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Red Sox insider says team is still waiting to hear if they can get meeting with Japanese superstar ace | Sporting NewsGREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Matthew Downing threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead Elon to a 31-21 season-ending win over North Carolina A&T on Saturday. The game was tied at 7 in the second quarter when the Phoenix turned a fumble recovery into a field goal. That started a string of four-straight scoring possessions. Downing was 16 of 21 for 203 yards. Chandler Brayboy had 12 receptions for 118 yards with a score. Rushawn Baker ran for 106 yards for the Phoenix (6-6, 5-3 Coastal Athletic Association). Julian Bumper also had a 10-yard rushing touchdown on his only carry and Jamarien Dalton had a 30-yard receiving touchdown on his only catch. Freshman Cortez Lane returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown for the Aggies (1-11, 0-8), who lost their 11th straight. Justin Fomby threw for 190 yards and a touchdown pass to Daniel Cole and Shimique Blizzard ran for 87 yards and a TD. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25
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By BEN FINLEY The Christmas tradition has become nearly global in scope: Children from around the world track Santa Claus as he sweeps across the earth, delivering presents and defying time. Related Articles National News | Prosecutors withdraw appeal of dismissed case against Alec Baldwin in fatal movie set shooting National News | Today in History: December 24, former defense secretary pardoned in Iran-Contra scandal National News | Judge rules Arkansas law allowing criminal charges against librarians is unconstitutional National News | Bill Clinton is hospitalized with a fever but in good spirits, spokesperson says National News | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online in nine languages , from English to Japanese. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats , such as last year’s Chinese spy balloon . But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” “There are screams and giggles and laughter,” said Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, “Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early.” NORAD’s annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War , predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics . The tradition continues regardless of government shutdowns, such as the one in 2018 , and this year . Here’s how it began and why the phones keep ringing. It started with a child’s accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy’s mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80 foot (18-by-24 meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from “those who do not believe in Christmas.” Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup’s story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy’s call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child’s call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. “When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,’” Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. “People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” NORAD’s tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada —- known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That’s when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Related Articles National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department’s operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden’s commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump’s statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump’s rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl’s mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden’s decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
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Should You Buy the Dip in AMD Stock?Dana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Empowered Funds LLC increased its holdings in Rocky Brands, Inc. ( NASDAQ:RCKY – Free Report ) by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 30,994 shares of the textile maker’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,474 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in Rocky Brands were worth $987,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of RCKY. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in Rocky Brands by 29.5% during the second quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,710 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $100,000 after acquiring an additional 618 shares during the last quarter. Yarger Wealth Strategies LLC boosted its position in Rocky Brands by 7.7% during the second quarter. Yarger Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 9,737 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $360,000 after acquiring an additional 692 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its position in Rocky Brands by 59.5% during the first quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 3,570 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $97,000 after acquiring an additional 1,332 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its position in Rocky Brands by 4.3% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 71,353 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $2,637,000 after acquiring an additional 2,962 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Rocky Brands during the second quarter valued at $149,000. Institutional investors own 75.06% of the company’s stock. Rocky Brands Price Performance Shares of NASDAQ RCKY opened at $21.82 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $27.04 and its 200-day moving average price is $31.53. Rocky Brands, Inc. has a 1-year low of $19.65 and a 1-year high of $40.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $162.65 million, a P/E ratio of 12.26 and a beta of 2.13. The company has a current ratio of 2.79, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. Rocky Brands Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be issued a $0.155 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.62 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.84%. Rocky Brands’s dividend payout ratio is presently 34.83%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have commented on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Rocky Brands from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on shares of Rocky Brands from $32.00 to $25.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on RCKY Rocky Brands Company Profile ( Free Report ) Rocky Brands, Inc designs, manufactures, and markets footwear and apparel in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through Wholesale, Retail, and Contract Manufacturing segments. The Wholesale segment offers products, which includes sporting goods stores, outdoor retailers, independent shoe retailers, hardware stores, catalogs, mass merchants, uniform stores, farm store chains, specialty safety stores, specialty retailers, and online retailers in retail locations through a range of distribution channels. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RCKY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rocky Brands, Inc. ( NASDAQ:RCKY – Free Report ). 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Nanta (seated centre) in a photo call with others during the launch of the programme today. KAPIT (Nov 23): Around 125 secondary school students had a fun hands-on learning experience today, constructing solar-powered fans and scrubbing machines using basic materials and simple electric circuits. These activities were part of the “Petronas Powering Knowledge: Discover Petronas @Schools Reach Out Kapit” programme, which included a series of engaging events led by Petrosains. Highlights featured a thrilling Combustion Science Show and interactive sessions held at the Kapit Community Hall. Designed to spark students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), the event also included motivational talks focused on career opportunities in the oil and gas industry. The programme was launched by Works Minister and Kapit member of parliament, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi. “This initiative is crucial as STEM education plays a key role in developing a society with STEM literacy and developing a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation,” Nanta said. He stated that the initiative aligns with the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025, which emphasises STEM education at the school level through both curricular and co-curricular activities. As part of its commitment to nurturing future talent, Petronas also highlighted its education sponsorships under the Powering Knowledge initiative. Earlier this month, a similar outreach event took place in Miri, engaging 210 students and teachers from 16 secondary schools, and by year-end the company plans to extend this initiative to 175 students in Gedong, with a session scheduled for Nov 27. In addition to its educational efforts, Petronas further supported the Kapit community by donating RM50,000 worth of medical equipment to the Kapit Health Clinic. The presentation ceremony was led by Petronas Sarawak general manager Norazibah Md Rabu and witnessed by Datuk Jefferson Jamit Unyat, deputy minister in the Premier’s Department (Native Law and Customs) and Bukit Goram assemblyman. The donations included a syringe pump, vital sign monitor, 10 blood glucose meters, 10 boxes of glucometer strips, and 13 electronic blood pressure monitors, as well as five standard wheelchairs, three high stool lab chairs, a standard water dispenser, an auto-refill water dispenser, a fridge, three industrial wall fans, two portable PA systems, four audio microphones, and 30 banquet chairs. Petronas has allocated RM1.3 million for this five-year programme aimed at enhancing healthcare services in 26 rural health clinics across Sarawak by providing essential medical equipment to replace outdated and non-functional ones. This initiative is part of the “Improvement of Rural Healthcare – Services and Facilities in Sarawak” programme, implemented by Petronas in collaboration with the Association of Wives of Ministers and Assistant Ministers of Sarawak (Sabati) and the Sarawak State Health Department. – Bernama
What a great year for wearables 2024 has been. Don’t believe me? We’ve had three standout products this year. One has individually broken new ground, an established product line has been refined so it’s close to perfect, and another has driven other brands to muscle in on its success. Let’s talk about each one in turn, why they all complement each other really well, and how there has never been a better time for wearables. Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses Many have tried to get the smart glasses formula right over the years, but none have come even close to Meta’s success with the Ray-Ban Meta . What it took was not only key technological advances, but forethought in design, as its extensive budget and reach allowed it to partner with eyewear megacorporation Luxxotica and, in turn, use the Ray-Ban name and base its smart glasses on the ever-popular Wayfarer frames. Wayfarers are instantly recognizable and suit a lot of faces, which helped introduce the idea of smart glasses to more people, who could then actually go into a retail store and try them on. That’s a really big deal. Are they comfortable? I’m wearing them as I write this, and I wore them all day yesterday, too. While they’re not as light as my normal glasses, they’re not far off, and I soon got used to the feel of them on my face. Fatigue has not been a problem after the break-in period. My prescription lenses allow me to wear them all the time , but I wouldn’t be able to do it at all if they were uncomfortable or too heavy. I also wouldn’t wear them if I felt they didn’t look very good, but apart from being quite a bold statement on my face, I think they look great. I’ve already talked about how much fun the camera can be , but the other feature I use often is the speakers . I love listening to podcasts while I do other things, and sometimes earbuds aren’t convenient, or I don’t have them on hand. The Ray-Ban Meta’s speakers are discreet, the connection with my phone is completely stable, and the sound is perfect for spoken words. It’s a superb feature I use almost every time I wear the smart glasses. It has taken years to get to this point, and while I’m slightly concerned about where smart glasses are headed next , it’s fantastic to have a pair to immediately recommend if someone is interested in getting started with the technology. Apple Watch Series 10 It’s so easy to pass the Apple Watch Series 10 off as just another incremental update, but this is a shortsighted and entirely dismissive way of looking at it. What Apple has done is refine its established and already excellent smartwatch so it has become supremely wearable all day long. The combination of sliminess, lightness, and the curved case means it essentially disappears on your wrist. No other smartwatch comes close to matching it. Since its release, I’ve been wearing the titanium version and absolutely love it. There is enough of a difference between it and the aluminum version to mostly justify the price difference, but the real revelation for me is the fantastic Milanese Loop band. It’s worth every penny of its price, with almost unparalleled comfort, complete adjustability, and a wonderfully classy style. It’s the all-around band to buy regardless of the Apple Watch’s case material. With the Milanese Loop band attached to the titanium case, as well as the watch’s cascading screen and the beautiful Reflections watch face, the Apple Watch Series 10 feels genuinely luxurious and special. I’ve enjoyed wearing it more than any previous Apple Watch. That’s all without discussing watchOS, which, once I fixed an annoying feature issue I had with it , has been reliable, fast to respond to, and easy to use. Apple’s refinements have elevated the Apple Watch beyond other smartwatches, and it’s now a watch I choose to wear , just like my mechanical watches. Oura Ring 4 I’ve worn an Oura Ring all year , making it the wearable I’ve used most in 2024, and I’m a total advocate for the smart ring. The app provides deep insight into your well-being, sleep, and daily movement. Data is easy to understand and never appears overwhelming or dense. This friendly approach makes the Oura Ring feel like it’s working with you, which is crucial if you’re going to wear it all the time. This year has seen the RingConn Gen 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Ring challenge the Oura Ring’s supremacy, but neither has quite toppled it. The RingConn Gen 2’s fit and design are real winners, and the way the Galaxy Ring works with a Galaxy Watch is an ingenious way of encouraging you to wear both. I love how Oura has invigorated others to make their own competing products, and as neither of the top two challengers needs a subscription, it makes them more accessible to more people than the Oura Ring. That’s excellent . I’m currently wearing the Oura Ring 4, but I do think if you have the chance to pick up a third-generation Oura Ring before they all disappear, then you definitely should. It’ll be yours for less money, provide almost the same level of functionality, and use the same app. I actually think the design and fit are just as good as the Oura Ring 4, too. It has been a great year for smart rings, with several companies now offering products worth buying, and I’m really excited to see what comes next in 2025. Wear them all That’s three brilliant wearables that have each driven the segment forward in 2024. You can buy all three and be safe in the knowledge that each does something different and enhances your life in a uniqueway, with barely any compromises. I’m not sure we’ve been at this point ever before. Smartwatches, smart rings, and smart glasses have all reached the point where they’re small, light, attractive, durable, reliable, and useful enough to be worn all the time. I regularly wear all three together, and while that sounds like a lot of wearable tech (it is), it never looks like I’m covered in tech. Good design is progressing at the same rate as technology, and the days when wearables were big, ugly, and poorly designed have mostly passed. All this has made 2024 a fantastic year for wearables, and while there has never been a better time to get involved, I am really keen to see what comes in 2025. If this is where we’re at now , I’m looking forward to seeing what all these products, and the others that will surely arrive, will be like this time next year.“We don’t have enough time,” I had said to my daughter as she ducked into the gift store on Toronto’s Bloor Street – just to look, of course. I had a million things to do after her ballet class, and Christmas shopping with a four-year-old was not on the list. But then I saw it, and time stopped. The ceramic tree behind the counter was a near replica of the one my grandma owned – hers, one she had made with her bridge ladies decades before I was born. I could hear her calm voice and feel her soft hands guiding me away from the tree’s bright bulbs, each nestled in a pocket of painted snow, and always too hot to touch. I could feel the comfort of sitting on her lap in the wingback chair, admiring her ceramic tree in the front window of the fancy sitting room, off limits to her grandkids any other time of year. The Victorian furniture. The plush floral carpet. If I closed my eyes long enough, I could see her eyes twinkle as we spoke; I could hear her shoulder-shaking laugh. “Mama, why are you crying?” It’s nothing, I told my daughter as she bolted down another aisle. My mind has gone back to that tree, those moments with my grandma, every Christmas. The sadness I feel that she – and so many others – aren’t with us is a rite of passage into December. The missing and the magic mixed into one bittersweet, forlorn feeling that is somehow festive to me. The hurt is not just about personal loss – it’s about injustice, too. The guilt of living in abundance here, and not clinging on to life there, feels more palpable. What right do I have to be overwhelmed about a Christmas holiday, when so many children have been torn from their homes this year, never to return – or worse? How can I sigh at my husband for playing the worst Christmas music – yes, of course the people in Africa know it’s Christmas – when so many loved ones aren’t with us any more, and so many are fighting for basic survival? The melancholy and guilt and nostalgia are all wrapped up together like Christmas lights I’ll never untangle. And though I don’t want my kids to feel unhappy – in fact, I go to great lengths to ensure this is their most wonderful time of year – I do want them to feel some of these less-bright parts of Christmas: gratitude, reflection and, okay, maybe feel a bit sad for others who don’t have as much, instead of simply seeing Christmas as an opportunity to ask for more, more, more. I wish my kid would put down the toy catalogue and understand a deeper meaning of the season; is that too much to ask? “Gratitude is actually the opposite of entitlement, and you can absolutely teach your kids to know there is nuance and sadness at Christmas,” says Dona Matthews, a developmental psychologist in Toronto, and author of Imperfect Parenting – a handbook on creating kids who are, among other things, grateful and understanding of the world around them. She says parents need to be honest about why Christmas brings us all down sometimes, and name our complicated feelings out loud. If, for example, your child sees a person asking for money on the street, Matthews says, “it’s okay to tell them that person doesn’t have what he needs by way of food and shelter. We are so lucky [to] have a warm house and food to eat.” She says we can teach kids about the cruelty and injustice of the world by speaking about our good fortune in contrast with the less fortunate, and then encouraging kids – even at 4 – to try to do something about it: donate to a food bank, give money or gift cards to a person on the street, or take their too-small clothes to a shelter. “They can learn firsthand that they can make the world a better place – that’s the next step in the gratitude project,” Matthews says. Gratitude and reflection – the things I’m needing most for my kids – are also achieved, she says, by saying no and not giving them the most things at Christmas – even when we all want to make merry. “If you want Veruca Salt for a child,” she says, “just give them everything they ask for.” I won’t tell her about my daughter, hands full of knick-knacks in the toy store, begging for a bejewelled reindeer and gingerbread chapstick. I told her to put it all back, though she’s grown up in a world where materialistic overconsumption is the norm, and she understands anything she wants can theoretically arrive at her doorstep the next day. It’s no wonder, then, that she views Christmas as an endless fire hose of stuff, when all of her parents’ holiday packages keep multiplying in our entranceway. And yet, if TikTok is to be believed, “underconsumption core” is actually having a moment: that is, the Gen Z aesthetic trending on the social-media app shows carefully curated young people showing off how they live with less, buy very little and reject messaging from big corporations that you need more stuff. It’s a message millennial parents – and their kids – seemingly haven’t heard. In the U.S., holiday spending has steadily increased every year – with 2024 expected to top US$989 billion , and millennials – specifically, those with young kids – leading the spending charge. According to a Harris poll, Gen Z may be watching those “less is more” videos but their holiday spending is extraordinary: A Gen Z shopper spends an average of US$1,638 – more than double their boomer counterpart. How can anyone expect to sit with the sadness of the season when we are all consuming too much – myself (and my daughter) included? “Mama, can we go home?” A Gen Z trend that is truly making a comeback is colourful, vintage décor – or so the store clerk told me as she wrapped up my purchase, with my impatient daughter pulling at my coat. “I got us something,” I said to my daughter when we got in the door. “I thought you said no more stuff,” she wisely observed, as she climbed into my lap to unwrap our new, old, sad, wonderful tree.
Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death rowA neighourhood guide to El Poblenou: The chic area where you won't feel the anti-tourism heatNoneIt's the most wonderful time of the year – to start planning for another cycle of annual leave and grand vacations in 2025, that is. This year, with overtourism unfortunately plaguing hotspots around the world and marring many long-awaited dream vacations, travel experts observe that holidaymakers are resolving to take a different tact next year. So, instead of flocking to the usual bucket list destinations, travellers will instead seek out lesser-known destinations where they will not need to jostle with selfie takers or compete for a spot to enjoy the view. Mike Harlow, general manager of Scott Dunn Asia, said: “Luxury travel is fast evolving, driven by global issues like climate change and overtourism, which are pushing travellers to explore destinations differently. No longer constrained by traditional travel seasons, many are prioritising the journey as much as the destination.” For those yearning to unwind away from the crowds, this is how to travel in style in 2025. TAKE A DETOUR OFF THE BEATEN TRACK No surprises then, that top of the list are “detour destinations”, which according to Expedia Group’s Unpack ‘25 outlook report, are alternative vacation spots that are near popular hotspots that up to 63 per cent of travellers are looking out for on their next trip. This could mean taking a day trip from a busy city or even a standalone destination on its own that is still not too inaccessible. Think Reims, the iconic French champagne region, which is close to Paris; the relatively untouched diving paradise Cozumel in Mexico, a short detour from Cancun; or even the foodie paradise of Fukuoka, which also hosts the annual grand sumo tournaments, instead of Osaka or Tokyo. A post shared by Walk Japan (@walkjapan) According to Hilton’s 2025 trends report , a growing desire to travel like a local has led to international travellers exploring destinations beloved by locals. For instance, Sardinia, a longtime getaway for Italians, is now seeing an uptick of travelers while Bodrum, Turkiye, otherwise known as the Turkish Riviera, is seeing an increase in travellers in the post-summer season. For a touching insider’s perspective on how travel can positively impact a local community, check out Walk Japan’s latest tour offering, Onsen Gastronomy: Noto to the rural Noto peninsula which was greatly affected by the New Year’s Day earthquake in 2024 and severe flooding in September. Created in partnership with Noto locals, the walking tour, which launched in April 2024, highlights the cultural uniqueness of the region, including its traditional regional cuisine, craft traditions and exceptional onsen. LUXURY FIRST MOVERS Travelling to lesser-known destinations can also equate to first dibs on new luxury hotel experiences. For instance, the very refined and understated The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka is the newest international luxury hotel in the city and has already scored one Michelin key. Or, sun worshippers seeking an alternative to the popular (but traffic-plagued) tropical getaway of Bali can easily hop on a connecting flight to Lombok instead, where the newly opened The Sira, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Lombok offers direct access to a pristine white sand beach and eye popping views of Mount Agung. Also slated to open next year is Banyan Tree Haeundae Busan, which might have more travellers considering this South Korean port city as an alternative to Seoul. Known for its stunning beaches, vibrant seafood markets and the world-class Busan International Film Festival, the city offers a more laid-back yet equally culturally rich experience as the country’s bustling capital. NOCTOURISM FOR NIGHT OWLS While much has been said about being the early bird to avoid crowds at popular landmarks, it might be time to entirely ditch daylight crowds for midnight magic. According to Booking.com’s annual Travel Predictions research , 67 per cent or two-thirds of Asia Pacific travellers are considering visiting destinations with darker stars for activities like constellation tracking, cosmic events like Northern or Southern Lights or starbathing experiences. Travel company Scott Dunn is also seeing eclipse chasing gaining traction, with Greenland’s High Arctic with its light-pollution free shores expected to be a prime location for the upcoming total lunar eclipse on Mar 14, 2025 and a partial solar eclipse on Mar 29, 2025. For a cultural twist, head to Tasmania, where MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) transforms into an otherworldly spectacle during its midwinter solstice night festival, Dark Mofo. It makes a full return in 2025, where judging by previous iterations of the event, will feature provocative art installations, live music and immersive performances. (As a bonus, the Tasmania government is currently in talks with Singapore Airlines to fly direct to Hobart .) A post shared by Scott Dunn | Luxury Travel (@scottdunn_travel) Besides the Northern Lights, holiday rental platform Vrbo, which has a curation of luxury properties, has found that a growing number of people will travel great distances to see natural phenomena in real life. These include the penguin parade on Phillip Island near Melbourne; bioluminescent plankton at Vero Beach, Florida; and starling murmurations in Somerset, England. With many of these happening in remote locations, it is no wonder up to 80 per cent of travellers would seek out private holiday homes in rural destinations for better and faster access to prime viewing spots. WILL TRAVEL FOR FOOD Meanwhile, Asia Pacific is emerging as a culinary heavyweight that is drawing gourmands seeking foodie experiences. According to the Luxury Group by Marriott International Future of Food 2025 report, in 2023, Asia Pacific commanded the largest share of 37.8 per cent of the total global culinary tourism revenue of US$1.1 trillion (S$1.5 trillion). This figure is projected to increase to US$ 6.2 trillion by 2033. Some up-and-coming culinary capitals to explore in 2025 include Manila, Mumbai and Jeju Island. The Philippine capital has been bubbling with under the radar finds, with buzzy openings in the past year . This includes acclaimed restaurateur-chef Margarita Fores opening a new signature fine dining restaurant called Margarita; Inato by Jepe Cruz which showcases new Filipino cuisine; and two new concepts by Chele Gonzalez including the fine dining Asador Alfonso, which is inspired by the chef’s Spanish heritage. Meanwhile, India’s financial centre Mumbai has slowly been earning its chops as a culinary capital with a diverse dining scene from street food to fine dining. Papa’s, a contemporary counter restaurant has been the talk of the town. There is also Masque, where the team sources hyperlocal ingredients across India from the forests of Kashmir to the shores of Goa for the tasting menu and Ekaa, which brings a new Nordic spin to Indian flavours with fermentation techniques and seasonal ingredients. A post shared by Masque Restaurant (@masquerestaurant) On South Korea’s Jeju Island, a recent boom in luxury resort openings including JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa and Grand Hyatt Jeju has boosted the destination as a culinary escape. Besides its famed black pig, mandarins and traditional rice-based spirits, young chefs and sommeliers have also moved over from Seoul to preserve indigenous Jeju produce and recipes from extinction. At The Flying Hog, executive chef Joon Ko treats the island’s renowned black pig using elevated techniques such as salt curing and wet-aging, while Yeoumul offers Jeju-style omakase by a young Korean chef trained in Michelin-starred kitchens. A post shared by JW 메리어트 제주 리조트 & 스파 (@jwmarriottjeju) Or, for an even more hands-on culinary adventure, niche travel platforms like Traveling Spoon offers immersive experiences ranging from home cooked meals, cooking lessons and market visits. Their personally vetted experiences include Cajun cooking sessions in New Orleans, rum cocktail workshops in Barbados or cooking classes with a Michelin-star chef in Montreal. TRAIN TRAVEL CHUGS ALONG With the allure of slow travel showing no sign of slowing down, luxury train travel continues to be one of the most sought after modes of travel, where the journey is the point of it all. In 2024, Belmond’s Eastern and Oriental Express returned to traverse Singapore and Malaysia – it continues to expand its offerings with a newly launched Essence of Malaysia itinerary which includes excursions including cave explorations in Perlis and a cooking session with home cooks from local charity Angel Community, which supports single parents in Penang. In July 2025, the luxury travel company is also launching the new Britannic Explorer , the first luxury sleeper train between England and Wales. Its sumptuous cabins are designed by design firm Albion Nord and feature heritage-inspired motifs that complement its journey through Cornwall, The Lake District, Northumberland and Wales. The on-board culinary experience will be curated by Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan and feature the regional delicacies of Britain. Another iconic European train, the Venice Simplon Orient Express , will feature a new sleeper carriage L’Observatoire, designed by artist JR who was inspired by astronomy and Renaissance art. In Japan, the exclusive Twilight Express Mizukaze is close to impossible to secure passage on because of its ballot system. But next year, travel company Intriq Journey has exclusively chartered the train for its Intriq Signatures experience from Apr 22 to 27 . The journey through the scenic Kansai region includes stops in Kyoto, Matsue and Tottori. Of course, the highlight is the train itself, with its Art Deco inspired interiors, large windows for sweeping views of Japan’s spectacular scenery and the seasonal cuisine served on board. TRAVEL TO LIVE LONGER Travel is increasingly seen as a pathway to living longer and better with people using vacation time to nurture their health and cultivate better lifestyle choices. In fact, Booking.com found that up to 60 per cent of travellers are interested in a longevity retreat. These are supercharged versions of traditional well-being getaways, with a focus on biohacking and high-tech treatments like cryotherapy, stem cell treatment and red light therapies. Design Hotels’ Further Forecast reported that up to 82 per cent of travellers consider a hotel as a place where they can embark on their quest for long term health. Cue a surge in wellbeing establishments where guests can check in, care for their well-being under expert guidance plus enjoy five-star hotel facilities at the same time. The recently launched Layan Life by Anantara in Phuket offers three- to 10-day programmes that focus on cutting edge technology combined with traditional Thai therapies. In January, Revivo Wellness Resort in Bali will open a Vitality Centre that will offer comprehensive diagnostics and various innovative treatments like IV therapy and a peptide lounge. And in 2026, look out for pioneers in the longevity wellness field opening new facilities. This includes Lanserhof’s new location in Marbella and Health Resort by Clinique La Prairie at Tri Vananda in Phuket. NEW HOTELS FOR WEEKEND GETAWAYS Expect 2025 to be a bumper year for luxury hotel openings, especially in the region – perfect for a quick getaway during the four long weekends . The luxury hotel scene in perennial favourite Bangkok is booming. The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok just launched in the city at the One Bangkok development, which overlooks Lumpini Park. Later in the year, the 224-room Andaz One Bangkok is also slated to open within the same development Plus, in one of the year’s most anticipated launches, the 52-suite Jean-Michel Gathy-designed Aman Nai Lert Bangkok is slated to open in early 2025, bringing its luxe spin to urban sanctuary living to the bustling Thai capital. Neighbouring Malaysia will see the opening of the luxury Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur in the third quarter of 2025. Occupying the top floors of Merdeka 118, Asia Pacific’s tallest skyscraper, this 252-room hotel will incorporate local craftsmanship such as batik and wood-carved motifs. The Regent Canggu Bali , opening by March, is just a stone’s throw from surfer’s paradise Echo Beach and will bring a five-star experience to this popular neighbourhood filled with chic shops and trendy eateries. And in Singapore, Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree , situated within the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, will open in the first half of the year. With 338 rooms in total, this will be Singapore-based Banyan Group’s first hotel on home ground, making this an opening to watch. We bet its 24 treehouses will redefine the concept of a destination staycation with a one-of-a-kind immersive experience amid lush greenery unlike anything else in the country.
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Analysts at StockNews.com began coverage on shares of First Bancshares ( NASDAQ:FBMS – Get Free Report ) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday. The brokerage set a “sell” rating on the bank’s stock. FBMS has been the topic of several other reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised First Bancshares from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $31.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Hovde Group boosted their target price on shares of First Bancshares from $29.00 to $32.50 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Monday, July 29th. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott lowered shares of First Bancshares from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $35.50. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on First Bancshares First Bancshares Stock Performance Institutional Trading of First Bancshares Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in First Bancshares during the second quarter worth $36,000. CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of First Bancshares by 3,387.8% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,709 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 1,660 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its position in shares of First Bancshares by 50.8% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,194 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $103,000 after acquiring an additional 1,076 shares during the last quarter. Quest Partners LLC bought a new stake in First Bancshares during the second quarter worth $89,000. Finally, EntryPoint Capital LLC bought a new stake in First Bancshares during the first quarter worth $103,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.95% of the company’s stock. First Bancshares Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) The First Bancshares, Inc operates as the bank holding company for The First Bank that provides general commercial and retail banking services. The company operates through three segments: Commercial/Retail Bank, Mortgage Banking Division, and Holding Company. It offers deposit services, including checking, NOW, and savings accounts; other time deposits, such as daily money market accounts and longer-term certificates of deposit; and individual retirement and health savings accounts. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for First Bancshares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Bancshares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s defection to Donald Trump and the Republicans comes after years of criticism the former Democrat laid at Trump's feet. Kennedy, whom Trump has nominated to be the next U.S. health secretary, has previously called the president-elect a "bully" and a "terrible president" and described his early political rise as "scary." In a video that was widely shared online this week, amid widespread discussion of Trump's cabinet picks, commentators claimed that Kennedy had disparaged Trump's supporters too, saying he called them "belligerent idiots," "outright Nazis," and "bootlickers." The Claim A post on X, formerly Twitter , by user Republicans against Trump, posted on November 21, 2024, viewed 3.9 million times, said: "[siren emoji] CNN has uncovered an audio in which RFK Jr scorched Trump and his supporters, calling them "belligerent idiots," "outright Nazis," "cowards," and "bootlickers." The post included audio in which Kennedy said: "One of the things that you write so beautifully, and your stuff is so fun to read, but you write about Trump, quote, 'The way that you build a truly vicious nationalist movement is to wed a relatively small core of belligerent idiots to a much larger group of opportunists and spineless fellow travelers whose primary function is to turn a blind eye to things.'" The Facts CNN did not report that Kennedy said those words about Trump supporters himself, and Kennedy did not do so either. CNN reported earlier this week that the recording was taken from a March 2016 episode of the Ring of Fire radio show, during which Kennedy praisingly repeated the words of journalist Matt Taibbi. "'We may not have that many outright Nazis in America, but we have plenty of cowards and bootlickers, and once those fleshy dominoes start tumbling into the Trump camp, the game is up,'" Kennedy quoted. As was said in the clip, Kennedy doesn't resist or challenge Taibbi's words, calling them "beautifully" written and "fun to read." The passage itself doesn't outright call Trump supporters "belligerent idiots" but strongly connects them to that insult. Importantly, these weren't Kennedy's words, although his praise of the passage suggests he, at the very least, sympathized with its sentiment. "Like many Americans, I allowed myself to believe the mainstream media's distorted, dystopian portrait of President Trump," Kennedy said in a statement sent to Newsweek by the Trump-Vance transition team. "I no longer hold this belief and now regret having made those statements. President Trump has a tremendous vision for our country that will not only make our country healthy again but will lower the cost of living for all Americans, stop endless wars, protect free speech, secure our Southern border, and make our country great again. "I am proud to serve in President Trump's administration." As reported in October 2024 by The New York Times, Kennedy has ridiculed Trump for many years, including during his run as a candidate in the 2024 race, calling him a "terrible president" who would not be "capable of meeting the expectations and fulfilling the promises that he raises with his rhetoric." In a Newsweek op-ed from 2018 , Kennedy, who was a Democrat at the time, said that Trump's "presidency has not just discredited our nation, but the entire American experiment in self government." Trump was not kind to Kennedy prior to his dropping out of the 2024 race, either. Kennedy ran against Trump as a Democrat, then an independent, before ending his campaign in August and endorsing the president-elect. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social in late May, Trump called Kennedy "one of the most Liberal Lunatics ever to run for office," adding that he is "a Phony Radical Left fool whose poll numbers are TERRIBLE, and getting worse." The Ruling Needs Context. According to a CNN report, the audio recording of RFK Jr. is from 2016 and was of Kennedy reading a passage written by journalist Matt Taibbi. While these weren't his words, Kennedy repeated them in praise. FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check teamAwe-Inspiring Satellite Images Show a Year of Change and Wonder
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