Far-left MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, Chris Hayes, and Ari Melber are “pissed” at Morning Joe co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Donald Trump, reports the Daily Mail . As you already know, the married Morning Joe co-anchors spent the better of a decade using their smug show to smear Donald Trump with every moniker for evil they and their guests could come up with. Depending on the day, Trump was a Russian spy, the second coming of Hitler, a unique threat to democracy, a fascist, a dictator, an authoritarian... Just last year, Joe Scarborough flat-out said that if Trump wins the presidency in 2024, “he will imprison, he will execute, whoever he’s allowed to imprison, execute, drive from the country.” Then Trump wins, and Joe and Mika slip on down to Florida to meet with Orange Adolf at Mar-E-aglesNest. What a couple of clowns. Something else MSNBC is dealing with post-Trump Electoral Triumph is cratering ratings and the knowledge that the Phony Rev. Al Sharpton accepted a half-million in payola dollars from the Kamala Harris campaign just prior to using MSNBC to produce and broadcast a smooch-smooch interview with her in the final days of the campaign. If that’s not worrisome enough for MSNBC staffers, Comcast just announced it is cutting loose MSNBC and all of its other loser cable networks into a separate company. And now we learn that there appears to be a civil war within the hallowed MSNBC walls. “MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow is reportedly furious with her Morning Joe colleagues for meeting with Donald Trump after he won the presidential election,” the Daily Mail wrote . This is no cold civil war either. MSNBC analyst David Jolly almost certainly took a shot at Joe and Mika while appearing on MSNBC over the weekend. “Forgive me for saying this. You can’t go to Mar-a-Lago. You can’t do it. That’s going to get me in trouble. You can’t do that,” Jolly said , adding, “You have to hold Donald Trump accountable for being wrong. You have to hold all of his allies accountable for being wrong, even if that means you’re in a losing environment and you’re threatening your own liberty and your own security as an American.” “The meeting at Mar-a-Lago created a lot of tension in the teams,” a journalist who has worked at MSNBC for 15 years told the Daily Mail , adding that many of the network’s “stars ... see both Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski as opportunistic and with very low self-respect and forgetting their values of being journalists with independence and integrity.” Self-respect? Integrity? Independence? Journalists? I thought this guy worked at MSNBC. Is there a second MSNBC I don’t know about? “They have lost a lot of credibility. Rachel Maddow is pissed at them as are other presenters like Chris Hayes and Ari Melber. They are so frustrated,” the 15-year veteran added. “It was such a stupid thing to do. They have bent the knee to ensure not being targeted by Trump and the whole MAGA world.” Gah! No, they didn’t. Joe and Mika are not worried about Trump targeting them. They are worried about Trump freezing them out. They went to kiss Orange Hitler’s ring for only one reason: access and status. Other than CNN, I cannot think of another news outlet that deserves every terrible thing happening to it more than MSNBC. FREE-FREE-FREE for the holidays: an autographed bookplate if you purchase John Nolte’s first and last novel, BORROWED TIME, between now and December 20. After you’ve made the purchase, email your request to JJMNOLTE at HOTMAIL dot COM with an address and any personalization requests. For example, something like, “To Rachel Levine: The sexiest man alive.” Borrowed Time , is winning five-star raves from everyday readers. You can read an excerpt here and an in-depth review here . Also available in hardcover and on Kindle and Audiobook .Furthermore, the coaching staff must work closely with Saka to help him develop his game and adapt to the challenges he faces on the left flank. By providing him with the right guidance and support, Arsenal can maximize his potential and ensure that he continues to be a key player for the team.
In his first global meetings since Donald Trump was re-elected to lead the US, Chinese President Xi Jinping went on a diplomatic offensive, hedging against expected new tariffs and preparing to exploit potential future rifts between Washington and its allies. At meeting after meeting, from Apec in Peru to G20 in Brazil over the last week, Xi sought to draw a contrast with Trump’s “America First” message, presenting himself as a predictable defender of the multilateral global trade order. Summit organisers, diplomats and negotiators also describe a noticeable shift from previous summits in a more constructive posture by Chinese diplomats, who were less focused on their narrow interests and more involved in building a broader consensus. The outreach is urgent for Beijing. While better prepared for another Trump White House — with many tech companies far less reliant on US imports — China is also more vulnerable after its economy was hit by a huge property crisis. Much of China’s attention has focused on the Global South, with state news agency Xinhua praising the G20 for including the African Union as one of the members. The voice of the Global South needed to be “not merely heard but also translated into tangible influence,” Xinhua said. During his G20 speech last Monday, Xi reiterated China’s position on “unilaterally opening our doors wider to the least developed countries,” touting China’s move to give all such countries “zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines.” By making such overtures, China wants to expand its leading position in parts of the developing world where the US has long lagged due to its inability to match the billion-dollar investments that China’s state-led economy has marshalled. “To position China as a defender of globalisation and a critic of protectionism, this calculated messaging comes at a time when many countries in the Global South fear the potential return of indiscriminate trade and tariff policies from the US, particularly under Trump’s influence,” said Sunny Cheung, associate fellow for China Studies at Jamestown Foundation, a think tank based in Washington, DC. “Xi’s remarks aim to present China as a more stable and sensible and most importantly a reciprocal partner in contrast to perceived US unpredictability.” Trump has pledged to impose tariffs on Chinese imports in excess of 60%, and a Reuters poll of economists found they expected the US would impose tariffs of nearly 40%, potentially slicing growth in the world’s second-biggest economy by up to 1 percentage point. Former Chinese diplomats privately acknowledge that developing countries won’t make up for that loss, but Xi has been betting heavily on the expansion of Brics and mending fences with Asian neighbours, from India to Japan to Australia. European countries, also threatened by Trump with tariffs, sought to strike a conciliatory tone with Xi at the latest round of meetings. German chancellor Olaf Scholz said Berlin would work for a mediated solution to an EU-China dispute over Chinese electric vehicles as fast as possible during his meeting Xi. Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer struck an upbeat tone in the first meeting between the countries’ two leaders since 2018, saying he would like to engage with Beijing on areas such as trade, the economy and climate, and have broader engagement on science, technology, health and education. Shen Dingli, a Shanghai-based international relations scholar, said European allies of the US would not “embrace” China if Trump’s protectionist policies were aimed at them “but there would be more co-operation”. Behind the scenes, diplomats said they also noted a change in China’s behaviour at these multinational gatherings, with Beijing officials getting involved in a wider set of issues. “China traditionally stayed much more discreet and defended only its most essential interests,” according to a Brazilian diplomat. “They seem to be realising today that more engagement is required of them. It’s not enough to build economic power, diplomacy is important for their own interests and the position they want to have in the world,” he added. To be sure, some analysts say the Chinese outreach belies tensions between Beijing and other countries that were not present when Trump first took office, making his return unlikely to bring about a total reordering of the geopolitical landscape. Western countries have long accused China of unfair trade practices, saying its state support for manufacturers, coupled with depressed domestic demand, is pushing excessive Chinese supply onto global markets. China’s outreach could also be a hard sell in its immediate neighbourhood, where its ships have repeatedly clashed with the Philippines and other neighbours over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Shi Yinhong, a professor at Renmin University in Beijing, was sceptical of the notion that Trump’s return would give China more leverage when dealing with the EU and other US allies, highlighting the proliferation of conflicts over Ukraine, Taiwan, and elsewhere. “China, of course, likes to improve relations with the EU and its major powers, but without much cost,” said Shi. That meant it would not make major concessions on trade, human rights, and territorial disputes “with or without Trump, which in turn makes major and lasting rapprochement impossible,” he added. Shi also said that China’s ability to invest and take advantage of costly Global South infrastructure projects was diminished due to its sputtering economy. And even among these like-minded countries there is underlying unease about China’s growing clout, other experts say, pointing as an example to Brazil’s move to not join Xi’s signature Belt and Road Initiative. “Brazil has some concerns about the relationship with China on who is the dominant partner and a desire to not be a satellite and have a more equal, balanced trade relationship with more value added on the Brazilian side,” said Robert Evan Ellis, a professor at the US Army War College. — Reuters POINTS TO PONDER • China’s diplomatic push: Xi positions China as a stable, multilateral trade ally against Trump’s protectionist policies. • Europe’s conciliatory tone: EU leaders engage with China on trade and climate, balancing co-operation with caution. • Challenges remain: Trade disputes, territorial tensions, and economic strains limit China’s global outreach success. 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One of the key considerations for aspiring hoteliers looking to open a hotel in a county town is the potential for profitability. On one hand, county towns often lack the same level of competition and saturation seen in larger cities, presenting a unique opportunity for a hotel to stand out and attract clientele. Additionally, county towns are becoming increasingly popular destinations for travelers seeking a more authentic and immersive experience, away from the hustle and bustle of urban life.OptiSigns to Showcase Cutting-Edge Digital Signage Solutions at the Digital Signage Experience 2024 in Las VegasOn the other hand, the 0.1% decrease in housing prices is a noteworthy development, signaling a slight decline in the cost of housing for consumers. This could be a result of government policies aimed at stabilizing the property market and promoting affordability. It may also reflect changing consumer preferences and demand dynamics in the housing sector.
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Women will for the first time make up a majority of state legislators in Colorado and New Mexico next year, but at least 13 states saw losses in female representation after the November election, according to a count released Thursday by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics. While women will fill a record number of state legislative seats in 2025, the overall uptick will be slight, filling just over third of legislative seats. Races in some states are still being called. "We certainly would like to see a faster rate of change and more significant increases in each election cycle to get us to a place where parity in state legislatures is less novel and more normal," said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the CAWP, which is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. As of Wednesday, at least 2,450 women will serve in state legislatures, representing 33.2% of the seats nationwide. The previous record was set in 2024 with 2,431 women, according to the CAWP. People are also reading... Bomb cyclone, flood risk in Benton County this week OSU women's basketball: An early look at this edition of the Beavers Albany's Joel Dahl pleads guilty to sex crime involving minor OSU football: Beavers' season hits a new low in loss at Air Force Strike over: Benton County, union reach tentative deal What's available from Benton County services as strike nears Week 2 As I See It: Corvallis' failure to care for homeless is not because it can't Republic Services resubmits landfill expansion, here's what's new Albany mom suspected of drowning her child to use mental health defense Philomath city councilor resigns, cites conflict with new job Sweet Home man sentenced for crash that injured his daughter American flag thrown by driver fleeing Benton County deputies OSU football: It's time to look ahead to next year In trying to flee, suspect accused of driving over Albany police officer The real reason Corvallis' Pastega Lights moved to Linn County The number of Republican women, at least 851, will break the previous record of 815 state lawmakers set in 2024. "But still, Republican women are very underrepresented compared to Democratic women," Debbie Walsh, director of the CAWP, said. From left, House Maj. Whip Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, Rep. D. Wonda Johnson, D-Church Rock and Rep. Cristina Parajon, D-Albuquerque, talk July 18 before the start of a special session, in Santa Fe, N.M. States with gains By the most recent count, 19 states will have increased the number of women in their state legislatures, according to the CAWP. The most notable increases were in New Mexico and Colorado, where women will for the first time make up a majority of lawmakers. In New Mexico, voters sent an 11 additional women to the chambers. Colorado previously attained gender parity in 2023 and is set to tip over to a slight female majority in the upcoming year. The states follow Nevada, which was the first in the country to see a female majority in the legislature following elections in 2018. Next year, women will make up almost 62% of state lawmakers in Nevada, far exceeding parity. Women in California's Senate will make up the chamber's majority for the first time in 2025 as well. Women also made notable gains in South Dakota, increasing its number by at least nine. Four of South Carolina's Sister Senators, from left, Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, Sen. Mia McLeod, I-Columbia, Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, stand in front of the Senate on June 26 with their John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award in Columbia, S.C. States that lost At least thirteen states emerged from the election with fewer female lawmakers than before, with the most significant loss occurring in South Carolina. This year, the only three Republican women in the South Carolina Senate lost their primaries after they stopped a total abortion ban from passing. Next year, only two women, who are Democrats, will be in the 46-member Senate. No other state in the country will have fewer women in its upper chamber, according to the CAWP. Women make up 55% of the state's registered voters. Half the members in the GOP dominated state were elected in 2012 or before, so it will likely be the 2040s before any Republican woman elected in the future can rise to leadership or a committee chairmanship in the chamber, which doles out leadership positions based on seniority. A net loss of five women in the legislature means they will make up only about 13% of South Carolina's lawmakers, making the state the second lowest in the country for female representation. Only West Virginia has a smaller proportion of women in the legislature. West Virginia stands to lose one more women from its legislative ranks, furthering its representation problem in the legislature where women will make up just 11% of lawmakers. Why it matters Many women, lawmakers and experts say that women's voices are needed in discussions on policy, especially at a time when state government is at its most powerful in decades. Walsh, director of the CAWP, said the new changes expected from the Trump administration will turn even more policy and regulation to the states. The experiences and perspectives women offer will be increasingly needed, she said, especially on topics related to reproductive rights, healthcare, education and childcare. "The states may have to pick up where the federal government may, in fact, be walking away," Walsh said. "And so who serves in those institutions is more important now than ever." 20 political cartoons draw out Donald Trump's win November 7, 2024: Trump Victory Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.ORRVILLE, Ohio , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The J.M. Smucker Co. (NYSE: SJM) ("Company") announced today the closing of the transaction to divest the Voortman ® business to Second Nature Brands. The Company previously announced the signing of a definitive agreement for the transaction on October 22, 2024 . The all-cash transaction is valued at approximately $305 million , subject to a working capital adjustment, and reflects the Company's continued commitment to optimizing its portfolio and reallocating resources to its core growth brands. The transaction includes all Voortman ® trademarks and the Company's leased manufacturing facility in Burlington, Ontario, Canada . In addition, approximately 300 employees will transition with the business. The Company updated its full-year fiscal 2025 net sales guidance to reflect the impact of the divested business. Net sales is anticipated to increase 7.5 to 8.5 percent compared to the prior year. The updated net sales guidance reflects the removal of approximately $65 million of divested net sales in fiscal 2025, with the estimated net sales impact evenly distributed throughout the remainder of the fiscal year. On a comparable basis, net sales is expected to increase 1.0 to 2.0 percent, which excludes noncomparable sales in the current year from the acquisition of Hostess Brands and noncomparable sales in the prior year related to the divestitures of the Voortman ® , Canada condiment, and Sahale Snacks ® businesses. The Company maintains its fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings per share, free cash flow, capital expenditures, and adjusted effective income tax rate outlook as communicated in its most recent quarterly earnings announcement on November 26, 2024 . The J.M. Smucker Co. Forward Looking Statements This press release ("Release") includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements may include statements concerning our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events, conditions, plans and strategies that are not historical fact. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "will," "plan," "strive" and similar phrases. Federal securities laws provide a safe harbor for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information. We are providing this cautionary statement in connection with the safe harbor provisions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, when evaluating the information presented in this Release, as such statements are by nature subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from our historical results and experience. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances. The risks, uncertainties, important factors, and assumptions listed and discussed in this press release, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed, include: the Company's ability to successfully integrate Hostess Brands' operations and employees and to implement plans and achieve financial forecasts with respect to the Hostess Brands' business; disruptions or inefficiencies in the Company's operations or supply chain, including any impact caused by product recalls, political instability, terrorism, geopolitical conflicts (including the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas), extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, pandemics, work stoppages or labor shortages (including potential strikes along the U.S. East and Gulf coast ports and potential impacts related to the duration of a recent strike at the Company's Buffalo, New York manufacturing facility), or other calamities; risks related to the availability of, and cost inflation in, supply chain inputs, including labor, raw materials, commodities, packaging, and transportation; the impact of food security concerns involving either the Company's products or its competitors' products, including changes in consumer preference, consumer litigation, actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other agencies, and product recalls; a disruption, failure, or security breach of the Company or its suppliers' information technology systems, including, but not limited to, ransomware attacks; and risks related to other factors described under "Risk Factors" in other reports and statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. About The J.M. Smucker Co. At The J.M. Smucker Co., it is our privilege to make food people and pets love by offering a diverse family of brands available across North America . We are proud to lead in the coffee, peanut butter, fruit spreads, frozen handheld, sweet baked goods, dog snacks, and cat food categories by offering brands consumers trust for themselves and their families each day, including Folgers ® , Dunkin ' ® , Café Bustelo ® , Jif ® , Uncrustables ® , Smucker's ® , Hostess ® , Milk-Bone ® , and Meow Mix ® . Through our unwavering commitment to producing quality products, operating responsibly and ethically, and delivering on our Purpose, we will continue to grow our business while making a positive impact on society. For more information, please visit jmsmucker.com . The J.M. Smucker Co. is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein, except for Dunkin ' ® , which is a trademark of DD IP Holder LLC. The Dunkin ' ® brand is licensed to The J.M. Smucker Co. for packaged coffee products sold in retail channels such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, e-commerce and drug stores, and in certain away from home channels. This information does not pertain to products for sale in Dunkin ' ® restaurants. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-jm-smucker-co-completes-the-divestiture-of-voortman-brand-to-second-nature-brands-and-updates-fiscal-year-2025-net-sales-outlook-302319978.html SOURCE The J.M. Smucker Co.STOCK MARKET SNAPSHOT FOR 03/12/2024
Two young men killed in a road crash in Co Donegal on Friday have been named locally. The two men, who were in their 30s, died when the Ford Focus car they were travelling in was in direct collision with another car in the village of Liscooley in east Donegal at approximately 10pm. The men have been named as friends Ryan Glenn and Gordy Galbraith. Both are understood to be from across the border in the nearby Co Tyrone village of Castlederg. Three other people from the other vehicle, a Kia Sportage, were also injured. A man and a woman, both in their 70s, were rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital. They are currently in a serious condition in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. Another woman, in her 30s, is also being treated for non life-threatening injuries. The accident happened on a straight stretch of the N15 road and Gardai are trying to determine what caused the crash. Garda Forensic Collision Investigators arrived at the scene at first light this morning to begin their pain-staking investigation. Local Parish Priest at Crossroads, Killygordon, Fr Patsy Arkinson, attended the scene of the crash late last night. He also said a rosary for those involved in the collision. He described the scene as “shocking,” and that locals were “shocked and hurt” following the tragic incident. He also offered his thoughts and prayers to the deceased and injured in the collision. Local Fianna Fail county councillor Patrick McGowan, who lives just minutes from the scene of last night's tragedy, said the entire community was in shock. "I would like to express my condolences to the bereaved families. We cannot imagine the pain they are going through now. "The whole community is still in shock today to wake up to the news that two young men have lost their lives. It's just so sad. "But I would also like to wish those injured in the tragedy a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved," he said. Head of the Garda Traffic Corps in Co Donegal, Inspector Seamus McGonigle, appealed for anybody who was in the area at the time of the crash to contact Gardai. He said "We would like to contact members of the public who have already been in contact with us in relation to the collision. "However, we would appeal to anybody who was driving between Stranorlar and Castlefin from 9.30pm to 10pm and may have witnessed anything to contact Gardai." The road remains closed this morning pending a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Local diversions are in place. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Gardaí are also appealing for any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) who were travelling in the area at the time of the collision to make this footage available to Gardaí. Anyone with any information is asked to contact (074) 916 7100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. The deaths from last night's crash brings to sixteen the number of people who have died on Co Donegal's roads so far this year. This figure compares to ten deaths for all of last year, an increase of more than 50%. Photo: Stock image News in 90 Seconds - 23 November 2024Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves, dies at 85
Romania PM fends off far-right challenge in presidential first round
Minister honours outstanding initiatives of private associations and institutions
The Israeli government confirmed on Monday that Omer Neutra, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, was killed during Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Neutra, 21, was a tank platoon commander in the IDF. He was thought to be alive in captivity. His parents, Ronen and Orna Neutra, spent the last year campaigning for his release and the release of the remaining hostages thought to be held in Gaza. They spoke at the Republican National Convention in July, wrote op-eds, stayed in steady communication with the Biden Administration and the White House, and made regular media appearances, including with Scripps News . The whole time, they sought to pressure U.S. and Israeli leadership to resolve the hostage crisis. RELATED STORY | Families of Gaza hostages bring their message to both the current and upcoming White Houses "In the 423 days since October 7th, we expected our leaders to demonstrate the same courage displayed so bravely by Omer and rise to the occasion on behalf of those who were killed and kidnapped, just as our beloved Omer showed until the very end," Ronen and Orna Neutra wrote in a statement released Monday. "Leadership will only be revealed in actions and results going forward. We call upon the Israeli government to work with President Biden and President-elect Trump, to use all of their leverage and resources to return all 101 hostages — living and the deceased — to their families as soon as possible." A propaganda video released by Hamas Saturday showed Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American held hostage who was also captured while serving in the IDF. In the video, Alexander calls on Trump to keep negotiating for the freedom of the hostages remaining in Gaza. Trump on Monday demanded release of the remaining hostages, writing on Truth Social: "Please let this truth serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume office as President of the United States, there will be all hell to pay in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against humanity."In the post-game press conference, Zeng and Solomon credited their success to the relentless training, team chemistry, and the unwavering support of their fans. They remained humble in victory, emphasizing the collective effort of the entire Beijing team in securing the win and maintaining their position atop the league standings.
No. 5 UCLA upsets No. 1 South Carolina, snapping Gamecocks' 43-game win streak
