bookmaker lines

bookmaker lines President-elect Donald Trump has named longtime ally Brooke Rollins to be agriculture secretary. Rollins is currently president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a conservative, pro-Trump think tank she formed in 2021 alongside other members of the former president's orbit while out of office. "As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country," Trump said in a statement. If confirmed by the Senate, Rollins would lead a 100,000-person agency with offices in every county in the country, whose remit includes farm and nutrition programs, forestry, home and farm lending, food safety, rural development, agricultural research, trade and more. It had a budget of $437.2 billion in 2024. The 52-year old attorney had also been reportedly considered as a possible White House chief of staff for Trump. The president-elect had in private conservations referred to her a "great" option, saying that "she’s tall" and "got the look," the New York Times reported last month. Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team. But the position ultimately went to Trump's 2024 campaign manager, Susie Wiles . Trump announced Wiles just days after his decisive electoral win earlier this month. Rollins was one of many speakers at the Republican National Convention. A conservative lawyer, she served as acting director of the White House's Domestic Policy Council in the final year of Trump's first term. Before her time in Washington, Rollins, a Texas-native, served as an aide to then-Trump Energy Secretary Rick Perry. She was also CEO and president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think-tank in the Lone Star State. The agriculture secretary's agenda would carry implications for American diets and wallets, both urban and rural. Department of Agriculture officials and staff negotiate trade deals, guide dietary recommendations, inspect meat, fight wildfires and support rural broadband, among other activities. As agriculture secretary, Rollins would advise the administration on how and whether to implement clean fuel tax credits for biofuels at a time when the sector is hoping to grow through the production of sustainable aviation fuel. Contributing: ReutersAlthough blind people cannot see, they often still possess the brain regions that enable vision. Does this mean that blind people can dream in visual images? In some cases, they can. A 2014 study found that people who were not born blind but had lost their vision later in life sometimes reported visual experiences in their dreams. These dreams likely drew from memories from when they still had sight. However, the earlier a person had lost their vision in life, and the longer they were blind, the less likely they were to see images in dreams, the study noted. "A person blind at age 7 or before who has been blind for, say, 20 years, loses virtually all visual experiences in their dreams," study co-author Maurice Ptito , a visual neuroscientist at the University of Montreal, told Live Science. When it comes to people who are congenitally blind — those born without vision — "dreams tend to rely more heavily on other senses such as hearing, touch, taste and smell," Monica Gori , a cognitive neuroscientist at the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa, told Live Science. Most studies suggest visual experiences are generally absent in the dreams of those who are blind from birth. "However, there are a few dream studies that have challenged this notion," Ivana Rosenzweig , head of the Sleep and Brain Plasticity Centre at King's College London, told Live Science. Related: Why can't we remember our dreams? For instance, a 2003 study in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences reported that people with congenital blindness who were scanned with electrodes on their scalps as they slept had evidence of brain waves associated with vision. A 2023 study from Rosenzweig and her... Charles Q. Choi

Share this Story : AT THE QUARTER MARK: Ottawa Senators remain confident Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links Ottawa Senators Sports Hockey Senators Extra AT THE QUARTER MARK: Ottawa Senators remain confident General manager Steve Staios wants the answers to come from within, but, if it doesn't happen, maybe it's time to make a significant trade. Author of the article: Bruce Garrioch Published Nov 23, 2024 • 8 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. Linus Ullmark's play in net has been up and down for the Ottawa Senators so far this season. Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photo / Getty Images Article content It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or tap here to see other videos from our team . AT THE QUARTER MARK: Ottawa Senators remain confident Back to video We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or tap here to see other videos from our team . Play Video But, as the Ottawa Senators arrived at the quarter-mark of the National Hockey League schedule on Saturday with Game No. 20 of the season against the Vancouver Canucks at the Canadian Tire Centre, there was a lot of concern about their 8-10-1 record in 19 games. They’re trying to make the playoffs for the first time in eight years, but the results thus far have been similar to what has led the Senators to miss the post-season in the recent past. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content Consistency is the key and they need to find it. To a man they swear that, with the roster assembled by Steve Staios, the team’s president of hockey operations and general manager, and head coach Travis Green behind the bench, this time it’s different and they’re making strides that will lead to success. “We’ve had our ups and downs already,” centre Shane Pinto told Postmedia on Saturday before faceoff against the Canucks. “We can’t get caught up in the trap of this is the same as the last couple of years. “We’re playing better hockey than the last couple of years and the results haven’t shown, but I don’t think we’ve been playing bad. It’s a results-driven business, and we have to do better than that aspect. I don’t think it’s been as bad as it seems, but we have to win, so there are no excuses.” Senators forward Shane Pinto says veterans on the team have been stressing the need to stick together in order to produce better results. Photo by Melissa Majchrzak / AP What feels different about this? “Just the way we’re handling it,” Pinto said. “The older guys in the room are really emphasizing that we’ve got to stick together through this, rather than distancing ourselves from each other. “You can tell on a day like today. We’re in a good mood, we’re together, and that’s the only way we’re going to get out of this. It’s up to us, and the people are in this room.” Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The margin between winning and losing in the NHL is small. Pinto noted it was about those “little inches, and I just don’t feel like we’ve gotten the bounces, but we have to better in certain areas as well.” The Senators are trying desperately not to look at the big picture. They woke up on Saturday in 15th place in the NHL’s Eastern Conference and four points out of the final playoff spot. “It’s corny to say, but (Green) has emphasized sticking with that process,” Pinto said. “We can’t worry about the results because, if we play our game, the results will take care of themselves. If we look at the standings, that will just be a distraction the whole year. “If we play process-driven hockey ... You see the talent in this room. We’ll score, and it’s just a matter of defending a bit better to clean up those mistakes. We just have to be better at keeping an even keel because there are going to be momentum switches in games. “We go up and down a bit too much. Our biggest challenge is to stay even. We have good players. It’s all mental for us. The fans want better from us. If we can go on a little winning streak, everybody will be happy.” Sports Get the latest sport headlines and breaking news. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sports will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Article content Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content This Senators club is built around the core that includes Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Thomas Chabot, Drake Batherson, Josh Norris, Ridly Greig, Jake Sanderson and Pinto. The additions of Michael Amadio, Nick Jensen, David Perron and Linus Ullmark haven’t had the desired effect thus far. THREE TAKEAWAYS LINUS ULLMARK’S STRUGGLES The Senators paid a big price to acquire Ullmark from the Boston Bruins only hours before Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final in June. They sent goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, centre Mark Kastelic and a first-round pick (No. 25 overall) to the Bruins for Ullmark, who had split duties in Boston with Jeremy Swayman. Two years removed from winning the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie, Ullmark was brought to Ottawa to stabilize the situation in net. He was then a year away from unrestricted free agency, but Staios opted to sign Ullmark to a four-year, $33 million U.S. extension that will kick in at $8.25 million per season. So far, Ullmark hasn’t performed up to expectations, though. He went into the game against the Canucks with a 4-6-1 record, a 3.00 goals-against average and a save percentage of .887. Those numbers just aren’t good enough, and, if they don’t improve, the Senators have no chance of making the post-season. Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “His track record proves that he gets this turned around,” Staios said. “He’s a quality goaltender with a long track record of being a quality goaltender. There are times in a season where a player isn’t at his best and it gets magnified when you’re a goaltender. “We have full belief that Linus will get back to form. There is a lot that has been put on this player in particular. Every player has things they have to deal with when they come in. But a trade, a new contract and an emotional game in Boston. I haven’t talked to Linus about this, but we know he’s going to settle in.” Backup Anton Forsberg hasn’t been a whole lot better, but he has recorded two shutouts in his eight appearances and he’s ahead of Ullmark with his 3-4-0 record, 2.76 goals-against average and .903 save percentage. It’s paramount that Ullmark gets back to form, which was why he started against the Canucks, with the Senators trying to help him dig his way out of this. DEFENSIVE WOES Social media has been alive and kicking with the decision by Green to sit defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker regularly. Bernard-Docker was back in the press box against the Canucks because the Senators wanted veteran Travis Hamonic back in the lineup. It was the third pairing on defence, which wouldn’t make a big difference in the grand scheme of things. Advertisement 6 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content It should be noted Jensen, acquired from the Washington Capitals in the deal for Jakob Chychrun last summer, has been solid with Chabot. Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson keeps the puck from going into the empty net late in the third period of Thursday’s home game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Photo by Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press What’s most concerning is the play of top defenceman Jake Sanderson, whose struggles have been real. The 22-year-old Sanderson started Saturday’s game against the Canucks with a plus/minus rating of minus-12. He has yet to be on the ice for an even-strength goal by the Senators. Making $8.05 million as the Senators’ defenceman with the highest salary-cap hit, Sanderson’s one goal and 10 assists have all come on special teams. He plays an average of 24 minutes 22 seconds per game for a club that needs more offence from its defencemen. The Senators only have three goals from their blue-line group, though, tied for the fewest in the 32-team league. Chychrun has outscored Ottawa’s defence by himself this season, with five goals for the Capitals. Trying to make the roster for the United States at the Four Nation’s tournament in Montreal and Boston in February, Sanderson has looked like someone who is feeling the weight of the pressure to impress U.S. team general manager Bill Guerin. Advertisement 7 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content TIME FOR A TRADE? One thing we’ve learned about Staios is that he’s patient and leaves no stone unturned before making a move. NHL executives told Postmedia on Saturday that Staios was kicking tires to see if there were any upgrades he could make to the Senators roster. That’s part of his responsibility. “Every general manager is doing their job by looking and seeing if there’s anything they can do,” Staios said. “But I can’t see one major area with this group because they’ve shown how they can play in a majority of the games this year that need to be addressed.” Ideally, Staios would like the answers to come from within. But people around the league wonder if Staios will make a move to get the players’ attention. He doesn’t want to make a change but, if this group doesn’t get its act together, he might have to do something. We’re getting to the point where many believe the time has come for Staios to strike at the core of the Senators. Let’s get this out of the way immediately, though: The Senators won’t trade Tkachuk because they’re trying to build this team around him. Other candidates in the core could be moved, however. Advertisement 8 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Many fans want Chabot dealt, but that wouldn’t happen without Ottawa eating part of his $10-million salary this season — it’s a charge of $8 million against the salary cap — and he has improved while playing with Jensen. Ottawa Senators centre Josh Norris (left) celebrates with Claude Giroux after scoring against the Toronto Maple Leafs during a game on Nov. 12. Photo by Chris Young / The Canadian Press NHL executives say one name to keep an eye on is that of Norris. He’s off to a strong start this season with eight goals and five assists for 13 points going into the gamea against the Canucks. He was moved to play with Perron and Amadio on the third line because Green felt Norris might be able to help those two players produce more offensively. With a cap hit of $7.95 million through the 2027-28 campaign, Norris has struggled to stay healthy and is coming off a third shoulder surgery. Before he had surgery last season, there was talk he may be moved and that chatter has surfaced again. “His lack of durability and his contract make sense that he would be a guy that they may think about moving,” a league executive said Saturday. If Pinto continues to progress and makes the strides the organization expects, he’ll want a healthy raise from the $3.75 million he will make next season. That means the Senators may have to get another big contract off the books. Advertisement 9 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content We’ve learned through 20 games that Greig isn’t ready to be a top-six forward. Maybe the answer is to use him as the third-line centre with Norris on the wing. Anything is possible and there’s a lot of hockey left to be played. Staios is confident that, if he stays the course, this ship will steady itself, and he has to hope that’s indeed the case. SEVEN YEARS OF STRUGGLES The Senators’ record after 20 games in the past seven seasons they’ve missed the playoffs. 2017-18: 8-6-6 for 22 points 2018-19: 9-8-3 for 21 points 2019-20: 8-11-1 for 17 points 2020-21: 5-14-1 for 11 points 2021-22: 4-15-1 for nine points 2022-23: 7-12-1 for 15 points 2023-24: 10-10-0 for 20 points bgarrioch@postmedia.com Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : AT THE QUARTER MARK: Ottawa Senators remain confident Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Comments You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments. Create an Account Sign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. 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Former New York Rangers goalie Steve Valiquette is making more of a name for himself as an analyst than he did during his playing days – and not in a good way. Valiquette is getting roasted on social media after calling out New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes for attempting a one-handed deke on a breakaway against Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin on Monday night. The MSG analyst said during the first intermission of the game that Hughes was trying to “embarrass” his opponent and that the ‘Forsberg’ deke is an act of “blatant disrespect.” “That should send a shockwave to everybody on the bench. I know in my day, Colton Orr would have been hanging over the bench banging his stick saying, ’I’m coming after you because you tried to embarrass us,’” Valiquette said. “And that’s blatant disrespect and I’m sort of surprised I didn’t see a response from the team that way.” The former goalie, who played 46 games over seven NHL seasons, went on to say that it was more “Instagram hockey than intense hockey.” “He’s had success against Igor playing him straight up and I thought he slowed down. He wanted to put a fancy move on. It was more Instagram hockey than intense hockey,” Valiquette said. “There wasn’t much of a back check, so that allowed him to do it. “But I’m looking at him going like this and doing what in practice a goalie would get mad at a teammate for doing, saying that would never happen in the game. When was the last time you saw somebody one-hand score ... in a game? And I think that the Rangers should be upset about that.” When asked about Valiquette’s comments after the game, which the Devils won 5-1, Hughes gave a classic response. After being told the broadcaster thought Hughes was trying to embarrass Shesterkin, he looked befuddled before responding. “I don’t even know what that means,” Hughes said, looking back at the reporter to ask him “What does that even mean?” Users on social media had a field day with Valiquette’s ice-cold take. “I still cannot believe that Jack Hughes didn’t just dump and change on that breakaway last night. Instead he totally broke the NHL players code and tried to embarrass a top goalie in the league in Igor Shesterkin,” one user joked. “Someone should go and beat up Jack Hughes for ... missing a breakaway attempt? What are we even doing here?” another X user responded. “One of league’s most skilled players attempts to skillfully score a goal. Film at 11,” a third user wrote. While Hughes didn’t bury the breakaway attempt, he did end up scoring twice in the game and adding an assist. The two teams meet again on Dec. 23 and you can bet that the Broadway Blue Shirts will be keeping a closer eye on the Devils star.By TRÂN NGUYỄN SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require mental health warning labels on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday. The legislation sponsored by state Attorney General Rob Bonta is necessary to bolster safety for children online, supporters say, but industry officials vow to fight the measure and others like it under the First Amendment. Warning labels for social media gained swift bipartisan support from dozens of attorneys general, including Bonta, after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to establish the requirements earlier this year, saying social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. “These companies know the harmful impact their products can have on our children, and they refuse to take meaningful steps to make them safer,” Bonta said at a news conference Monday. “Time is up. It’s time we stepped in and demanded change.” State officials haven’t provided details on the bill, but Bonta said the warning labels could pop up once weekly. Up to 95% of youth ages 13 to 17 say they use a social media platform, and more than a third say that they use social media “almost constantly,” according to 2022 data from the Pew Research Center. Parents’ concerns prompted Australia to pass the world’s first law banning social media for children under 16 in November. “The promise of social media, although real, has turned into a situation where they’re turning our children’s attention into a commodity,” Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, who authored the California bill, said Monday. “The attention economy is using our children and their well-being to make money for these California companies.” Lawmakers instead should focus on online safety education and mental health resources, not warning label bills that are “constitutionally unsound,” said Todd O’Boyle, a vice president of the tech industry policy group Chamber of Progress. “We strongly suspect that the courts will set them aside as compelled speech,” O’Boyle told The Associated Press. Victoria Hinks’ 16-year-old daughter, Alexandra, died by suicide four months ago after being “led down dark rabbit holes” on social media that glamorized eating disorders and self-harm. Hinks said the labels would help protect children from companies that turn a blind eye to the harm caused to children’s mental health when they become addicted to social media platforms. “There’s not a bone in my body that doubts social media played a role in leading her to that final, irreversible decision,” Hinks said. “This could be your story.” Common Sense Media, a sponsor of the bill, said it plans to lobby for similar proposals in other states. California in the past decade has positioned itself as a leader in regulating and fighting the tech industry to bolster online safety for children. The state was the first in 2022 to bar online platforms from using users’ personal information in ways that could harm children. It was one of the states that sued Meta in 2023 and TikTok in October for deliberately designing addictive features that keep kids hooked on their platforms. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, also signed several bills in September to help curb the effects of social media on children, including one to prohibit social media platforms from knowingly providing addictive feeds to children without parental consent and one to limit or ban students from using smartphones on school campus. Federal lawmakers have held hearings on child online safety and legislation is in the works to force companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. The legislation has the support of X owner Elon Musk and the President-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr . Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook’s founding.

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KABUL: For Saja, studying nursing at a healthcare institute in Kabul was her last lifeline to make something of herself after women were banned from universities in Afghanistan two years ago. But the Taleban government has crushed this ambition by ordering, according to multiple sources, the exclusion of Afghan women from medical training, sparking panic across institutions. When she heard the news, Saja, who had been at university before women were barred, said it felt like “reliving the same nightmare”. “This was my last hope to do something, to become something,” said Saja, not her real name. “Everything has been taken away from us for the crime of being a girl.” The authorities have made no official comment or confirmation, nor have they responded to the numerous condemnations and calls to reverse a decision that further blocks women’s access to education. Since their return to power in 2021, the Taleban government has imposed reams of restrictions on women, making Afghanistan the only country in the world to ban girls from education after primary school. Multiple directors and employees of health training centers have told AFP they were informed in recent days of the order, issued by the Taleban supreme leader and passed down verbally by the health ministry, to expel women students until further notice. Institutes across the country — which many women had turned to after the university ban — were given a few days to just over a week to organize final exams. But without a clear announcement or document clarifying the rules, confusion reigns in the institutions. Some told AFP they would operate as normal until they received written orders, others closed immediately or scrambled to hold exams before shuttering. Still others refused to comment, saying they’d been warned not to speak to the media. “Everyone is confused, and no one is sharing what is really happening,” said Saja, who was in her first year at a private institute. “We have been given two or three exams each day... even though we already finished our exams a few months back,” said the 22-year-old, adding they had to pay fees to sit the exams. “We received a lot of concerned messages from students and teachers wanting to know what is going on and asking ‘is there any hope?’” said the director of a Kabul private institute with 1,100 students, of which 700 were women. 35,000 women students “No one is happy,” he told AFP from his office steps away from women’s classrooms, where the last lesson on the board advised how to manage stress and depression in patients. According to a source within the health ministry, 35,000 women are currently students in some 10 public and more than 150 private institutes offering two-year diplomas in subjects such as nursing, midwifery, dentistry and laboratory work. The Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC) non-governmental organization, which trains 588 women in institutes managed in collaboration with the health ministry, was verbally informed classes were “temporarily suspended”. This has to be taken “equally seriously as a written document”, said NAC country director Terje Magnusson Watterdal, adding that “there are a lot of people high up within the current government that are quite opposed to this decision”. He hopes, at the minimum, public institutes will be reopened to women. International organizations such as the United Nations, which has said Afghan women are victims of a “gender apartheid”, have already warned of devastating consequences of the plan, in a country where maternal and infant mortality are among the highest in the world. ‘The same nightmare’ Midwifery students in particular are passionate about their studies, according to Magnusson Watterdal. “So many of these young women have been motivated to become a midwife because they have lost a mother or an aunt or a sister in childbirth,” he said. “It’s not just a profession that you choose, it’s a vocation. So, of course, there’s great desperation” among students and staff. Small protests have been held in various parts of the country, according to sources and images circulated on social media. Assal, another student also using a pseudonym, received an expedited diploma last week, but still has little hope of finding a job in a country where unemployment is widespread and opportunities for women are increasingly limited. “I wanted to practice medicine and study further,” the 20-year-old told AFP. “They had already taken everything from us. Next thing we won’t even be allowed to breathe.”- AFP

President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump's transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weekslong delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs, an essential step for a smooth transition of power. It also allows those nominees who are up for Senate confirmation to face the background checks lawmakers want before voting on them. Teams of investigators have been standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers. FILE - Susie Wiles watches as Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a caucus night party in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) "This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day," said Susie Wiles, Trump's designate to be White House chief of staff. The announcement came a week after the Trump transition team signed an agreement with the Biden White House to allow transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office Jan. 20. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House issued both public and private appeals for Trump's team to sign on. Security clearances are required to access classified information, including on ongoing operations and threats to the nation, and the Biden White House and outside experts emphasized to Trump's team the importance of having cleared personnel before Inauguration Day so they could be fully briefed and ready to run the government. President-elect Donald Trump arrives before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in Boca Chica, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP) Republican Senators also insisted on FBI background checks for Trump's nominees before they face confirmation votes, as has been standard practice for decades. Lawmakers were particularly interested in seeing the findings of reviews into Trump's designated nominee for defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence. "That's why it's so important that we have an FBI background check, a committee review of extensive questions and questionnaires, and a public hearing," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Monday. John Thune, incoming Senate Republican leader, said the Trump team "understands there's going to have to be a thorough vetting of all these nominees." Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Namibia will have its first female leader after VP wins presidential election for the ruling party