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“Wanted” posters with the names and faces of health care executives have been popping up on the streets of New York. Hit lists with images of bullets are circulating online with warnings that industry leaders should be afraid. The apparent targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the menacing threats that followed have sent a shudder through corporate America and the health care industry in particular, leading to increased security for executives and some workers. In the week since the brazen shooting , health insurers have removed information about their top executives from company websites, canceled in-person meetings with shareholders and advised all employees to work from home temporarily. An internal New York Police Department bulletin warned this week that the online vitriol that followed the shooting could signal an immediate “elevated threat.” Police fear that the Dec. 4 shooting could "inspire a variety of extremists and grievance-driven malicious actors to violence," according to the bulletin, which was obtained by The Associated Press. “Wanted” posters pasted to parking meters and construction site fences in Manhattan included photos of health care executives and the words “Deny, defend, depose” — similar to a phrase scrawled on bullets found near Thompson’s body and echoing those used by insurance industry critics . Thompson's wife, Paulette, told NBC News last week that he told her some people had been threatening him and suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Investigators believe the shooting suspect, Luigi Mangione , may have been motivated by hostility toward health insurers. They are studying his writings about a previous back injury, and his disdain for corporate America and the U.S. health care system. Mangione’s lawyer has cautioned against prejudging the case. Mangione, 26, has remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday . Manhattan prosecutors are working to bring him to New York to face a murder charge. UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, said this week it was working with law enforcement to ensure a safe work environment and to reinforce security guidelines and building access policies, a spokesperson said. The company has taken down photos, names and biographies for its top executives from its websites, a spokesperson said. Other organizations, including CVS, the parent company for insurance giant Aetna, have taken similar actions. Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. has announced that its investor day will be held online, rather than in-person as originally planned. Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm, said last week it was temporarily closing its six offices for security reasons and would have its employees work from home. Heightened security measures likely will make health care companies and their leaders more inaccessible to their policyholders, said former Cigna executive Wendell Potter. “And understandably so, with this act of violence. There’s no assurance that this won’t happen again,” said Potter, who’s now an advocate for health care reform. Private security firms and consultants have been in high demand, fielding calls almost immediately after the shooting from companies across a range of industries, including manufacturing and finance. Companies have long faced security risks and grappled with how far to take precautions for high-profile executives. But these recent threats sparked by Thompson's killing should not be ignored, said Dave Komendat, a former security chief for Boeing who now heads his own risk-management company. “The tone and tenor is different. The social reaction to this tragedy is different. And so I think that people need to take this seriously,” Komendat said. Just over a quarter of the companies in the Fortune 500 reported spending money to protect their CEOs and top executives. Of those, the median payment for personal security doubled over the last three years to just under $100,000. Hours after the shooting, Komendat was on a call with dozens of chief security officers from big corporations, and there have been many similar meetings since, hosted by security groups or law enforcement agencies assessing the threats, he said. “It just takes one person who is motivated by a poster — who may have experienced something in their life through one of these companies that was harmful," Komendat said. ___ Associated Press reporters Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York and Barbara Ortutay in San Francisco, contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DKbitex , proudly headquartered in Dubai, has emerged as a trailblazer in the Middle East's cryptocurrency landscape. As the first advanced cryptocurrency exchange rooted in the region, DKbitex is revolutionizing the way people in the Middle East access and invest in digital assets. With a mission to empower the Middle Eastern community, DKbitex provides a seamless, secure, and innovative trading experience. DKbitex: Pioneering a New Chapter for Middle Eastern Crypto DKbitex's launch comes at a pivotal moment for the cryptocurrency market. After weathering a challenging "crypto winter," the industry has entered a bullish phase fueled by Bitcoin's halving and its milestone breakthrough of $90,000. This resurgence has reignited global interest in digital assets, and DKbitex is positioned to lead the charge in the Middle East, offering a gateway for Saudi Arabia and neighboring nations to participate in this dynamic economy. Historically, the Middle East's economic identity has been linked to oil wealth, with cryptocurrencies gaining limited traction. However, the region's vast economic potential and rapid diversification make it ripe for digital transformation. DKbitex serves as the region's forerunner, ensuring that its communities can invest and thrive in the digital economy without being left behind. Key Features of DKbitex DKbitex is more than a trading platform-it's a movement aimed at integrating the Middle East into the global cryptocurrency ecosystem. By providing a reliable, locally-rooted exchange, DKbitex is empowering communities to invest, trade, and build wealth in a secure and innovative environment. The exchange's vision extends beyond just trading. It aspires to be a catalyst for economic inclusion, aligning with Dubai's ambition to be a global leader in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency adoption. Exciting Developments Ahead After over half a year of rigorous planning and preparation, DKbitex is set to unveil a series of exciting updates. From expanding its list of tradable assets to launching new features and services, DKbitex is committed to meeting the evolving needs of its users. These updates underscore its dedication to innovation and excellence in the cryptocurrency space. Industry Optimism Around DKbitex Crypto experts are optimistic about DKbitex's potential to reshape the region's digital economy. "DKbitex is not just the first advanced cryptocurrency exchange in Dubai; it's a bold step towards democratizing access to digital assets in the Middle East," noted a leading blockchain analyst. "Its strong focus on user experience, security, and innovation makes it a platform to watch." A New Era of Cryptocurrency Investment in the Middle East DKbitex represents a landmark moment in the Middle East's financial evolution. As Bitcoin's rise continues to fuel global interest, DKbitex offers the tools and infrastructure needed to harness this momentum. With a commitment to empowering the region and keeping pace with global trends, DKbitex is set to become a cornerstone of the Middle Eastern cryptocurrency market. Media Contact: Company Name: DKbitex Contact Person's Name: Sarah Malik Email: [email protected] Website: https://dkbitex.io/ Disclaimer: This content is provided by sponsor. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5099bb33-7375-4b77-b1f9-f2e04e6c9787
‘More than just people giving time or money’: She’s leading Singapore’s social service sector into the futureThe Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre is reporting that site servicing is nearing completion for future interim housing sites. Michal Fark, municipal director of recovery, told council on Tuesday (Dec. 3) that they have done as much servicing at the in-town sites as possible in absence of knowing what will actually be placed on the land. “Once we actually further clarify with the Government of Alberta on what will be procured and what will be placed where, then we will have to do some additional servicing and connection work with those structures,” Fark said. In October, the Alberta government committed $112 million toward interim housing for Jasper residents who lost their homes in the wildfire. The funding will go toward building 250 modular homes. Jason Nixon, minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services, confirmed in the legislature on Nov. 28 that they were on track to create 250 new homes just after Christmas. Coun. Scott Wilson asked Fark if the province would be able to make good on this promise. “There’s quite a bit of vagueness to the interim housing,” Wilson said. “We should be transparent with our community that we don’t really know what’s coming, and if our residents have any opportunity in finding accommodation elsewhere, I think they should be doing that.” Fark replied they were still in discussions with the province about what the built form would look like and the timeline of deployment, although 80 to 100 units were previously anticipated for January, with the rest coming later. “At this moment in time, I still see a pathway to 80 to 100 units being delivered sometime relatively early in the New Year, but it is a challenging pathway for sure, and the longer we go without certainty, the narrower that pathway becomes,” he said. Fark added they were meeting with federal and provincial partners later this week to further discuss the timeline for interim housing. Interim housing will be located at the northeast end of town and on the southern end of town along Connaught Drive. A site called 2B just south of Highway 16 was also slated for interim housing, but an impact assessment has determined this site was unviable. Fark said they were working with Parks Canada to identify other sites. Coun. Rico Damota noted there was some frustration in the community about the slow progress with interim housing and asked how many hectares were still available following the removal of site 2B. According to Fark, this resulted in a loss of 3.5 hectares of land, leaving just more than four hectares on the available sites within town. If the province opted for higher density, there could be up to 80 units per hectare. “We have strongly communicated with the Government of Alberta the need to achieve higher entities, and they are working with us, and we are having those ongoing conversations,” he said. Coun. Wendy Hall asked how residents could apply to get on the waitlist for interim housing. Fark replied they were still working with the province on a prioritization matrix that has not been finalized, and a housing application form was still on the municipality’s website. “We know that the demand will exceed what we’re going to be able to supply with the interim housing program,” he added. “Essentially, once we know how many units we are getting and how soon we can anticipate them, then we will go through the prioritization matrix, and that is what will be used to determine who has the first opportunity for the interim housing.”
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Open any social media platform today, and you are greeted with posts, videos, and discussions dominated by a single contentious issue: the new reservation policy. Students are taking to the streets in protest, and those who aren’t, they can be seen channeling their frustrations through every means available. The topic of reservation is becoming pervasive. It is sparking debates that are increasingly polarized and acrimonious. The timing of the discussion about the reservation issue, just after elections, has added fuel to the fire. Many voters, particularly the youth, had pinned their hopes on political parties they believed would bring fairness and justice to governance. With the National Conference (NC) government now in power, supported significantly by the youth electorate, public expectations are soaring. The government is seen by many as the final resort that can rectify what they view as an unjust reservation policy. However, the government’s initial response—forming a cabinet sub-committee to review the policy—has not inspired confidence. The committee’s composition, made up of majority of members from reserved categories, has been criticized for lacking impartiality. Adding to the skepticism is the absence of a clear deadline for the submission of the committee’s findings. To many pragmatic observers, it is a tactic to buy time than a sincere attempt to resolve the issue. Recently during a media interaction, education minister Sakina Yatoo, a member of the cabinet sub-committee, stated that commenting on the reservation issue is inappropriate as the matter is sub-judice. Such remarks make it evident how much we can realistically expect from the sub-committee. For the NC government, the reservation policy represents one of the first major challenges since coming to power. The youth, who voted overwhelmingly for the party, see this as a defining moment. Their dissatisfaction with the policy was evident during the election campaign, and now they expect swift and decisive action. How the government handles this issue will be a litmus test for its ability to meet public expectations and honor its promises. At the very least, the NC government must take steps to reverse the policy to its previous state. Restoring the status quo ante would not solve all the problems associated with reservation, but it would quell immediate tensions and bring relief to those who feel disenfranchised by the new rules. Such a move would also demonstrate that the government is listening to its electorate and is capable of acting in the public’s interest. NC government must understand that people want them to reverse the new reservation policy immediately — long-term reforms can wait. The debates around reservation on social media are becoming increasingly toxic. Arguments have turned into personal attacks, with individuals from opposing sides trading barbs. The open hostility is alarming, and if left unchecked, this divisiveness could escalate into something more serious, threatening the social fabric. One common grievance voiced by those from open merit categories is that reservations are unwarranted and lead to undeserving candidates occupying government positions. This narrative is both unfair and misleading. The difference in scores between open merit candidates and those from reserved categories is often negligible, and reserved category candidates also face intense competition within their respective quotas. On the other hand, some individuals from reserved categories view reservations as an inherent right rather than a temporary measure to address historical injustices. This perspective has led to resistance against any reforms, including the sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Yet, many right-thinking individuals within these communities recognize the need for reform and advocate for measures like sub-categorization, which could help address disparities within reserved groups. While reversing the new policy is an immediate priority, it is clear that the reservation system as a whole needs systematic reform. Over the years, the system has strayed from its original purpose of bridging social and economic inequalities. Instead, it has often become a tool for political appeasement, leading to resentment and polarization. Any meaningful reform must strike a balance between addressing historical injustices and ensuring meritocracy. Sub-categorization of SCs and STs, for instance, could ensure that the benefits of reservation reach the most disadvantaged within these communities. Similarly, periodic reviews of the socio-economic status of beneficiaries could help prevent the misuse of reservations by those who no longer need them. However, these reforms require a national dialogue and consensus. They cannot be implemented hastily or without considering things thoroughly. For now, the NC government must focus on calming the immediate unrest by reversing the policy to its previous state. This would provide breathing room for broader discussions on long-term reforms. As the protests continue and the debates grow louder, will the government choose to act decisively and restore public confidence, or will it succumb to the inertia of political expediency? The answer to this question will determine not just the fate of the reservation policy but also the legacy of the National Conference government. In the end, what is needed is not just a rollback of policies but a genuine effort to address the issue. Only then can we hope to move beyond the divisive debates and towards a future where opportunity is not a matter of privilege but a fundamental right for all.
Despite travels through Mexico City, South America, and the heart of the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, Luca Guadagnino ’s movie adaptation of “ Queer ,” William S. Burroughs’ semi-autobiographical novel, was surprisingly shot almost entirely on the famed Cinecittà soundstages in Rome, Italy. Speaking on the Filmmaker Toolkit podcast , Guadagnino said that was necessary to allow the film’s production design to capture the complex and unspoken emotions between William Lee ( Daniel Craig ) and Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey), an expat former soldier who makes the heroin-addicted Lee believe he might be finally able to establish an intimate connection with someone. “We conceived the movie not as a period drama, but as a visualization of the imagination of William S. Burroughs, and the possibility that cinema could let us to play with space as a mirror, as a box, as a canvas that could make us feel the power of the connection more,” Guadagnino said in what was his fifth appearance on Toolkit. The connection required the power of cinema, because on the surface, the younger Allerton often acts indifferent to the older Lee. While not quite an unrequited love story, Lee struggles to read Allerton’s emotions and at times wonders if he is even gay. It’s a connection (and misconnection) expressed in movement. Choreographers Sol Léon and Paul Lightfoot (Nederlands Dance Theater) worked with Craig and Starkey for two month, creating a heightened sense of emotionally-charged reality within the artifice of the film’s sets. Guadagnino drew direct inspiration from Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s “The Red Shoes,” “Tales of Hoffman,” and particularly “Black Narcissus,” a colorful fever dream set inside a convent of nuns atop the Himalayas. “The movie is entirely shot on stage like a Powell and Pressburger fantasy, like a ‘Black Narcissus’ fantasy,” Guadagnino said. “The fate, and the contrast of culture, here is the desire, longing, and love.” Guadagnino even wanted to adopt those film’s use of old-school matte painting as a backdrop. But early on, he realized this would be at odds with how he worked with actors to stage a scene. “The way I like to shoot is that I like to have the actors own the scene before anything else. I give them the place, the space, and I look at them moving in the space. Once they do that, I then know where to put the camera,” said Guadagnino. “But in order to use a painted backdrop, you have to make sure that the camera is only in one place, which would have forced the actor to be in that place, and I didn’t like that. And that’s where 21st century technology comes to help.” While on the podcast, Guadagnino admitted his opinions of the latest digital technology had evolved considerably in recent years, having realized what he initially disliked about it was the “lazy” ways in which he believed many filmmakers had used it. On “ Queer ,” Guadagnino was liberated by CGI. The film went through hundreds of iterations in the concept phase, giving him the ability to find the exact amount of visible brush strokes and precise color to evoke the emotion of a scene. “The cold sameness of CGI can become uniqueness and warmth,” he said. It’s a surprise then that Guadagnino hired a first-time production designer, Stefano Baisi, to help him execute such a complicated concept and process. Baisi, a trained architect, had collaborated with Guadagnino in his interior design studio, working on projects like a home for Yoox founder Francesco Marchetti, prior to becoming the production designer on “Queer.” Baisi told IndieWire he initially met Guadagnino in 2017 when a colleague needed some help on a project they were doing. “I met Luca and passed an entire day discussing, designing a staircase railway, and then after a few months I joined the team,” said Baisi, who would go on to regularly work with Guadagnino for six years prior to “Queer.” “When he asked me [to design ‘Queer’] I was very surprised, I [couldn’t’] believe it, because for me something like working on a movie was impossible.” Baisi found the transition easier than he imagined because movies, unlike architecture, had a script and a longer concept phase that supplied far more direction about the overall vision. For his part, Guadagnino watched Baisi manage enormous architectural projects with ease and had a gut instinct he would have a strong cinematic sensibility. Any concerns about Baisi making the jump were outweighed by knowing Baisi wouldn’t be confined by preconceived notions about how movies are normally made. “With Stefano we drew all of these backdrops, the color palette was drawn, the clouds, the skies, the buildings, everything was really designed on paper in the months before shooting,” Guadagnino said of the months-long post-production process during which Baisi stayed on as a supervisor. “Stefano’s work ended basically a few weeks before presenting the movie at the [Venice Film] festival because this CGI work was not just CGI people putting up some backdrop or plates, it was taking these drawings and making them digital matte paintings of it.” While Baisi said Guadagnino had a very clear concept of how the backdrop related to the emotion of the scene, which was fine-tuned with concept artists in creating dozens of variations for each scene, it was necessary to find the film’s balance between artifice and the real world environments it was recreating. As part of the pre-production process, Baisi went on a research trip that mirrored (but in reverse order) Burroughs’ real-life journey from Mexico City to Ecuador, seeing many of the real locations that inspired the author’s imagination. “The work of Burroughs is filled with this imaginary world he created; this is the first reason why Luca decided to create everything from scratch,” Baisi said. “We wanted to give the movie that kind of texture that comes from lighting [a movie shot in] technicolor.” The film’s painted backdrops of Mexico City, in particular the skies, use predominantly “acidic colors” that speak to the drug-fueled, dream-like haze Lee lives in. One notable exception: the quiet scene between Lee and Allerton after they make love in Lee’s ramshackle apartment. The set was complete with a red carpet directly inspired by Dorothy Vallens’ (Isabella Rossellini) look in “Blue Velvet.” “They are sitting in the couch, they’re reading their books, but they clearly are distracted by the desire within each other for each other,” said Guadagnino. “And they start to kiss and behind them there is this beautiful window that is like a big eye opening on them. There you have these incredible glowing, candied-colored, gold gilded sunset over Mexico City... that hugs and embraces the lovers in that moment. I’m very proud of the way the production design really became a protagonist of the story without being decorative.” Shooting against green and blue screens, part of what sells the scene and makes it soar is how cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom painted the sets with an additional expression layer of light that both aligns with the emotions and supplies a real light to match the backdrop’s artifice. “Sayombhu is a master,” said Baisi. “Luca gave him a lot of references for the lighting, one of the main references was Michaël Borremans, the Flemish painter, and we wanted to replicate that kind of light in his work.” Even Lee and Allerton’s journey to heart of the Amazon to find the Ayahuasca plant was shot at Cinecittà. The original concept was to shoot inside on a soundstage, but that proved to be a technical impossibility. Instead, Baisi found a hill of dirt from previous site work on the Cinecittà grounds and had a path dug through it to create the jungle pass. Then, with guidance from a botanical professor in Ecuador, Baisi’s team would surround it with plants that looked similar to what would be found in the Amazon, while blocking the Mediterranean pine trees of Rome and using visual effects set extensions for what could be seen beyond their make shift jungle-dirt pile. Besides the brief shots on the ocean beach late in the film, the only scene not shot at Cinecittà was when Lee visits the botanist to beg for information about where to locate the Ayahuasca plant. That scene was shot at a botanical garden in Palermo, Sicily. “I was born there and I grew up in Palermo, and then I left at the age of 22 just a few years after I bumped into this book,” said Guadagnino. “When we started to conceive this place where he meets the botanist... I brought to the table the memory of these gardens and I said, ‘I think those botanical gardens are really perfect and ready. We don’t need anything.’” For a movie in which so much is digitally drawn, Guadagnino takes pride in how little they altered this location rooted in his memory. “Behind Lee, when he sits outside and the guy tells him, ‘Okay, I’ll give you the map,’ there is a writing on the dust of the window, ‘Fox and Badger.’ This was written there by somebody and we kept it,” said Guadagnino with a grin. You can subscribe to the Toolkit podcast on Apple , Spotify , or your favorite podcast platform.Holiday Deals Under $25: Over 50 Sweet Deals Perfect for Stocking Stuffers, Last-Minute Gifts and More
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Jason Kelce , 37, found success playing football for the Philadelphia Eagles, while his brother, Travis Kelce , 35, followed a similar path — only for the Kansas City Chiefs. While the siblings are incredibly close, that doesn't mean things don't get tense when they played against each other on the field during their previous matches. Jason retired from football, and his wife, Kylie Kelce, 32, recently announced they are welcoming another daughter. Jason now appears on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown , after joining the show in May of this year. In a recent episode, he was asked what it was like playing against Travis. "It's annoying is what it is," Jason said. "He's so good, that's why. I was only fortunate to beat Trav once, but yeah, when you're out there on the field and you're getting ready to play your brother... There's just something about seeing your brother out there. You get this flashback to being out in the backyard playing football again." During Super Bowl LVII in 2023, their teams faced off against one another, with the Chiefs and Travis claiming the victory. Although this was their most notable competition, it wasn't the only time they battled it out on the field. The Chiefs (with Travis) won a home game in 2017 and an away game against the Eagles in 2021. Meanwhile, Jason, and the Eagles won a November 2023 away game against the Chiefs. In a previous episode of the brothers' joint podcast, New Heights , Jason shared that it's not all negative between the two. "We genuinely love playing against each other," Jason pointed out. "There's a lot of familiarity within both organizations, there's a lot of our friends and family that get excited and get to watch one game where both of us are playing. So all of that means a lot to us and we get to enjoy that for the entire week." Travis also praised his brother following the Philly team's losses, telling Sports Illustrated (via People ): "There's nothing really I can say to him other than I love him and he played a hell of a year, a hell of a season."Julia Wick | (TNS) Los Angeles Times As California politicos look ahead to 2025, the biggest question looming is whether Vice President Kamala Harris — a native daughter, battered just weeks ago by presidential election defeat — will enter the 2026 California governor’s race. Related Articles National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump invites China’s Xi to his inauguration even as he threatens massive tariffs on Beijing National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump National Politics | What Americans think about Hegseth, Gabbard and key Trump Cabinet picks AP-NORC poll National Politics | Trump is named Time’s Person of the Year and rings the New York Stock Exchange’s opening bell Harris has yet to give any public indication on her thoughts and those close to her suggest the governorship is not immediately top of mind. But if Harris does ultimately run — and that’s a massive if — her entrée would seismically reshape the already crowded race for California’s highest office. Recent polling suggests Harris would have a major advantage, with 46% of likely voters saying they were somewhat or very likely to support her for governor in 2026, according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey co-sponsored by The Times. “If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side,” Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, said during a recent UC Irvine panel interview . Porter, a high-profile Democrat who has been eyeing the wide-open governor’s race, has yet to say whether she plans to run. Porter’s point was broadly echoed in conversations with nearly a dozen California political operatives and strategists, several of whom requested anonymity to speak candidly. Most speculated that a Harris entry would cause some other candidates in the race to scatter, creating further upheaval in down-ballot races as a roster of ambitious politicians scramble for other opportunities. “In politics, you always let the big dogs eat first,” quipped Democratic political consultant Peter Ragone. The current gubernatorial field is a who’s who of California politicians, but lacks a clear favorite or star with widespread name recognition. The vast majority of California’s 22 million voters have yet to pay attention to the race and have little familiarity with the candidates. The list of Democratic candidates includes Los Angeles’ first Latino mayor in more than a century ( Antonio Villaraigosa ); the first female and first out LGBTQ leader of the state Senate ( Toni Atkins ); the sitting lieutenant governor and first woman to hold that post ( Eleni Kounalakis ); the state superintendent of public instruction ( Tony Thurmond ) and the former state controller ( Betty Yee ). Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is serving his second term as California governor, meaning he is ineligible to run again. Several other Democrats, including Porter, outgoing Health and Human Services Director Xavier Becerra and state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta have also publicly toyed with the idea of a run. They could be less likely to enter the fray should Harris decide to run. What the billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso — who has also been exploring a run — would choose to do is an open question, as Caruso might contrast himself with Harris as a more centrist candidate. The real estate developer was a registered Republican until November 2019. It’s unlikely that Harris will proffer a public decision in the immediate term, leaving plenty of time for political insiders to game out hypotheticals in the weeks and months to come. Harris’ office did not respond to a request for comment. “I think every candidate for governor is trying to get some kind of intel,” Mike Trujillo, a Los Angeles-based Democratic political consultant and former Villaraigosa staffer, said of a potential Harris run. Trujillo speculated that Harris’ current state was probably similar to Hillary Clinton’s hiking sojourns in the Chappaqua woods after losing to Donald Trump in 2016, or Al Gore growing a beard in the bruising aftermath of his 2000 defeat. “The first thing she’s probably thinking about is, ‘Well, can I run again for president in four years?’ Not, ‘Do I run for governor in two years?’” said one political operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. Harris maintains a home in Brentwood and previously served as California’s senator and attorney general. A successful run for governor in 2026 would almost certainly impede a grab for the presidency in 2028. (Though if history is any guide, an unsuccessful run for California governor does not definitively preclude a bid for the Oval Office: Two years after losing the White House to John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon lost the 1962 contest for governor to Pat Brown . The Yorba Linda native became the nation’s 37th president in 1969.) As the chief executive of a state that doubles as the world’s fifth-largest economy, Harris would have more power to steer policy and make changes as a California governor than she did as vice president, where her job required deference to President Biden. But leading a state, even the nation’s most populous, could feel like small potatoes after being a heartbeat (and a few dozen electoral votes) from the presidency. The protracted slog to November 2026 would also be a stark contrast to her ill-fated 107-day sprint toward the White House, particularly for a candidate whose 2020 presidential primary campaign was dogged by allegations of infighting and mismanagement. “I don’t think Kamala Harris has a deep psychological need to be governor of California, or to be in elective office in order to feel like she can contribute to society,” said the operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. “I think some of these people do, but she’s somebody who has enough prominence that she could do a lot of big, wonderful things without having to worry about balancing California’s budget or negotiating with Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel,” the Encino Democrat who chairs the Assembly’s budget committee. Technically, Harris has until March 2026 to decide whether she enters a race. But political strategists who spoke to The Times theorized that she probably would make a move by late spring, if she chooses to do so. “People will be more annoyed if she drops in in June,” a Democratic strategist involved with one of the gubernatorial campaigns said. Sending a clear signal by February would be more “courteous,” the strategist continued, explaining that such a move would give candidates more time to potentially enter other races. Kounalakis is a longtime friend and ally of Harris’ , and the vice president also has long-term relationships with some of the other candidates and potential candidates. California has eight statewide elected offices and campaign finance laws allow candidates to fundraise interchangeably for them, meaning money already raised for a candidate’s gubernatorial campaign could easily be redirected should they decide to run for, say, lieutenant governor instead. There are already a number of candidates running for lieutenant governor, including former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, former state Sen. Steven Bradford and former state Treasurer Fiona Ma. But that office probably would see even more interest should Harris enter the gubernatorial race. It’s a largely ceremonial position, but one that has served as a launching pad for the governorship. Still, even if Harris does enter the race, Republican political strategist Mike Murphy threw cold water on the idea that she would have an automatic glide path to the governor’s office. “It’s like Hollywood. Nobody knows anything. She’s famous enough to look credible in early polling. That’s all we know for sure,” Murphy said. “Does that predict the future? No. Are there a lot of downsides (to a potential Harris candidacy)? Totally, yes.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Just five weeks remain in the 2024 regular season in the NFL , and we're going to be treated to some high-stakes football down the stretch. That begins this week where there are several notable matchups that have the ability to shake up the playoff race, including Thursday night's NFC North showdown between the Packers and Lions . Before we get to kick off those games, however, teams across the league need to take the practice field and, in conjunction with preparing for these games, also need to evaluate the health of their roster. With that in mind, let's take our first glimpse of every team's injury report entering the week. All sports betting odds via DraftKings Sportsbook . Check out the latest DraftKings promo code to get in the game. Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions (-3.5), Thursday Packers : CB Jaire Alexander (knee), CB Corey Ballentine (knee), LB Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring), WR Romeo Doubs (concussion) OUT Lions : OT Taylor Decker (knee), DL Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring), DL Josh Paschal (knee), DL D.J. Reader (shoulder) OUT The Packers will be without Alexander on Thursday. The corner logged back-to-back limited practices on Monday and Tuesday but did not participate on Wednesday before officially being ruled out. Meanwhile, Doubs was limited throughout the week but has yet to clear concussion protocol and is sidelined yet again. Detroit will be shorthanded on Thursday night, particularly along the defensive line. Every player who has since been ruled out was unable to practice at all this week. Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings (-6) The Falcons held out wide receiver Darnell Mooney (Achilles, not injury-related) along with running back Jase McClellan (knee) on Wednesday. The team also limited four players due to injury: linebacker Troy Andersen (knee), linebacker Nate Landman (hamstring), defensive lineman Zach Harrison (Achilles), and defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro (ankle). Corner Stephon Gilmore (hamstring) and safety Jay Ward (elbow) were the two Vikings players missing from Wednesday's practice. Defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard (toe), linebacker Blake Cashman (knee), linebacker Patrick Jones II (knee), and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (thigh) were limited. Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles (-12) Carolina had everyone at practice on Wednesday outside of pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney . The club listed him as a nonparticipant due to rest but also noted a knee injury on the report. Meanwhile, tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (neck) was limited along with corner Caleb Farley (shoulder), linebacker Josey Jewell (hamstring) and linebacker D.J. Wonnum (knee). The Eagles held out safety Reed Blakenship (concussion), safety Sydney Brown (knee), receiver Britain Covey (neck) and tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) on Wednesday. The club then listed running back Saquon Barkley (rest) offensive lineman Mekhi Becton (knee, rest), defensive lineman Jalen Carter (rest), corner Darius Slay (concussion), defensive end Josh Sweat (rest) and receiver Johnny Wilson (hamstring) as limited. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was a full participant. Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (-6.5) The Browns were missing five players to begin the week of practice: defensive tackle Sam Kamara (concussion), receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion), safety Juan Thornhill (calf), receiver Jamari Thrash (shoulder) and offensive tackle Jedrick Wills (knee). Meanwhile, corner Myles Harden (tibia), defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (ankle), receiver Elijah Moore (shoulder) and corner Greg Newsome II (abdomen) were limited. The Steelers had a large number of players listed as nonparticipants on Wednesday, but they were merely given rest days. Defensive tackle Montravius Adams (knee), linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle) and receiver Calvin Austin III (concussion) were all limited. Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans (-3.5) Jacksonville did not have corner Tyson Campbell (thigh), punter Logan Cooke (left knee) and long snapper Ross Matiscik (hamstring) at practice on Wednesday. Linebacker Yasir Abdullah (hamstring) and offensive lineman Brandon Scherff (knee, shoulder) were limited. The Jaguars also placed starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence (concussion) on injured reserve . Corner Roger McCreary (shoulder), linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. (hamstring), guard Peter Skoronski (foot), defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (shoulder) and linebacker James Williams (knee) all did not practice for the Titans on Wednesday. Tennessee also limited receiver Tyler Boyd (foot) and corner Chidobe Awuzie (groin), along with offensive tackles Jaelyn Duncan (hamstring) and Leroy Watson IV (back). Las Vegas Raiders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6.5) The Raiders did not have corner Nate Hobbs (ankle) or running back Zamir White (quad) at practice on Wednesday. Fellow running back Alexander Mattison was the lone player listed as a limited participant. The Buccaneers conducted a walkthrough on Wednesday, so their practice report is an estimation. With that said, the club listed linebacker K.J. Britt (ankle), safety Mike Edwards (hamstring), running back Bucky Irving (hip, back), linebacker Anthony Nelson (shoulder), tackle Tristan Wirfs (foot, knee) and receiver Mike Evans (hamstring, calf) as nonparticipants. Corner Troy Hill (foot, knee), defensive back Tykee Smith (knee) and linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (ankle) were limited. After briefly exiting Week 13's matchup, quarterback Baker Mayfield (Achilles, knee) was a full participant in practice. New Orleans Saints (-5) at New York Giants The Saints have listed guard Cesar Ruiz (concussion) and Nick Saldiveri (knee) as nonparticipants on Wednesday. Tight end Taysom Hill was also listed as a DNP but will soon be moved to injured reserve after suffering a season-ending knee injury last week. Tight end Juwan Johnson (foot), center Erik McCoy (groin), receiver Bub Means (ankle), tight end Foster Moreau (shoulder) and guard Lucas Patrick (calf) were all limited. The Giants already announced that Drew Lock will get another start in Week 14 as Tommy DeVito continues to deal with a right forearm injury. He was limited on Wednesday alongside defensive lineman D.J. Davidson (shoulder), receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles), linebacker Dyontae Johnson (ankle), and defensive lineman Jordan Riley (knee). Defensive back Deonte Banks (rib) and defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck, shoulder) did not practice, along with offensive linemen Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) and Evan Neal (hip). New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (-6) New York did not have corner Sauce Gardner (hamstring) or running back Breece Hall (knee) at practice on Wednesday, along with offensive linemen Morgan Moses (knee, shoulder) and Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle). Rookie offensive lineman Olu Fashanu (toe) was limited. Tyreek Hill (wrist) headlined the group of five Dolphins players not practicing on Wednesday, along with offensive tackle Terron Armstead (knee), defensive tackle Calais Campbell (rest), offensive tackle Kendall Lamm (back, elbow) and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring). Linebacker Bradley Chubb (knee), corner Kendall Fuller (concussion), linebacker Cameron Goode (knee), defensive tackle Benito Jones (shoulder, back), corner Kader Kohou (back), running back Raheem Mostert (hip), safety Jordan Poyer (finger) and offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn (quad, knee) were limited. Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (-2.5) Analysis to come. Buffalo Bills (-5) at Los Angeles Rams The Bills conducted a walkthrough on Wednesday, so the participation levels are an estimation. That said, the club listed receiver Keon Coleman (wrist), tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee), tight end Quintin Morris (shoulder, groin), safety Taylor Rapp (neck, shoulder) and receiver Curtis Samuel (foot) as limited. Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers (-4) Chicago opened the week holding out six players from Wednesday's practice: receiver Keenan Allen (ankle), offensive lineman Ryan Bates (concussion), defensive back Elijah Hicks (ankle), running back Roschon Johnson (concussion), receiver D.J. Moore (quad) and running back D'Andre Swift (quad). Defensive back Kevin Byard III (shoulder), along with offensive linemen Coleman Shelton (knee) and Darnell Wright (knee), were limited. Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (-4) The Chargers listed linebacker Daiyan Henley (knee) as a nonparticipant while also giving pass rusher Khalil Mack a rest day. The club also limited linebacker Junior Colson (ankle), linebacker Bud Dupree (heel), corner Cam Hart (ankle), safety Tony Jefferson (hamstring), receiver Ladd McConkey (knee, shoulder), defensive back Elijah Molden (back) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin). The Chiefs have a clean bill of health heading into Week 14, as every player practiced fully on Wednesday. Cincinnati Bengals (-5.5) at Dallas Cowboys , Monday Analysis to come.Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutionsBryce Young found himself benched by the Carolina Panthers two starts into his sophomore season ... but last year's first overall pick has found success since returning to the lineup in week eight -- and Rod Wave may have something to do with the turnaround! The backstory ... the 26-year-old rapper took to social media, asking the Panthers signal caller to hit his line after he was pulled, and many fans wondered if the call happened, and if so, what'd the fellas discuss? I wonder what Rod Wave told Bryce Young😭😭 pic.twitter.com/VDxXOouWuP On Wednesday, Young resolved the mystery ... and while he wouldn't go into specifics, he did address the convo, and it's clear he's very appreciative. "He had just hit me when I got benched and everything," he said. "Being supportive, just like sending support. So I was definitely grateful for that." So what did @rodwave say to Bryce Young?! Here’s your answer: pic.twitter.com/l4apidOF2P Young revealed he had been a big fan of Wave's music, but did not know him personally before the two got in contact after the Instagram post. While the Panthers still sit at a dismal 3-9, the team has been significantly more competitive since Young returned to the starting lineup. BY has completed 102 of his 169 passes in those five games ... for six touchdowns and three interceptions. As for Rod, he's yet to comment on the conversations, but if the 23-year-old keeps improving ... Coach Wave?!
Three members of Google’s NotebookLM team, including its team lead and designer, have announced they are leaving Google for a new stealth startup. On LinkedIn , ex-team lead Raiza Martin said she and her two other co-founders, designer Jason Spielman and engineer Stephen Hughes , “couldn’t shake the feeling that there’s a massive opportunity to build something transformative in this space.” The startup is in full stealth mode with only a bare-bones website that gives no details about its purpose or even its name. It’s not clear if the startup will focus on things that NotebookLM went viral for, such as AI-generated podcasts and AI-assisted note-taking, or if it will do something totally different. In comments to TechCrunch, Martin gave few details but hinted that the startup would be consumer-facing, emphasizing the team wanted to create something that leverages the latest AI models to build something useful to regular people. “As the frontier models and their capabilities continue to grow, thoughtful products are required to make the benefits of this technology accessible, useful, and obvious to everyday people — so our team is going to be focused on building a user-first AI product,” she said. Martin added that the new startup is in its very early stages and has not announced any funding yet. However, she noted that “support outside of Google (from fellow founders, investors, academics, people who want to join) has been tremendous and it’s been really encouraging for our small team.”Maura Higgins’ mum devastated as it’s revealed she’s blocked from voting for daughter on I’m A CelebTrump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions