed and other nice touches all around. Disney Cruise Lines also have a multi-bathroom set-up, where there is one room with a toilet and sink and another with a sink and shower/bath. This is all designed to let guests get ready in stages and get people going as quickly as possible. While we didn’t get to stay in one, we were able to tour the Concierge-level Tomorrow Tower Suite, and it was a stunning tribute to EPCOT. This two-story suite is placed inside the ship’s forward funnel and has its own private elevator and a two-story window that can be dimmed for extra privacy. The nearly 2,000-sqft suite can comfortably accommodate up to eight guests and features two main bedrooms, a library/bedroom that is fully accessible, and children’s room with a ceiling filled with stars and constellations. There are also 4.5 bathrooms to go with them. The living room is perhaps the most impressive part of the Tomorrow Tower Suite as it features a breathtaking iridescent chandelier that is a kaleidoscope of colors and, when the sun is at the right position, it causes a dance of rainbows to light up the room. In addition to all of this, there is a fully stocked fridge with Mickey Bars and other goodies, the ability to order Palo Steakhouse to the suite, and so many nods to EPCOT including the iconic geodesic sphere, Figment, The Lands, and so much more. Disney Treasure Merchandise You can’t have a Disney experience without a good collection of merch, right? The Disney Treasure obviously understands that and you can check out some of the coolest items in the slideshow below, including inaugural sailing merch and items inspired by the Haunted Mansion Parlor! There is so much more to say about the Disney Treasure, and I encourage all guests to check out its main page to learn more about the ship, where it sails, and so much more. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com . Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.PHOENIX — Donald Trump suggested Sunday that his new administration could try to regain control of the Panama Canal that the United States “foolishly” ceded to its Central American ally, contending that shippers are charged “ridiculous” fees to pass through the vital transportation channel linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at AmericaFest on Sunday in Phoenix. Panama's conservative president José Raúl Mulino, who was elected in April on a pro-business platform, roundly rejected that notion as an affront to his country's sovereignty. The Republican president-elect's comment came during his first major rally since winning the White House on Nov. 5. He also used his comments to bask in his return to power as a large audience of conservatives cheered along. It was a display of party unity at odds with a just-concluded budget fight on Capitol Hill where some GOP lawmakers openly defied their leader's demands. Addressing supporters at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Arizona, Trump pledged that his “dream team Cabinet” would deliver a booming economy, seal U.S. borders and quickly settle wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. “I can proudly proclaim that the Golden Age of America is upon us,” Trump said. “There’s a spirit that we have now that we didn’t have just a short while ago.” His appearance capped a four-day pep rally that drew more than 20,000 activists and projected an image of Republican cohesion despite the past week's turbulence in Washington with Trump pulling strings from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida as Congress worked to avoid a government shutdown heading into the Christmas holiday. House Republicans spiked a bipartisan deal after Trump and Elon Musk, his billionaire ally, expressed their opposition on social media. Budget hawks flouted Trump's request to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, which would have spared some new rounds of the same fight after he takes office Jan. 20, 2025, with Republicans holding narrow control of the House and Senate. The final agreement did not address the issue and there was no shutdown. Trump, in his remarks in Phoenix, did not mention the congressional drama, though he did reference Musk's growing power. To suggestions that "President Trump has ceded the presidency to Elon,” Trump made clear, “No, no. That’s not happening.” “He’s not gonna be president,” Trump said. The president-elect opened the speech by saying that "we want to try to bring everybody together. We’re going to try. We’re going to really give it a shot." Then he suggested Democrats have “lost their confidence” and are “befuddled” after the election but eventually will ”come over to our side because we want to have them.” A cargo ship traverses the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal on Sept. 2 in Colon, Panama. Atop a list of grievances — some old, some new — was the Panama Canal. “We’re being ripped off at the Panama Canal,” he said, bemoaning that his country ”foolishly gave it away.” The United States built the Panama Canal in the early 1900s, as it looked for ways to facilitate the transit of commercial and military vessels between its coasts. Washington relinquished control of the waterway to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 under President Jimmy Carter. The canal depends on reservoirs to operate its locks and was heavily affected by 2023 Central American droughts that forced it to substantially reduce the number of daily slots for crossing ships. With fewer ships using the canal each day, administrators also increased the fees that are charged all shippers for reserving a slot. With weather returning to normal in the later months of this year, transit on the canal has normalized. But price increases are still expected for next year. Mulino, Panama's president, has been described as a conservative populist who aligns with Trump on many issues. Panama is a strong U.S. ally and the canal is crucial for its economy, generating about one-fifth of that government’s annual revenue. Still, Trump said, that, once his second term is underway, "If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question.” “I’m not going to stand for it," Trump said. "So to the officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly.” He did not explain how that would be possible. A short time after Trump's speech, Mulino released a video declaring that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong” to his country. Without mentioning Trump by name, Mulino addressed the president-elect's complaints over rising fees for ships crossing the canal, saying that they are set by experts who take into account operational costs, and supply and demand factors. “The tariffs are not set on a whim” Mulino said. He noted that Panama has expanded the canal over the years to increase ship traffic “on its own initiative,” and added that shipping fee increases help pay for improvements. “Panamanians may have different views on many issues” Mulino said. “But when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.” The canal aside, Trump’s appearance at Turning Point’s annual gathering affirmed the growing influence the group and its founder, Charlie Kirk, have had in the conservative movement. Kirk’s organization hired thousands of field organizers across presidential battlegrounds, helping Trump make key gains among infrequent voters and other groups of people that have trended more Democratic in recent decades, including younger voters, Black men and Latino men. ”You had Turning Point’s grassroots armies,” Trump said. “It’s not my victory, it’s your victory.” Earlier Sunday, Trump said that Stephen Miran, who worked at the Treasury Department in Trump's first term, was his choice to lead the Council of Economic Advisers. 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. FILE - Former Rep. Doug Collins speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. 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.” Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. 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. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. 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. President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. 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. Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor and television news personality who led the fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign and became engaged to Don Jr. in 2020. Trump called her “a close friend and ally” and praised her “sharp intellect make her supremely qualified.” Guilfoyle was on stage with the family on election night. “I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First,” Don Jr. posted. The ambassador positions must be approved by the U.S. Senate. Guilfoyle said in a social media post that she was “honored to accept President Trump’s nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate.” 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. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Rodney Scott led during Trump's first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country's borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump's policies. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. He appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He's also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. 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. Trump says he’s picking Kari Lake as director of Voice of America, installing a staunch loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor and a Senate seat to head the congressionally funded broadcaster that provides independent news reporting around the world. Lake endeared herself to Trump through her dogmatic commitment to the falsehood that both she and Trump were the victims of election fraud. She has never acknowledged losing the gubernatorial race and called herself the “lawful governor” in her 2023 book, “Unafraid: Just Getting Started.” 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. 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. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. 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. Ron Johnson, Ambassador to Mexico Johnson — not the Republican senator — served as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first administration. His nomination comes as the president-elect has been threatening tariffs on Mexican imports and the mass deportation of migrants who have arrived to the U.S.-Mexico border. Johnson is also a former U.S. Army veteran and was in the Central Intelligence Agency. Tom Barrack, Ambassador to Turkey Barrack, a wealthy financier, met Trump in the 1980s while helping negotiate Trump’s purchase of the renowned Plaza Hotel. He was charged with using his personal access to the former president to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates, but was acquitted of all counts at a federal trial in 2022. Trump called him a “well-respected and experienced voice of reason.” Andrew Ferguson, Federal Trade Commission Ferguson, who is already one of the FTC's five commissioners, will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Jacob Helberg, undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment Dan Bishop, deputy director for budget at the Office of Budget and Management Leandro Rizzuto, Ambassador to the Washington-based Organization of American States Dan Newlin, Ambassador to Colombia Peter Lamelas, Ambassador to Argentina Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Lamar Jackson is officially the most prolific rushing quarterback in NFL history. The Baltimore Ravens star on Wednesday broke the record for most career rushing yards by a quarterback, getting just enough to pass Michael Vick as the Ravens demolished the host Houston Texans 31-2. Entering the game 86 yards behind Vick, Jackson collected 87 rushing yards in the game. That moved him one yard past Vick at 6,110. He set the mark with a 6-yard run midway through the third quarter. Earlier in the period, Jackson turned in the play of the game with a 48-yard scoring run to make it 24-2 and put the game away. Jackson was playing in the 102nd game of his seven-year career. Vick played in 143 games over 13 seasons. The 27-year-old Jackson is in the midst of perhaps the best season of his career. He has already established career highs in passing touchdowns (39), total touchdowns (43) and passing yards (3,955) as he makes a case for what would be his third MVP award. --Field Level Media

The Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Dr Shaibu Hussieni, has declared that things are going fine for Nigerian Cinema going by the report of increased revenue in ticket sales. Hussein who stated this at the Nollywood Creative Minds Forum’s 6th Annual Gathering themed, “In pursuit of Better” held at Lekki, Lagos, stated in his keynote address that “This year alone saw a 120% surge in revenue at the box office and an increase in ticket purchases”. This piece of cheering news is coming even in the midst of inflation and general rise in commodity prices. The Censors Board boss who commended the group for creating such a platform for Stakeholders to discuss and proffer solutions, also reminded the forum that the road to excellence in Nollywood is turbulent. In a statement released by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Ogbonna Onwumere, Shuaibu, noted that the forum has facilitated partnerships and collaborations between Nollywood creatives and industry stakeholders. He acknowledged Nollywood’s tremendous growth, citing a significant increase in production quality, audience engagement, and global recognition and also embracing new technologies, techniques, ideas as well as fostering cooperation and knowledge sharing as conditions necessary for achieving excellence in filmmaking. Hussein assured the forum that to achieve this vision, the NFVCB is committed to providing support and resources to filmmakers, including: capacity-building programs and workshops with plans to establish producers, exhibitors and distributors lab. Secondly, the NFVCB’s Board, noted that there was a plan to make access to funding and investment opportunities easier adding that under his watch, he will assist stakeholders secure Letters of endorsement to those wishing to establish cinema, distribution and exhibition infrastructure. Thirdly, he noted that international collaborations and partnerships would be facilitated and urged stakeholders to continue to strive for excellence, emphasizing that the pursuit of a better filmmaking tradition requires a collective effort. He emphasized the need to NCMF to focus on quality storytelling stressing the importance of authentic, engaging stories reflective of diverse experiences and Professionalism, which entails adhering to industry standards, best practices and ethical guidelines.

I’m sick of feeling bad for being single and childless so I’m spending Christmas alone

US President-elect Donald Trump filed a brief Friday urging the Supreme Court to pause a law that would ban TikTok the day before his January 20 inauguration if it is not sold by its Chinese owner ByteDance. "In light of the novelty and difficulty of this case, the court should consider staying the statutory deadline to grant more breathing space to address these issues," Trump's legal team wrote, to give him "the opportunity to pursue a political resolution." Trump was fiercely opposed to TikTok during his 2017-21 first term, and tried in vain to ban the video app on national security grounds. The Republican voiced concerns -- echoed by political rivals -- that the Chinese government might tap into US TikTok users' data or manipulate what they see on the platform. US officials had also voiced alarm over the popularity of the video-sharing app with young people, alleging that its parent company is subservient to Beijing and that the app is used to spread propaganda, claims denied by the company and the Chinese government. Trump called for a US company to buy TikTok, with the government sharing in the sale price, and his successor Joe Biden went one stage further -- signing a law to ban the app for the same reasons. Trump has now, however, reversed course. "Now (that) I'm thinking about it, I'm for TikTok, because you need competition," he recently told Bloomberg. "If you don't have TikTok, you have Facebook and Instagram -- and that's, you know, that's Zuckerberg." Facebook, founded by Mark Zuckerberg and part of his Meta tech empire, was among the social media networks that banned Trump after attacks by his supporters on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The ban was driven by concerns that he would use the platform to promote more violence. Those bans on major social media platforms were later lifted. In the brief filed on Friday, Trump's lawyer made it clear the president-elect did not take a position on the legal merits of the current case. "President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute," John Sauer wrote in the amicus curiae -- or "friend of the court" -- brief. "Instead, he respectfully requests that the court consider staying the act's deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case, thus permitting President Trump's incoming Administration the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case." ft/aha