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Apple MacBook Pro With PROLED XDR Display (16-Inch) Review: A Touch-Screen, Tandem OLED Triumph Starting his tech career as a PCMag intern 16 years ago, Joe has reviewed hundreds of computers and edited thousands of articles on PC hardware. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/apple-macbook-pro-with-proled-xdr-display-16-inch-m5-max? Apple MacBook Pro With PROLED XDR Display (14-Inch) Review: The Compact Creator Laptop to Beat https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/apple-macbook-pro-with-proled-xdr-display-14-inch-m5-pro?
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Rape Accusations&Cases
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Russell Brand is convicted of rape, and judge says he’ll get a prison term LONDON (AP) — Russell Brand, the risqué comic who bragged for years of his sexual exploits, was convicted Thursday of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others on allegations dating back years. https://apnews.com/article/russell-brand-rape-sexual-assault-trial-f840ec56b2c8dd88941460d81de81fc7? -
Florida Politics
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
DeSantis wants special session to implement ‘taxpayer bill of rights’ One of the last actions Gov. Ron DeSantis wants done before leaving office in January is to implement a “taxpayer bill of rights” via a special legislative session, he said Wednesday. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/11/04/desantis-wants-special-session-to-implement-taxpayer-bill-of-rights/? ps:I give until the end of the year before people will be complaining as to where are the police, the fire department, etc.!! Once again, the Democratic blue wave misses Florida Tuesday night saw the near virtual destruction of the Republican Party power structure in this country. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/11/04/once-again-the-democratic-blue-wave-misses-florida/? Here are the messes the next Florida governor needs to clean up Sixteen years of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis mistreating the environment left a lot of ugliness for Byron Donalds to tackle. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/11/05/here-are-the-messes-the-next-florida-governor-needs-to-clean-up/? ps:Nothing will change with this guy!! Florida Legislature gets its first DSA member in Ashley Herrmann During the just-concluded midterm elections, Republicans told Florida voters they were the only thing standing between keeping the “free state of Florida” free and having socialists and even communists take over the Sunshine State. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/11/04/florida-legislature-gets-its-first-dsa-member-in-ashley-herrmann/? -
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Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international soccer Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international soccer after a record-breaking career with Portugal. The 41-year-old broke the news earlier today in a long Instagram video where he read a letter to his supporters. Ronaldo made 234 appearances for his country, scoring 146 international goals. + Read more: Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international soccer
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Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Here’s what he’s proposed
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Trump’s arch nears approval A rendering of the proposed triumphal arch in Washington, DC. (US Commission of Fine Arts) President Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, DC, is expected to receive final approval today, potentially clearing the way for construction to begin the same day. The decision could spark fresh legal challenges as the White House races to move forward before the new Democratic-controlled Congress takes power in 2027. + Read more: Trump’s arch is poised for final approval two days after the president’s election drubbing + GOP anxiety: Democratic wave also raises concerns over Alito and Supreme Court’s future -
Democratic National Committee/Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Democratic hopefuls shift into gear A gathering of prominent Democrats in Denver next week could offer an early glimpse of the party’s potential presidential contenders for 2028. Analysts say some hopefuls could make their intentions known by the end of the year, but the coming weeks will likely bring more attention to some familiar names — from Pete Buttigieg and Gov. Josh Shapiro to former Vice President Kamala Harris and others. + Video: Presidential hopefuls are gathering in Denver next week - Today
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Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Here’s what he’s proposed
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Trump enters his lame-duck era Amid the euphoria, Democrats are debating how to turn their midterm victories into lasting change rather than another round of elections where politicians’ promises fall short. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, faces a challenging political reality: a lame-duck presidency, with two years left in office and his ability to push through legislation diminished. A Democratic-controlled Congress will give him less room to maneuver, but his veto power remains intact — and sure enough, he recently dubbed himself “Mr. Veto.” Even Trump’s allies acknowledge that the final years of his presidency will be frustrating, and much will depend on whether either side is willing to compromise. Democrats are already setting priorities ahead of the new Congress convening in January, with affordability at the forefront — but accountability not far behind. California Rep. Robert Garcia, who is poised to lead the House Oversight Committee, insists that investigating the “corruption of Donald Trump and this administration” will be high on the agenda but won’t sidetrack efforts to bring down costs for Americans. + Read more: How Trump is expected to handle being a lame-duck president + What his setback could mean for Iran, Israel and Ukraine + Jake Tapper’s take: Is the MAGA/Trump era over? + For subscribers: Democrats debate what to do with their midterm mandate -
The New York Times
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
November 5, 2026 Good morning. The midterms were a historic collapse for the Republicans, who were unable to overcome an unpopular president and an unpopular war. We have the inside story. And today, we explain what could come next. Alex Kent/The New York Times Blue whale by Adam B. Kushner and Evan Gorelick As President Obama liked to say, elections have consequences. Tuesday’s contest — in which Democrats routed Republicans by shocking margins in shocking parts of the country — is no exception. How will Democrats use their new power? The answer isn’t so simple. The result was more a rebuke of President Trump than an endorsement of specific policies, and Democrats disagree with one another on impeachment, the role of fossil fuels, Israel, health care and how much to tax the rich. Meanwhile, Trump still controls the executive branch — and the veto pen. But the blue wave still promises to reshape American politics. Today, a guide to what’s coming. The states Democrats flipped at least five governorships and won vaunted “trifectas” — unified control of the executive and both legislative chambers — in at least five new states, cutting deep into territory once deemed purple and red. Data as of 3.28 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday. Source: Ballotpedia (trifecta status). Malika Khurana/The New York Times A blue makeover. Their agendas, likely guided by the states that have been blue for a generation, will focus on how to steer funds and resist Trump’s policies. They could raise the minimum wage, lift taxes on top earners and add paid family leave. They may also pay to patch some of the cuts, particularly to food stamps and health programs, that the Republican Congress enacted as part of Trump’s domestic policy law. Some may try to restrict new A.I. data centers. Electoral advantage. State Democrats will be empowered, in some cases, to change election rules — say, by expanding mail-in voting — in hopes of unlocking new swing states in the next presidential election. They may contemplate redrawing their congressional maps to help Democrats. Washington Alex Kent/The New York Times Congress. Chuck Schumer, the likely Senate majority leader, says job No. 1 is to bring down the cost of living for Americans. Democrats want to reverse Medicaid cuts, restore Obamacare subsidies, limit Trump’s ability to impose tariffs and curtail a war that has raised fuel costs. Trump promises he can be “Mr. Veto” if necessary. Even so, Democrats can force his allies into votes they’ll regret when the next election comes around. Democrats also want to exercise their constitutional power to check the executive branch and conduct oversight. Now they promise to investigate crypto windfalls, well-timed stock trades and a wedding party for the president’s son bankrolled by a Kremlin-connected oligarch. One House Democrat said in a statement on Tuesday that White House officials should “lawyer up.” Sources: The American Presidency Project (1972-1974), M.I.T. Election Data and Science Lab (1976-2024), New York Times and A.P. race calls (2026). Rachel Buigas-Lopez/The New York Times. The White House. Administration officials are preparing for the onslaught of investigations and discussing what they can do by executive fiat. But Trump is a lame duck with a conciliatory tone. He says he could work with the new congressional leaders to raise the debt ceiling or change immigration enforcement. “I’ll get along probably with the Democrats, unless they want to be destructive,” he said yesterday. Two parties remade Democrats. Tuesday’s result will send both moderates (such as Adam Hamilton of Kansas) and progressives (such as Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan) to Washington. The two factions fought bitterly in many primaries this fall, but candidates from both sides won Election Day victories. Progressives want the party to push bold, transformative ideas like Medicare for All. But Democrats can’t maintain their momentum in 2028 if they can’t persuade Trump voters to back them again. Which way will the party go? The argument between the camps will define the next two years. Republicans. Trump pushes his allies to parrot his ideas — on war, government spending, the economy. He threatens apostates that he will back their opponents in primaries. But it hurt Republicans in this election to be seen as proxies for an unpopular president. Now that he’ll be a lame duck, Republicans may feel comfortable putting distance between themselves and Trump. It began yesterday, when Vice President JD Vance attributed the electoral drubbing to the war in Iran. After a defeat come the recriminations. THE VOTE Source: Times Voter Trends 2026. The New York Times Voters of every demographic group — across race, age, gender and education — swung back toward the Democratic Party. See each group broken down in these charts. There is no modern precedent for this Democratic tsunami, Nate Cohn writes. See a map of the blue wave. Watch the video below, which shows how Hispanic voters pushed the country to the left. The New York Times THE REACTIONS Read more about the vice president’s striking critique of his administration’s agenda. Moderate Democrats grew their ranks in Congress — and their clout. After the midterms, Trump talked about his ballroom and a new helipad. OPINIONS Elon Musk — whose SpaceX stock has tanked — had a tough election night, Michelle Goldberg writes. The bells are tolling for Trumpism, Ezra Klein argues. In “The Conversation,” Frank Bruni and Bret Stephens discussed the results. OTHER NEWS Politics The Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito told people close to him that he does not intend to retire immediately from the Supreme Court. As a result, Republicans may have missed the window for Trump to name another justice during his presidency. An appeals court ruled that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration could proceed with efforts to collect a new tax on high-end second homes in New York City. Around the World France is bracing for a nationwide general strike over the rising cost of living. High voter turnout, especially among young people, is helping defeat authoritarian-leaning leaders in elections around the world. Joshua Wong, a Hong Kong democracy activist, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Five survivors were rescued on a remote Pacific island after drifting for nearly 100 days and 3,000 miles. Other Big Stories Floods have poured water into critically low reservoirs in the parched American Southwest. Will it ease worries over the water crisis there? A crucial part of the private jet that crashed in Florida on Sunday was found in fragments far from where the aircraft slammed into the ground, federal investigators said. Ask The Morning: Do you have questions about the news? Ask us here and we’ll work with our colleagues to get you the answers. Morning readers, don’t miss The Midterms Sale on election coverage and more. What effect will the results have on the country? And on you? Stay informed with our best offer on The Times in full. Subscribe now. MORNING READS Chantz Rivera has been walking across the United States. Mark Abramson for The New York Times See ya: He felt stuck in New York, so he decided to walk to California. Dario Amodei: The Anthropic chief executive’s worldview was shaped by two interwoven philosophies: rationalism and effective altruism. Imposition: Is it rude to ask friends to stay with them? Your pick: The most clicked story in The Morning yesterday was about a cheap plastic pouch that is saving women’s lives in childbirth. TODAY’S NUMBER 100 — That’s the percentage of pork in a McRib sandwich that McDonald’s says is “sourced from farmers and suppliers across the U.S.” The fast-food company is a defendant in a class-action lawsuit that claims the McRib is not made from rib meat. When a federal judge allowed the lawsuit to proceed, she wrote, “The court is not persuaded by defendant’s many arguments that it would be unreasonable or fanciful to think the McRib contains rib meat.” SPORTS Cristiano Ronaldo Pedro Nunes/Reuters Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from his national team. “Portugal will always be in my heart,” he said. Detroit Lions: Jack Campbell, a linebacker, made his first public comments since a serious neck injury, saying he has full movement in his lower body and continues to “make progress” with movement in his upper body. RECIPE OF THE DAY Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell. Chile crisp delivers spice, yes, but it can also be used strategically to fry foods. Try it on your next fried rice. This one comes with plenty of plant-based protein: The crumbled tofu offers the bouncy texture and hearty bite of egg, and the protein-rich edamame offer a hint of sweetness and nuttiness. LOATHE ENTIRELY The New York Times To honor the 60th anniversary of the “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” animated TV special, The Times ranked eight actors who’ve played the Grinch, on a scale of 1 to 5 mean Grinch faces. Which one was the meanest? More on culture Bob Dylan met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. He wore a hoodie. Juan Atkins combined the futurism of Kraftwerk with the funk of George Clinton to help invent techno music. He died at 64. Why is everyone suddenly wearing purple? THE MORNING RECOMMENDS Matt Nelson, the creator of WeRateDogs. Mark Abramson for The New York Times Check out one of the most popular social media accounts, WeRateDogs. It’s a hit. Start your holiday shopping early with our 2026 Holiday Gift Guide. See the world’s 50 Best Restaurants list. One in New York made the cut. Take a quiz to see how well you know books that have been made into movies. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was atrophy. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Crossplay and Strands. P.S. Sam is out sick and will be back soon. We sent him some soup. By the way, we told you yesterday that Idaho had picked a state gun in a ballot measure, but it was too early to say which firearm had won. It was “the gun that won the West,” the Winchester Model 1873. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren Deputy Editorial Director: Lauren Jackson -
👋 Good morning! Thanks for starting your day with us. Wemby matches Wilt: Victor Wembanyama exploded for 52 points, 24 rebounds and 8 blocks in Wednesday’s 112-111 win over the Mavericks. The only other NBA player to post those totals in a game? Wilt Chamberlain in 1961. In today's edition: The NBA belongs to Gen Z, Miami loses Toney, the next wave of Japanese baseball stars, NFL playoff picture, sports on the ballot, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy, with contributions from Neil Paine and Dylan Dittrich. Let's sports... 🚨 ICYMI HEADLINES 🏈 Hurricanes lose Heisman hopeful: Miami WR Malachi Toney is expected to miss 4-6 weeks to surgically repair the ankle he injured during Wednesday's practice. If that timeline is accurate, the sophomore superstar would likely be back for the College Football Playoff. 🙏 Campbell update: Lions LB Jack Campbell is "encouraged" by his recovery since suffering a serious injury on Sunday. He has full movement in his lower body, is making progress with movement in his upper body and remains "very optimistic" about the work ahead. ⛳️ The last days of LIV? Private equity firm BC Partners has dropped its plan to fund LIV Golf in 2027 and help the league transition into "LIV 2.0." The breakaway tour will now reportedly seek a liquidation of its remaining assets, likely signaling the end of the tumultuous venture. 🏈 New QB1s: Gardner Minshew was already named the starter in Arizona, and the Ravens just traded for the guy he replaced, bringing in Jacoby Brissett to upgrade their injury-filled QB room. Meanwhile, the Eagles plan to give Joe Milton his first career start on Sunday. 🎾 Upsets in Paris: A day after we questioned his new world No. 1 status, Alexander Zverev lost to Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets at the Paris Masters. But that was far from the only upset: No. 4 Daniil Medvedev, No. 7 Frances Tiafoe, No. 8 Alex de Minaur, No. 10 Novak Djokovic and No. 15 Learner Tien also fell to unranked opponents. 🏀 THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT THE NBA BELONGS TO GEN Z Attention, basketball old-heads: Enjoy tonight's Warriors-Heat game while you can. The elder statesmen: Miami is the NBA's oldest team by average age, while Golden State is the third-oldest. But players like Al Horford (40), Steph Curry (38), Draymond Green (36), Klay Thompson (36) and even Giannis Antetokounmpo (31) are part of a shrinking class of Millennials (~ages 30-45) still playing meaningful minutes. Youth movement: As The Ringer's Kirk Goldsberry noted this week, the NBA has transformed from an older league in the 1990s and early 2000s to a much younger league today as the modern game increasingly demands fresher legs to cover more space at a faster pace. As the game slowed down in the 1980s and '90s, younger players lost ground in their relative share of minutes, with both trends bottoming out around 2000. But as pace of play has accelerated in recent decades, the balance has shifted back toward youth, particularly during the 2020s. Where it stands: Last season, the relative playing-time advantage for players under 25 versus those 30 or older reached its highest level in four decades, as charted above. OK, Zoomer: The NBA's youth movement has also transformed its generational makeup. Minutes-wise, Gen X first overtook the Baby Boomers in 1991-92 before ceding control to Millennials in 2006-07. Gen Z seized the majority of playing time in 2022-23, and Zoomers now account for over 80% of all NBA minutes (!!!) this season, leaving the Millennials who once dominated the league with less than one-fifth of the playing time. Who's next? The first Gen Alpha babies were born in 2010, and the NBA's youngest active player (Cameron Boozer) was born in 2007. So it'll be a few more years, at minimum, before the next generation starts taking over. But brace yourselves: it will happen faster than you think. ⚾️ MLB OFFSEASON THREE JAPANESE STARS, ONE LOOMING DEADLINE Teruaki Soto is the next NBP star ready to make the jump to MLB. (Masterpress/Getty Images) MLB teams signing Japanese baseball stars used to be something of a novelty. Now it's an annual undertaking, and more talent will be arriving soon… if teams can beat the clock. Jordan Shusterman, Yahoo Sports: For a while after Hideo Nomo's groundbreaking move from Japan's NPB to the Dodgers in 1995, it was far from a guarantee that any given MLB offseason would feature a significant signing of a premium NPB talent. A smattering of role players and pitchers came over, but across the next two decades, the sport would often go years between top Japanese players making the jump from NPB to MLB, from Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 to Hideki Matsui in 2003 to Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2007 to Yu Darvish in 2012 to Masahiro Tanaka in 2014 to Shohei Ohtani in 2018. Times have changed: For the sixth consecutive offseason, one (or several) of the top free agents available to MLB teams is an NPB mega-star moving stateside. This year's class includes three players ranked in our Top 40: Teruaki Sato, 3B (No. 6) Kaima Taira, LHP (No. 19) Hiromi Itoh, RHP (No. 40) The headliner: Sato, a lefty slugger for the Hanshin Tigers, turned heads in 2025 when he took Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell deep during an exhibition. In the two seasons since, he's smashed 79 home runs (in 282 games) and become just the ninth player in NPB history to win the Triple Crown. He doesn't turn 28 until March, making him especially young for a free agent. The clock is ticking: Reports indicate that the usual 45-day posting window for NPB stars seeking MLB contracts will not be amended due to the coming lockout, which will freeze transactions league-wide. That means that deals for Sato, Taira and Itoh must be reached before the current CBA expires on Dec. 1. 🏈 TAKING STOCK NFL SNAPSHOT: WEEK 9 OUTLOOK (Joseph Raines/Yahoo Sports) Power rankings: The 49ers and Bills remain atop our NFL hierarchy this week, but there was plenty of movement elsewhere as the gap between contenders and pretenders grows wider. Risers and fallers: The No. 3 Jaguars climbed five spots into the league's upper echelon, while the No. 17 Raiders and No. 18 Buccaneers also jumped five spots into the middle tier. The Ravens plummeted 13 spots to No. 22 after a demoralizing loss in Buffalo, while the Cowboys fell five spots to No. 25 after a stunning collapse in Dallas. (Mallory Bielecki/Yahoo Sports) Playoff picture: If the regular season ended today, the 14 teams pictured above would advance to the playoffs. Notably absent from the field? The preseason Super Bowl favorites (Rams) and the defending champions (Seahawks). Same as it ever was: The Jets (15 seasons), Falcons (8), Saints (5), Colts (5), Titans (4), Raiders (4) and Cardinals (4) have the longest active postseason droughts… and none are currently in playoff position. The next-longest droughts belong to the Bengals (3) and Giants (3). Looking ahead: The NFL trade deadline is this coming Tuesday. Which teams will be buyers? Which teams will be sellers? Our experts break it down. Plus: 15 players to watch and intel on the biggest names. 🇺🇸 ELECTION DAY HOW SPORTS FIGURES FARED AT THE BALLOT BOX Former big leaguer Mark Teixeira is headed to the U.S. House of Representatives. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images) Tuesday's midterm elections featured several candidates with sports ties, from former All-Stars and gold medalists to retired coaches and broadcasters. Here are the most notable names and how they fared. Won Mark Teixeira (R-TX), a three-time All-Star and 2009 World Series champion, won election to the House in the state where his MLB career began (Rangers). Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), a longtime college football coach who spent 10 seasons at Auburn, won the Alabama governor's race. He previously served in the Senate. Colin Allred (D-TX), who played linebacker for the Titans before a neck injury ended his career in 2010, will return to the House after previously serving three terms. Josh Turek (D-IA), a four-time Paralympian and two-time gold medalist in wheelchair basketball, became the first Democrat to win a Senate race in Iowa since 2008. Lost Jay Feely (R-AZ), an NFL kicker for 14 seasons, lost his House bid (unofficial) to Amish Shah, who was the Jets' team doctor when Feely played in New York. Michele Tafoya (R-MN), an Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster and former sideline reporter for "Sunday Night Football," lost her Senate race. Sports on the ballot: The midterm results will have an impact on a variety of sports-related issues. Among them: What's next for the Protect College Sports Act? Could Congress crack down on sports betting ads? Will new legislation be passed to regulate prediction markets? 📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: THURSDAY, NOV. 5 Trevor Lawrence and the Jags are looking elite. The Ravens? Not so much. (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 🏈 Jaguars at Ravens Trevor Lawrence and the juggernaut Jags visit the injury-ravaged Ravens this evening (8:15pm ET, Prime) in what could be a very lopsided edition of "Thursday Night Football." Where it stands: Jacksonville (5-2) is running away with the AFC South and boasts the NFL's best scoring differential (+85). Baltimore (4-4) has lost three straight amid their QB injury crisis, leaving undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano as their starter for tonight's game. More to watch: 🏀 NCAAW: No. 2 UConn at No. 5 Michigan (6:30pm, FS1) … The Wolverines open their season with the first matchup of top-five teams in program history. 🏀 NBA: Heat at Warriors (10pm, NBA) … Golden State (5-3) has won five straight games, and Miami (3-5) has won two straight. 🎾 ATP: Paris Masters (7:30am, Tennis) … Round of 16 action for Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz and more. ⛳️ PGA: World Wide Technology Championship (3pm, Golf) … Defending champion Ben Griffin headlines the field at the Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city. 🗽 LET'S PLAY OVER/UNDER (Theodore Parisienne/New York Daily News via Getty Images) The 2026 New York City Marathon was the largest marathon in history, with a record number of runners crossing the finish line. Question: Did Sunday's race have over or under 75,000 finishers? Over: More than 75,000 Under: Less than 75,000 Answer at the bottom. 📸 THROUGH THE LENS PHOTO FINISH (Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) 52 points. 24 rebounds. 8 blocks. What do you even say? Charles Barkley didn't have the words to describe Wembanyama's performance. "This damn idiot upstairs says, 'Chuck, you got Wemby.' I'm like, 'What the hell am I supposed to say?" said Barkley during halftime as Wemby's highlights began to roll. "Just look at this stuff. This is just ridiculous, man. I mean, it is flat-out amazing." Trivia answer: Under. Sunday's NYC Marathon had 61,146 finishers, breaking the previous record of 59,830 set by the 2026 London Marathon this past April.
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Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Here’s what he’s proposed
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Trump-backed redistricting plan fails in midterms At the urging of President Donald Trump, Republicans in eight states redrew the boundaries of dozens of congressional districts over the past year while angling for an edge that could help them hold onto a slim House majority in a tough midterm election. Ultimately, it didn't work. Read more. Why this matters: The redistricting plan fell flat in Alabama, Florida and Texas. It got scuttled by courts in Missouri and then firmly defeated by its voters Tuesday. And it got offset in California, where a retaliatory Democratic redistricting flipped all five of the Republican-held seats it targeted. What started as a Republican redistricting effort could become a Democratic redistricting movement ahead of the presidential election. Maryland voters on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment that will make it easier for the state’s Democratic-led General Assembly to redraw districts to the party’s advantage. Democrats who made gains in numerous state legislatures Tuesday also could use that power for redistricting — most notably in Wisconsin, where districts were tilted toward Republicans. And Democratic lawmakers in New York already have taken an initial step toward congressional redistricting before the 2028 elections. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Which Senate, governors races are still uncalled by The Associated Press Democrat Hakeem Jeffries poised to make history as the first Black speaker of the House Young voters led a sharp shift toward Democrats in the 2026 midterms, The AP Voter Poll finds FACT FOCUS: False claims of rigged elections are limited as midterm vote heavily favors Democrats -
Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Here’s what he’s proposed
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Inflation, tariffs and a voter revolt: The midterm verdict on Trump’s economy President Donald Trump was publicly humbled by inflation in Tuesday’s midterm elections, as rising prices provoked a blistering set of losses for Republicans in House, Senate and gubernatorial races. Read more. What to know: Most voters said that Trump’s own policies had smothered growth and drove costs even higher, according to The AP Voter Poll. Consumer prices are up 3.7% over the past 12 months, compared to an inflation rate of 3% when Trump began his second term. The president told reporters on Wednesday that the Iran war “drove the gasoline up a little bit short-term,” but he felt the choice to fight Iran was worth it because of its push for nuclear weapons. “If I had to do it again, I’d have to do it again,” he said. Nationwide, about 7 in 10 voters said the economy favors the wealthy, while only about 3 in 10 said it’s fair to everyday Americans. About 4 in 10 households with 2025 household incomes above $200,000 said that democracy was their top issue, putting the issue about even with the economy. Voters in most lower-income categories, on the other hand, clearly prioritized the economy. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump brags about his White House ballroom and seeks to deflect blame for GOP midterm drubbing Vance tries to distance himself from Iran war after GOP’s deep losses Trump’s lawyers to appear before appeals court as he fights hush money conviction Iranians celebrate setback for Trump in US election -
Big Tech Companies
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Big Tech Lost The Election. Now Comes The Gaslighting. As Democrats prepare to investigate Silicon Valley, its liberal-branded lobby is scrambling to erase voters’ resounding rejection of Big Tech. https://www.levernews.com/big-tech-lost-the-election-now-comes-the-gaslighting/? ps:What a waste of time, if that's what they're going to spend time doing!!!!! -
This Day in History
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Word of the Day (and other daily nuggets)
THIS DAY IN HISTORY November 5 1941 The order is given: Bomb Pearl Harbor The Combined Japanese Fleet receive Top-Secret Order No. 1, instructing them to bomb Pearl Harbor, Malaya (now known as Malaysia), the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines in just over a month’s time. Read More Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT Arts & Entertainment 2007 Writers strike stalls production of TV shows, movies Asian History 1556 Mughal victory assures Akbar’s ascension Civil War 1862 Lincoln removes General McClellan from Army of the Potomac Crime 2009 Army major kills 13 people in Fort Hood mass shooting European History 1605 King James learns of Gunpowder Plot LGBTQ+ History 2024 First openly transgender member of Congress elected Native American History 1862 Dakota Indian trials conclude, with more than 300 sentenced to hang Sports 1994 George Foreman becomes oldest heavyweight champ U.S. Presidents 1912 Woodrow Wilson wins landslide victory 1940 FDR reelected for a third term 1968 Richard Nixon elected president 1994 Ronald Reagan announces Alzheimer’s diagnosis 2024 Donald Trump becomes second president elected to a nonconsecutive term 1977 George W. Bush marries Laura Welch in Midland, Texas Women’s History 1872 Susan B. Anthony casts a vote, prompting arrest -
🏗️ 1 for the road: Inside the ballroom Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times Roughly 12 hours after a devastating midterm loss, President Trump toured the new White House ballroom and signed the final steel beam before it was raised into place. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP Above: The new East Colonnade under construction at the White House.
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Congress: The Senate & The House
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
How Senate votes moved from '24 The blue arrows in these New York Times maps show how counties shifted toward Democrats on Tuesday compared with the 2024 presidential election: Detailed results aren't available yet for Maine, which also flipped Democratic. Maps: The New York Times More graphics (gift link). -
Polls and Survey's
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
📊 Polls underestimated the wave Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Democrats' midterm tsunami obscured a major polling miss: Surveys correctly anticipated a blue wave, but failed to capture its full force, Axios' Neal Rothschild writes. Why it matters: Pollsters appear to have underestimated Democrats by a wider margin than they underestimated Republicans in 2016 or 2024 — even if they got the headline outcome right this time. 🧮 By the numbers: Democrats are on track to win the national House popular vote by roughly 13 points, compared with a final Silver Bulletin polling average of 8.9 points, according to an initial analysis by The Argument's Lakshya Jain. That roughly 4-point gap is similar to the 2020 polling miss that underestimated Republicans. It's larger than the average errors in 2016 and 2024, though comparisons to presidential years are imperfect. Keep reading. -
Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Here’s what he’s proposed
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
🇮🇷 Trump's bad options in Iran Photo illustration: Allie Carl/Axios. Photo: Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images Post-election, President Trump must decide whether to cut his losses on the Iran war and get a deal — or double down and go back to bombing, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. Why it matters: His options are bad. Going back to war would be highly unpopular, exacerbating the energy crisis while probably not yielding a better military result. But a deal with Iran remains elusive. If the Iranians refuse to make concessions — or, sensing weakness after the president's political loss, even toughen their demands — Trump will have a hard time reaching an agreement. One of his former advisers told Axios: "It's one thing to lose the midterms. But Trump doesn't want to look like a loser twice." That's why some Trump advisers think he could ultimately decide to strike Iran again. Keep reading. -
Artificial Intelligence
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
AI's new charm offensive Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios The AI industry is scrambling to repackage a $10 trillion infrastructure buildout to appease a hostile electorate that overwhelmingly voted to restrict data center construction in ballot measures across the country, Axios' Maria Curi writes. Why it matters: Tuesday's election made clear voters won't tolerate unchecked data center growth. To prevent an existential threat, the world's biggest companies are working on a rebrand. Restrictive ballot measures went 43-1 across 10 states, with an average of 75% of voters favoring limits. Analysts expect the backlash to slow — but not stop — the buildout. 🔬 Zoom in: Beyond OpenAI's attempt to rebrand AI data centers as "compute campuses," companies are offering communities real money, including dividends, benefits for schools or cities, environmental concessions and labor protections. Amazon allocated $1 billion to invest in data center communities over five years. Microsoft has a Datacenter Community Pledge. OpenAI today unveiled a Compute Campus Policy Blueprint and outlined tens of millions of dollars in commitments for free school lunches, parks, first responders and other priorities. See OpenAI's new plan ... -
Stock & Bull Markets
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
📈 Surprise election rally Data: FactSet. Chart: Axios/Matt Phillips Some of the largest data center operators led a post-election stock rally yesterday — the day after voters delivered a resounding rebuke to data centers themselves, Axios' Emily Peck and Matt Phillips write. Microsoft rose 6.7%, Amazon 6.1%, and Alphabet 3.3%. The big picture: Wall Street is increasingly betting that a slower AI race — and a forced slowdown in spending on the data center buildout — could be good for Big Tech. Keep reading ... -
US Politics
phkrause replied to Gregory Matthews's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
🚨 Dem gains could sideline Electoral College Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios Democrats' sweeping statehouse gains have opened a path to effectively replacing the Electoral College with a national popular vote in time for the 2028 presidential election — without needing to amend the Constitution. Why it matters: The results could give Democrats the legislative power to fundamentally change how America picks its president, potentially ending the possibility of winning the White House while losing the national popular vote, Axios' Andrew Pantazi writes. Democrats have won control of the governorship and both legislative chambers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin and Nevada — enough to push an agreement called the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact beyond the 270-vote threshold required to take effect. The compact has been enacted by 18 states and D.C. since launching in 2006, representing 222 electoral votes so far. The agreement only kicks in when participating states collectively control at least 270 electoral votes. The five new Democratic trifectas could bring the total to 283. 🔧 How it works: Americans don't directly elect the president. Instead, they actually cast ballots to choose electors, whose votes determine the winner every four years. Nearly every state awards all its electoral votes to the statewide winner. Maine and Nebraska also award electors based on congressional district results. But the Constitution explicitly gives states power to appoint electors "in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct." Under the compact, participating states would instead award their electoral votes to the national popular-vote winner once the agreement reaches 270 electoral votes. Yes, but: The five states would still need to enact the compact. It's unclear whether it will be a priority for the new Democratic states. The Electoral College would formally remain in place, and the compact could face constitutional challenges, including over whether congressional approval is required. Michigan failed to enact it during its previous Democratic trifecta from 2023 to 2024, and Nevada's then-Democratic governor vetoed the compact in 2019, warning it could diminish his state's influence over presidential elections. Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller has argued that the compact would be unconstitutional without congressional approval, which he contends is required under the Constitution's Compact Clause. 🔮 What to watch: Whether and how legislators in the new trifecta states move forward. Lawmakers in all five states have previously introduced legislation to join the compact. -
Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Here’s what he’s proposed
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Hegseth on "thin ice" Photo illustration: Allie Carl/Axios. Photos via Getty Images It's a de facto motto in the Trump White House: "Somebody's gotta take the fall." Lately, that person looks like Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Axios' Marc Caputo and Alex Isenstadt write. Why it matters: From the unpopular war in Iran to his bad bipartisan relations with members of Congress, Hegseth's record has made him the most vulnerable member of Trump's Cabinet after Tuesday night's midterm shellacking. "Hegseth is definitely on thin ice," a Trump adviser told Axios. "It doesn't mean the president forces him out. But there are complications." As early as next week, the House could impeach Hegseth for allegedly defying Congress and illegally continuing the U.S. war in Iran. The measure is sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a vociferous critic of Israel and foreign wars. 🔭 Zoom in: Iran is at the center of both Hegseth's possible impeachment and Republicans' midterm collapse. Before Trump attacked Iran on Feb. 28, Hegseth was the most gung-ho about the conflict. Hegseth gave the rosiest projections about how quickly and easily it would be resolved, according to sources familiar with the discussions. By August, a senior administration official said, U.S. Central Command was reportedly soliciting new approaches to pressure Iran, suggesting that military leaders were still reassessing how to achieve strategic results. Trump stood by Hegseth yesterday, telling reporters the secretary is "doing a very good job." 👓 Between the lines: Trump has been known to praise an embattled Cabinet secretary, only to seek their ouster shortly thereafter. Go deeper: 4 factors weighing on Trump. -
Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Here’s what he’s proposed
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Vance's MAGA power play Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Tom Brenner/Getty Images Vice President Vance stepped out of President Trump's shadow yesterday, seizing on the GOP's midterm catastrophe to begin the explosive task of claiming MAGA as his own, Axios' Zachary Basu, Marc Caputo and Alex Isenstadt write. "The reason we lost is the war," Vance wrote in an extraordinary 600-word postmortem on X, blaming Trump's Iran campaign for Republicans' historic collapse. Why it matters: Vance's presidential ambitions are entangled in the wreckage of a war he privately opposed but publicly defended. His path to 2028 demands a delicate political calculation. Vance must convince MAGA's disillusioned voters that he understands their sense of betrayal, even as he remains a central figure in the administration responsible for the Iran war. "Today, JD Vance became president — or acted like he wanted to become one," a source close to the administration told Axios. 🥊 Vance argued that defections from Trump's 2024 coalition — not lack of turnout — drove the GOP's collapse in Tuesday's midterms. Citing polling of disaffected Trump voters, he identified four demands: "End the war." "Focus on cost of living/inflation." "Put America First." "Change our relationship to Israel." 💡 Between the lines: Those happen to be the four hottest topics among top MAGA podcasters and activists. So Vance is aligning with those leaders on topics where MAGA anger with Trump is raging. Behind the scenes: Vance's commentary caught some in the White House by surprise. But insiders said the vice president worked with senior administration officials on the post. "These were his words and thoughts," one insider said. "He's leading." Said another: "It pains me to say this, but Tuesday showed the emperor had no clothes, and Vance knew he should just state the obvious. There are going to be a lot of other Republicans putting a lot more distance between them and the president." One Republican consultant representing a potential rival in the 2028 presidential race offered a blunter assessment: "The VP had to show he's not a dead man walking out there." Data: The New York Times. Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Zoom out: Trump's second term has been riven by a bitter ideological feud between MAGA's anti-interventionist wing and the pro-Israel hawks who championed the Iran war. Vance privately questioned the war's objectives and duration, then publicly defended the campaign and led peace negotiations with Iran. His postmortem now puts him squarely in the anti-interventionists' camp. It also gives Vance an opening against more hawkish Republicans, particularly Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. If Cruz runs in 2028, as many expect, and argues that it's time for the party to move on from Trump administration figures, Vance could try to argue that Cruz was on the wrong side of the issue that helped cost Republicans the midterms. 👀 What to watch: Trump has yet to anoint Vance as his successor, and the Republican collapse is already exposing the contours of a potential succession fight. Asked yesterday whether he had discussed a presidential run with Vance, Trump said the two talk about "a lot of things," before adding: "Maybe he won't run. I don't know who's going to run." -
Multiple flights in Europe diverted because of bomb threats November 05, 2026 Finnair said that Flight 1761 from Helsinki to Rome was targeted by a bomb threat on Thursday. But Finnish broadcaster Yle reported that nothing out of the ordinary was found on the plane after it landed normally in the Italian capital. Three Ryanair flights bound for Bulgarian capital Sofia had to make emergency landings because of bomb threats on board. They all landed safely.
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> President Donald Trump reportedly floats possibility of firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with advisers following Tuesday's electoral losses, anticipated congressional action over Iran war; Trump publicly denies considering the move (More) > Montenegro is on track to become the EU's next member by 2028, European Commission says, leading a pack of nine candidates including Albania, Moldova (More) | How do countries join the EU? (More) > Russia and Ukraine confirm they will send delegations to Abu Dhabi early next week to engage in US-mediated peace talks (More) | See war updates (More)