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☆ US factory orders fall 3.6% in October
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Autonomous robots assemble an X model SUV at the BMW manufacturing facility in Greer, South Carolina, U.S. November 4, 2019. Factory orders fell 3.6% after a downwardly revised 2.3% inSeptember, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau said on Monday, the biggest monthly drop since April 2020. Orders for durable goods fell 5.4%, with orders for transportation equipment slumping 14.7%. Electrical equipment, appliances and components orders fell 1.1%. Shipments of manufactured goods fell 1.4%.

Persons: Charles Mostoller, Lindsay Dunsmuir, Chizu Organizations: BMW, REUTERS, U.S, Commerce, Reuters, Machinery, Manufacturing, Thomson Locations: Greer , South Carolina, U.S, Commerce Department's

☆ 2023 through the lens of Reuters photographers
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Reuters Photographers | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Reuters photographers were on the ground to capture it all as it unfolded - and much more. 649 photographers125 countries1.3 million photosOn Oct. 7, Hamas rampaged through southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. While this war and other stories took the spotlight off Ukraine, the conflict raged on in the country’s east. Amid the death and despair that marked 2023, humans still found ways to remember and to celebrate - and Reuters photographers looked for those stories, too. A Reuters photographer took a picture of an object drifting down to the coast in South Carolina after it was shot down, just one moment among many that made up the world in 2023.

Persons: Abdulalim Muaini, Donald Trump, Sam Bankman, Fried, King Charles III Organizations: U.S ., Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Turkey, Syria, Morocco, Europe, Canada, America, California, Congo, Darfur, Sudan, Haiti, U.S, rickety, Gaza, United States, Mexico, South Carolina

ATLANTA (AP) — Fourteen U.S. cities will play host to Copa América next summer, with the semifinals at East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Charlotte, North Carolina, ahead of the July 14 championship in Miami Gardens, Florida. The semifinals will be in New Jersey's MetLife Stadium on July 9 and Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium the next day. This will be only the second time Copa América has been held outside of South America since the inaugural tournament in 1916. Except for the Centenario tournament, Copa América hosting duties usually have rotated among the 10 COMNEBOL nations in South America. They are: MetLife Stadium, Hard Rock Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Levi's Stadium, SoFi Stadium, AT&T Stadium, NRG Stadium and Arrowhead Stadium.

Persons: América, Victor Montagliani, “, ”, Alejandro Dominguez, Lionel Messi, Montagliani Organizations: ATLANTA, Copa América, East, Central America, NRG, T, Farm, MetLife, Charlotte's Bank of America, ” CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, Mercedes, Benz, SoFi, Levi's, Exploria, North America, América Centenario, Nations League, Costa Rica, Children's, Arrowhead, Levi’s, Copa América Centenario, Chile, Centenario Locations: East Rutherford , New Jersey, Charlotte, North Carolina, Miami Gardens , Florida, South America, North, Caribbean, Houston, Arlington , Texas, Glendale , Arizona, Las Vegas, New, Miami, Atlanta, Inglewood , California, Santa Clara , California, Orlando , Florida, Austin , Texas, Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas, United States, Mexico, Jamaica, Panama, Costa, Honduras, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, NRG, Orlando, Los Angeles, Argentina, New York City, Ecuador, U.S

Indeed, studies show that drinking alcohol is less in vogue with younger millennials and Gen Z. Mounting concern around weight loss drugs GLP-1 drugs, which mimic the action of the glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone and stimulate insulin secretion after a meal, lower blood sugar and send feeling of fullness to the brain. What's more, GLP-1 drugs are an overwhelmingly American topic, with most Europeans unaware of them or unwilling to pay high prices. In total, GLP-1 users are only a very small slice of total alcohol consumers, said Spiros Malandrakis, lead alcohol industry researcher at Euromonitor International. The most vulnerable purveyors are those that are trailing the shift in consumption, notably domestic, non-premium beer brands.

Persons: Katie Pell, Pell, wasn't, millennials, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, Goldman Sachs, Jason English, Nadine Sarwat, Bernstein, Sarwat, Spiros Malandrakis, —, BUD YTD, who'd, Mickey Velado, Brian Sudano, Nell Healy, Healy, she's, Malandrakis, Ryan Brigden, Brigden, Sudano, Joseph Gabelli, Gabelli, Z, there's, it's, Garrett Nelson, They've, seltzer, Nelson, Molson Coors, Bud, he's Organizations: Gallup, Drugs, Nordisk's Ozempic, JPMorgan, CNBC, Euromonitor, Anheuser, Busch Inbev, Beverage Marketing, Constellation, Guinness, Corona, Heineken, Athletic Brewing Company, Heineken Holding, Carlsberg, Constellation Brands, Malandrakis, Beverage, Gabelli, Diageo, Molson Coors, Busch InBev, Molson, Anheuser Busch Locations: Brooklyn, U.S, GLP, imbibing, Angeles, Colorado, Washington, California, North Carolina, San Francisco Bay, Europe, British, Brazil, India

☆ Why Haley Is Rising Among the Rivals to Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Nate Cohn | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

If you dozed off while following the Republican primary, I wouldn’t blame you. With Ms. Haley still a full 50 percentage points behind Mr. Trump in national polls, her ascent doesn’t exactly endanger his path to the nomination. So if you were reading this only on the off chance that Mr. Trump might be in jeopardy, you can doze off again. Ms. Haley is now neck-and-neck with Mr. DeSantis in Iowa, a state he is counting on to reverse a yearlong downward spiral in the polls. She’s well ahead of Mr. DeSantis in New Hampshire and South Carolina, two states where a moderate South Carolinian like her ought to fare relatively well.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Donald J, Haley, Trump, who’s, DeSantis Organizations: Republican Locations: DeSantis, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina

N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Black and Latino voters sued in federal court on Monday seeking to strike down congressional districts drawn this fall by Republican state legislators that they argue weaken minority voting power in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Under the iteration of the congressional map that had been drawn by state judges for the 2022 elections, Democrats and Republicans each won seven seats. Meanwhile, the number of minority voters grows in the 12th, which is represented by Rep. Alma Adams of Charlotte. Rep. Jeff Jackson, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, already said he’s running for state attorney general, saying he can’t win reelection under the new congressional map. The latest congressional map “continues North Carolina’s long tradition of enacting redistricting plans that pack and crack minority voters into gerrymandered districts designed to minimize their voting strength," the plaintiffs' lawyers write.

Persons: gerrymanders, Tim Moore, Kathy Manning, Republican mapmakers, Don Davis, Alma Adams, Charlotte, Jeff Jackson, Moore Organizations: —, — North Carolina, Republican, U.S . Constitution, General, Republicans, Capitol, U.S . House, Black Democrats, 6th, GOP, Democratic, Rep, Mecklenburg County Democrat, Supreme Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, — North, U.S ., U.S, Charlotte, District, North, Greensboro, Pitt County, South Carolina, Mecklenburg County

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to try and move on after a nightmarish loss to Arizona without quarterback Kenny Pickett. Pickett is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a high right ankle sprain on Monday. Tomlin declined to get into specifics on how many games Pickett might miss. He missed multiple games during his 2020 season at the University of Pittsburgh after having surgery on his left ankle. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft also took over against Jacksonville on Oct. 29 after Pickett left with a rib injury.

Persons: Kenny Pickett, Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Tomlin, Jonathan Ledbetter, he's, Trubisky, Diontae Johnson, Mason Rudolph, ”, He’s Organizations: PITTSBURGH, The Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona, Pittsburgh, Cardinals, University of Pittsburgh, Houston, Jacksonville, Steelers, Carolina, AFC, AP Locations: New England, Pittsburgh

asked Kristen Brengel of the National Parks Conservation Association, noting that visitors on the ground far outnumber those overhead. Congress passed another round of legislation in 2000 with a goal of setting rules in other national parks. Historically, some of the nation's busiest spots for tour operators are Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and Haleakala National Park. But Brengel of the National Parks Conservation Association said the resistance doesn't have much traction. An amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill that would have required the agency to factor in the economics of commercial air tours over national parks failed in July, she said.

Persons: “, ”, Mark Schlaefli, Critics, Kristen Brengel, Bailey Wood, Wood, Pono, Smokey, Parks, Peter Jenkins, Mount Rushmore, Ray Jilek, Andrew Busse, Shawn Bordeaux, hasn't, Bruce Adams, Brengel Organizations: Mount, Black, National Park Service, Federal Aviation Administration, National Parks Conservation Association, Helicopter Association International, Public Employees, Environmental, Hawaii Island Coalition, Golden, Recreation Area, Eagle Aviation Inc, Black Hills Helicopter Inc, Democratic, FAA, “ Locations: Mount, United States, Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, Arches, Utah, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alaska, Rosebud, New Mexico, Southwest Safaris, Pueblo

It is Arizona's turn to sit atop The Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll. Arizona claimed 59 of 63 first-place votes to move up one spot, putting the Wildcats comfortably ahead of preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25 since an eight-week stint that ended in January 2014 under former coach Sean Miller. In all, 14 teams climbed from last week's poll, including No. ___Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season.

Persons: Tommy Lloyd's, Connecticut . Arizona hasn't, Sean Miller, Lloyd, “, ” Lloyd, Creighton, Duke, Tyrese Proctor, ___ Organizations: Press, Wildcats, Purdue, Northwestern, Jayhawks, NCAA, Connecticut ., Gonzaga, Colgate, Houston, Boilermakers, UConn, Baylor, North, Colorado State, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin, Marquette, Badgers, Clemson, San Diego, Villanova, Mississippi State, CONFERENCE, BYU, ACC, Big, Big East, West Conference, American Athletic, Sun Locations: Northwestern . Arizona, Kansas, Connecticut, Connecticut . Arizona, Northwestern, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Miami, Tennessee, Texas, San Diego State, Mississippi, Alabama, Coast

☆ Modern US earthquakes could be century-old aftershocks, study says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Allison Chinchar | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Earthquakes vs. aftershocksThe modern seismic activity the researchers studied is likely a mixture of aftershocks from the big quakes from the 1800s and background seismicity, Chen said. “Are small earthquakes in the New Madrid seismic zone aftershocks of 1811-1812 or not?” Hough said in an email. “The new study considers the question from a different angle, considering how tightly clustered earthquakes are, and concluding that some of the events are ongoing aftershocks,” Hough said. Aftershocks might still be continuing, but once the normal seismic rate for the area returns, she said, you can no longer identify them as aftershocks. “For this reason, we seismologists sometimes disagree about which earthquakes are foreshocks or aftershocks,” Ebel said, “and I think those disagreements are inherently unresolvable.”

Persons: —, ”, Yuxuan Chen, geoscientist, Chen, “, Susan Hough, Hough, ” Hough, “ We’ve, . Fuller, Morgan Page, John Ebel, Ebel, John Karl Hillers, ” Ebel Organizations: CNN, Missouri -, of Geophysical Research, Wuhan University, Earthquakes, US Geological Survey, Survey, . Geological, USGS Earthquake Science, Boston College, . Geological Survey, San Locations: States, Missouri, Missouri - Kentucky, Charleston , South Carolina, Madrid, Memphis, Mississippi, Charleston, North America, China, New Madrid, Chickasaw, Reelfoot Lake , Tennessee, Boston, California, Eastern North America, Southern California, Northern California, San Andreas, Central

☆ Israel-Hamas War U.S. Pushes Israel and Hamas to Restart Talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Andrés R. Martínez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Israel has since resumed its attacks on Hamas, and Mr. Kirby urged it to avoid civilian casualties, while crediting its forces with making efforts to do so. “He’s so naïve; I mean I just lost all confidence in this guy,” Mr. Graham said. “Secretary Austin is telling Israel things that are impossible to achieve.”Mr. Graham said his solution to the hostage impasse would be to threaten Iran, the sponsor of Hamas. “I would go to Iran and say listen, you need to tell Hamas to let these hostages go,” he said. “Qatar has said that Hamas is still at the table,” she said, referring to the Persian Gulf emirate that has served as the intermediary for the talks.

Persons: Israel, “, John F, ”, Kirby, Osama Hamdan, There’s, Biden, Biden’s, Lindsey Graham, Lloyd J, Austin III, Austin, ” Mr, Graham, Mr, Al Qaeda, Pramila Jayapal, Jayapal, ” Hwaida Saad Organizations: Kirby, White House National Security Council, Press, Hamas, Republican, West Bank, CNN’s, Union, “ Locations: Gaza, Jerusalem, U.S, Lebanon, Israel, South Carolina, CNN’s “ State, Iraq, Al, we’d, Iran, Washington, United States, Qatar, Persian, “ Israel

Travelers are looking to cruises in 2024 because they are still cheaper than land-based alternatives. With occupancy levels approaching pre-pandemic levels, operators plan to hike prices in coming months. "Overall the market is extremely strong, especially the top end of the market in terms of the most high-end luxury cruises," said Bob Levinstein, CEO of cruise marketplace Cruise Compete. Even as travelers have canceled or postponed planned vacations to the Middle East, cruise bookings will still hit record levels in 2024, said Truist Securities analyst Patrick Scholes. Prior to the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, industry-wide bookings for 2024 were about 25% higher than in 2019 for bookings in 2020.

Persons: Queen Mary, Andrew Kelly, Bob Levinstein, Patrick Scholes, Scholes, Jason Liberty, Josh Weinstein, Atle, Kari Dillon, Dillon, InteleTravel, Dave Spinelli, Ben Harrell, Granth, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Cunard Line, Carnival Corporation & plc, Brooklyn Cruise, REUTERS, Travelers, Truist Securities, Cruise Lines International Association, Royal Caribbean, Liberty ., Holdings, Cruisers, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn, Brooklyn , New York City, U.S, BENGALURU, Israel, Caribbean, Oslo, North Carolina, Florida, InteleTravel, Delray Beach , Florida, Royal Caribbean, Bengaluru, Doyinsola, New York

☆ Trump is showing how a second term would rewrite the rules of presidential power
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Donald Trump is underscoring the profound choice that voters could face next year with expansive claims of unchecked presidential power alongside increasingly unapologetic anti-democratic rhetoric. This has huge consequences not simply for the courtroom accounting that is yet to take place over his first turbulent term. If the twice-impeached former president wins the Republican nomination and the presidency, it is already clear that a second term would risk destroying the principle that presidents do not hold monarchial power. “Joe Biden is not the defender of American democracy,” Trump said during a campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday. And if he succeeds in 2024, his legal arguments will have been a warning of a second term that he envisions with almost no guardrails.

Persons: Donald Trump, – he’s, Joe Biden, ”, He’s, Tanya Chutkan, Trump, Chutkan, Biden, “ Joe Biden, ” Trump, … it’s, –, Trump’s, Ron DeSantis, “, ” DeSantis, Liz Cheney, Mike Johnson, ” Cheney, Washington , South Carolina Republican Sen, Lindsey Graham, CNN’s Dana, Cheney, ” Graham, Liz Cheney's, Sri Srinivasan, Steven Sadow, ” Chutkan Organizations: CNN, Republican, US, GOP, Florida Gov, Trump –, Trump, Republican Party, CBS, Washington , South Carolina Republican, Union ”, ”, Capitol Locations: Cedar Rapids , Iowa, Iowa, Florida, Wyoming, Congress, United States, Washington , South, “ State, Washington , DC, ”, Fulton County , Georgia

☆ North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum ends 2024 Republican presidential bid days before the fourth debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Doug Burgum, governor of North Dakota and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, speaks with members of the media in the spin room following the Republican primary presidential debate hosted by Fox News in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. Doug Burgum ended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination on Monday despite a stronger-than-expected showing fueled by a gift card-for-campaign donation gimmick that helped get him on the debate stage. The tactic drew skepticism over its legality, though Burgum's campaign said its legal advisers had reviewed and approved the method. And it appeared that he would also not qualify for the fourth debate, which is being held Wednesday in Alabama. Burgum was a political newcomer in 2016 when he staged an upset over the longtime attorney general in North Dakota's Republican gubernatorial primary.

Persons: Doug Burgum, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Sen, Tim Scott of, Larry Elder, Perry Johnson, Will Hurd, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Burgum, Theodore Roosevelt, He's Organizations: Republican, Fox News, North Dakota Gov, Committee, Biden, RNC, Heartland, Miami Mayor, Dakota, Plains Software, Microsoft Locations: North Dakota, Milwaukee , Wisconsin, Alabama, Iowa, New Hampshire, Hampshire, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Texas, Milwaukee, North, Medora

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ten of the top albums of the year, as chosen by Associated Press Music Writer Maria Sherman. Instead of embracing the antiquated practice of ranking very different albums against one another, we're celebrating the best next to the best. Leading the charge is Peso Pluma, whose third studio album, “Génesis,” became the highest-charting regional Mexican album of all time. “Hackney Diamonds,” The Rolling StonesPrior to “Hackney Diamonds,” the Rolling Stones hadn’t released an album of original material in 18 years. AP's Jocelyn Noveck put it best: This album is their best new work in decades — tight, focused, full of heart and swagger.

Persons: Maria Sherman, “ Barbie, “, Carín León, ”, Pluma, Olivia Rodrigo, Rodrigo, —, Joan Didion, ” Rodrigo, “ Lucky, Megan Moroney Let’s, Morgan Wallen’s “, Luke Combs, Tracy Chapman’s, Megan Moroney, Taylor Swift, Charlie Watts, Andrew Watt, Post Malone, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, AP's Jocelyn Noveck, Raven, Kelela, Shaadi Devereaux, ” Karol G, reggaetón, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Rauw Alejandro, Karol G's, there's, Ojos, Shakira, It’s, Carlos Niño, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar’s, Arlo, Arlo Parks Organizations: ANGELES, Associated Press, banda, Tennessee, “ Hackney, Ojos Ferrari, Sun, Chicago, NFL, Carolinas, — Locations: Mexican, Mexico, Kelela, Será, Puerto Rican, Panamanian, , New York, Colombian, “ Carolina, California, Sunbeams, ”

Ron DeSantis, who campaigned at the Iowa State Fair this year, faces turmoil at a super PAC that supports his presidential run. “We’re going to win Iowa,” the Florida governor said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” program. DeSantis drew a burst of much-needed media attention last week for his feisty televised debate with California Democratic Gov. GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, in red tie, drew a surge in attention last week for his debate with California Democratic Gov. On Saturday, DeSantis completed his tour of all 99 Iowa counties.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Sergio Flores, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, “ We’re, “ It’s, ” DeSantis, Haley, Trump, Chris Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy, DeSantis, Gavin Newsom, Chris Jankowski, Kristin Davison Organizations: Florida Gov, The Wall, Journal, Republican, Press, United Nations, Former New Jersey Gov, CBS, Republican National, California Democratic, GOP, Fox News Channel, Zuma Press Locations: Florida, Iowa, Journal NEWTON , Iowa, South Carolina, Alabama

☆ DeSantis says he will replace Obamacare with a ‘better plan,’ cautions House GOP on Biden impeachment inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Kit Maher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

At a stop in Sioux City, Iowa, on Saturday, DeSantis dismissed Trump’s renewed focus on repealing Obamacare. The resurrection of the health care battle has given Democrats fresh political ammo, and the Biden campaign quickly seized on Trump’s threats. The campaign also released an ad focused on health care and prescription drug costs, attempting to draw a sharp contrast with Trump. … We’re gonna have a comprehensive plan to lower costs, and yes, Obamacare hasn’t done it, so we’ll transcend Obamacare,” DeSantis told Fox Carolina. On Saturday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he believes he has the votes to launch a formal impeachment inquiry into Biden.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, “, Obamacare, ”, ” DeSantis, Donald Trump, DeSantis, Trump’s, “ Didn’t, Nancy Pelosi, Roy Cooper, Trump, We’re, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, they’ve, “ We’re, CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Alayna Treene, Kate Sullivan Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, Affordable, Republican, GOP, Trump, Republicans, Biden, North Carolina Democratic Gov, Press, Fox Locations: Sioux City , Iowa, Florida, Fox Carolina, Iowa

The U.S. government is making an intense effort to persuade Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations so they can once again pause hostilities and exchange more prisoners for hostages, a White House spokesman said on Sunday. Israel has since resumed its assault on Hamas, and Mr. Kirby urged it to avoid civilian casualties, while crediting its forces with making efforts to do so. “He’s so naïve; I mean I just lost all confidence in this guy,” Mr. Graham said. “I would go to Iran and say listen, you need to tell Hamas to let these hostages go,” he said. “We should have conditions on military aid in the same way that we do for every other country.”While the White House blamed Hamas for the breakdown in hostage talks, Ms. Jayapal faulted Israel.

Persons: Israel, “, John F, ”, Kirby, There’s, Biden, Biden’s, Lindsey Graham, Lloyd J, Austin III, Austin, ” Mr, Graham, Mr, Al Qaeda, Pramila Jayapal, Jayapal Organizations: Kirby, White House National Security Council, Press, Hamas, Republican, West Bank, CNN’s, Union, “ Locations: Gaza, Israel, South Carolina, CNN’s “ State, Iraq, Al, we’d, Iran, Washington, United States, Qatar, Persian, “ Israel

☆ A boomer couple left Texas for the retirement of their dreams: 'We were brainwashed that it was the only place to be — it's not'
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The couple was tired of paying high property taxes and wanted a new adventure in retirement. Sure, the state has no income tax, but when you are retired the property tax is killer. We wanted to live in a place with seasons and that was between our kids' homes in Connecticut and Texas. The county we live in has a property tax exemption for seniors on school taxes, so now we only pay $1,599 a year. Courtesy of Nancy CottonNancy: Living in Texas so long we were brainwashed that it was the only place to be.

Persons: Texans Nancy, Jim Cotton, —, Nancy, Jim, There's, Nancy Cotton Nancy, Nancy Cotton We're, It's, Austin, I've, Texas Organizations: Texans, Service, Asheville , North Carolina —, Security, Texas, iIt Locations: Georgia, Ellijay , Georgia, Texas, Connecticut, Nancy, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Asheville , North Carolina, Austin, Asheville, It's, Georgia Nancy, Ellijay, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Leander, , Georgia

☆ Sen. Graham says he has ‘lost all confidence’ in Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Avery Lotz | Jack Forrest | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham on Sunday called Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin “naive” for believing further civilian casualties in Gaza could produce even more insurgents and said he has “lost all confidence” in him. “He’s so naive, I mean I just lost all confidence in this guy,” Graham told CNN’s Dana Bash, adding later, “This is a radicalized population. And if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat,” Austin said. Graham, on “State of the Union,” disagreed: “Strategic defeat would be inflaming the Palestinians? “No Republican is telling Israel to change your military tactics.”

Persons: GOP Sen, Lindsey Graham, Defense Lloyd Austin “, “, ” Graham, CNN’s Dana Bash, Austin, ” Austin, Graham, ”, US Central Command “, Ashraf Al, Stanley McChrystal, Kamala Harris, Jordan, ” “, Harris Organizations: CNN, GOP, Defense, Reagan National Defense, West Bank, Union, South Carolina Republican, Army, US Central Command, Israel, Hamas, of Health, United Arab, Republican Locations: Gaza, Israel, “ State, Austin, saidSaturday, ”, Dubai, Egypt, United Arab Emirates

☆ Analysis: Nikki Haley has a plausible path to the Republican nomination
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Harry Enten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

No one behind in the national polls by as much as Haley at this point in the primary calendar has ever ended up winning the nomination. A late October Des Moines Register poll had Trump at 43% to Haley and DeSantis each at 16% in Iowa. They both went on to win Iowa. Haley, however, doesn’t need to win Iowa to secure the GOP nomination. Hart’s overperformance in Iowa was a big reason he went to win the New Hampshire primary in 1984.

Persons: CNN — We’ve, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Haley, She’s, Ron DeSantis, Trump, DeSantis, It’s, Republican George H.W, Republican George H.W . Bush, Dick Gephardt, Gary Hart, Walter Mondale, Hart’s, Republican Pat Buchanan, Hart, it’s, Chris Christie, Christie, Mondale, Jesse Jackson, John Glenn, George McGovern –, Trump’s Organizations: CNN, Republican, South, Trump, Florida Gov, Des Moines Register, Iowa, GOP, Hawkeye State, Granite State, New, University of New, Winthrop University Locations: South Carolina, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, That’s, Republican George H.W ., Hampshire, Granite, Granite State, University of New Hampshire, New Jersey, Haley’s

☆ No shortage of Christmas trees this year, but don’t expect any red-tag deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

As far as trees go, farms are promising there will be an adequate supply of trees this year. It typically takes eight to 10 years to grow a Christmas tree, depending on the variety and location, according to the National Christmas Tree Association, a trade group representing growers. “I haven’t heard of any community in America where people haven’t been able to get a Christmas tree and I don’t expect that will be the case this year,” said Tim O’Connor, executive director of the National Christmas Tree Association. The Real Christmas Tree Board, an industry trade group, in September surveyed 49 wholesale growers of Christmas trees who collectively account for two-thirds of the nation’s tree supply about their outlook for the holiday season. “The starting wholesale price is gonna be much more controlled this year than what we had to experience last year.

Persons: Fraser, haven’t, ”, Tim O’Connor, O’Conner, it’s, Marsha Gray, ” Gray, “, ” Lauren Segedin, “ We’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, Association, Tree Association, Board Locations: New York, America, Glenville , North Carolina, Fraser Fir

☆ Iowa caucuses: Do they still matter?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Zachary Wolf | Analysis Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

On the Democratic side, Barack Obama won the Iowa caucuses in 2008 and went on to win the White House. And Trump, although he’s the favorite in pre-caucus polling this year, lost the Iowa caucuses in 2016 to Cruz. Weren’t there some problems with the Iowa caucuses? This is the first time since 1972 that the Iowa caucuses will not be the first event on Democrats’ presidential nomination calendar. President Joe Biden, who placed fourth in the 2020 Iowa caucuses, pushed Democrats to change up the calendar.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, surrogates, They’re, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Grassley, Chuck Grassley, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy, Doug Burgum, Asa Hutchinson, Read, Pennsylvania Sen, Rick Santorum, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, Mike Pence, there’s, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, uncommitted, Republican Ronald Reagan, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, Reagan, Gerald Ford, Sen, Bob Dole, Mitt Romney, Santorum, Romney, Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden, George McGovern, McGovern, Richard Nixon Organizations: CNN, Iowa Republicans, Florida Gov, Republican, Former South Carolina Gov, Trump, GOP, New, New Jersey Gov, North Dakota Gov, Arkansas Gov, Evangelical, Republicans, Hawkeye State, White, Democratic, Republican Party, Iowa Democrats, Iowa Democratic Party, Iowa, Democratic Party, South, House Locations: CT, Iowa, Florida, ”, Iowa’s, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, George H.W ., Cruz, Weren’t, , New Hampshire, Rather, White, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Chicago

☆ The bathroom scene from 'Bridesmaids' happened to me on a first date. We still had a blast.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Evan Lambert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A first date in Charleston, SC was expectedly a reenactment of a scene from "Bridesmaids." I had explosive diarrhea so bad, I had to poop in the sink; I later realized I stained my shorts. AdvertisementThe humor of the "Bridesmaids" food poisoning scene, like many good comedic concepts, lies in its unexpectedness. Emitting effusive diarrhea directly into a bathroom sink? But minutes later, he provided our date with the twist ending it needed.

Persons: —, Annie, farting, I'd, he's Organizations: SC, Service Locations: Charleston, Charleston , South Carolina, New York

☆ McCarthy, Laboring to Adjust to Life After the Speakership, Eyes Exiting Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Annie Karni | More About Annie Karni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“His life has been building the Republican majority and attaining the third-highest office in the land. Many colleagues still consider him a skillful convener of people with institutional knowledge about the workings of a Republican majority he helped build. But his inexperienced successor, Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, has not sought him out for any advice on managing the fractious Republican conference. Mr. McCarthy has labored to acclimate. “After any stressful situation, it takes a while for the body to normalize,” Mr. McHenry said of the former speaker.

Persons: ”, Patrick T, McHenry, McCarthy’s, “, McCarthy, Mike Johnson of, Johnson, Mr Organizations: Republican, Capitol, Oxford Union, New York Times Locations: McHenry of North Carolina, Mike Johnson of Louisiana

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