Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’
On the night of the election, Red Broadwell was home with his cat in Wilmington, North Carolina, working on his master’s thesis about transness and body horror in film. He tried not to doomscroll about the election results. But when the 23-year-old trans graduate student woke up the next morning to the news that Donald Trump had won the presidency, Broadwell began to panic. He said the results were “genuinely sickening” and caused him to experience panic attacks and bouts of nausea. He worried about his ability to continue taking testosterone and whether he would have to scramble to sort out top surgery sooner than he expected. Broadwell was finally able to start hormone replacement therapy last summer after moving out of Florida, which has banned care for minors and limited which providers can administer hormones to adults. “I’ve grown up in the South my whole life. I don’t really want to leave,” Broadwell said. “I love it down here, and I don’t want to abandon that. It sucks that every time there’s an election, I have to ask, ‘What’s going to happen to me and my friends?’” After Trump’s victory, trans people across the country are grappling with questions about their legal protections and access to gender-affirming care and reproductive health, as well as concerns over their physical safety — in short, what survival will look like. The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention organization, saw a 700% increase in people reaching out the day after the election compared to the weeks prior. During his campaign, Trump vowed to sign an executive order barring federal agencies from “the promotion of sex or gender transition at any age,” and has promised to restrict federal funding for hospitals or health care providers that perform gender-affirming care for minors. Republicans spent at least $215 million this campaign cycle on ads portraying trans people as a scourge to society, and the official party platform lists keeping “men out of women’s sports” as a priority. “It sucks that every time there’s an election, I have to ask, ‘What’s going to happen to me and my friends?’” And over the last two weeks, Trump has been busy stocking his administration with authors of Project 2025 — after claiming he knew “nothing” about the 920-page conservative playbook or who was behind it. Project 2025 outlines dozens of policies that essentially erase federal protections for LGBTQ+ people, including allowing Medicare and Medicaid to deny coverage for gender-affirming care; redefining sex as “biological sex,” a phrase that has been used by the right to discriminate against trans people and particularly trans women; and reinstating the transgender military ban. “It’s a waking nightmare,” said Ash Orr, a trans organizer from West Virginia who is making plans to leave the red state with his spouse because of Trump’s victory. He is worried about his ability to get testosterone and access reproductive care and Plan B in a state that has a near-total ban on abortion. Orr’s nonprofit, Morgantown Pride, held a name change clinic and an event for Trans Day of Remembrance this week — and for the first time, Orr said, they had to hire security to ensure the patrons were safe from anti-trans protesters. “People have been emboldened, but this time, it feels completely unchecked,” Orr said. “The hatred coming toward our community has definitely intensified.” Even in bluer areas like Philadelphia, trans people are racing to make sure all of their legal documents — including passports, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, social security cards and banking documents — reflect their correct gender marker and name. Several states, like Florida, Texas, Arkansas and Montana, have made it more difficult for trans people to update their gender marker on state-issued documents — and now many people are attending clinics hosted by community centers and law firms to finalize their paperwork ahead of any action under Trump that could make this process more difficult. Jordan Schwenderman, a transmasculine lesbian and public relations coordinator in Philadelphia, said they are working to update their name change with their health insurance. “I don’t want to give anyone another reason to justify not providing gender-affirming care to me because my name doesn’t match my documentation,” Schwenderman said. Kary Santayana, a nonbinary artist and content creator who worked on content for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign in Philadelphia, said that the outcome of the election has forced them and their partner to reevaluate some of their future plans. Santayana said the couple are in the early stages of talking about fertility and were hoping to get married next fall. “But at this point, we’re kind of reconsidering everything. We’re afraid if we freeze embryos, there will be legislation that will dictate what can happen to them with some sort of fetal personhood law under a Trump administration,” Santayana said. Santayana has an “X” gender marker on their license to denote their nonbinary identity, and now wonders if having that letter on their state identification could disclose them as trans and put them in possible danger while traveling. “I think in the safest way possible, I’m going to keep showing up and keep being queer online,” said Santayana, who makes queer fashion and lifestyle content. “What these MAGA conservatives want is for us to disappear.” While trans people have been preparing for life under Trump 2.0, the weeks after the election have also offered people an opportunity to gather in community, share resources and strategize. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, who heads the Campaign for Southern Equality, said the organization has fielded many questions from people trying to plan for various worst-case scenarios. Some families of trans youth asked if they should prepare to travel internationally for gender-affirming care; others who already travel out-of-state for care wonder what might happen to their future clinic appointments if Trump imposes a federal ban on care for minors. Twenty-five states already have bans on gender-affirming care for minors. And several states have considered bills that would restrict access to care for adults, especially those who are on state insurance plans. As more and more states restricted trans health care, the Campaign for Southern Equality noticed a pattern of providers and pharmacies denying care to trans patients even in states where they were still legally allowed to provide it. The landscape for providers in red states has become very hostile as hospitals , clinics and individual physicians have become the subjects of lengthy investigations by conservative attorneys general. Beach-Ferrara’s organization created the Trans Youth Emergency Project in 2023 to help families of trans youth travel to out-of-state providers for gender-affirming care. The hope at the time was that one day, it would no longer be necessary, and that access to medical care , which has been proven to significantly reduce depression and other adverse health outcomes, would be protected at the federal level. Next month, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for U.S. v. Skrmetti, a high-profile case that will determine whether bans on gender-affirming care for minors violate the Constitution. The decision could come down from the 6-3 conservative-leaning court by next summer and throw a whole host of LGBTQ+ legal protections in jeopardy. While waiting on that decision, Beach-Ferrara said it’s helpful to think about the most immediate concerns. “We have the time in front of us to focus on helping as many people as possible get the care that they need,” she said. “At CSE, we are thinking about what can we do today? What can we do tomorrow? How can we be prepared if a ruling like that does come down next summer and bans go into effect?” She’s also thinking about what can be done at the local level. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina, a mountainous town that was destroyed by Hurricane Helene. In the aftermath of the hurricane, she said her community set up a supply station for queer and trans residents to receive hot lunch, free haircuts, massage therapy, and extra clothing and supplies for those who lost their homes. “Some people are coming just to be with queer community,” she said. “Some end up staying for hours during the day because it’s a safe space. As much as anything, people want to be connected and are trying to find their footing.” “I think in the safest way possible, I’m going to keep showing up and keep being queer online. What these MAGA conservatives want is for us to disappear.” Community care and mutual aid have long been a tenet of queer and trans political organizing, as well as organizing with leftist, feminist, abolitionist and Black radical political movements. Trans people have a deep history of helping one another survive, whether that be friends sharing hormones, crowdfunding payments for surgeries and rent, or even simply sharing information and guides for how to navigate the legal maze of changing one’s documents. Jan, a 57-year-old transwoman living in New York City, has been focused on building community, not just among other trans people but with people in the city who have been made vulnerable and marginalized. Jan asked to be identified only by her first name out of concern for her safety. Jan said she woke up sobbing the morning after Election Day. But by that evening, she had organized a large group of trans people to have dinner together. She said she feels “threatened” and wonders if she can count on the current protections she and her family have in New York. This week, she watched with disgust as Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) barred Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.), who is trans, from using the women’s restroom. Jan, who has two kids and has been given the affectionate nickname “antifa mom” by some of her co-organizers, said that the community dinners and her participation in a local food distribution group have helped her feel less trapped by the ever-encroaching conservative and transphobic bent in national politics. Don't let this be the end of the free press. The free press is under attack — and America's future hangs in the balance. As other newsrooms bow to political pressure, HuffPost is not backing down. Would you help us keep our news free for all? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. “The government is going to abandon us, but we’re not going to abandon each other,” Jan said. “We don’t have to choose to abandon each other.” Related From Our PartnerThe Public analyst, Nelson Adanna has expressed concerns over a recent article by Blessing Agbomhere, a Labour Party member, published in an online news platform that has stirred reactions within the Niger Delta community. According to Adanma, Agbomhere, whose party lost the recent election and who continues to express distress over the post-election fallout, raised serious allegations against the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. Adanma noted that Agbomhere demanded that the NUPRC reverse the 2024 licensing and the 2022/23 Mini Bid Round for oil blocks in the Niger Delta region, citing a lack of inclusivity and fairness in the process. Nelson Adanma, who is a member of the Concerned Group of Indigenous Niger Delta Citizens, highlighted this claim as a potentially treasonable action, questioning the intent behind Agbomhere’s article. Despite these allegations, it is crucial to set the record straight regarding the fairness, transparency, and inclusivity of the NUPRC’s processes. Speaking on the matter, Adanna stated, “The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has consistently upheld its commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and fairness in managing Nigeria’s oil and gas resources. In the face of recent accusations, the NUPRC is reaffirming its adherence to the principles of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which governs the oil licensing and bidding processes. “The NUPRC’s operations are conducted with a clear focus on ensuring that all stakeholders are treated equitably, regardless of geographical or political affiliations. “The bidding processes for both the 2024 Licensing and the 2022/23 Mini Bid Round were carried out in strict accordance with the PIA, which was designed to ensure transparency at every stage. Independent observers monitored these processes closely to guarantee credibility and fairness. Every eligible stakeholder, including those from the Niger Delta, was given equal opportunities to participate in the bidding process. “The Niger Delta region’s central role in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is well recognized, and proactive efforts were made to ensure indigenous participation in the bidding rounds. Several indigenous Niger Delta companies successfully met the eligibility criteria and actively participated in the bidding, securing opportunities to contribute to the sector’s growth.” He added saying, “Despite claims of regional exclusion, the NUPRC’s approach was designed to encourage local participation, ensuring that indigenous companies could compete on a level playing field. The NUPRC firmly believes that the success of the oil and gas sector hinges on the inclusion of all stakeholders, particularly those from the oil-producing regions. “The allocation process for oil blocks has been meticulously crafted to align with both environmental sustainability and economic growth. The NUPRC’s focus is to ensure that Nigeria’s oil and gas resources benefit not only the host communities in the Niger Delta but also the broader Nigerian economy. “The process also considered environmental and social factors, reinforcing the NUPRC’s commitment to a balanced approach that promotes sustainable development. By prioritizing national development goals, the NUPRC seeks to harmonize the interests of the oil-producing regions with the overall well-being of the nation. “The NUPRC has stated that claims of regional exclusion are baseless and unfounded. The commission follows an impartial process, evaluating applicants based on objective criteria, such as technical expertise, financial capacity, and legal compliance. “While delays did occur during the bidding process, they were necessary to refine the framework and ensure that international best practices were adhered to. These delays were not meant to exclude any stakeholders but were aimed at creating a more thorough, fair, and transparent process.” Continuing, he explained that suggestions making the rounds that a new bidding round is required are unjustified, stating that the process has already been subjected to independent audits. “Moreover, the suggestion that a new bidding round is required is unjustified. The process has already been subjected to independent audits, which confirmed its fairness and compliance with the necessary legal and regulatory standards. Repeating the process would create unnecessary regulatory instability, potentially deterring further investment in the sector.” Concluding, he said, “In conclusion, the NUPRC remains committed to fostering peace, stability, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta region. The commission invites all stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue to address any lingering concerns and collaborate on solutions that will benefit all parties involved. “While the allegations raised by Blessing Agbomhere are without merit, they highlight the need for continued transparency and open communication in the sector. “The NUPRC values the contributions of the Niger Delta and is determined to ensure that the oil and gas sector serves the interests of all Nigerians. By working together, stakeholders can contribute to the development of a more sustainable and equitable oil industry that benefits the nation as a whole.
Conte’s last public act as Spurs head coach after a 3-3 draw at St Mary’s in 2023 was to launch a furious tirade against his own “selfish” players who he claimed “don’t want to play under pressure” before he seemed to turn on the board as he questioned the club’s ongoing trophy drought. Eight days later Conte had left Tottenham by mutual consent after a whirlwind 16-month period, with Postecoglou his eventual permanent successor. A post shared by Antonio Conte (@antonioconte) Postecoglou has been in charge of the Premier League club for two months longer than the Italian, but managed 12 fewer matches and is currently in the middle of an injury crisis which has resulted in a drop in form, with Spurs only able to claim one victory from their last eight fixtures. However, when Postecoglou was asked if he would jump ship in the wake of making remarks like Conte did in March, 2023, he said: “Look, I don’t think it’s fair to comment. “Antonio is a world-class manager and has his own way of doing things, his own reasons for doing that. “I am here, I am in for the fight. I am in a fight, for sure. For better or worse I am not going anywhere at the moment because everything is still in my power and my responsibility. “I still have a real desire to get us through this stage so that people see what is on the other side. My resolve and determination hasn’t wavered one little bit. “I love a fight, I love a scrap, I love being in the middle of a storm when everyone doubts because I know what it is on the other side if you get through it. My job is to get through it.” Postecoglou was Celtic boss when Conte’s extraordinary 10-minute press conference made waves around the world, but acknowledged being aware of his predecessors’ comments and attempted to explain the psyche behind why a manager would make such a move. “I was on Planet Earth at that time, and yes I was well aware of it,” Postecoglou smiled. “I think you know when a manager gets to that point that there’s obviously some underlying issues. “I think most of the time when managers do that they’re trying to get a reaction, trying to get some sort of impact on the team. “In difficult moments, what you want from your leaders is action rather than inaction of just letting things drift along. He did it to try and get a positive impact on the group, one way or another. We’ve all been in that situation as a manager where you feel this is time to send a message.” Postecoglou sent out his own message on Thursday after a 1-1 draw away to Rangers when he insisted Timo Werner’s display “wasn’t acceptable” at Ibrox. Werner was replaced at half-time following an error-strewn performance, but was not alone in being below-par in Glasgow. A day later Postecoglou explained how with Spurs missing several key first-teamers, the onus is on their fit senior players to deliver a level of application and commitment – and admitted Werner will be required at St Mary’s on Sunday. “I’ve got no choice. Who else am I going to play? I’m pulling kids out of school, I literally am,” Postecoglou mentioned in reference to 16-year-old duo Malachi Hardy and Luca Williams-Barnett, who have recently made the bench. “That was the reasoning for me pointing it out last night. We need Timo. We need all of them. “In normal times if you have a poor game, there’s a price to pay. It doesn’t exist right now. We need everybody we’ve got.”
Pep Guardiola sure 75 per cent of Premier League clubs want Man City relegated
FLAGSTAR FINANCIAL, INC. APPOINTS BRIAN CALLANAN TO BOARD OF DIRECTORSManchester United New manager Ruben Amorim has warned the Red Devils fans that the team would suffer for long period. Amorim took charge of his first game as United Boss in their 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town at the weekend. Despite taking an early lead through Marcus Rashford, United were pegged back by the newly promoted club. “I know it is frustrating for the fans but we are changing so much in this moment with a lot of games,” Amorim said “We are going to suffer for a long period and we will try to win games. This will take time. “These guys had two days in trainings...”
Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee tariffs won’t raise US prices and won’t rule out revenge prosecutions
Musk's lawyer asks the SEC to quit pestering the shy and retiring billionaireManmohan Singh: Architect of India's Economic Reforms Passes at 92
Wall Street stocks finished a lackluster week on a muted note Friday as concerns about rising Treasury bond yields competed with enthusiasm over artificial intelligence equities. Of the major indices, only the Nasdaq mustered a gain in Friday's session. The tech-rich index was also the only of the three leading US benchmarks to conclude the week higher. "Equities are kind of treading water," said LBBW's Karl Haeling. "A negative influence to some extent is the rise in bond yields." The latest US consumer price index data released this week showed prices ticked higher in November and the wholesale data also showed stubborn inflationary pressures. "Yields rose to their highest levels in over two weeks as markets brace for the Federal Reserve's final meeting of the year, reflecting concerns over sticky inflation," said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG. There is also growing concern over the inflationary pressures from President-elect Donald Trump's pledges to cut taxes and impose tariffs, as inflation still stands above the Fed's target. "While the markets still anticipate a rate cut from the Federal Reserve next week, the likelihood of a move in January has dropped," said Patrick Munnelly, partner at broker Tickmill Group. The CME FedWatch tool shows the market sees a more than 75 percent chance that the Fed will hold rates steady in January. In Europe, the Paris CAC 40 index ended the day down 0.2 percent after French President Emmanuel Macron named his centrist ally Francois Bayrou as prime minister, ending days of deadlock over finding a replacement for Michel Barnier. Frankfurt also dipped, with Germany's central bank sharply downgrading its growth forecasts on Friday for 2025 and 2026. It predicted a prolonged period of weakness for Europe's biggest economy. London stocks were also lower after official data showed that the UK economy unexpectedly shrank for the second consecutive month in October. The euro recovered after flirting with two-year lows against the dollar following a warning Thursday by ECB president Christine Lagarde that the eurozone economy was "losing momentum", cautioning that "the risk of greater friction in global trade could weigh on euro area growth". In Asia, Hong Kong and Shanghai both tumbled as investors were unimpressed with Beijing's pledge to introduce measures aimed at "lifting consumption vigorously" as part of a drive to reignite growth in the world's number two economy. President Xi Jinping and other key leaders said at the annual Central Economic Work Conference they would implement a "moderately loose" monetary policy, increase social financing and reducing interest rates "at the right time". The gathering came after Beijing in September began unveiling a raft of policies to reverse a growth slump that has gripped the economy for almost two years. "We're still not convinced that policy support will prevent the economy from slowing further next year", said Julian Evans-Pritchard, head of China economics at research group Capital Economics. Among individual equities, chip company Broadcom surged nearly 25 percent after reporting a 51 percent jump in quarterly revenues to $14.1 billion behind massive growth in AI-linked business. New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 43,828.06 (close) New York - S&P 500: FLAT at 6,051.09 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 19,926.72 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 8,300.33 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,409.57 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.1 percent at 20,405.92 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.0 percent at 39,470.44 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.1 percent at 19,971.24 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 2.0 percent at 3,391.88 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0504 from $1.0467 on Thursday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2622 from $1.2673 Dollar/yen: UP at 153.60 yen from 152.63 yen Euro/pound: UP at 83.19 pence from 82.59 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.5 percent at $74.49 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.8 percent at $71.29 per barrel burs-jmb/st
ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) Given Outperform Rating at Evercore ISIDrop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’