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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LegalZoom (Nasdaq: LZ) is proud to announce the expansion of its partnership with Defy Ventures, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing career readiness, personal development, and entrepreneurship training to currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. The expanded partnership will include funding for mental health and wellbeing programs, reinforcing LegalZoom’s commitment to creating pathways to economic opportunity for underrepresented communities that face significant challenges due to employment history, race and ethnicity, gender identity, and incarceration. With LegalZoom’s support, Defy Ventures will be able to expand its mental health and wellbeing initiatives for its clients, focusing on trauma-informed care that addresses the unique challenges they face. By helping to fund Defy Ventures’ mental wellness programs, LegalZoom is helping to ensure that these individuals have access to crucial mental health resources, empowering them not only to build businesses but also to rebuild their lives with dignity and resilience. “Defy Ventures exemplifies the incredible power of resilience and the potential for true transformation. We are honored to extend our partnership to support their mental health initiatives, which are essential for giving people a real second chance,” said Nicole Miller, Chief Legal Officer at LegalZoom and Board Member of Defy Ventures. “Our ongoing investment in Defy Ventures’ impactful programs reflects our commitment to social equity and empowering individuals to rebuild their lives and communities.” Defy Ventures offers a range of holistic programs, including CEO of Your New Life , Entrepreneur Bootcamp , and Business Accelerator , which equip individuals with the business and confidence-building skills they need to succeed. The mental health and wellbeing program, first launched in 2023 with funding from LegalZoom, integrates trauma-informed principles into the full suite of Defy’s programs, offering a critical layer of support for participants facing past trauma and the challenges of reintegration. These combined efforts had allowed Defy to maintain a three-year recidivism rate of less than 15%, far below the national average. In 2025, LegalZoom will deepen its commitment to Defy Ventures’ mental health and wellbeing programs, providing $100,000 in funding to support and expand critical mental health resources. This funding will allow Defy Ventures to: Revise and Enhance Curriculum: Incorporate trauma-informed care principles into program materials to create a supportive, safe environment for all participants. Expand Support Groups: Offer mental health and wellbeing support groups for post-release clients, giving them a space to find peer support as they navigate reentry. Train Staff in Trauma-Informed Care: Equip staff with best practices in trauma-informed care through dedicated training sessions. Provide Ongoing Technical Support: Facilitate regular case conferences and technical support to deepen staff expertise on mental health and wellness topics. “People with criminal histories face myriad collateral consequences after their return to society. Partners like LegalZoom are instrumental in giving them a real chance at a fresh start by supporting our whole-person programs,” said Andrew Glazier, President and CEO at Defy Ventures. “LegalZoom’s focus on expanding our mental health and wellbeing practice will be a game-changer for our clients, providing essential support as they build new skills, launch business ideas, and work toward a stable future.” Since the beginning of its partnership with Defy Ventures in 2021, LegalZoom has made a meaningful impact through funding, volunteer support, and product donations, helping Defy transform the lives of individuals re-entering society. Previous contributions from LegalZoom have enabled Defy to: Fund a cohort at the California Women’s Facility (2021-2022) Support post-release services, including career pathways, a 17-week Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, and Business Accelerator courses (2022-2023) Launch and expand the Mental Health and Wellbeing practice with the hiring of Dr. Yehudah Pryce, Senior Director of National Mental Health & Wellbeing Programs (2023-2024) Through this expanded partnership, LegalZoom and Defy Ventures continue to provide a second chance for those often overlooked by society, empowering them to create meaningful change in their own lives and in their communities. Together, they are working toward a future where every individual has the tools, support, and mental resilience needed to succeed. About LegalZoom LegalZoom is a leading online platform for business formation in the United States. Driven by a mission to unleash entrepreneurship, LegalZoom delivers comprehensive legal and compliance products and expertise for small business owners through easy-to-use technology. From free business formations to business management solutions and professional advisory services, LegalZoom supports millions of small business owners and their families throughout the entrepreneurial journey. Founded on the belief that everyone should have affordable access to legal and financial expertise, LegalZoom empowers entrepreneurs to make their dream a reality. For more information, please visit www.legalzoom.com. Contact: press@legalzoom.com
Opposition fighters are at Damascus' gates. Who are they and what now?
Strictly Come Dancing fans says they were 'screaming' as there was an unusual move in honour of an audience member during the latest live show. Each week, eagle-eyed viewers are usually pointing out the famous faces sitting on the sidelines in the ballroom as the competing couples taking to the dance floor live. But on Saturday night (Dcember 7) as the semi-final of the BBC One dance contest took place, it was judge Craig Revel Horwood who pointed out one of the celebrities sitting in the live studio audience after JB Gill and Lauren Oakley performed their second of two performances on the night. READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans 'don't know what's worse' as Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell in tears It was JB's salsa, to Red Alert by Basement Jaxx, that truly impressed the judges, receiving a score of 40 points. Craig Revel Horwood offered the singer a Paul Hollywood style handshake, pointing out that the Great British Bake Off judge was in the audience. As the performance came to an end and they made their way over to Tess Daly to receive their comments, Craig told JB: "Darling, you need to come over here. Come on. Come to daddy!" As JB walked over, he added: "Paul Hollywood is in, darling!" before extending out his hand for a handshake. JB then went down the line hugging and shaking the hands of Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke and Strictly fans were quickly flocking to social media to comment. JB was thrilled to receive a handshake from Craig @carrie_walsh_ SAID: "SCREAMING NOT JB GETTING A CRAIG/HOLLYWOOD HANDSHAKE!!!! #strictly." @Lemon_Zee_ commented: "Craig just SHOOK JB'S HAND and if that doesnt win him the whole competition then shut down the whole thing #strictly." @anbhvt wrote: "What a moment! Craig gave JB a Hollywood handshake, and the entire show witnessed an iconic event #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing." @kkpasi397 posted: "Craig just gave JB a Hollywood handshake! This is iconic! #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing." @TheEricaJames shared: "Nice touch from Craig, a handshake for JB! And well deserved. #Strictly." @Amy80115720 added: "Wow the Paul Hollywood handshake for JB from Craig (fully deserved tho) #StrictlyComeDancing #strictly."
DALLAS , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AHT) ("Ashford Trust" or the "Company") announced today the conversion of its 226-room Le Pavillon Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana to a Tribute Portfolio property. Marriott's Tribute Portfolio is a growing global family of characterful, independent hotels drawn together by their passion for captivating design and their drive to create vibrant social scenes for guests and locals alike.Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs win at the buzzer again, topping Panthers 30-27 on Shrader's field goal
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A small but perfectly formed Cornwall museum dedicated to the history of communications has been honoured with a prestigious award. PK Porthcurno, Museum of Global Communications in West Cornwall, won the gold award in the 'Small Visitor Attraction of the Year' category at the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2024. The museum tells the story of worldwide communications - located in the place where it all began - and the unsung heroes who have played a crucial role in connecting people over the years. The village of Porthcurno played a historic role in establishing Britain's first successful underwater telegraph lines. Exhibits take visitors from early days of the electrical signal and Morse code to the cutting-edge technologies of today, including optical fibres, satellites, and multiplexing. It also has a "top-secret" World War Two bunker, escape stairs, and a cable hut situated above the a short walk away. The museum has teamed up with GCHQ and the Mobile Phone Museum for exhibitions on code-breaking, cybersecurity, and . It has also established mc7, a consortium of seven Cornish museums, each representing a unique aspect of Cornwall’s heritage. Its latest addition is Poppy PK - a 1950s mobile telegraph unit, which is taken to local schools to spark conversations about the evolution of communication - and the mobile phones we take for granted today. Museum bosses said winning gold at Cornwall Tourism Awards "fills us with immense pride and recognition". They hailed it as a "significant milestone" in its history. And it was a double award win for Porthcurno, with the Minack Theatre picking up the award for best large visitor attraction. Julia Twomlow, creative director and CEO of PK Porthcurno said: "We are absolutely delighted to have received this prestigious award. It is such a wonderful achievement for our museum and a validation of the incredible work that our team do across all areas. "Congratulations also to our lovely neighbours at the Minack Theatre for winning Large Visitor Attraction - making it a double gold for Porthcurno!" Find out more about the museum .
As the Gaza war entered its 415th day, Israeli occupation forces targeted Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, injuring its director, Hussam Abu Safiya, who refused to evacuate despite Israeli threats and targeting. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported on Sunday that the Israeli occupation had carried out four massacres in the past 24 hours, resulting in 35 deaths and 94 injuries. The ministry confirmed that the total toll of Israeli aggression since 7 October 2023, had reached 44,211 deaths and 104,567 injuries. With the escalation of violence, particularly in the northern Gaza Strip, the military spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, announced on Saturday via Telegram the killing of an Israeli female prisoner in an area targeted by Israeli aggression. The statement emphasized the threat to the life of another female prisoner, alongside the slain detainee. It held Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his military leaders fully responsible for the lives of Israeli prisoners and detainees, accusing them of exacerbating the violence and suffering. In related developments, the American website Axios reported that President-elect Donald Trump was shocked to learn that half of the Israeli detainees in Gaza were still alive. According to Axios, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, in a call to Trump to congratulate him on his election win, urged that the release of the 101 detainees was an “urgent matter.” Herzog reportedly told Trump, “You have to save the hostages,” to which Trump responded, “Almost all of the hostages are probably dead.” Herzog then clarified that Israeli intelligence services believed that half of the detainees were still alive. In Lebanon, Israeli air raids on Saturday resulted in 84 deaths and 213 injuries, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Since the beginning of the aggression, the ministry reported that the total number of martyrs had reached 3,754, with 15,626 injured. Hezbollah, in five statements, confirmed targeting several Israeli military installations, including the Beria base (the primary air and missile defense base of the Northern Command), the Dado base (the headquarters of the Northern Command), the Zvulun military industries base near Haifa, and Camp 100 (a ground forces training camp) north of Ayelet Hashahar.
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Four rounds of intense competition across 9 exciting weeks, featuring 182 secondary schools, have brought us to the final two in the 2024 Grenlec Debates: Grenada Boys’ Secondary School ( GBSS) and St Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School (SAASS). The 2 finalists will meet each other in the final on Friday, 22 November 2024 after facing-off in the semi-final round with Presentation Brother’s College and Mac Donald College, respectively. Debaters from both SAASS and GBSS as well as other teams have captured the interest of the national audience and over 2,000 voted on the Grenlec’s social media platforms for the 2024 People’s Choice Award. The final match of the 2024 Grenlec Debates will be hosted under the theme “The Influence of Technology on Society” with a focus on “Digital Accountability and Ethical Innovation”. The final match will be broadcast on Saturday, 23 November, on MTV at 6 pm and on Sunday, 25 November on GBN TV from 4 pm. It will also be broadcast on GIS and available for viewing on Grenlec’s YouTube channel. Grenlec
Millicom (Tigo) updates on Interim Dividend and intended SDR delisting from Nasdaq Stockholm Luxembourg, December 11, 2024 – Millicom International Cellular S.A. (“Millicom” or the “Company”), today announced further details regarding the payment of the Interim Dividend and the intended delisting of SDRs from Nasdaq Stockholm, including removal as from January 13, 2025 of certain fees for conversions of SDRs to Millicom U.S. Shares traded at Nasdaq U.S.. Update on dates relating to the Interim Dividend As announced on November 29, 2024, Millicom’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved the distribution of an interim dividend payment of $1.00 per share (the “Interim Dividend”) to be paid on January 10, 2025 (“Payment Date”). Other important dates relating to the Interim Dividend are as follows: Record date . The Interim Dividend will be paid to (i) shareholders who are registered in the U.S. with Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., and (ii) SDR holders who are registered in Sweden with Euroclear Sweden AB, on January 3, 2025 at 23.59 CET (the “Interim Dividend Record Date”). Conversion Stoppage . Conversions from SDRs into common shares traded on the Nasdaq U.S. (“Millicom U.S. Shares”) and vice versa will not be permitted from December 23, 2024, up to and including January 3, 2025. Ex-Dividend Date . The ex-dividend date is January 2, 2025 for SDRs, and January 3, 2025 for Millicom U.S. Shares. Any Millicom U.S. Shares and SDRs that are acquired on or after these dates will not be eligible to receive the Interim Dividend. Currency. Holders of Millicom U.S. Shares registered with Broadridge will receive their Interim Dividend payment in USD. SDR holders will receive their Interim Dividend payment in SEK. Millicom shall arrange for the conversion of the Interim Dividend from USD to SEK. Such currency conversions shall be made at the official SEK to USD exchange rate published by the Riksbank (Sweden’s central bank) on January 3, 2025, at 4.15 pm CET. Payment Date. The Interim Dividend will be paid on January 10, 2025. Holders of SDRs will be paid by electronic transfer to bank accounts linked to their securities accounts. Holders of Millcom U.S. shares will be paid in accordance with the applicable procedures of Broadridge and the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). SDR holders that wish to receive the payment of the Interim Dividend in USD must previously convert their SDRs to Millicom U.S. Shares by sumitting valid and complete conversion instructions to Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (“SEB”) by December 20, 2024 at 3.00 pm CET. For information on certain tax aspects in relation to the Interim Dividend, see the press release announced on November 29, 2024 and additional information available on the “Nasdaq Stockholm Delisting & Interim Dividend” section of the Millicom website: https://www.millicom.com/investors/Nasdaq_Stockholm_Delisting_and_Interim_Dividend . Further details regarding the delisting from Nasdaq Stockholm and related conversion process As announced on November 29, 2024, Millicom plans to maintain the current listing of its common shares on Nasdaq U.S. under the ticker symbol “TIGO” and to apply to delist the Company's SDR from Nasdaq Stockholm. The application for delisting will be submitted to Nasdaq Stockholm no earlier than March 3, 2025. Upon approval, Nasdaq Stockholm will set the last day of trading (the “Delisting Effective Date”) for the SDRs, which is currently expected to be March 17, 2025 at the earliest. The delisting will result in the SDR program being terminated. As a result, to remain as shareholders of Millicom, SDR holders must convert 1 their SDRs into Millicom U.S. Shares prior to the Delisting Effective Date. Millicom will, in due course, provide further information regarding such conversions of SDRs into Millicom U.S. Shares, as well as make such information available on the “Nasdaq Stockholm Delisting & Interim Dividend” section of the Millicom’s webpage: https://www.millicom.com/investors/Nasdaq_Stockholm_Delisting_and_Interim_Dividend Such information is as far as currently possible summarized below. Eligible account . In order to withdraw and hold the Millicom U.S. Shares underlying the SDRs (to which we refer for convenience as the “conversion” of SDRs into Millicom U.S. Shares), SDR holders must have an account eligible to hold U.S. shares. To start this process, the SDR holders must contact their bank/broker to obtain an eligible account and receive the Millicom U.S. Shares. If the SDRs are nominee registered ( Sw. förvaltarregistrerade ), the bank/broker should tell the SDR holder what actions the holder need to take in order to convert SDRs to U.S. Shares. Directly registered SDR-holders will, if they do not already have an eligible account with their bank/broker, be required to open a custody account, an investment savings account ( Sw. investeringssparkonto ), or an endowment insurance ( Sw. kapitalförsäkring ), and transfer their SDRs to such account, in order to be able to complete the conversion into Millicom U.S. Shares. There are several Swedish banks, stockbrokers or online brokers that offer custody accounts, investment savings accounts or endowment insurance at no cost. Tranches. From January 20, 2025, conversions will be carried out in eight weekly tranches (the “Conversion Tranches”). The first Conversion Tranche will start on Monday January 20, 2025. Subsequent Conversion Tranches will start each consecutive Monday (i.e., January 27, February 3, February 10, February 17, February 24, March 3, and March 10, 2025). The last Conversion Tranche will only be available if the Delisting Effective Date is on or after March 17, 2025. Should Nasdaq Stockholm decide on a Delisting Effective Date that is later than March 17, 2025, further tranches may be added. In order to be included in a Conversion Tranche, SEB must have received a valid and complete conversion instruction by 3.00 pm CET on the applicable start date of the Conversion Tranche chosen by the SDR holder. For example, if SDR holders wish to convert their SDRs during the first Conversion Tranche, then their bank/broker should send instructions during the week starting on Monday, January 13, 2025, and no later than 3.00 pm CET on Monday January 20, 2025. If an SDR holder misses this deadline, the conversion will be processed in the next available Conversion Tranche. Millicom U.S. Shares will be delivered to the eligible account three to four trading days after the start of each Conversion Tranche. Fees . Millicom will cover the conversion fees charged by SEB and Broadridge for processing the Conversion Tranches. Note that SDR holders may still have to pay fees charged by their banks or brokers, which are outside of Millicom’s control and will not be covered by Millicom. SDR holders that wish to convert their SDRs into Millicom U.S. Shares before the first Conversion Tranche may do so by paying a fee to SEB and Broadbridge (in addition to any other applicable fee charged by the SDR Holder’s bank or broker) as per the procedures described on Millicom’s website 2022-10-17-millicom-sdr-conversion-process-2022-final.pdf . If an SDR-holder has not already converted its SDRs into Millicom U.S. Shares upon the Delisting Effective Date, then SEB shall transfer the underlying Millicom U.S. Shares to the SDR-holder. SEB is only obligated and able to make such transfer if the SDR holder’s bank/broker has given SEB a transfer instruction that makes it possible for SEB to do so. Otherwise, SEB is entitled, and intends, to sell the underlying Millicom U.S. Shares and distribute the sale proceeds to the SDR-holder (with the deduction of reasonable costs, fees and taxes) pursuant to Section 17 of the SDR terms and conditions available in the Stock Information section of the website: https://ww2-cdn.tigocloud.net/Millicom_General_Terms_and_Conditions_SDR_Consolidated_2022_02a125e16d.pdf Such sale shall take place as soon as practicable after the termination of the SDR-program and the delisting of the SDRs from Nasdaq Stockholm. The payment of the proceeds from the sale will be paid pro rata to the previous holders of such SDRs in SEK after exchanging from USD. Regulatory Statement This information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 22:40 CET on December 11, 2024. For further information, please contact: About Millicom Millicom (NASDAQ U.S.: TIGO, Nasdaq Stockholm: TIGO_SDB) is a leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Latin America. Through our TIGO® and Tigo Business® brands, we provide a wide range of digital services and products, including TIGO Money for mobile financial services, TIGO Sports for local entertainment, TIGO ONEtv for pay TV, high-speed data, voice, and business-to-business solutions such as cloud and security. As of September 30, 2024, Millicom, including its Honduras Joint Venture, employed approximately 15,000 people, and provided mobile and fiber-cable services through its digital highways to more than 46 million customers, with a fiber-cable footprint over 14 million homes passed. Founded in 1990, Millicom International Cellular S.A. is headquartered in Luxembourg. Forward-Looking Statements Statements included herein that are not historical facts, including without limitation statements concerning the payment of the Interim Dividend and the timing of such payment, the submission of an application to Nasdaq Stockholm to delist the SDRs, the timing of the Delisting Effective Date, the ability to withdraw the Common Shares underlying the SDRs and the timing of the Conversion Tranches, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. In the event such risks or uncertainties materialize, Millicom’s results and its ability to pay the Interim Dividend or consummate the delisting of the SDRs could be materially adversely affected. A list and description of such risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found under the heading “Risk Factors” in Millicom’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023, which is available on the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov . All forward-looking statements attributable to Millicom or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. Except to the extent otherwise required by applicable law, Millicom does not undertake any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 1 i.e., withdraw the common shares underlying their SDRs, which we refer for convenience as the “conversion” of SDRs into Millicom U.S. Shares, pursuant to the SDR terms and conditions available in the Stock Information section of the website: https://ww2-cdn.tigocloud.net/Millicom_General_Terms_and_Conditions_SDR_Consolidated_2022_02a125e16d.pdf
Mace, activist dispute handshake that resulted in arrestCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is taking heat this weekend for being seen partying at a Taylor Swift concert while pro-Palestinian protesters were coursing through downtown Montreal and burning and looting as they went. Trudeau, who, along with being Labor Party Leader and the nation’s PM, also represents Papineau, a portion of Montreal, in the nation’s Parliament, but critics are blasting him for being about 330 miles away in Toronto for the Swift concert as his hometown burned. A viral video shows a carefree Trudeau dancing to Swift’s song, “You Don’t Own Me,” as news was breaking about the riot in Montreal, Fox News reported. As Trudeau danced, a mob of people protesting against NATO and Israel paraded through the streets of Montreal setting off smoke bombs, burning effigies of Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, causing property damage to buildings and cars, and holding pro-Palestinian flags and banners. Montreal Police spokesperson Véronique Dubuc said at least three people were arrested for interfering with the police. And one civilian and several police officers suffered minor injuries. But protesters said nearly half a dozen were injured by police and had to seek medical treatment. The riot was reportedly organized by Divest for Palestine and the Convergence of Anti-Capitalist Struggles. Trudeau called the riot “appalling” and on X wrote, “Acts of antisemitism, intimidation, and violence must be condemned wherever we see them. There must be consequences, and rioters held accountable.” But several members of Parliament blasted Trudeau for dancing the night away while the crisis brewed. Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called for Canada to “bring back law and order.” “Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances. This is the Canada built by the Liberal government,” he wrote on X. “Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved.” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also blasted Trudeau over the concert frivolity and said that Trudeau was “too busy to condemn a violent Hamas takeover of our streets.” He also accused Trudeau of making Canada into “a playground for foreign interference.” Quebec Premier François Legault also took aim at Trudeau, saying, “Burning cars and smashing windows is not about sending a message, it’s about causing chaos. Such acts have no place in a peaceful society like Quebec.” Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook at: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Huston , or Truth Social @WarnerToddHuston
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NoneBy MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration National Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back National Politics | Trump won’t be able to save the struggling US beef industry Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.