Why a change of power in Canada could happen soon and what it means for UkraineDrink spiking to be made criminal offence as Starmer pledges crackdown on violence against womenUpdated 2025 NFL Draft order: Patriots take control of No. 1 spot; how picks 1-32 stand
x YouTube Video Listen to our archived episodes: Pandora | LibSyn | YouTube Support the show: Patreon | PayPal: 1x or monthly | Square Cash * David Waldman counts the days until our next big national funding crisis . Crises more than two weeks off seem like science fiction, don’t they? Won’t we have solved it with AI by then? AI might be a lousy search engine , but it will argue with you as well as any idiot. “Giving a woman an orgasm on purpose is gay” is not AI, but an actual idiot’s opinion . AI also could never have predicted what really motivated economically anxious Republicans in the election. President Joe Biden will hopefully prioritize KITM staff pardons, but Liz Cheney and Anthony Fauci are probably next in line . The " Deny, Defend, Depose " shooter is still at large, flashing his dashing Gyllenhaalian smile while cleverly changing his backpack color, number of coat pockets, and means of transportation to elude the authorities, while ballads are sung of his exploits . We are reminded that it’s unseemly to pattern one’s social movement on the acts of law breakers. Now someone else at United Healthcare will need to sign off on hundreds of millions in ransomware payments . Devout breeder Elon Musk isn’t quite a devout Christian but is ok with you worshiping him . Elon sits at the right hand of Trump, because he outbid all of the other saviors . Musk spent $20 million on a fake “RBG” PAC, because the only thing more important than control to Elon is trolling . Trump’s working on the budget as well, helping weed out any funding not going to an Elon Musk venture , even if it means firing Louis DeJoy . Instead of a gold standard, perhaps we can base our economy on pump and dumping meme stocks ? Hawk Tuah ! House Republicans blocked release of the Matt Gaetz ethics report, because they can . Democratic Representative Sean Casten might still force them to release it, though.Palantir Technologies Inc. PLTR , whose shares have surged over 376% year-to-date, was better understood by retail investors than institutional ones during its challenging period in 2022 , according to Wedbush Securities Managing Director Dan Ives . What Happened : “Institutional investors were stuck in group-think when it came to Palantir as an investment in 2022. It wasn’t part of the cool kids club,” Ives said in an interview with Palantir investor Amit Kukreja . “People didn’t understand the culture of Palantir. We’re talking about the elite of the elite.” The data analytics company’s stock performance has made it the S&P 500’s top performer this year, pushing its market capitalization to $176.47 billion. However, this surge has raised valuation concerns among analysts, with the stock trading at 172 times its projected 2025 earnings – nearly triple the industry average of 59.4. See Also: Veteran Investor Bets Big On S&P 500 Hitting 7,000 By End Of 2025: These Sectors Could Lead The Charge Why It Matters : Despite the lofty valuation, Ives maintains his bullish stance with a $75 price target, describing Palantir as “the Messi of AI” and predicting significant AI spending growth in 2025 . UBS recently set a higher $80 target while maintaining a neutral rating, though expressing concerns about the current valuation at 49 times revenue. Former Palantir employee Alex Fishman , now with Empros Capital , reinforced the optimistic outlook : “When I look at Palantir, it’s one of the few companies where I can easily envision it becoming 10 or 20 times its current size.” The broader Wall Street consensus remains cautious, with an average price target of $35.58 based on 20 analyst ratings, suggesting potential downside risk despite the company’s strong momentum in artificial intelligence and data analytics. Price Action : Palantir stock closed at $79.08 on Friday, down 3.73% for the day, with after-hours trading seeing a further decline of 0.35%. Year to date, the stock has surged 376.96%. It has a 52-week range of $15.66 to $84.80 and a market capitalization of $176.47 billion. The stock’s price-to-earnings ratio stands at 410.70, with a 14-day Relative Strength Index of 56, suggesting neutral momentum, according to data from Benzinga Pro . Read Next: Boeing In Spotlight After Fatal 737-800 Crash In South Korea, Stock Declined 28% Amid Deepening 2024 Challenges Image Via Shutterstock Disclaimer : This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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Trump nominee Pete Hegseth speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill following his nomination. EXCLUSIVE: A growing number of prominent veterans are signing onto an open letter endorsing Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth as he battles back allegations that may stymie his confirmation. The Heritage Foundation began collecting the signatures on Thursday and garnered more than 74 in that short time, a foundation official told Fox News Digital. "As military veterans and patriotic Americans, we are pleased to see an outstanding veteran nominated to lead the Department of Defense," the letter begins. "Hegseth is a decorated combat veteran who served as an Infantry Officer in the Army National Guard, deploying overseas to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman Badge." HEGSETH SAYS HE'LL BE ‘STANDING RIGHT HERE IN THIS FIGHT' The veterans state that Hegseth has "worked tirelessly" to support U.S. troops and that his experience and drive will lead him in rebuilding the military back to a "fighting force . . . capable of defending the national security interests of the American people." They cite Hegseth’s long-held stance on "depoliticizing" the military and his rebuttals of "DEI"-type policies and other "toxic ideologies" they claim have been foisted upon troops in recent years. "Ending wokeness is just the start. The Pentagon is also bloated with bureaucracy and waste. The defense industrial base is failing to deliver," the veterans wrote. "Cost overruns and delays have become the norm. The Department of Defense needs a Secretary of Defense willing to confront both the entrenched bureaucracy and the defense industry and force them to deliver the ships, planes, and munitions our troops need to confront America’s adversaries." TRUMP FLOATS DESANTIS AS POTENTIAL DEFENSE SECRETARY REPLACEMENT IF HEGSETH FALTERS Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, left, meets with Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Dan Caldwell is a veteran of the Marine Corps and Camp David security force who, along with his fellow adviser at the Center for Renewing America, three-time-deployed Marine Joseph Wade Miller, signed onto the letter. They join at least 40 other prominent veterans in supporting Hegseth’s nomination, as the former "Fox & Friends Weekend" co-host faces allegations surrounding alcohol abuse and mistreatment of women. Eddie Gallagher, of the Pipe Hitters Foundation, also signed the letter. Gallagher launched the veteran defense-focused nonprofit after being found not guilty in a war crimes trial. James Jay Carafano, Rob Greenway, Wilson Beaver, Steve Bucci and Jeremy Hayes, all decorated military veterans who are advisers to, or fellows at, the Heritage Foundation, signed onto the missive. The letter also calls out the previous administration's inability to secure the southern border and restore peace in Eurasia. "Pete Hegseth shares these priorities and is ready to execute the Commander in Chief’s agenda on day one. As proud American veterans, we stand with him and the President in this historic endeavor," they write. Kevin Roberts , the president of Heritage, called Hegseth the "right kind of fighter for America" and a person who is ready to "clean up" the Pentagon. "At a time when bloat and woke initiatives detract from the core warfighting mission of our armed forces, we need a secretary like Pete who has both served in combat and advocated for veterans on Capitol Hill," Roberts said separately from the letter. Victoria Coates, a former adviser on national security to both Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Hegseth would be "a literal breath of fresh air in the musty halls of the Pentagon." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, makes his way to a meeting with Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., in the Russell Senate office building on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Tom Williams) On Thursday, Hegseth said he refused to back down from a fight as his nomination remains in limbo amid drinking and sexual misconduct allegations. He has denied any wrongdoing. "We've had great conversations, about who I am and what I believe," Hegseth said of his meetings with senators. "And, frankly, the man I am today, because of my faith in my lord and savior Jesus Christ and my wife, Jenny, right here, I'm a different man than I was years ago." That exchange followed the leak of a critical letter that Hegseth’s mother, Penelope, wrote to him years ago about his relationships with women. However, Penelope Hegseth told Fox News on Wednesday that she had written the email in an impassioned moment and later apologized for it. Multiple sources reported to Fox News that Trump is considering his former primary opponent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis – a retired Navy lieutenant commander – for the top Pentagon spot in case Hegseth falters. Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report . Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant. Charles covers media , politics and culture for Fox News Digital. Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.CHICAGO (AP) — Cairo Santos had a field goal blocked — again. DeAndre Carter muffed a punt in the second half. And those were just the special teams mistakes for the struggling Chicago Bears. Santos' blocked field goal and Carter's turnover were part of another sloppy performance for Chicago in its fifth consecutive loss. The pair of miscues helped set up two of Minnesota's three touchdowns in a 30-27 overtime victory . The Bears (4-7) closed out a miserable three-game homestand after they won their first three games of the season at Soldier Field. They were in position to beat Green Bay last weekend before Santos' 46-yard field goal attempt was blocked on the final play of the Packers' 20-19 win . “It’s tough. ... When things just aren’t going your way, you gotta put your head down and just keep going to work,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “It’s not easy to do but that’s kind of where we’re at.” Chicago and Minnesota were tied at 7 when Caleb Williams threw incomplete on third-and-4 at the Vikings 30 early in the second quarter. Bears coach Matt Eberflus sent Santos out for a 48-yard attempt, but it was knocked down by defensive lineman Jerry Tillery. “I think it was the penetration with the trajectory of the ball,” Santos said. “Had the ball started 3 or 4 inches to the right of both those guys' hands, I think it still goes in through the uprights.” Brian Asamoah returned the blocked kick 22 yards to set the Vikings up with good field position. Sam Darnold then capped a six-play, 53-yard drive with a 5-yard TD pass to Jalen Nailor for a 14-7 lead with 6:29 left in the first half. It was the third blocked field goal for Santos this year, the most for Chicago in a single season since it also had three blocked in 2012. Santos also had a 43-yard try blocked in the fourth quarter of a 35-16 victory over Jacksonville on Oct. 13. The Bears became the first NFL team to allow three blocked field goals in a season since the Browns and Ravens each had three blocked in 2022. “Whenever that happens two games in a row we’ve got to make sure we take a hard look in terms of the protection, the technique and who we have in there,” Eberflus said. “So it's going to be a big thing to look at.” Chicago trailed 17-10 when it forced a Minnesota punt midway through the third quarter. Carter warned his teammates to get out of the way, but it hit the ground and bounced off the inside of his right leg before it was recovered by Bo Richter at the Bears 15. The Vikings turned the mental error into Aaron Jones' 2-yard touchdown run and a 24-10 lead. “Gotta get out of the way of the ball. That’s on me,” Carter said. “I let the team down today. Game shouldn’t have been in the situation it was in. I felt bad for the guys.” Santos and Carter both played a role in a late rally for Chicago. Carter had a 55-yard kickoff return, and Santos got an onside kick to work before making a tying 48-yarder on the final play of regulation. But the Bears stalled on the first possession of overtime, and Darnold drove the Vikings downfield to set up Parker Romo's winning 29-yard field goal. “We're losing in the most unreal situations,” Bears receiver DJ Moore said. “Now it's like the luck's got to go in our favor at some point.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
What a buzzkill! Instagram suspended the account of a pro-weed military veterans group , organizers said on Sunday. “On November 21, 2024, our organization’s official Instagram account, @disabledveteransincannabis], was suddenly and unexpectedly suspended without any prior notice or explanation,” Osbert Orduna , co-founder of Service Disabled Veterans in Cannabis, told The Post. “We have diligently adhered to Instagram’s terms of service and community guidelines, and we believe this suspension to be unjustified.” He suspected the Meta-owned Instagram yanked the account because the word “cannabis” is in the group’s name and its digital logo includes a marijuana leaf. But the company didn’t inform the group why its account was suspended. Instagram advised the suspended group that it has 180 days to appeal the suspension. “We’ll take another look at your account. If we find your account does follow our community standards, you’ll be able to use Instagram again,” the social media firm told the disabled vets’ group. “If we find your account doesn’t follow our community standards, it will be permanently disabled and you won’t be able to appeal again.” The vets group is operating freely on X, and Orduna praised that platform’s owner Elon Musk for “doing the right thing” and taking a “rational position on cannabis.” Orduna accused Instagram of acting as “judge, jury and executioner” by showing hostility to the growing legalized cannabis industry and to military veterans in particular. “By comparison, Elon Musk and X are taking a responsible and rational position on cannabis,” he said. On its X account , the pro-legal pot service disabled vets’ group said, “Where are the class action lawyers? Who else is tired of @Meta @instagram censorship of the word ‘CANNABIS’ “We are an advocacy group for Disabled Veterans, that’s it but maybe that’s too radical?,” the post went on. It appealed to President-elect Donald Trump’s planned new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which is to be headed by Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. “Maybe @DOGE @realDonaldTrump can stop the censorship,” the post concluded. A spokesperson for Meta declined to comment.Though inflation is slowing down nationally, Marylanders could expect higher Christmas tree prices than 2023, as macroeconomic and environmental stressors to the tree supply chain may be baked into the cheer this year.
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BUCHAREST, Romania -- Romanian lawmakers on Monday voted narrowly in favor of a new pro-European coalition government led by incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The move could usher in an end to a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election by a top court. Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in Romania's 466-seat legislature. The new coalition is made up of the leftist Social Democratic Party, or PSD, the center-right National Liberal Party, PNL, the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. It caps a month-long period of turmoil in which far-right nationalists made significant gains in a Dec. 1 parliamentary election , a week after a first-round presidential race saw the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu emerge as the front-runner. “It will not be an easy mandate for the future government,” Ciolacu, whose PSD party topped the polls in the parliamentary election, said in a statement Monday. “We are aware that we are in the midst of a deep political crisis," he said. "It is also a crisis of trust, and this coalition aims to regain the trust of citizens, the trust of the people.” Romani's 16 ministerial positions will be shared among the parties, which will hold a slim majority in the legislature. It's widely seen as a tactical partnership to shut out far-right nationalists whose voices found fertile ground amid high living costs and a sluggish economy. Ciolacu, who came third in the first-round presidential ballot despite polls indicating he would win the most votes, has served as prime minister since June 2023. After parliament’s approval, President Klaus Iohannis swore in the new government and warned the new Cabinet that it's entering a “difficult new period” in which “for many Romanians, there are major concerns.” Romania was plunged into turmoil after Georgescu’s surprise success in the presidential race, after allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference emerged. Days before the Dec. 8 runoff, the Constitutional Court made the unprecedented move to annul the presidential race . “We go through complicated times, but I think we all learned from mistakes of the past,” Ciolacu said. “I hope that together with my colleagues in the coalition, we’ll find the best solutions to get past the challenges we have in front of us.” Ciolacu said that the new government would aim to quickly organize the rerun of the presidential election in which the new coalition has agreed to put forward an agreed common pro-European candidate. Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, said that the new government made up of the same political parties will likely embrace “soft populist” rhetoric such as economic patriotism, anti-austerity, and a peace solution in neighboring Ukraine to counter the rise of far-right populism. “This will be a way to answer the concerns of many Romanians who voted for populists ... but will not solve the fundamental problem of trust,” he said. “The only decisive factor now will be who and how convincing the pro-European candidates will be against this popular revolt.” George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, which came second in the parliamentary election, said that all lawmakers from his party on Monday would vote against the Ciolacu government. In 2021, the PSD and the PNL also formed an unlikely but increasingly strained coalition together with UDMR, which exited the Cabinet last year after a power-sharing dispute. ___ Stephen McGrath reported from Warwick, England.
Ebonkoli 5-7 0-0 10, Diallo 3-3 0-0 6, Grady 6-11 3-3 15, Kopp 7-13 0-0 18, Petty 6-7 4-4 18, Hall 0-3 2-2 2, Nyeri 3-6 0-0 9, Ijeh 1-1 0-0 2, Ammons 3-5 1-2 8, Gob 0-1 0-1 0. Totals 34-57 10-12 88. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Trump, Biden react to death of former President Jimmy Carter