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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — CNN wants a court to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson that attacks its report that he made explicit posts on a pornography website’s message board. The network says Robinson presented no evidence that the network believed its story was false or aired it recklessly. The September report says Robinson, who ran unsuccessfully for governor this month, left statements over a decade ago on the message board in which, in part, he referred to himself as a “black NAZI" and said he enjoyed transgender pornography. The report also says he preferred Adolf Hitler to then-President Barack Obama and slammed the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as “worse than a maggot.” Robinson, who was seeking to become the state's first Black governor, said he didn’t write those posts and sued in October, just before early in-person voting was to begin. While filing a dismissal motion Thursday in Raleigh federal court, attorneys for CNN said Robinson’s arguments suggesting he was the likely victim of a computer hacking operation that created fake messages would require a series of events that is not just “implausible, it is ridiculous.” Generally speaking, a public official claiming defamation must show a defendant knew a statement it made was false or did so with reckless disregard for the truth. “Robinson did not and cannot plausibly allege facts that show that CNN published the Article with actual malice,” attorney Mark Nebrig wrote in a memo backing the dismissal motion, adding that the lawsuit “does not include a single allegation demonstrating that CNN doubted the veracity of its reporting.” For Robinson, who already had a history of inflammatory comments about topics like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights , the CNN story nearly led to the collapse of his campaign. After the report's airing, most of his top campaign staff quit, advertising from the Republican Governors Association stopped and fellow Republicans distanced themselves from him, including President-elect Donald Trump. Robinson lost to Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein by nearly 15 points and will leave office at year-end. Robinson's lawsuit was initially filed in state court. It says, in part, that CNN chose to run its report based on data from the website NudeAfrica, which had been hacked several years ago and ran on vulnerable, outdated software. His suit claims the network did nothing to verify the posts. He's seeking monetary damages. Thursday's memo highlights the network's story, including a section where the CNN journalists showed how they connected Robinson to a username on the NudeAfrica site. As the CNN story said previously, the memo says the network matched details of the account on the message board to other online accounts held by Robinson by comparing usernames, an email address and his full name. The details discussed by the account holder matched Robinson’s length of marriage, where he lived at the time, and that both Robinson and the account holder had mothers who worked at a historically Black university, the memo says. CNN also said it found matches of figures of speech used by both the NudeAfrica account holder and in Robinson’s social media posts. “This is hardly a case where, as Robinson alleges, CNN ‘disregarded or deliberately avoided the truth’ rather than investigate,” Nebrig said, adding later that the network “had no reason to seriously doubt that Robinson was the author” of the posts. Robinson's attorneys didn't immediately respond to an email Friday seeking comment. The lawsuit says anyone could have used Robinson's breached data to create accounts on the internet. His state lawsuit also sued Louis Love Money, a former porn shop worker who alleged in a music video and a media interview that for several years starting in the 1990s, Robinson frequented a porn shop where Money was working and that Robinson purchased porn videos from him. Robinson said that was untrue. Money filed his own dismissal motion in the state lawsuit. But since then, CNN moved the lawsuit to federal court, saying that it's the proper venue for a North Carolina resident like Robinson and a Georgia-based company like CNN and that the claims against Money are unrelated.LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game with 21 seconds left after Washington’s Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin connected on an 86-yard touchdown, Dallas’ Juanyeh Thomas returned the ensuing onside kick attempt for a touchdown, and the Cowboys pulled out a 34-26 victory Sunday that extended the Commanders’ skid to three games. Seibert, who missed the previous two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt following a low snap. Thomas then took the kick back 43 yards as the Cowboys (4-7) ended their losing streak at five in improbable fashion. Part of that was the play of backup Cooper Rush, who threw for 247 yards and two TDs in his third start in place of starter Dak Prescott. Part was also the defense forcing two turnovers, as Chauncey Golston ripped the ball out of Brian Robinson Jr.’s hands for what was called an interception of Daniels in the second quarter, and Donovan Wilson stripped John Bates midway through the fourth. KaVonte Turpin provided the fireworks with a spinning, 99-yard kickoff return TD seconds after Daniels found Zach Ertz in the end zone and scored on a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to three with 3:02 left. In the final three minutes alone, the Commanders (7-5) scored 10 points and allowed Thomas' TD. All that after the score was 10-9 through three quarters before madness ensued. Washington's playoff hopes that looked solid not long ago are now in serious jeopardy after losing to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Dallas. Before the scoring outburst late, much of this defeat had to do with Daniels and the offense not being able to find any kind of a rhythm. The Cowboys did, despite playing without their two best offensive linemen, top cornerback and starting tight end. Rush's 6-yard pass to Jalen Tolbert was Dallas' first third-quarter TD of the season, and his 22-yarder to Luke Schoonmaker came after Wilson's forced fumble. Daniels finished 25 of 38 for 274 yards, including his second interception of the game on a failed Hail Mary as the clock expired. Rico Dowdle ran 19 times for 86 yards to spring the upset for the Cowboys, who were 10 1/2-point underdogs on BetMGM Sportsbook. Cowboys: LG Tyler Smith was inactive with ankle and knee injuries. ... RG Zack Martin (ankle), CB Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) and TE Jake Ferguson (concussion) were ruled out prior to game day and did not travel for the game. Commanders: RB Austin Ekeler was injured on a kickoff return in the final seconds. ... Robinson left with an ankle injury in the first half, returned and then left again. ... RT Andrew Wylie was concussed in the third quarter and did not return. ... C Tyler Biadasz was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth. ... CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) missed a third consecutive game since being acquired at the trade deadline from New Orleans. Cowboys: Host the New York Giants on Thursday in the traditional Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas. Commanders: Host the Tennessee Titans next Sunday in Washington’s final game before its late bye week. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflKANSAS CITY, Mo. — Taylor Swift once raved about the sweet potato casserole served at a New York City restaurant and now that recipe pops up every now and again at Thanksgiving. The holidays encourage many of us to try new recipes. Social media right now is flooded with recipes for appetizers, side dishes and desserts. Anyone making that cornbread casserole from TikTok? While we might not get to share a Thanksgiving feast with Swift — is your name Blake Lively? — or other celebrities beloved by Kansas City, we can eat like them. So here’s the recipe for that casserole Swift loved so much, and favorite family side dish recipes from Donna Kelce and Eric Stonestreet. Enjoy. Travis Kelce's mother, Donna Kelce, seen here last year at her son's music festival, dined on a cheesesteak made by actor Bradley Cooper at QVC festivities in Las Vegas this week. (Emily Curiel/Kansas City Star/TNS) If we tried to guess how many holiday dinner rolls Travis Kelce and his brother, Jason Kelce, have scarfed over the years, would it be in the hundreds? Thousands? Their mom has spoken often about the batches of holiday crescent rolls she has baked over the years. Based on the recipe that won the 1969 Pillsbury Bake-Off, Pillsbury’s Magic Marshmallow Crescent Puffs , they’re now known as Mama Kelce’s Dinner Rolls. They blend the crescent roll pastry with marshmallows, cinnamon and sugar. Dinner roll or dessert? We bet they didn’t last long enough in front of Travis and Jason for that debate. Ingredients Rolls •1/4 cup granulated sugar •2 tablespoons Pillsbury Best all-purpose flour •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon •2 (8-ounce) cans refrigerated Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count) •16 large marshmallows •1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted Glaze •1/2 cup powdered sugar •1/2 teaspoon vanilla •2-3 teaspoons milk •1/4 cup chopped nuts Directions Make the rolls 1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 16 medium muffin cups with nonstick baking spray. 2. In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon. 3. Separate the dough into 16 triangles. For each roll, dip 1 marshmallow into melted butter; roll in the sugar mixture. Place marshmallow on the shortest side of a triangle. Roll up, starting at shortest side and rolling to opposite point. Completely cover the marshmallow with the dough; firmly pinch edges to seal. Dip 1 end in remaining butter; place butter side down in muffin cup. 4. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. 5. When done, remove from the oven and let the puffs cool in the pan for 1 minute. Remove rolls from muffin cups; place on cooling racks set over waxed paper. Make the glaze and assemble In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls. Sprinkle with nuts. Serve warm. Eric Stonestreet attends 'Eric Stonestreet visits The SiriusXM Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles' at SiriusXM Studios on Oct. 8, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM/TNS) Thanksgiving is one of the “Modern Family” star’s favorite holidays. Three years ago, as part of a campaign honoring hometown heroes , he shared one of his favorite recipe with McCormick Spices: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Butternut Squash . This recipe serves eight. Ingredients •1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved •1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into bite-size cubes •1 tablespoon olive oil •1/2 teaspoon garlic powder •1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves •1/2 teaspoon salt •1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper •5 slices bacon, chopped •1 shallot, finely chopped •1/2 cup dried cranberries •1/4 cup balsamic vinegar •1 teaspoon whole grain mustard •1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional) •1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese, (optional) Directions 1. Preheat oven to 475°F. Spray large shallow baking pan with no stick cooking spray; set aside. Place Brussels sprouts and squash in large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper; toss to coat evenly. Spread in single layer on prepared pan. 2. Roast 16 to 18 minutes or until tender and lightly browned, stirring halfway through cooking. 3. Meanwhile, cook bacon in medium skillet on medium heat about 6 minutes or until crispy. Remove using slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain. Add shallot to same skillet; cook and stir 2 minutes until softened and lightly browned. Stir in cranberries, vinegar and mustard until well blended. Transfer mixture to small bowl; set aside. 4. Arrange roasted Brussels sprouts and squash on serving platter. Drizzle with cranberry balsamic glaze and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with cooked bacon, toasted pecans, and crumbled blue cheese, if desired. Serve immediately. Donna Kelce, left, mother of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce watched the game with pop superstar Taylor Swift, center, during the first-half on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. (Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/TNS) Swift gushed about the sweet potato casserole served at Del Frisco’s Grille in New York City, a dish crowned with a crunchy candied pecan and oatmeal crumble. “I’ve never enjoyed anything with the word casserole in it ever before, but it’s basically sweet potatoes with this brown sugary crust,” she told InStyle. ”Oh my God, it’s amazing.” The media rushed to find the recipe, which Parade has published this Thanksgiving season . “Similar to T. Swift herself, we think this recipe is a mastermind, especially if you’ve been asked to bring the sweet potato side dish to this year’s Thanksgiving feast. It seriously begs the question: who needs pumpkin pie?” the magazine writes. Ingredients •4 lbs sweet potatoes •1⁄3 cup oats •12 oz unsalted butter, divided •1⁄2 cup packed brown sugar •1⁄2 cup toasted pecans •1⁄2 cup granulated sugar •1 tsp kosher salt •2 tsp vanilla extract •4 large eggs, beaten Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. 1. Scrub sweet potatoes. Pierce each several times with a fork and wrap tightly in foil. Place on a sheet pan. Bake 90 minutes or until tender. Set aside until cool enough to handle. 2. Meanwhile, place oats in a food processor; process 1 minute. Add 4 oz butter, brown sugar and pecans; pulse five times to combine. Spread mixture on a baking sheet; bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven, crumble. Bake 5 minutes or until golden brown. 3. Melt remaining 8 oz butter. Remove skin from cooled sweet potatoes. In a large bowl, whisk sweet potatoes, melted butter, granulated sugar and remaining ingredients until slightly lumpy. Transfer to a greased baking dish, smoothing surface evenly. Top with oat mixture. Bake 12 minutes or until heated through. Make-ahead tips •Sweet potato filling can be made up to 2 days in advance. Prepare the sweet potato filling, cool, place in a casserole dish and keep refrigerated. •Oat-pecan crust can also be made up to 2 days ahead. Make the crust according to recipe directions, cool and store in an airtight container at room temperature. Sprinkle over the sweet potato filling just before baking. Get local news delivered to your inbox!777 casino 8k8 。

Zachary Levi says his support for President-elect Donald Trump hasn’t resulted in “career suicide” after all. Appearing on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast this week, the “Shazam!” actor shrugged off the implication that he’d been “canceled” by Hollywood for his endorsement of Trump in the 2024 election. “I hope I haven’t been canceled yet,” Levi said. “I mean, if it happens, it happens.” “I already had multiple jobs that I was in the process of shooting or that I have yet to shoot, and none of those have been compromised,” he added. When Maher pressed for clarification, Levi added, “None of my producers or any of the studios behind those films or projects have called and said, ‘Hey listen, this is a line too far, and we can’t have you associated with the project anymore.’ We’re all still full steam ahead on those.” Though Levi initially supported former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., he formally endorsed Trump in September. At the time, he acknowledged that his stance could “very well could constitute career suicide” given the “very liberal” views of many Hollywood heavyweights. Just weeks later, the actor found himself on the receiving end of backlash from within the Broadway community when he used his former co-star Gavin Creel’s death to promote a conspiracy theory about COVID-19 vaccines. In a video posted to Instagram in October, Levi surmised that Creel, with whom he co-starred in the 2016 revival of “She Loves Me” on Broadway, “would still be alive” if he hadn’t gotten vaccinated against COVID-19. After suggesting that the COVID-19 vaccines were “forced on the American public” despite known side effects including “turbo cancers,” Levi said : “Without a shadow of a doubt, I believe that Gavin Creel would be alive right now — right fucking now — he would still be alive if that stuff didn’t get put into his body.” Creel, beloved by theater fans for his performances in “Hello, Dolly!” and “Into the Woods,” among other musicals, died of a rare and aggressive form of cancer in September. Levi’s claims were quickly condemned by a litany of fellow Broadway performers. Appearing on “ That’s A Gay Ass Podcast ” last week, actor Laura Benanti didn’t hold back when asked about her experience working on “She Loves Me” with Levi. “I never liked him,” Benanti said . “Everyone was like, ‘He’s so great!’ And I was like, ‘No, he’s not. He’s sucking up all the fucking energy in this room. He wants to mansplain everybody’s part to them.’” “For [Levi] to use [Creel’s] memory ― a person he was not friends with ― to use his memory for his political agenda and to watch him try to make himself cry until he had one single tear, which he did not wipe away, I was like, ‘Fuck you forever,’” she added. Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone. Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. Benanti, a 2009 Tony Award winner for “Gypsy” known for her impressions of Melania Trump on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” also conceded that Levi’s initial claims about “career suicide” were dubious. “Christian, faith-based TV and film is huge. He’s going to be a huge fucking star in that realm,” she said. “He’s going to make more money than he ever has.” Listen to Zachary Levi’s “Club Random with Bill Maher” interview here . His comments on Trump begin around the 5:05 mark. Related From Our Partner

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This year was a mixed bag for the large automakers, with sales in the US climbing and prices holding steady for the most part. But changes are coming for the industry — whether on the domestic front with a new administration or the threat of cheaper, foreign competition. S&P Global Mobility projects US sales will hit a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 16.2 million units in 2025, an estimated increase of 1.2% from a projected 16.0 million units in 2024, which S&P says still reflects an uncertain environment for auto sales in the US. "Vehicle pricing levels are expected to decline but remain high; interest rates are expected to shift further downwards, but inflation levels are anticipated to remain sticky, and new vehicle inventory should also progress, but careful management is expected too,” said Chris Hopson, manager of North American light vehicle sales forecasting for S&P Global Mobility, in its 2025 report. With that said, let’s take a look at what to expect from major automakers in the US next year, starting with the big three. Click here for Yahoo Finance's Tesla 2024 year in review and 2025 look ahead. The biggest of the Big Three experienced a strong 2024 with robust sales of its generally higher-priced vehicles, like trucks, SUVs, and EVs. GM ( GM ) shareholders were rewarded with the stock up 25% for the year, buoyed by GM’s aggressive accelerated share repurchase (ASR) programs, a type of buyback. GM announced a $6 billion ASR in June of this year, following a $10 billion ASR in November of 2023. After a Q3 in which GM said it took market share, the rest of the year was set up for success. GM said its inventory stood at around 627,000 vehicles entering Q4, which is around 50 to 60 days of supply entering a typically busy holiday period, and incentives in Q3 were 4.5% of average transaction price, which the automaker said was 2% below the industry. New EVs are coming in 2025, with the Cadillac Vistiq, Optiq, Escalade IQ, and Chevrolet Bolt EV. This comes after the company refreshed the Chevy Equinox and Traverse, GMC Acadia and Terrain, and Buick Enclave. But GM might have some issues with its EVs if the tax credit goes away under the Trump administration. “If those EV models, specifically for GM, because they made some launches that are doing fairly well in the past three months — if they're not eligible for tax credits next year, it is going to impact their ability to scale and ultimately our growth assumption,” S&P Global autos sector lead Nishit Madlani told Yahoo Finance. Despite a strong year, the company had some late-year surprises, like a $5 billion write-down in China and a wind-down of its Cruise robotaxi business. Investors will be keeping an eye on those two stories as 2025 progresses. GM’s archrival, Ford, is coming off a good sales year too. But all has not been well for the Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker. The company had to scale back its profit outlook for 2024 due to supplier issues and is still losing billions of dollars in its EV business. The company canceled an upcoming three-row EV SUV and pushed back the opening of a new EV plant, opting to focus instead on smaller EVs for the future, such as a compact-style pickup it says is coming next decade. With the cash cow F-150 pickup and Expedition full-size vehicles updated in 2024, Ford’s 2025 will consist of updates to the Mustang and Ford Transit commercial van along with the release of the $300,000 Mustang GTD supercar . The company has seen sales jump for its hybrid offerings like the Maverick pickup, F-150 hybrid PowerBoost models, and Escape CUV, and will continue to shift production toward those units. Wall Street is looking for better execution from Ford as well as cost discipline. “There are indications that the profit story for them is not trending in the direction we had expected a year ago, when we raised them to investment rate,” Madlani said. “They had some warranty costs. They had some supplier stability issues that we haven't seen at other automakers. So that's why there's some questions internally around execution from the management team there as well.” Ford will give a full update on its EV business outlook and profitability in the first half of 2025 . The situation isn’t much better at Stellantis, which has Dodge, Ram, Jeep, Chrysler, Fiat, and others in its portfolio. A management shake-up will bring a new CEO in 2025 and a revamped plan for its automobiles and trucks. The delayed EV push for the automaker will see changes as well, with gas-powered cars joining the ranks of EVs, which will share the same platform . This comes after sales slumped for the automaker , with inventory building up and dealers having to slash elevated prices to move vehicles off the lots. “We’re grinding through a transition,” CFO Doug Ostermann said following the release of disappointing Q3 sales. For 2025 the company has promised lower prices for its existing models, like Jeep SUVs, with the addition of engine choices like V6s and V8s for customers who did not want to see those powertrain choices go away. And new models are on the way too. In terms of new product launches, the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona is coming with a gas-powered version as well, an all-electric Jeep Wagoneer S is on the roster, and the Ram 1500 Ramcharger range-extended hybrid pickup will be pushed forward to 2025 , jumping ahead of the all-electric Ram REV EV pickup. It should be noted that the Ram trucks were supposed to arrive in 2024. While S&P’s Madlani notes Stellantis has seen some improvement in terms of inventory management, there are deeper issues to work through, such as its mismanagment of production and demand in the first place. S&P ratings has a negative outlook on Stellantis at the moment. The world’s largest automaker — and the Big Three's biggest competitor — is having a banner year in the US, with year-to-date sales through Q3 up 5.5% and its “electrified vehicle” sales up a whopping 58% year to date. Powering those electrified sales are its Camry hybrids, RAV4 hybrid crossover, and even the new Tacoma that comes in mild hybrid form. And, of course, the Prius — the hybrid king that came to US shores 20 years ago is still setting the pace for hybrid sales. This year, Toyota went all out in the US with an all-new Camry and Tacoma pickup, two of its major volume sellers. It also relaunched the Landcruiser SUV and brought out minor updates to the Corolla, Sienna, and Crown, to name a few. Coming in 2025 is the new 4Runner, a midsize go-anywhere SUV with a devoted following that will be coming with — you guessed it — a hybrid powertrain. Toyota says hybrids are what Americans want , and pickup and SUV offerings like the Tacoma and 4Runner will cater to that demand. One note of caution for Toyota is the coming merger of Honda and Nissan . While the situation won’t likely change much in the near term (with the deal looking to close in 2026), it will allow the two Japanese automakers to match Toyota in size. “There is potential for a merged company to be better prepared to address the competitive threat from the newer players, as well as to be more competitive with Toyota,” S&P Global Mobility analyst Stephanie Brinley said in a note published earlier this month. Germany’s Volkswagen ( VWAGY ), once the crown jewel of the country’s automotive sector and formerly the world’s No. 1 automaker, had a rough year. The company’s slump in important regions like Europe (with threats of a major labor strike averted for the time being) and China is a major problem, and development difficulties with its in-house software and EV development have led to costly delays. The situation in China, once a top region for the company, isn’t going to get better anytime soon, even with a new joint venture partner coming . However, the US region has actually improved , with sales growing for the Atlas SUV, Tiguan crossover, and even Jetta sedan. Meanwhile, the company’s sole EV offering — the ID.4 — has seen sales cut by half in Q3, and the ID.Buzz van just went on sale, with a costly starting price of about $60,000. Another concern: There are no hybrids on offer at the moment in the US, a big miss considering their popularity. VW says the upcoming all-new Tiguan in 2025 won’t have hybrid power until 2026 at the latest, which is a concern as it is VW’s top seller in the US. The full-size Atlas won’t get hybrid power until 2026, either. VW’s big bet on electrification remains with EVs at the moment, which could be a tough sell. With most of its current models updated or refreshed last year or this fall with the 2025 model year, VW does not at the moment have anything big planned for next year. In fact, VW’s biggest new push in the US is with Scout Motors , its wholly owned startup that will make EV and hybrid versions of SUV and pickup adventure vehicles using Rivian tech. But those vehicles won’t be in showrooms until 2027 at the earliest, which means VW will have to power through with its current portfolio through 2025 and beyond. Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

Arsenal moves up to second in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Ipswich

Arsenal moves up to second in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over IpswichThe San Diego Union-Tribune’s panel of economists and business leaders reflect on the past year and share what they’re grateful for this year. Question: What are you most thankful for, economically, this Thanksgiving? Economists Caroline Freund, University of California-San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy Innovative economy: I am thankful that the U.S. economy remains the strongest and most innovative in the world. Despite the COVID shock, global conflicts and domestic polarization, the economy is growing, unemployment is low, and inflation is under control. The U.S. is leading in new technologies, such as AI and biotechnology, which will boost productivity and advance health care. But we can’t do it alone, and must continue to work with our allies and partners for a better future. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research Recognizing “it’s the economy, stupid”: What matters most in politics is the economy, which remained the top issue for voters nationwide according to exit polls. Negative views on the economy seems to have overridden bad feelings about Trump, while Harris was unable to convince voters her economic plan was different from Biden’s, which frustrated most voters. Lower rates of inflation do not mean prices are coming down but just rising more slowly. What really hurts consumers is higher compounding prices. James Hamilton, University of California-San Diego Soft landing: It’s hard for the Fed to bring inflation down without causing a recession. Many analysts were predicting a recession for 2024, and some were even saying that a recession had already started. But we’re almost through the year now and the unemployment rate remains quite low by historical standards. To be sure, there are real concerns about the economic policies and geopolitical conflicts that the new year may bring. But, right now, we have prosperity and peace. Norm Miller, University of San Diego Freedom, civility and capitalism: I recently finished reading “Patriot” by Alexi Navalny, which details the ruthlessness and corruption of autocrats like Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un and many leaders in Africa. Corruption at all levels of government inevitably undermines the benefits of free markets and diminishes the wealth of any afflicted nation. While our country is not without its flaws, and some government agencies and police actions are not always just, we are still far better off than much of the world. David Ely, San Diego State University Lower inflation rate: The rate of inflation has declined significantly since 2022 and is now approaching the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal. While prices remain well above pre-COVID levels, the stress and uncertainty created by rapidly escalating prices has diminished. The central bank was sufficiently comfortable with inflation and other economic data to begin lowering its target interest rate in September. Additional cuts to its target interest rate over the next year are likely. Executives Phil Blair, Manpower Jobs: Jobs are available for whomever wants one. The San Diego economy, while not flourishing, is still able to support anyone anxious to work at a fair and reasonable pay rate. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors Prosperity: Notwithstanding a brutal national election, razor close and with an outcome that is highly unsettling to many, ours remains a nation of unquestionable prosperity. The key challenge over the months and years ahead is whether our “lived” economy can match the healthy metrics of lowered inflation, low unemployment and GDP growth, among others. I think time will cure the current economic angst, unless we meddle too much with things like tariffs and mass deportations. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates San Diego’s well-rounded economy: San Diego’s economy is robust and diverse, with vital sectors in biotechnology, health care, military, tourism and telecommunications. It is also a hotspot for innovation and startups, particularly in the biosciences. Tourism is a significant economic driver, supporting many local businesses, including ours. Add in the military, education, sports, weather, quality of life, and voila. The icing on the cake is having my family here. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth Economic foundations: I am thankful we currently live in a country with eager entrepreneurs, abundant risk-taking investors, a booming public market, historically low unemployment, and stable laws where most people have the opportunity to thrive. Frankly, I am quite concerned about how the coming chapter may impact these norms. I expect several extreme policies to have an uneven impact on industries, international trade, the protections and availability of labor, inflation, social programs and consumer confidence. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health Health care: I’m grateful for great health care in San Diego and the enormous economic value and community benefit provided by the many health care organizations, hospitals and tens of thousands of physicians, nurses, technicians and support teams providing care to our communities. We often take health care for granted, but please don’t. Many health care organizations are at risk and face shortages of physicians and other providers. Additionally, violence against health care workers is rising. I’m thankful for these heroes every day. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere A resilient U.S. economy: In a presidential election year, uncertainty and volatility can cloud the market and raise fear in investors. Despite this, we have seen low unemployment, improved consumer confidence, continued economic growth and lowered inflation. The market’s performance this year has reflected an underlying economic strength and optimism. Investors were also relieved to see a quick and decisive election outcome. ©2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.By Pranshu Verma, Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post Far-right activists clashed online with billionaire Elon Musk and other supporters of President-elect Donald Trump over the need for a skilled-worker immigration program that has long been a lifeblood for Silicon Valley – signifying a potential rift between Trump’s core nationalist base and technology executives who have come to support him. The fight that spilled into public view over the holiday week could preview a wedge within Trump’s coalition over how to execute immigration policy, an issue that animated Trump’s White House campaign. The controversy spread across X after far-right activist Laura Loomer on Monday criticized Trump’s choice to name Sriram Krishnan, a technology entrepreneur and investor who was born in India, as his senior policy adviser on artificial intelligence. She pointed to Krishnan’s previous support for removing some caps on H-1B visas, a program allowing foreigners with technical skills to work in the United States. The policy is “in direct opposition” to Trump’s agenda, Loomer wrote. The critique ran headlong into tension with some of Trump’s closest advisers, notably Tesla and SpaceX CEO Musk; David Sacks who will be the president-elect’s AI and crypto czar; and Vivek Ramaswamy, who will co-lead a commission to cut government spending. “‘Normalcy’ doesn’t cut it in a hyper-competitive global market for technical talent,” Ramaswamy said. “And if we pretend like it does, we’ll have our a–es handed to us by China.” The online fight sparked a slew of racist posts from Loomer falsely describing Indians as “third world invaders” with low IQs, while saying it is fueling a “civil war” between Trump’s far-right base and the “tech bros” that have come to support his upcoming administration. Notable Republicans, including former GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley, championed Loomer’s position. “There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture,” she said Thursday on X. “We should be investing and prioritizing in Americans, not foreign workers.” Musk, who once held an H-1B visa and has relied on the program to employ thousands of Tesla employees, said the program is a crucial way technology companies recruit the best engineering talent to compete globally. “The number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low,” Musk wrote on X on Christmas. “If you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be.” The online feud reflects the challenges that Trump will have holding together the delicate political coalition that delivered him the White House, which included unprecedented levels of financial support from Musk and other Silicon Valley billionaires. “It’s a sign of future conflicts,” said Samuel Hammond, a senior economist at the Foundation for American Innovation. “This is like the pregame.” Krishnan declined to comment. Loomer and a representative for the Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment. Trump traveled with Loomer during the campaign, but amid criticism of her previous statements, he said in September he doesn’t “control” her. Trump has sought to position himself as a champion for legal immigration, even though he slashed pathways for immigrants during his first term. Trump has offered few specifics about how he will address high-skilled immigration in the tech industry during his second term. On a June episode of the “All In” podcast, which is co-hosted by Sacks, Trump said he would automatically give a green card to every international student with a college diploma. “If you graduate or you get a doctorate degree from a college, you should be able to stay in this country,” he said. Ahead of the first Trump administration, many tech CEOs sought to build bridges with the president-elect during the transition with a meeting at his New York Trump Tower. But those delicate relationships broke down when Trump almost immediately rolled out what critics and federal judges have branded a “Muslim ban,” which prohibited U.S. entry by the citizens of several majority-Muslim countries. The episode amounted to a “shock wave” in the industry, where many people either are or know immigrant founders and co-workers, Hammond said. “Immigration is an economically important issue for tech, but also in many cases a personal one,” he said. “They all understand the inefficiencies and the bureaucracy around the U.S. immigration system and the Kafkaesque nightmares it can throw you in.” But this time, the tech industry is far more directly intertwined in Trump’s transition. Self-described “first buddy” Elon Musk has spent much of the weeks since Election Day by the president-elect’s side, and Trump has tapped many Silicon Valley investors and executives to serve in prominent roles within his administration. As Silicon Valley companies compete to create artificial intelligence products, the need for foreign-born talent has intensified. Twenty eight of the top 43 AI companies in the United States were co-founded by immigrants, and 70 percent of full-time graduate students in AI-related fields are international students, according to a 2023 analysis from the National Foundation for American Policy . As Trump previews a hard-line immigration policy including militarized mass deportation of illegal immigrants, many in the tech industry are pushing him to expand legal immigration for high-skilled workers. Some argue the shift is necessary for the United States to remain competitive with China. High-skilled immigration emerged as one of the top flash points between Trump and Silicon Valley during his first presidency. Although Trump at times acknowledged the need for American companies to recruit top talent, his administration limited the H-1B program. Stephen Miller, who helped craft some immigration policies during the first Trump administration, is returning to the White House as Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser. The online debate reverberated among Washington lawmakers, who have long pursued ways to improve the H-1B program. Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat who represents Silicon Valley, defended Krishnan and said he supported reforming the H-1B program. “We should celebrate that immigrants like Elon Musk, Jensen Huang and Sriram Krishnan choose to come to the United States,” he told The Washington Post. “This has fueled our economic and technology preeminence. I am glad Sriram is being appointed.” The restrictions of H-1B visas during Trump’s first term faced fierce opposition from major tech companies. During the pandemic, Trump temporarily froze H-1B visas in a move the administration said would help Americans experiencing job loss. That same year, the Trump administration also introduced new rules tightening eligibility for H-1B visas and requiring companies to offer higher salaries to people on the visas. A federal judge later rejected some of the rules, including the salary provision. During President Joe Biden’s final weeks in office, his administration has introduced rules to “modernize” the H-1B program by making it easier for international students to obtain the visas and improving the efficiency of the application process. “These reforms target systematic misuse by IT consulting firms while acknowledging the program’s demonstrated net positive impact on U.S. technological competitiveness,” said Divyansh Kaushik, a vice president at Beacon Global Strategies. Technology companies are particularly reliant on H-1B visas – which are capped at 85,000 new visas annually – to help recruit talent. Amazon, with 3,871 new H-1B employees, had the most approved new petitions in 2024, according to data compiled by the nonpartisan organization National Foundation for American Policy. Google had 1,058 approved applications, and Tesla had 742, the data showed. (The Washington Post is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.) Ramaswamy said in an X post on Thursday that the reason technology companies hire foreign-born engineers is because “American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long,” drawing criticism from notable pro-Trump personalities. Brenden Dilley, a pro-Trump podcaster, shot back to Ramaswamy’s post. “I always love when these tech bros flat out tell you that they have zero understanding of American culture and then have the gall to tell you that YOU are the problem with America,” he wrote. Loomer, who has 1.4 million followers on X, sparred with Musk over his support of the H-1B program, questioning the skills of Indian programmers at X because of glitches during a May live event on the site kicking off Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign. (“Loomer is trolling for attention. Ignore.” Musk said on X.) Loomer said she hopes the feud with Silicon Valley changes Trump’s views. “Looking forward to the inevitable divorce between President Trump and Big Tech,” she said on X. “Let’s pray this fake Big Tech ‘love fest’ with Trump ends sooner rather than later.” Elizabeth Dwoskin contributed to this report. Extra News Alerts Get breaking updates as they happen. Be civil. Be kind.

LONDON (AP) — Arsenal moved up to second place in the Premier League with a 1-0 home win against Ipswich on Friday. Mikel Arteta’s side is six points behind leader Liverpool, which has a game in hand. Second-bottom Ipswich had won two of its last three away games but was up against it from the start at the Emirates. The visitors did not have one touch in the Gunners’ box during the first 45 minutes and, although Ipswich showed signs of life after the break, it was Arsenal which continued to dominate the game, marshaled by Declan Rice in midfield. Kai Havertz got the only goal midway through the first half when he knocked in a cross from Leandro Trossard. Havertz, Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus all had chances but none of them could add to Arsenal’s tally. “It’s so tough, every team is tough to break down," Havertz said. "They fight for each other and at the end we’re very proud for the win.” Arsenal is a point above third-place Chelsea and two points clear of season surprise team Nottingham Forest in fourth. Brighton had most of the chances but could not find the net in a 0-0 draw with Brentford that extended the south coast club’s winless run to six league games. It was a frustrating night for the home side and especially Julio Enciso. The Paraguay striker had a host of opportunities to score but couldn’t make them count. Along with Southampton, Brentford has the worst away record in the league with seven losses and two draws and it was easy to see why in this toothless performance. Brentford had an early goal from Yoane Wissa ruled out for offside and, although it came a bit more into the game in the second half, it failed to pressure Icelandic goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson, who made his Premier League debut eight minutes before halftime when Mark Flekken went off with a thigh injury. One bright spot for the home side was the return of winger Solly March. He came on as a late substitute to make his first appearance for Brighton since injuring a knee against Manchester City 14 months ago. The result leaves Brighton in 10th place with 26 points, one spot and two points ahead of the Bees. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Breaking News Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. A Sydney mother has been killed while an apprehended violence order was in place. Police discovered the body of Kholoud Bakkour at a home in the suburb of Belmore about 8am on Wednesday. Her husband, Terrance Howot, was arrested about 30km away a short time later. Campsie police area Superintendent Sheridan Waldau confirmed the incident was being investigated as domestic violence-related. Kholoud Bakkour was found dead in her Belmore unit on Wednesday morning. Picture: Facebook Forensics combed over the scene after Ms Bakkour’s body was discovered. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard “Crime scene (police) are investigating and it does look like it is a very violent murder scene,” she told media on Wednesday afternoon. “We expect that he will be charged with murder later on this afternoon. “We expect that we will have more answers later this afternoon.” Terrance Howot is expected to be charged on Wednesday. Picture: Supplied Police forced their way into the Knox St apartment to discover the body of the mother of five after a triple-0 call from a family member from a separate location. Ms Bakkour is believed to be aged in her 30s. Mr Howot is 35 years old. Superintendent Waldau said there was an apprehended violence order in place “which was in force until February 2025”. Wellwishers brought flowers to the scene on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Superintendent Sheridan Waldau described the incident as ‘very violent’. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard The man in custody had “minimal interactions” with police in the past year, Superintendent Waldau said. Mr Howot was arrested in the suburb of Denham Court a short time later. He was taken to Campbeltown Police Station where police said he was co-operating. According to the Australian Femicide Map database, Ms Bakkour is the 98th female killed by violence in this country this year. Originally published as ‘Very violent’: Police expect to charge husband with murder after Sydney woman found dead More related stories Breaking News Tamil migrants reach UK after ‘darkest’ time in Chagos camp Tamil migrants reach UK after 'darkest' time in Chagos camp Read more Business Breaking News ASX falls to three week low A sharp sell-off in information technology and energy stocks dragged the Australian markets down during Wednesday’s trading. Read moreCNN wants the North Carolina lieutenant governor's defamation lawsuit against it thrown out

Following news Friday that former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz does not intend to return to Congress after he withdrew from consideration to be President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general, it appears his seat will be vacant for months -- presenting a challenge for House Republicans who already maintain a slim majority in the incoming Congress. On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis set the FL-01 special election primary for Jan. 28 and the general election for April 1. That means Gaetz's seat will be unfilled for at least 12 weeks in the 119th Congress. "At Gov. Ron DeSantis' direction, this special election is being conducted as quickly as statutorily possible," said Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd on Friday. "We are committed to ensuring this election is held as soon as we are allowed to hold it by state law." MORE: Tracking Trump's picks to serve in his Cabinet, administration Such a vacancy would cut into the narrow majority House Republicans are projected to have in the next Congress, which will only continue to shrink if GOP Reps. Elise Stefanik and Michael Waltz are confirmed to be in Trump's Cabinet. ABC News projects that Republicans have won 219 seats and Democrats 213 in the House. The numbers do not take into account any departures for jobs in the Trump administration or Gaetz's resignation. There are also three outstanding House races that still haven't been called, which will determine the ultimate size of the GOP's majority. The special election schedule is at the Florida governor's discretion. For instance, the dates set by DeSantis in 2022 to fill the vacancy of the late Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings left the seat open for nine months, despite Democrats' pushing for a speedier process. At least half a dozen Florida Republicans have already expressed willingness to run for Gaetz's seat. 538 rates Florida's 1st Congressional District, which Gaetz represented for eight years, as "solid Republican." MORE: Matt Gaetz says he 'does not intend' to return to Congress after dropping bid to be attorney general Gaetz on Friday sat for his first interview with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk since withdrawing as Trump's attorney general pick. During the interview, the conservative firebrand announced then that he would not return to Congress, despite having won reelection in November by 32 points. "I'm going to be fighting for President Trump. I'm going to be doing whatever he asks of me, as I always have," Gaetz said. "But I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress." ABC News' Jay O'Brien contributed to this report.

'Important work': The top consultancy spenders in 2023-24Golf enthusiasts were treated to a sneak peek of the PGA Tour's brand new production studio , courtesy of a social media tour video featuring none other than Tiger Woods . Showcasing the expansive 165,000-square-foot facility located in Ponte Verde Beach, Florida , the clip highlighted golf icon Woods touring the complex set to become the hub for PGA Tour productions from January 2025. The grand reveal, which first came to light in January this year, heralds the PGA Tour's aspirations to broaden its fanbase, anchoring their World Feed at this state-of-the-art studio come New Year. LIV Golf makes three new signings for 2025 as breakaway league welcomes fresh faces Bryson DeChambeau teases role in Happy Gilmore 2 after Adam Sandler's Netflix trailer drop Earlier, Luis Goicouria, the PGA Tour Senior Vice President of Media, expounded on the move explaining: "Everything that we're doing in terms of forward thinking and new technologies is about serving the fans and meeting them where they are by customizing content so it's maximized for any individual platform. "Some of the technologies coming out now will be really important and some won't. Of course, you can't tell where the fans will be, but there's a lot of cool things you can do around golf, so the idea for us is to use some of these new platforms and technologies to show off our game and show off the beauty of our sport. "Every one of these things that we're doing is with the fan in mind and trying to give the fan the best possible experience and engage them as long as possible." The PGA Tour's upcoming launch, just weeks away, has enthusiasts excited, all thanks to Woods’s contributions. This development arrives at a critical juncture for the PGA Tour, which is currently ironing out tensions with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) relating to the LIV Golf dispute. Since their provisional agreement in June 2023, the PGA Tour and PIF have been in persistent discussions. Although over a year has passed without a formal agreement, advances seemingly have been made. Bloomberg earlier reported this month that PIF might acquire a six percent stake in the Tour's commercial branch, PGA Tour Enterprises. This potential deal would add to the financial influx into PGA Tour Enterprises, following an arrangement worth up to $3 billion with Strategic Sports Group (SSG) earlier in the year. The consequences of these executive actions on the green remain uncertain. Presently, any tour pro playing on the LIV platform is restricted from participating in PGA Tour events. High-profile golfers such as Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka have consequently forfeited their PGA Tour privileges due to their involvement with LIV Golf.