He was roasting politicians by the fire — and touting himself as New York’s potential next governor. GOP New York Rep. Mike Lawler torched the state’s Democrats while hinting he may run for governor in 2026 during his “Festivus” airing of grievances this week. “Kathy Hochul is the most unpopular governor in the country, and make no mistake, she’s worked her ass off for that title,” Lawler quipped about his possible soon-to-be rival while sitting before a Christmas-themed background with a fireplace roaring in a video posted to X on Monday. “No doubt she’s going to face a real challenge in 2026. I wonder who could beat her. Hmm. I might know a guy,” he said with a wink. “Anyway, that’s a video for another day.” The Hudson Valley congressman, who has long ripped into the Democratic gov, blasted her for upping the state budget by more than $50 billion in under four years, shelling out money on migrants and pursuing Manhattan’s infamous congestion toll. “She’s done such a bad job that even her own hand-picked lieutenant governor is retweeting articles about his plans to run against her,” Lawler said, referring to Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado. Lawler, 38, who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022, dusted off his top 10 grievances of 2024 in his “Festivus,” a secular tradition on Dec. 23 popularized by the TV comedy classic “Seinfeld.” Hochul topped Lawler’s list. The No. 2 target for the rep was New York City Mayor Eric Adams, whom he raked over the coals for the five-count bribery indictment handed down against him in September. “How bad of a year was it for Mr. Mayor? Well, when the highlight of your year is getting indicted for soliciting and accepting illegal campaign donations from wealthy foreigners — yikes,” Lawler jabbed. The congressman pondered whether there was “any doubt” Hizzoner “joined [first lady] Jill Biden in voting for Trump.” The Hudson Valley rep also poked at rival former Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-NY) for having “three losses in a row,” joking that Delgado might pick him as his running mate in 2026. The Republican lawmaker also knocked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York on spending issues and New York Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for failing to pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act. In two other Empire State-related swipes, Lawler took aim at Columbia University and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “Remember when we all thought Ivy League students were smart,” Lawler said. “After watching these anti-semitic, self-entitled, brain-addled morons embarrass themselves and our state for the past year, I am prouder than ever to be a product of a truly great New York institution of learning,” he added in reference to his alma mater, Manhattan University. In regards to the MTA, Lawler griped that “these corrupt clowns run a subway system where innocent [people] have to worry about getting burned alive, murdered, or shoved onto the tracks while hoping an ex-marine happens to be nearby to save them.” In non-New York-related jabs, Lawler went straight for the jugular against President Biden. “Speaking of forgetful and forgettable, have you ever seen someone’s presidency relegated to the ash heap of history quicker than Joe Biden’s,” he sniped. “Enjoy retirement, Joe. They serve ice cream daily.” Lawler also gloated over the demise of his former colleague, ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who led the charge to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). “Speaking of hacks, happy trails to Matt Gaetz. Florida co-eds, beware — he’s back,” Lawler ribbed, alluding to the ethics report that dropped Monday unfurling accusations of Gaetz paying women for sex and having sex with a minor. Gaetz has denied the allegations and accused the House Committee on Ethics of mounting a smear campaign against him. Lawler is far from the only pol celebrating “Festivus” with politically charged grievances and humor. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) continued his longstanding tradition of marking “Festivus” with a tirade against government waste. This year in his “Festivus” report, the senator chronicled roughly $1 trillion in what he deemed to be wasteful government spending, spotlighting projects such as climate-focused drag shows-on-ice and testing cocaine on moody rats.
Colorado adds record insurance coverage for Sanders and Hunter with both playing in Alamo Bowl'I'm done': Dem strategist and DNC fundraiser abandons party
Louisville extends athletic director Josh Heird for 5 years through June 2030ALTOONA, Pennsylvania — Luigi Mangione, the suspect charged with murder in the shooting of a top UnitedHealth executive, briefly struggled with officers and angrily shouted while being escorted into a Pennsylvania courthouse on Tuesday, as a clearer picture of his motives began to emerge a day after his arrest ended a massive manhunt. Mangione, 26, turned toward a group of reporters and yelled in part, “... completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people!” before deputies pushed him away. It was not clear to what he was referring. At the court hearing, his defense lawyer told a judge that Mangione would oppose extradition to New York, where he is charged with murder and other crimes. That decision could delay the process by weeks but is unlikely to block his eventual transfer; for now, Mangione will remain in jail in Pennsylvania, where he faces gun and forgery charges. His attorney, Tom Dickey, said at a news conference that Mangione planned to plead not guilty to the charges. Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance arm, one of the largest health insurers in the U.S., was shot dead last Wednesday morning outside a hotel in Manhattan in what police said was a targeted attack, sparking a manhunt that led to Mangione’s arrest. More clues about his possible motivation were coming to light on Tuesday. When arrested, Mangione was in possession of a handwritten manifesto that offered insight into his mindset, according to police. The New York Times reported that an internal New York City Police report analyzing the document concluded that Mangione viewed the killing as a justified response to what he believed to be corruption in the health care industry. “These parasites simply had it coming,” the manifesto said, according to the Times. Mangione suffered from chronic back pain that limited his daily life, according to friends, his social media postings and other news reports. His profile on X shows a background image of an x-ray with what appears to be screws and plates inserted in a lower back. An employee at TrueCar told Reuters that Mangione worked at the car-buying website as a data engineer from 2022 to late 2023. In mid-2023, Mangione took about two months off for what the employee’s manager described as back-related issues. The employee, who asked not to be named, described Mangione as “incredibly smart” and very friendly to his co-workers. He said that the company offered employees health insurance through UnitedHealth as well as other choices, such as Aetna. From January through June 2022, Mangione lived at the Surfbreak co-living community in Honolulu, where he led a book club and surfed, hiked and rock-climbed, the founder of the group, R.J. Martin, told the Hawaiian outlet Civil Beat. Martin said Mangione had suffered back pain caused by misaligned vertebrae pinching Mangione’s spinal cord, and he left for the mainland at some point for surgery. But he went “radio silent” in June or July, Martin told Civil Beat. Mangione never showed any indication of violence, Martin later told MSNBC. “The Luigi that I knew is completely incompatible with an assassin,” he said, describing him as funny, kind and thoughtful. At one point, Mangione suggested Surfbreak’s book club read the manifesto of Ted Kaczynski — the U.S. domestic bomber known as the Unabomber — as a joke, according to Martin. On the book-themed social media site Goodreads, a poster with Mangione’s name praised Kaczynski’s book “Industrial Society and Its Future” as “prescient” about modern society, called him an “extreme political revolutionary” and suggested violence was a legitimate form of resistance in some circumstances. Mangione was spotted at a McDonald’s on Monday by an employee who thought he looked like the gunman in surveillance images released by police. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate who was also the valedictorian of a private all-boys school in Maryland, had a loaded ghost gun — an untraceable firearm assembled from parts — and a silencer, officials said on Monday. Both the weapon and his clothing closely resembled those used by the gunman. He also had multiple fake identifications, including a fraudulent New Jersey ID that matched the one used by the gunman to check into a Manhattan hostel days before the shooting, according to authorities. Mangione’s family released a statement saying they knew only what had been reported in the media. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” the family said in a statement posted to the X account of Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” The gunman managed to elude capture for days after the attack last Wednesday outside the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan. Thompson’s killing unleashed a wave of frustration from Americans struggling to afford medical care and those who have been denied claims or care. Thompson, a father of two, had been CEO of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021, part of a 20-year career with the company. He had been in New York to attend the company’s annual investor conference.
Corneal earns FIFA diplomaRexas Finance (RXS) emerges as a promising investment opportunity, challenging Dogecoin’s dominance in the cryptocurrency market. Offering a starting price of $0.15 and a robust tokenomics structure, RXS positions itself as a potential 10x profit driver. Meanwhile, Dogecoin faces technical resistance, signalling a mixed outlook for short-term gains. Rexas Finance: Revolutionizing Real-World Asset Tokenization Rexas Finance integrates real-world assets (RWA) with blockchain technology, redefining traditional financial markets. By enabling fractional ownership of RWA, the platform opens pathways for investors while addressing illiquidity and high costs. With $379 trillion worth of global assets ripe for tokenization, Rexas Finance offers immense scalability. The platform’s QuickMint Bot and GenAI systems simplify asset tokenization, making blockchain accessibility seamless for businesses and individuals. The RXS token’s distribution strategy also fosters ecosystem growth, with 42.5% allocated for presale to promote early adoption. Its circulating supply of 1 billion tokens ensures sustainable demand as more users engage with the ecosystem. The combination of advanced technology and strategic distribution sets RXS apart as an investment option. Analysts compare RXS’s growth trajectory to Ethereum, hinting at substantial long-term profitability for early investors. At its current price of $0.15, RXS offers a cost-effective entry into the burgeoning RWA market. Dogecoin: Fluctuations Amid Mixed Market Signals Dogecoin's recent price action highlights its volatility, with notable declines followed by a partial recovery in recent days. After dropping to $0.2663, buyers leveraged the low price as an entry point, pushing it to $0.34. Market momentum suggests potential for a rally, but key resistance levels remain a challenge. Technical analysis shows Dogecoin trading near the Gaussian Channel mid-band, a critical support zone. If momentum sustains, the channel’s upper boundary could signal the start of another rally. However, Dogecoin’s reliance on market sentiment and speculative interest makes its trajectory unpredictable. Despite its meme coin status, Dogecoin still attracts attention due to its established market presence. However, compared to RXS, its utility and growth potential seem limited in a rapidly evolving blockchain space. RXS vs. DOGE: Why Rexas Finance May Be the Better Bet Rexas Finance provides a clear use case by tokenizing real-world assets and addressing tangible market problems like illiquidity and high costs. In contrast, Dogecoin’s value largely depends on speculative trading and social media hype. RXS's robust ecosystem and strategic vision present a more stable and scalable investment opportunity. Investors seeking a 10x return may find RXS’s $0.15 price highly attractive, given its alignment with emerging blockchain trends. As institutional adoption of tokenized assets grows, RXS’s value could skyrocket, mirroring Ethereum’s historic rise. Conclusion Rexas Finance is a transformative force in blockchain, bridging real-world assets with decentralized finance. Its low entry price, strong tokenomics, and innovative tools position it as a better investment than Dogecoin. For investors eyeing a quick 10x profit, RXS represents a compelling opportunity in the evolving crypto landscape. Website: https://rexas.com Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.Unretired two-time Pro Bowl LB Shaquil Barrett signs to resume career with Tampa Bay Buccaneers TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Shaquil Barrett is rejoining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Canadian Press Dec 28, 2024 3:08 PM Dec 28, 2024 3:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Shaquil Barrett is rejoining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs signed the two-time Super Bowl champion on Saturday, while also announcing safety Jordan Whitehead was activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers. Barrett spent five seasons with Tampa Bay from 2019 to 2023. He led the NFL with a franchise-record 19 1-2 sacks in his first year with the Bucs, then helped the team win its second Super Bowl title the following season. In all, Barrett started 70 games with Tampa Bay, amassing 45 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions. He was released last winter in a salary cap move, signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins in free agency, then abruptly announced his retirement on social media before the start of training camp in July. Barrett, who also won a Super Bowl during a four-season stint with the Denver Broncos, decided to unretire last month. He signed with the Bucs after clearing waivers earlier in the week. Whitehead has missed the past four games with a pectoral injury. His return comes of the heels of the Bucs placing safety Christian Izien on IR with a pectoral injury. On Saturday, the Bucs also activated rookie wide receiver Kameron Johnson from IR and elevated punter Jack Browning to the active roster from the practice squad. ___ NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Drake Maye returns after a hit to the head, but same problems persist in Patriots' loss to Chargers Dec 28, 2024 3:11 PM Herbert tosses 3 TD passes and Chargers secure a playoff spot with a 40-7 rout of Patriots Dec 28, 2024 2:50 PM Dolphins are on the outside of AFC playoffs and need help and a win over Browns to have any chance Dec 28, 2024 1:15 PM
Trump named Time’s Person of the Year for historic second time