Less than a day after Trump named Kash Patel as his choice for FBI director, a former federal law enforcement official asked me a question: "curious if I'm on that list?" His definition of the 'deep state' appears to include the organization he hopes to lead. “One of the most cunning and powerful arms of the Deep State is the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” he wrote. “I have received calls from lifers who are putting in their papers,” said the former FBI official, who asked not to be named, citing fears of retaliation. Ultimately, he will fire the Attorney General and the FBI Director or force them out if they don’t do what he wants.”

CNN —After a chaotic week in which House Speaker Mike Johnson found himself at odds, at different times, with President-elect Donald Trump, hardline conservatives and minority Democrats, he returned to a similar joke. However, Collins noted that Johnson — who won the gavel after conservatives’ ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy kicked off weeks of chaos in 2023 — retains Trump’s support. Finally, on Friday — with six hours to spare before the government funding deadline — Johnson and the House GOP punted. The House approved a three-month spending bill that included $110 billion for disaster relief and a one-year extension of the farm bill. Some House Republicans who opposed the year-end funding bill on Friday were noncommittal on whether they’d support him.

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. Plus, senior White House reporter Pete Nicholas files a dispatch from a conference of conservative activists in Phoenix. The vote was 366-34, capping a tumultuous week in the House that foreshadowed how the new Congress in January might deal with Donald Trump back in the White House. “I’ve talked to President Trump, in detail, and he knows exactly what we’re doing,” the speaker said. “We don’t need partisanship now; we need hyperpartisanship now,” Steve Bannon, a former Trump White House senior adviser, told a raucous audience gathered at the Phoenix Convention Center for AmericaFest.

Elon Musk has been a constant companion to President-elect Donald Trump as Trump meets with foreign leaders — an ever-present personality at Mar-a-Lago since November, even accompanying Trump to Paris on his first foreign trip since winning the election. Musk’s interactions with world leaders alongside Trump are raising questions about the tech leader’s potential influence on U.S. foreign policy over the next four years and the potential for conflicts of interest, Washington insiders say. Since 2014, Trump has traveled to China at least eight times where he had meetings with senior Chinese officials. Asked about Musk’s influence on foreign policy, a former U.S. intelligence official told NBC News: “I’m more concerned about conflicts of interest. Musk has previously expressed an interest in affecting the trajectory of foreign affairs, which could further affect his dealings with world leaders.

Both are staunch fossil fuel advocates, but each has also worked with clean energy. But Musk’s influence on Trump’s energy policy is less certain, as he has been tasked with a new commission cutting government spending and agency jobs. Trump’s energy policy will also be impacted by the fast-changing energy landscape. We would obviously like to see our permits uphold court challenges.”The battle lines on clean energy are less clearWhat’s less clear is what Trump’s picks will mean for clean energy. Nuclear has enjoyed bipartisan support, and it’s getting major boosts from big tech companies that have signed agreements to source much of their power from nuclear energy.

Another speaker, Donald Trump Jr., took aim at the 38 House Republicans who voted against a spending measure that aligned with his father’s priorities. Trump Jr. urged the crowd Friday to exert pressure on Congress to advance his father’s plans. Put on that pressure,” Trump Jr. said. Education through Pain.”Who will take over the MAGA movement after Trump leaves office is unclear. Trump Jr. then took the stage.

Like other countries, India has been targeted by Trump, who called New Delhi a “very big abuser” of the bilateral trading relationship during a campaign event in September. “Having Trump breathing down BRICS’ neck saying, ‘don’t go down that road,’ gives India more space to maneuver,” Pant added. Transactional waysYet that is not likely to totally absolve India from the occasional turbulence associated with a Trump administration. A universal tariff of 10% threated by Trump would impact India, Kugelman said, in part because India enjoys a trade surplus with the US. In a 2017 speech, he called on India to assist the US with more economic help to Afghanistan.

Even though Republicans will control the White House, the House and the Senate, they’ll again need Democratic votes to stop a shutdown in less than three months. In addition, Trump’s demand that Congress extend or abolish the debt ceiling to take it off his plate next year failed dramatically. On Friday, 170 House Republicans defied him and did just that. A day after Speaker Mike Johnson released an initial bipartisan deal, Trump and his billionaire confidant Elon Musk blew it up. Van Orden's fellow Wisconsinite, Sen. Johnson, was less bullish about smoothly plowing through the early part of the 2025 agenda.

WASHINGTON — The Democratic-led Senate confirmed the 235th federal judge nominated by President Joe Biden, marking a milestone for the outgoing occupant of the White House by giving him one more than former President Donald Trump secured. The latest confirmation Friday could be Biden's last, meaning he will leave office having secured one Supreme Court justice, 45 appeals court judges, 187 district court judges and two judges on the U.S. Court of International Trade. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer heralded the vote as “historic” as the gavel fell to some applause in the Senate chamber. “The majority has now confirmed more judges under President Biden than any majority has confirmed in decades. “These men and women have the power to uphold basic rights or to roll them back,” the White House said in a fact sheet.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a meagdonor and adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, is now seeking to influence Germany's election, posting an endorsement on X of the country's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. In a post Thursday night, Musk wrote, "Only the AfD can save Germany." In a post on X, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called Musk an "out of touch billionaire running the incoming Trump Administration" who "enthusiastically supports the neo-Nazi party in Germany." On Friday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a center-left Social Democrat, dismissed Musk's claim that only the far-right party can "save Germany." Many cheered Trump's election, which Musk helped finance through $277 million in contributions to the campaign and related Republican causes.

The court unanimously ruled that prison officials were liable for Eighth Amendment violations only if they acted with "deliberate indifference" to a prisoner's suffering. "And when this is true of prison officials, no constitutional liability may lie, however 'soul-chilling' the conditions." As long as prison officials assert that they didn't know about the risk, he said, a federal court will rarely find an Eighth Amendment violation. Prison officials weren't aware of the altercation, according to an incident report, until Hodges' then-fiancée called the prison, concerned about his safety. She disagreed with how her colleagues assessed the question of mindset, writing that a committee finding alone should not release prison officials from liability.

“The lines of communication have been reopened,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told reporters as he left a meeting with House Democrats, without committing support. "This is a defining moment for his career as speaker," said Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., a Johnson critic. Senate Democrats have called on Johnson to return to the bipartisan deal that Trump and Musk blew up. It’s time the House votes on our bipartisan CR [continuing resolution],” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Friday on the floor. “Put simply, we should not let an unelected billionaire rip away research for pediatric cancer so he can get a tax cut.”

McMahon’s book, though, is more than a historical reminder — it’s a civic sermon that may inspire Americans during this turbulent time for the country. It’s not just the mighty who are mighty.”McMahon’s book offers two lessons for how everyday Americans today might move forward with new purpose. I need to make soup for a sick relative.”Doing the next needed thing avoids the type of inaction that results from the belief that must rely on charismatic leaders to change America, McMahon says. They want to win.”‘They knew that hope was a choice’The victories of the small and mighty aren’t always immediately apparent. McMahon says Americans can do the same today — if they remember one final lesson from the small and mighty.

House lawmakers voted on Friday to avoid a government shutdown, passing a government funding bill with just hours to spare before the midnight deadline. House Democrats provided significant cover for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who lost 34 Republicans on the measure. While federal agencies have already begun shutdown planning, there is some wiggle room if funding lapses for only a few hours. Trump then urged Republicans to pass a pared-down funding bill and an extension of the debt ceiling. On Thursday night, 38 House Republicans and nearly every House Democrat voted against that plan, raising the stakes as a shutdown approached.

The magnitude of Friday night’s College Football Playoff opener between Notre Dame and Indiana became apparent immediately after the bracket was announced. It makes our list because of what happened next — not just the school’s third national championship (and first under Bob Knight). Two nights later, Denny Crum coached Louisville past UCLA for the Cardinals’ first national championship. Georgia’s drought endsThere were no local ties here, but the magnitude of a national championship game puts this on the list. The Bulldogs edged Michigan State in the semifinal and faced Duke for the national championship.

Courtesy Chiugo AkujuobiAkujuobi is one of millions of Americans who are struggling in today’s economy. The cost of living crisis in the US has eased somewhat, but low-income Americans are still struggling after years of high inflation and elevated interest rates. “Lower-income households are always going to be the ones that feel the brunt of high inflation and high interest rates,” said Elizabeth Renter, senior economist at NerdWallet. But their earnings have slowed sharply since then, trailing the wage growth of the richest Americans as of November. But prices could rise slightly less if Americans purchase goods that are produced domestically or from countries with lower tariffs.

CNN —A top Senate Democrat on Saturday accused conservative Supreme Court justices of violating federal disclosure laws in a lengthy report that caps a monthslong investigation by the Senate Judiciary Committee and comes weeks before Republicans take control of the chamber. Both Thomas and Alito have cited the “personal hospitality” exemption from annual reporting requirements, which they said relieved them of any obligation to report the trips. In response to the outcry over the Thomas trips, the Supreme Court adopted its first-ever code of conduct a year ago, but the document quickly faced criticism because it includes no enforcement mechanism. Durbin’s report also recounts a scandal this year involving two controversial flags – including an upside-down US flag – hoisted over properties that Alito owns. Republicans, including Trump, have defended Thomas and Alito and have accused Democrats of trying to delegitimize the court’s conservative majority by focusing on ethics.

Slop, rap beef, brain rot and, yes, “hawk tuah” — what a year it’s been on the internet. “Cultural savviness is more required for memes today than they’ve ever been.”For those who were not extremely online this year, NBC News rounded up the biggest memes and moments that shaped 2024. Brat summerFrom green walls to presidential campaigns, “Brat,” Charli XCX’s sixth studio album, was inescapable this year. Many buzzworthy moments gained traction online, turning some competitors into even bigger stars and energizing people watching at home. Their back-and-forth continued throughout the summer as the rappers churned out track after track.

Even as the Biden administration moves to pull back the rules, it pushed ahead with cancellation through other avenues on Friday. “This isn’t the way I wanted it to end,” said Melissa Byrne, an activist who has pushed for student debt cancellation. “Unfortunately, this is the most prudent action to take right now.”She blamed Republicans for putting the Biden administration in this position. The withdrawals are beginning as Washington braces for a potential government shutdown that could further complicate efforts by the Biden administration to tie up loose ends. Advocates for transgender athletes said it didn’t go far enough in protecting transgender students from school policies that could unfairly exclude them.

Among the measures being debated by Congress to avert a government shutdown is increasing the debt ceiling — or eliminating it entirely. A soft brake on government borrowingThe debt ceiling is a relatively new instrument in the U.S.'s economic toolkit. In 1939, the government officially decided to use the debt ceiling in order to manage its debt obligations on an aggregate basis. Since 1960, the debt ceiling has been raised 78 times — 49 times under Republican presidents, and 29 times under Democratic administrations. "It’s all politics.”Bipartisan supportSo what if the debt ceiling were to simply go away entirely?

CFPB estimates that hundreds of thousands of customers of JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo have lost more than $870 million since Zelle launched seven years ago. Those three banks co-own Zelle, along with four other big US banks: Capital One, PNC Bank, Truist and US Bank. “Defendants’ failures resulted in millions of complaints about Zelle fraud at (JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo) alone, including complaints of over $290 million in fraud losses by 210,000 Bank of America customers, over $360 million in fraud losses by 420,000 Chase customers, and over $220 million in fraud losses by 280,000 Wells Fargo customers,” the complaint alleges. Chance of the case surviving a change in administrationsThe CFPB suit was filed in one of the last remaining weeks of the Biden administration. What that will mean for the Zelle suit is unclear.

While the adoption of humanoid robots could pick up rapidly in factories, RBC analyst Tom Narayan sees the big upside coming from when — and if — humanoid robots can be part of a consumer's everyday life. Citigroup is even more bullish, predicting a $7 trillion humanoid robot market by 2050 with 1.19 billion humanoid robots in operation. Making a human friend Xiaomi is another Chinese company that's been tackling humanoid robots, Morgan Stanley said. While the adoption of humanoid robots could pick up rapidly in factories, RBC analyst Tom Narayan sees the big upside coming from when — and if — humanoid robots can be part of a consumer's everyday life. Citigroup is even more bullish, predicting a $7 trillion humanoid robot market by 2050 with 1.19 billion humanoid robots in operation.

OpenAI’s “12 Days of Shipmas,” which wrapped up on Friday, brought a sense of levity to end the year. Those in the U.S. can dial the number (1-800-242-8478) for 15 minutes free per month, OpenAI said, and WhatsApp users globally can message the chatbot at the same number. In May, OpenAI safety leader Jan Leike left OpenAI for Anthropic, and in August, OpenAI co-founder John Schulman announced he was leaving to join the rival startup. Earlier this month, OpenAI announced it had hired its first chief marketing officer, nabbing Kate Rouch from crypto company Coinbase. Then there’s the increasingly complicated relationship with Microsoft, OpenAI’s lead investor and key cloud provider.

The report alleged Republicans found evidence showing Cheney "tampered with at least one witness, Cassidy Hutchinson, by secretly communicating with Hutchinson without her attorney's knowledge." The select committee's 10 public hearings and final report featured numerous Republican witnesses, including many senior officials from the Trump White House, campaign and administration, Cheney noted in the statement. Hutchinson’s lawyer, William H. Jordan, said in a statement that the allegations that Hutchinson colluded with Cheney “are preposterous.”“Ms. Hutchinson, a close aide to Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, testified both privately and publicly to the committee about her knowledge of the lead-up Jan. 6 and what unfolded that day. While Republicans say there have been witnesses who have disputed Hutchinson’s account, it has also been corroborated by others.

The U.S. is set to remove the $10 million bounty it had placed on de facto Syrian leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the head of rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), which led the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad earlier this month. The high-level U.S. delegation’s visit to the Syrian capital was the first such trip since the fall of the regime. Deeds are the critical thing.”Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, at Umayyad Mosque, Damascus, on Dec. 8. Carstens said the information available thus far does not confirm whether Tice, an American journalist who was abducted in Syria 12 years ago, is still alive. “We met with the quite heroic White Helmets to affirm our continued support for their life-saving efforts and tireless work to transform Syria for the better of all Syrians,” Leaf told reporters.

“It’s like crying wolf over and over again,” said Bobbi Scopa, with Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, an advocacy organization. Some 11,200 federal firefighters received a salary boost in 2021 of either $20,000 or 50% of their base pay under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Federal firefighters undergo rigorous training that is a step above what private, state and local crews teach. “Yet, federal wildland firefighters are frequently subjected to inconsistent compensation despite their essential role in protecting lives, communities, and wildlife. “It’s just unacceptable.”Frustrated by ongoing problems, federal firefighters have continued to leave the U.S. Forest Service for higher wages at state and local departments.

CNN —The House voted on Friday to pass a stopgap funding bill in a bid to avert a shutdown just hours before a midnight deadline. The Senate must take up the bill next before it can be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. Democrats supported the stopgap bill that came to a vote on Friday after Republicans dropped the debt limit provisions that Trump had pushed for. The House vote was 366 to 34. The bill will fund the government through March 14, 2025, and includes roughly $100 billion in disaster relief, as well as a farm bill extension.

CNN —Notre Dame secured a decisive victory over Indiana, defeating the Hoosiers 27-17 in the opening game of the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff on Friday night in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love jumps over Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Amare Ferrell. I give Notre Dame credit, they’re taking it to us and they get the ball first in the second half. According to the ESPN broadcast, Indiana trailed Notre Dame for a total of 22 minutes and 27 seconds in the first half. A lot of firsts.”With the victory, Notre Dame notch their first win in the College Football Playoff in their third appearance after losing in the semifinals in 2018 and 2020.

President-elect Donald Trump has called on Congress to raise or eliminate the debt ceiling. Going over the debt ceiling could lead to a default and deep recession. The debt ceiling is the unexpected debate in Washington this week after President-elect Donald Trump threw the annual holiday-season government funding talks into disarray. "Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday. A debt ceiling breach has become a political tool — one that Trump is trying to wield for the last timeThe debt ceiling limits the amount of money the federal government is allowed to borrow to pay for its programs and operations.

New York CNN —Elon Musk is wading into more than just American politics, throwing his support behind a far-right German political party. “Only the AfD can save Germany,” Musk wrote Friday while re-posting a video from far-right political activist Naomi Seibt. The AfD, which has recently seen its popularity swell, has touted populist and anti-immigrant “Germany first” positions. It’s not the first time Musk has waded into German politics. Musk has increasingly thrown his support behind far-right causes in Europe.

WASHINGTON — Just days before the height of the holiday season, a government shutdown could throw hundreds of thousands of federal workers into the lurch by putting future paychecks in jeopardy. Federal employees’ paychecks for their work from earlier in December would not be delayed, according to guidance from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Federal employees who were furloughed or required to work will be paid retroactively, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, federal contractors often do not receive back pay. Contreras said his union represents around 2,400 federally contracted workers, including security officers, cleaners and food service workers.

Business Insider's creative team covered an array of projects this year. We brought our stories to life by incorporating animations, crafting bespoke multimedia experiences for our biggest stories, producing and commissioning hundreds of illustrations, and working with photographers around the globe. Our visuals captured a wide range of topics, from looking into illegal lockouts in major US cities to Ozempic Scams. We hired nearly 250 talented freelancers who helped bring our most compelling stories to life, producing over 1,500 pieces of custom art that enhanced our storytelling. Here are some of our favorite visual creations from 2024.

In order to pass the full House before the midnight shutdown deadline, however, the bill, released late Friday afternoon, will require significant Democratic support. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he was committed to avoiding a shutdown that could jeopardize paychecks for hundreds of thousands of federal employees a few days before Christmas. "We will not have a government shutdown," Johnson told reporters in the Capitol Friday afternoon. It was not clear how Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., would react to the standalone bill. "This is a bill that may find faith among enough Democrats to help the speaker of the House get the bill passed," said Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., a longtime party leader, on MSNBC's "Deadline White House."

Restrictions on gender-affirming care proposed by Republicans in Congress and President-elect Donald Trump could be devastating for transgender youths, doctors say, especially for teens with eating disorders. Taking the hormones estrogen or testosterone, which many trans teens eventually receive, restores most of that bone loss. Additional restrictions could lead more kids to develop eating disorders and make it harder for people with eating disorders to recover, Menzel said. Tiffany Justice, a co-founder of the influential conservative group Moms for Liberty, dismisses gender-affirming care for minors as “child abuse” and “snake oil,” and she said her organization is working to ban gender-affirming care for minors in every state. Research shows such state bans on gender-affirming care heighten the stress and anxiety with which many trans people already live.

In this Dickensian episode of America in Decline, Ebenezer Scrooge isn’t just some rich guy — he’s the richest guy on the planet. And this holiday season, he’s going after everyone. (Unless, of course, you’re part of a far-right German party with ties to neo-Nazis — those guys he’s cool with.) Oh well, just make some coffee at home on the new French press you just ordered from Amazon… aw, crap. Essential workers would eventually receive back pay, whenever the government gets back online, while nonessentials have to go without pay.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants consume only breast milk — no formula — until they are about 6 months old. But at that age, just 56% of US babies consume any breast milk, according the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But for some women or birthing parents, exclusive breastfeeding or chestfeeding is simply not possible because of inadequate supply. “It is personalized.” Studies suggest that breastfed babies have lower risks of illness and chronic health problems, and that breastfeeding parents have lower risks of maternal diabetes and hypertension. “We have a long way to go.”The Lactation Network is privately held and doesn’t have external investment, Neff said.

We've compiled everything you need to know about where to watch Indiana vs. Notre Dame, including live streaming options for those without cable. The Hoosiers and Fighting Irish haven't played each other since 1991, a 49-27 win for Notre Dame. The Indiana vs. Notre Dame game will air on ABC and ESPN in the United States. Where to watch Indiana vs. Notre Dame in the USThose without access to ABC or ESPN through cable or antenna can live stream the game through various streaming services. Check price at ExpressVPNHow to watch Indiana vs. Notre Dame with a VPNSign up for a VPN if you don't have one.

CNN —The next two editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup will air in the United States exclusively on Netflix in 2027 and 2031, according to a joint statement Friday from FIFA and Netflix. “This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the global women’s game,” Infantino continued. “FIFA and Netflix partnering together makes this a truly historic day for broadcasting and for women’s football.”Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. FIFA and Netflix say the upcoming women’s World Cups “will be the first competition to be acquired in full by Netflix, which further reinforces the tournament’s status as the single biggest women’s sporting event on the planet.”Spain celebrates winning the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia. Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesMore than two million people watched on FOX and Telemundo as Spain defeated England to win the 2023 Women’s World Cup, according to the Associated Press.

Elon Musk has had a big year with Tesla and SpaceX soaring in value, supercharging his net worth. Scroll down for seven charts showing how Musk's 2024 played out. Related Video How Elon Musk makes and spends his billionsThe situation seems worse at X, formerly Twitter, after Musk's $44 billion takeover and reshaping of the platform sparked an advertiser exodus. Take a look at Musk's 2024 in charts (all data is accurate as of Friday, December 20):1. Building brainpowerNeuralink, Musk's neurotechnology company, was valued at $8 billion this summer, up from about $2 billion three years earlier.

CNN —As Christmas approaches and an expected record number of people across the country set off on their journeys, they may encounter travel trouble as winter storms threaten delays. More than 119 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles from their homes between Saturday and New Year’s Day, AAA projects, which would make it the busiest year-end holiday travel season on record. With that headache staved off, all eyes are on Mother Nature as she prepares to deliver a dose of winter weather that could impact travel in parts of the country. The storm will impact major metropolitan areas in the Northeast through Saturday, the National Weather Service says. Chicago O’Hare International Airport was put under ground stop for 45 minutes early Friday morning because of the dangerous weather conditions.

Novo Nordisk — The stock slid 17% on the heels of the Danish pharmaceutical giant's experimental CagriSema weight loss drug posting weaker-than-expected late-stage trial results . Mission Produce — The avocado producer surged 20% after its fiscal fourth-quarter results topped Wall Street's estimates. U.S. Steel — The steel producer lost 3% after issuing fourth-quarter guidance that was weaker than expected. Occidental Petroleum , Sirius XM — Shares of the Houston-based energy producer jumped nearly 5%, while radio station operator Sirius XM popped 10%. Separately, fiscal second-quarter adjusted earnings of $4.05 per share topped LSEG consensus estimates of $3.90 a share.

Only 38 minutes after a Madison, Wisconsin, teacher called 911 to report Monday’s school shooting, the lies began to spread. The first one, in a post on X, said simply: “Taking bets on another trans shooter.” The post didn’t pick up much traction. Without the context, dozens of X accounts used the Townhall video to speculate that the shooter was transgender. His post received only about 47,000 views, compared to the millions of views the false claim got on the platform. One X account said “the trans thing is obvious” from comments on an X account that appeared to belong to her.

In a stroke of deluxe good fortune, Dr. Ruth Westheimer might have stopped by to be the enlightenment. Bettmann/Getty ImagesWhat Donahue knew was that we — women especially — were eager, desperate, to be understood, to learn and learn and learn. Ruth Westheimer arrived to us from Germany, where she started as Karola Ruth Siegel and strapped in as her life corkscrewed, as it mocked fiction. My favorite Dr. Ruth word was “pleasure.” From a German mouth, the word conveys what it lacks with an American tongue: sensual unfurling. I miss the way Dr. Ruth talked about sex.

In a stroke of deluxe good fortune, Dr. Ruth Westheimer might have stopped by to be the enlightenment. Bettmann/Getty ImagesWhat Donahue knew was that we — women especially — were eager, desperate, to be understood, to learn and learn and learn. Ruth Westheimer arrived to us from Germany, where she started as Karola Ruth Siegel and strapped in as her life corkscrewed, as it mocked fiction. My favorite Dr. Ruth word was “pleasure.” From a German mouth, the word conveys what it lacks with an American tongue: sensual unfurling. I miss the way Dr. Ruth talked about sex.

Ohio State would be a rematch, as Oregon beat the Buckeyes 32-31 in a thriller in Eugene in October. Every person who picked the Buckeyes to beat Oregon also picked them to win the national title. The teams that present the biggest threats to Oregon — Ohio State, Texas and Georgia — looked vulnerable the last time they took the field. And the Ducks aren't finishedOhio State: Ohio State put together a horrific game plan against Michigan and it cost the Buckeyes dearly. — Scott DochtermanGO DEEPER Will Howard realizes his final chapter at Ohio State has yet to be writtenTexas: The Longhorns have the best and deepest roster.

7 Notre Dame cruised past No. But it was the effort of Notre Dame’s defense to stop Indiana’s usually high-powered offense that set this one apart. Notre Dame’s defensive line had a lot to do with that, as the return of Howard Cross from an ankle sprain overwhelmed Indiana’s offensive line. But in the final home game of the season, Notre Dame put another performance on tape to suggest it has a national championship-level defense. The question is how far Marcus Freeman has taken a Notre Dame program that has wilted in the postseason before.

Jeff and Mellissa Rupnow married and divorced twice, during which their daughter Natalie Rupnow would at times travel between her parents’ homes every few days and attend therapy. They married in 2011 and divorced for the first time in 2014, according to court documents. Mellissa and Jeff Rupnow again agreed to share custody of Natalie, but this time she would spend “equal time with both parents,” the court documents show. The FBI detained Alexander Paffendorf, 20, in California earlier this week and ordered him to temporarily surrender his firearms after he allegedly communicated with Natalie Rupnow. Natalie’s mother agreed to connect with her therapist and “participate in therapy to the extent recommended by the therapist,” according to the court documents.

This weekend, the Bills could become the first team ever in NFL history to score 30 or more points in nine consecutive games in the same season. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (18) catches a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 17. Jeffrey T. Barnes/APIndeed, the quality of the opponents that the Bills have defeated means they’ve already made history. The Bills have allowed just five sacks in the eight consecutive games they’ve scored 30 or more points. That’s second lowest in the league and first for any team that has ever scored 30+ points in eight straight games.

CNN —It’s hard to believe that it’s been over eight years since viewers were first introduced to the mysterious and intriguingly retro show “Stranger Things,” and even harder to believe that it’s soon all coming to an end. Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers on “Stranger Things” and was the first to experience the nefarious “Upside Down” in Hawkins, Indiana back in Season 1, wrote a tribute on Instagram. Sharing a photo of himself with his castmates as youngsters from the first season, Wolfhard wrote that he’s “still in shock” about his work on the final season coming to an end. A bunch of goofy young people making something they think is cool but really have no clue what’s to come,” Wolfhard wrote. See you all next year.”Schnapp ended his tribute with a heartfelt note of gratitude, writing, “‘Stranger Things’ was more than a job; it was a lifelong dream.

The Herculaneum scrolls, as they are known, still remain unopened, but thanks to the powerful tool that is artificial intelligence, their contents now lie within reach. Artificial intelligence encompasses a range of computational techniques: using data sets to train and improve machine learning algorithms and enabling them to spot patterns and inform predictions. When visualized with artificial intelligence, previously unseen coda patterns emerged in what the researchers described as akin to phonetics in human communication. Jambajantsan wasn’t involved in the Nazca research but uses an AI model to identify burial mounds in Mongolia based on satellite imagery. AlphaFold is only the most high-profile of a number of AI tools being deployed in biomedical fields.

They were there for the Great American Family Christmas Festival, an event put on by the cable TV network of the same name. Great American FamilyBure's reign as the queen of Christmas started more than a decade after the end of "Full House" with the 2008 Hallmark Christmas movie "Moonlight and Mistletoe." Goldhar's company is based in Canada, where many Christmas movies are filmed, and many working Canadian actors make them their day-to-day livelihoods. Christmas movie sets are a 'well-oiled machine,' and the mood is usually lightChad Michael Murray stripped down for the Netflix Christmas movie "The Merry Gentlemen." Christmas movies have a cheesy reputation, but it probably won't damage yoursSarah Ramos with Marilu Henner in "A Kismet Christmas."

A majority of sexual assaults, an estimated 63%, are never reported to the police, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Rape victims are also significantly more likely to later have drug- and alcohol-related problems and experience mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Rape victims are 13 times more likely than non-crime victims to attempt suicide, according to a study by the National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center. The College of William & Mary later changed its policy to require school officials to suspend students found guilty of sexual assault. Editor’s note: Anyone affected by sexual violence can reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat.

Florence, Italy CNN —It was built as a secret passageway for the elite of Florence to pass undetected, far from the regular citizens. Now, for the first time in history, the Corridoio Vasariano, or Vasari Corridor, has opened to the general public. The main stretch of the corridor, running from the Uffizi to the Boboli Gardens outside Palazzo Pitti, opened to the public on Friday. The corridor connects Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, via the Uffizi Galleries and the Ponte Vecchio. Hitler later spared the Ponte Vecchio while he destroyed all the other Florence bridges during World War II.

U.S. public companies announced 327 chief executive changes this year through November, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Turnover included CEOs at U.S. companies that have long dominated their industries — like Boeing, Nike and Starbucks. CEO changes slowed during the pandemic, when companies were suddenly faced with lockdowns, remote work, supply chain difficulties and shortages, if not outright survival. BoeingThe aerospace giant announced former CEO Dave Calhoun’s departure in March, part of a broad executive shake-up. WW InternationalThe weight loss company formerly known as Weight Watchers announced in September that CEO Sima Sistani would step down immediately.

Here’s what we know — and don’t know — about a first-of-its-kind pre-inauguration shutdown. The new CongressUnder the 20th amendment to the Constitution, the new Congress convenes at noon on Jan. 3. A shutdown would not affect that process in its own right because neither lawmakers nor “essential” aides are required to stop working during a shutdown. The administration, which implements shutdown protocols for federal agencies, has no power over congressional employees. "A shutdown this close to inauguration will be incredibly disruptive to the new administration," this person said.

CNN —The United States has removed the long-standing $10 million bounty on the de-facto leader of Syria following a high-level US delegation meeting with the former jihadist Friday. Leaf said al-Sharaa “came across as pragmatic” and described their meeting in Damascus as “quite good, very productive, detailed.” Another source familiar with the meeting said it lasted just under two hours. Leaf, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens and NEA Senior Adviser Daniel Rubinstein were the first US officials to travel to Syria following the collapse of the Syrian government less than two weeks ago. The US had been in direct contact with HTS on these matters and had received a commitment to help find Tice, an American journalist detained in Syria more than a decade ago. The US also hopes to find more information about the fate of other Americans who disappeared, like Majd Kamalmaz.

Editor’s note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Switzerland aims highA spectacular new cable car has opened in Switzerland’s Bernese Alps. It connects the village of Stechelberg with the car-free village of Mürren, some 1,650 meters (5,413 feet) above sea level. The world’s steepest funicular railway opened in the alpine village of Stoos in 2017, rising 743 meters (2,438 feet) along gradients as steep as 110%. CNN Travel asked flight attendants to share their secrets for getting from A to B through the season.

As the holidays approach, the ultrawealthy will decamp to some of the world's most expensive destinations. Each December, the richest among us depart for expensive destinations to enjoy time with their families — and often other billionaires. AdvertisementThe less expensive hotels aren't exactly cheap — which is part of the appeal. It's impossible to be there unless you are really wealthy," Chesterfield said. Advertisement"The holidays in the mountains are more of an escape than any other holidays, even escapes to their own remote private islands and things," Chesterfield said.

Elon Musk said he plans to fund "moderate candidates" to challenge Democrats in safe seats. Elon Musk spent at least $277 million supporting President-elect Donald Trump and other Republican candidates in competitive races in 2024. AdvertisementNow, he says he plans to direct some of his largesse toward unseating Democrats in safer seats. It's not clear whether Musk meant that he would fund a Democratic primary challenger or a general election candidate to run against safe-seat Democrats like Neal. In 2024, Musk's super PAC spent more than $19 million in House races, backing Republican incumbents and candidates in competitive races across the country.

New York CNN —Party City is closing down all of its stores, ending nearly 40 years in business, CNN has learned. CEO Barry Litwin told corporate employees Friday in a meeting viewed by CNN that Party City is “winding down” operations immediately and that today will be their last day of employment. Party City’s “very best efforts have not been enough to overcome” its financial challenges, he added, resulting in the company’s collapse. Bankruptcy and collapseThe New Jersey-based company announced Litwin as its new CEO just four months ago. Party City is the largest party supply store in the United States.

CNN —Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk stared at each other for over 11 minutes as the pair faced off ahead of their rematch on Saturday. In May, Ukrainian fighter Usyk handed Fury the first loss of his career after winning a tight split decision to become the undisputed heavyweight boxing world champion. In the final press conference on Thursday, Fury remained tight-lipped on how he would approach the rematch. Usyk didn’t have much to offer in response, telling Fury: “Don’t be afraid, I will not leave you alone. The ring walks for the main event between Usyk and Fury are predicted to start around 5:55 p.m.

CNN —Messaging service WhatsApp claimed a major legal victory over Israeli spyware firm NSO Group on Friday after a federal judge ruled that NSO was liable under federal and California law for a 2019 hacking spree that breached over 1,000 WhatsApp users. The case will now go to trial on the question of what damages NSO Group owes Meta-owned WhatsApp, Judge Phyllis Hamilton of the Northern District of California wrote in her ruling on Friday granting WhatsApp’s motion for partial summary judgment. NSO Group did not immediately return a request for comment on Friday evening. The FBI has not used Pegasus in investigations, according to the bureau. The ruling could have a “chilling effect” on efforts by other spyware companies to enter the US market, he added.

Volkswagen has been in talks with union representatives since September over measures it says are necessary for it to compete with cheaper Chinese rivals, lackluster demand in Europe and slower-than-expected adoption of electric vehicles. “After long and intensive negotiations, the agreement is an important signal for the future viability of the Volkswagen brand,” group CEO Oliver Blume said in a statement. VW said the deal would allow savings of 15 billion euros annually in the medium term and saw no significant impact on its 2024 guidance. “No site will be closed, no one will be laid off for operational reasons and our company wage agreement will be secured for the long term,” said works council chief Daniela Cavallo. “With this triple deal, we have achieved a rock-solid solution under the most difficult economic conditions,” she said.

Many older Americans regret some career choices that affected retirement plans and job prospects. This is part of an ongoing series about older Americans' regrets. AdvertisementSince September, BI has heard from older Americans about their career regrets in two surveys it conducted. Some older Americans BI spoke with agreed that their degrees haven't helped further their careers. Chuck SmithMany older Americans, like Chuck Smith, 60, couldn't control how long they stayed in roles because of layoffs but wished they had settled somewhere more stable.

The plans aimed to cancel some student debt for over 38 million borrowers. AdvertisementThe Education Department posted notices to withdraw its plans to cancel student debt for over 38 million borrowers. The withdrawal notices were for two of the department's unfinished debt relief rules. The Education Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider on the debt relief withdrawals. "We are deeply grateful to President Biden for the work he did to fight for the 40 million borrowers trapped in student debt," Yu said.

Startups like Equatic and Climeworks develop ways to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon removal technologies, like those developed by Equatic, can transform businesses by helping them reduce their legacy carbon footprint. AdvertisementFor startups that want to break into the industry and market their product's integrity, they must make carbon removal measurable. The carbon credits market is highly unregulated, dotted with stories of credits sold but followed by incomplete actions and scams. AdvertisementThe biggest hurdle for carbon removal startups like Equatic and Climeworks is cost.

CNN —This Christmas Eve, one lucky lottery ticket could celebrate with a Mega Millions jackpot nearing $1 billion – the largest prize ever offered in the month of December. With no one winning the jackpot Friday, the grand prize for Tuesday’s drawing ballooned from $862 million to $944 million, according to the lottery. Those tickets were sold in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania, according to the Mega Millions website. But the jackpot has only been won once on Christmas Eve, according to Mega Millions. Overall, the chances of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are approximately 1 in 302.5 million.

Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. Jim Cramer noted Club name Broadcom as "a terrific place to be" after Jefferies named the stock a 2025 top pick. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB.

A fifth of Americans reside in rural areas, and on average they live three years less than their urban counterparts, largely due to heart disease and strokes. Hypertension, diabetes and obesity have all been rising among younger adults over the past decade, with rural areas disproportionately affected, said Longenecker. John Trembly Sr.John used to clean rental houses during the day and businesses at night, his father said. Another supplies ultrasound machines to community health workers so that they can check patients for heart disease. An uncertain futureBetter health care delivery will certainly help address rural cardiovascular disparities but won’t necessarily address the underlying socioeconomic drivers.

Christophe Rull is a world-renowned chocolate master and executive pastry chef at the Hotel Bel-Air. Business Insider asked him to share his favorite store-bought chocolate brands. Christophe Rull is a world-renowned chocolate master, a cast member of Netflix's "Bake Squad," and the executive pastry chef at Los Angeles' iconic Hotel Bel-Air. Rull is developing a chocolate program at the hotel's new bakery, The Patisserie, but was happy to share the two store-bought chocolate brands he loves — just in time for holiday shopping — with Business Insider. Rull told BI that one of his favorite store-bought chocolate brands is Läderach, which is currently run by 2018 World Chocolate Masters champion Elias Läderach, who made history as the first Swiss person to win the title.

But the bill, the Social Security Fairness Act, may undergo changes if some Senators' efforts to add amendments are successful. Per the original proposal, the Social Security Fairness Act calls for eliminating Social Security provisions known as the Windfall Elimination Provision, or WEP, and Government Pension Offset, or GPO, that have been in place for decades. The WEP reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who receive pension or disability benefits from employment where they did not pay Social Security payroll taxes. The Social Security Fairness Act was passed by the House with a 327 majority in November. Social Security advocacy groups have pushed for larger comprehensive Social Security reform that would use tax increases to pay for making benefits more generous.

WASHINGTON — A lengthy investigation by Senate Democrats into alleged ethical lapses by Supreme Court justices has ended with the release of a report Saturday criticizing the judiciary and calling for legislative reforms that incoming Republican leadership opposes. “The Supreme Court has mired itself in an ethical crisis of its own making by failing to address justices’ ethical misconduct for decades,” the report says. “An enforceable code of conduct for the Supreme Court is essential in light of the court’s failure to police itself,” the report says. In other findings, the report found justices are lax in identifying conflicts of interest that should trigger recusal. “This entire investigation was never about ‘ethics’ but about trying to undermine the Supreme Court because the Court is no longer acting like a super legislature handing down opinions implementing the Democrats’ political agenda,” he wrote.

Several technology stocks are among those that are still attractively valued in the face of mounting concerns of an AI-fueled tech bubble. Docusign shares are up 27% over the past month after the company issued strong results and upbeat guidance for the fourth quarter. Shares have gained roughly 70% this year and could have another 7% left in them, according to the consensus price target as compiled by FactSet. Bank of America is even more bullish, initiating coverage of Kyndryl late last month with a buy rating and $40 price target, implying 13% potential upside. But analysts polled by FactSet forecast significant upside for both stocks.

The traffic cameras, which use AI to detect and flag certain driving behaviors, might make it easier to prosecute more people than ever before for driving infractions. Acusensus, an Australian company, has worked with governments in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States to roll out some of the AI traffic cameras. Its camera system, called “Heads Up,” uses AI to catch drivers who are texting while driving or aren’t wearing seat belts. Speed and red light cameras are already familiar to U.S. drivers, capturing license plates and sending tickets by mail. The Queensland government reported that since it set up the cameras, road deaths have gone down by 7.1%.

Elon Musk waded into Germany’s election on Friday, expressing his support for a far-right anti-immigrant and anti-Islam party that's being monitored by the country’s domestic intelligence agency. “Only the AfD can save Germany,” the tech billionaire wrote on X, referring to the Alternative for Germany party. In September, it became the first far-right party to win the most votes in a state election since the Nazi era, when it triumphed in Thuringia. Party leader Björne Höcke has twice been found guilty by a German court of purposefully employing Nazi rhetoric. Musk also voiced support for the AfD last year when he criticized the German government over its handling of illegal migration.

Rome CNN —Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini was found not guilty in a criminal kidnapping case dating back to August 2019, when he barred a migrant vessel from docking in the country, leaving it stranded offshore. The ruling judge said Friday that “the facts do not exist.”The case dates back to when Salvini was interior minister in 2019. At the time, Salvini cited national security concerns, amid government efforts to crack down on irregular immigration by sea into Italy. The case drew international attention after American actor Richard Gere, who was vacationing in Italy at the time, took food and water out to the stranded migrant vessel. Defending Italy’s borders was my duty, and I am proud of what I accomplished.

More millennials are 401(k) millionairesSaving $1 million for retirement used to be considered the gold standard, although these days financial advisors may recommend putting away even more. The number of millennials with seven-figure balances has jumped 400% from one year ago, according to the data from Fidelity Investments prepared for CNBC. The financial services firm handles more than 49 million retirement accounts altogether. How to become a 401(k) millionaireCertified financial planner Chelsea Ransom-Cooper, chief financial planning officer of Zenith Wealth Partners in New Jersey, works with mostly millennial clients. In 2023, only 14% of employees deferred the maximum annual amount into 401(k) plans, according to Vanguard's 2024 How America Saves report.

Elon Musk has sparked backlash in Germany after calling for the chancellor to resign and backing the AfD. Elon Musk has stirred controversy in Germany after calling Chancellor Olaf Scholz an "incompetent fool" and backing the country's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. "Only the AfD can save Germany," Musk, who is the richest person in the world, wrote alongside the post. REUTERS/ Fabian BimmerThe AfD party was established in 2013 as an anti-euro party, but it has since focused more on immigration and has been seen as increasingly far-right. AdvertisementEarlier this week, Farage boasted that Musk was "right behind" him and hinted that the tech mogul might financially back his party.

The singer and daytime-talk show host released a fireside video to accompany her 2021 holiday album, “When Christmas Comes Around” that she dubbed, “When Christmas Comes Around…Again.”The music video kicks off with Clarkson’s cover of The Ronettes hit single “Sleigh Bells,” but it’s not just her rendition that grabs attention. A fourth stocking reads simply, “Nope.”Kelly Clarkson - When Christmas Comes Around... Again (Official Album Visualizer)Clarskon had a heavily publicized and contentious divorce from her former husband and manager, Brandon Blackstock. Clarkson said during a podcast in 2023 that while she’s not necessarily looking to remarry, she does hope to find love again. I would love to fall in love. I would love to find someone and fall in love and do that thing, but I have children and that’s why I say that.”

CNN —While shoppers rush to find the perfect holiday gift, the real treasure might just be hidden in one lucky lottery ticket. That’s because tonight’s Mega Millions drawing could yield a jackpot nearing $1 billion – the largest prize ever offered in the month of December. The Mega Millions jackpot surged to $862 million on Friday, Joshua Johnston, the lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, told CNN, jumping up $37 million from a jackpot initially projected to be $825 million. SeptemberA Houston-area resident claimed September’s $800 million Mega Millions jackpot prize a month after purchasing the winning ticket at a gas station convenience store in Sugar Land. No one has ever won a jackpot on Christmas Day, according to the Mega Millions organization.

The stock market bounce kicked into high gear after Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee was interviewed on CNBC. The stock market has a half-day on Tuesday, and it's closed Wednesday on Christmas Day . As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB.

CNN —The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the first prescription medicine for obstructive sleep apnea: the weight-loss drug Zepbound. “This is a major step forward for patients with obstructive sleep apnea,” Dr. Sally Seymour, director of the FDA’s Division of Pulmonology, Allergy, and Critical Care, said in the FDA announcement. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, affects as many as 30 million people in the USand is closely associated with obesity, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which notes that weight loss can reduce its severity. It’s characterized by breathing disruptions during sleep caused by blocked airflow and increases the risk of heart and brain problems. Patients on the drug also saw reductions in blood pressure and inflammation, “important risk factors for cardiovascular complications of obstructive sleep apnea with obesity,” researchers wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The smart ring market is exploding, with options available at Costco and Walmart. But 2025 may just be the year that smart rings become the "it" tracker for the masses. Every smart ring has a different competitive claimSamsung's ring has a charging case that looks like something you'd pack an engagement ring inside. A smart ring is also "considered a little premium," Jeffrey Kim, Samsung America's senior product lead for the Galaxy smart ring, told BI. Smart ring vs smartwatchSmart ring prosSmall, inconspicuous, and unobtrusiveGreat for sleep trackingLong-lasting battery (~1 week)Smart ring cons

Here's everything I spent during my 18 months in South America and Asia, broken down by category. Flights within countries typically cost between $50 to $100, and twice that to fly across very large countries like China or Brazil. Meals at no-frills spots or night markets where many locals eat typically cost me $2.50 to $6. Entry fees typically cost $1 to $5. Those typically cost about $30 to $40.

Party City's CEO told employees the specialty retailer is "winding down" operations, CNN reports. Party City's balloon is out of air. AdvertisementCEO Barry Litwin, who took the job in August, told Party City's corporate employees on Friday that operations were "winding down" immediately, CNN reported. Litwin told employees the company had done what it could to avoid shutting down but that, "unfortunately, it's necessary to commence a wind-down process immediately," CNN reported. AdvertisementIt was impacted severely by the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdowns and social distancing ended many celebratory gatherings, and other mass retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target stepped up their party supply offerings.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is suing America's three largest banks, accusing the institutions of failing to protect customers from fraud on Zelle, the payment platform they co-own. “The nation’s largest banks felt threatened by competing payment apps, so they rushed to put out Zelle,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra in a statement. “The CFPB’s attacks on Zelle are legally and factually flawed, and the timing of this lawsuit appears to be driven by political factors unrelated to Zelle," Jane Khodos, Zelle spokesperson, said in an emailed statement. "Zelle leads the fight against scams and fraud and has industry-leading reimbursement policies that go above and beyond the law." "The CFPB is now overreaching its authority by making banks accountable for criminals, even including romance scammers," the bank said.

Starbucks Workers United announced baristas will strike starting Friday in three key markets — Seattle, Los Angeles and Chicago. The union said the move is in response to the coffee chain's “failure to bring viable economic proposals to the bargaining table” and “to resolve hundreds of outstanding unfair labor practice charges.”The union, which started organizing in 2021, represents 525 union stores and over 10,500 union workers, according to its website. “The company just announced I’m only getting a 2.5% raise next year, $0.40 an hour, which is hardly anything. Starbucks needs to invest in the baristas who make Starbucks run,” she added. It comes as the Teamsters union announced Thursday strikes at several Amazon delivery facilities, amid the peak holiday delivery rush.

CNN —Researchers on an expedition in Peru have discovered 27 animal species new to science – among them a “blob-headed fish” and a type of semi-aquatic mouse. But they were not expecting to unearth so many species new to science: four mammals, eight fish, three amphibians and 10 butterfly species. Among the most surprising new species was an amphibious mouse with webbed toes – to adapt for life in the water. Also described for the first time was the “blob-headed” fish, which gets its name from its enlarged, blob-like head. “The blob-headed fish has an incredibly bizarre head that looks almost like a giant swollen nose,” Larsen told CNN.

CNN —Billy Bob Thornton doesn’t mind playing a bad guy, but there are some lines he will draw. During an appearance on The Playlist’s “Bingeworthy” podcast, the acclaimed actor talked about turning down roles as a villain in two notable films. “With the Green Goblin, I didn’t feel like getting up at 4 a.m. for five or six hours of makeup… And with ‘Mission: Impossible III,’ I didn’t want to be the guy trying to kill Tom Cruise. If you’re the bad guy in a big movie like that, audiences remember it forever. I prefer to keep things looser and less predictable.”There is plenty of opportunity to see him in bad guy roles in projects including “Armageddon” and “Bad Santa.”Thornton is currently starring as an oil company fixer in Texas in Taylor Sheridan’s series titled “Landman.”

‘Tis the season for giving and it’s come just in time for a 20-year-old cancer survivor in Oregon whose prosthetic leg was stolen out of his car earlier this month. They are offering up to $2,500 cash reward through the Crime Stoppers of Oregon program "for information that leads to the recovery of a stolen prosthetic limb." Root also has a "spare" prosthetic leg that he uses sometimes, but it isn't as comfortable, and he also relies on crutches. Earlier this month, Root went out for dinner with friends in downtown Portland and left the prosthetic leg in the trunk of his car. Irene Veldstra voiced her dismay on the GoFundMe account her brother started to raise funds to replace Root's stolen leg.

Jason Wilk, the CEO of digital banking service Dave , remembers the absolute low point in his brief career as head of a publicly-traded firm. "To go from being a $5 billion company to $50 million in 12 months, it was so freaking hard." But in the months that followed, Dave turned profitable and consistently topped Wall Street analyst expectations for revenue and profit. Now, Wilk's company is the top gainer for 2024 among U.S. financial stocks, with a 934% year-to-date surge through Thursday. Investors had dumped high-flying fintech companies in 2022 as a wave of unprofitable firms like Dave went public via special purpose acquisition companies.

SpaceX employees worked grueling hours and gritty conditions in the company's early days. Elon Musk offered workers SpaceX stock options to poach top talent and keep them motivated. Stock options are a toss-up. The promise of those stock options gave SpaceX a competitive edge in recruiting top engineering talent. AdvertisementFor some employees, Berger found, the stock was icing on the cake.

Slater is a Broadway actor who rose to fame starring as Spongebob in "The Spongebob Musical." Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater's relationship is facing renewed interest amid the release of "Wicked" and a personal essay published by Lilly Jay, Slater's ex-wife. AdvertisementIn July 2023, multiple outlets including People magazine and TMZ reported that Grande, 31, and her "Wicked" costar Slater, 32, were dating. Slater is an actor who rose to fame playing Spongebob on BroadwayEthan Slater as Spongebob in "Spongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical" in 2017. AdvertisementShortly after news broke of his rumored relationship with Grande, Slater's Instagram page was made private.

This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter. If you're already thinking about what to do with money you might receive this season, perhaps follow this family's lead. Still, if you're wondering how much to tip the people who've helped you all year, here's some general guidance. However, teachers and parents say that's still not helping kids discover the joy of reading. AdvertisementMore of this week's top reads:The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City.

Santa Claus could arrive next week just in time to help stocks end the year on a high note following this week's selloff. December is historically the second-best month in a U.S. presidential election year for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S & P 500, according to the Stock Trader's Almanac . For the Nasdaq Composite, presidential election year Decembers are usually the fifth-best of the year, with the tech-heavy index rising an average 0.9%. The market's 'pass/fail test' A Santa Claus rally — which typically occurs in the last five trading days of the year and the first two in January — could be just the boost the S & P 500 needs. Some investors expect it's possible the S & P 500 could rally more than that next week, possibly even ending the year at 6,100, or above its previous all-time closing high.

The analysis focused on products directly associated with Christmas decor: artificial Christmas trees, Christmas tree lights and both non-electric and electric Christmas decorations. What to watch out forClassic, no-frills Christmas decor was the biggest cause of accidents. Many of the injuries from nonelectric Christmas decor were lacerations. The most common injuries associated with Christmas decor are strains and sprains, followed by lacerations, fractures, contusions/abrasions and ingested objects. Predictably, ladders came out on top, contributing to 17% of the estimated hospital visits.

Party City on Friday announced it will close all of its stores and has initiated corporate layoffs effective immediately, according to a CNN report. CEO Barry Litwin told corporate employees in a meeting viewed by CNN that Party City has to "commence a winddown process immediately," and that Friday would be their last day of work for the company. The holiday costume chain announced in October that it would open 10 new "Spirit Christmas" stores, with some of the stores being converted from existing Spirit Halloween locations. Representatives for Party City did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on CNN's report or potential story closures. Read the full CNN report here.

Internet star Haliey Welch, also known as the “Hawk Tuah Girl,” said Friday she is “fully cooperating” with attorneys who are representing people impacted by the recent crash of crypto meme coin $HAWK. Welch helped launch the cryptocurrency, named after her viral catchphrase, earlier this month. Within hours after the digital coin was made available, its price plummeted and the 22-year-old influencer faced accusations that it was a scam. In a post on X on Friday, Welch responded to the lawsuit, urging those who “experienced losses related to this” to contact the law firm Burwick PLLC. In the days leading up to the $HAWK’s launch, she promoted it in several posts on X.

Fans of the 2003 Christmas movie “Elf” can now follow the journey of Buddy on Broadway, where “Elf the Musical” is playing for a limited time this holiday season. Sean Astin in "Elf the Musical." But obviously we’re singing and dancing, which adds 10 times more holiday cheer.”Ashley Brown, Kayla Davion, Jennifer Sanchez and the cast of "Elf the Musical." “It’s about families, about friends.”Henson said that because the stage version is a musical, “it’s a little bit more emotional.”The cast of "Elf the Musical." Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMadeThis is the third time “Elf” has hit the Broadway stage, after debuting in 2011 and playing again in 2012.

Macron has been met with anger by many of the residents he visited during his two-day trip to Mayotte. These neighborhoods are home to many of the roughly 100,000 undocumented migrants who live in Mayotte, according to France’s interior ministry. The poverty rate in Mayotte is five times higher than that of mainland France, according to government figures. In recent decades, tens of thousands of people from neighboring Comoros and Madagascar have come to Mayotte seeking better economic conditions and access to the French welfare system. Macron said the government would send additional support to Mayotte soon and that France will observe a day of national mourning on Monday.

Luigi Mangione is under monitoring in a 9-by-7 foot federal solitary confinement cell in Brooklyn. On Monday, he may be moved to the same protective unit as Diddy and SBF, who are in the same jail. Federal prison records confirmed Friday morning that Mangione, Combs, and Bankman-Fried are being housed at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. Just miserable," Mangel said when asked to describe conditions in federal solitary confinement cells. AdvertisementOne former prosecutor described the federal jail as frequently too cold or too hot and crawling with cockroaches — basically, "hell on earth."

A person walks past the entrance to a Wells Fargo bank branch on Amsterdam Avenue on June 25, 2024, in New York City. Wells Fargo has withdrawn from a group of global banks committed to curbing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the number of high-profile firms exiting climate initiatives amid mounting political pressure. The bank has ended its membership in the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, a spokesperson said on Friday, two weeks after another notable exit by Goldman Sachs . Wells Fargo, however, did not give a reason behind the move. "The alliance prefers not to see any bank leave but respects the decision Wells Fargo has made based on its own individual circumstances," an NZBA spokesperson said.

Berlin CNN —At least one person has died after a car plowed into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, police have said, according to local public broadcaster MDR. Footage from social media, verified by CNN, shows the moment a black car drove directly into the crowd at the busy Christmas market. In the video, dozens of people are crowded at the market stalls when the vehicle plows directly into them. The Christmas market is scheduled to be open from November 22 through December 29, according to the market website. It has about 140 market stalls, as well as an ice skating rink, a ferris wheel and a children’s play area.

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles health officials are investigating a norovirus outbreak after around 80 people were sickened after eating raw oysters at an event to showcase the city’s best restaurants. The Los Angeles County Department of Health said that people got sick after attending an event on Dec. 3, and that oysters have been recalled. Those sickened attended the Los Angeles Times “101 Best Restaurants” event at the Hollywood Palladium, a theater on Sunset Boulevard, the newspaper reported. The Times event was to be attended by the some of the city's best chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants, the newspaper announced in promoting it. The Los Angeles County health department said it is continuing to investigate the outbreak.

She said parents must strive to find self-compassion and "separate their identity from their child's actions," no matter how challenging. "Elliot was far from evil," Rodger told ABC that year. Such an event "forces us as parents to contend with our worst fears," Annie Wright, another family therapist, told Business Insider. Despite his seemingly solid network of friends and family, Mangione had spondylolisthesis, a painful spinal condition. Parents can still protect themselvesGoldberg's clients, particularly parents of kids with substance abuse issues, struggle to move past their guilt.

CNN —A projectile fired from Yemen struck Tel Aviv overnight into Saturday, Israeli authorities said, in a rare instance of a failed interception over the city. The projectile landed in Tel Aviv’s southern Jaffa area, Israel’s military said, adding that attempts to intercept a missile from Yemen failed shortly after sirens sounded in central Israel. Israel’s second-largest city, Tel Aviv is the country’s commercial and diplomatic center. People gather at the scene of a missile strike that, according to Israel’s military, was launched from Yemen and landed in Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv, Israel, December 21, 2024. Stoyan Nenov/ReutersOn Thursday, the Israeli military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, with shrapnel causing extensive damage to a school near Tel Aviv.

“Christmas Day will feature green and brown grass for much of the U.S. — not exactly what Bing Crosby crooned about!” the weather service wrote on X Friday. But all is not lost: Some parts of the Northeast were forecast to possibly get snow showers on Tuesday, the day before Christmas. Plattsburgh, New York, close to the U.S.-Canada border, has a 50% chance of snow showers Tuesday. Charles Krupa / APBuffalo, famed for its snow, will get likely get snow Monday night and Tuesday morning but that will probably turn into rain, and Christmas Eve is forecast to be cloudy. Snow or no, travelers were expected to take to the skies in the millions Friday ahead of Christmas and Hanukkah, the Transportation Security Administration said.

How did Elon Musk go from being an Obama supporter to a self-described "dark MAGA" Trump ally? Here's a look at the relationship between two billionaires ahead of the second Trump presidency.

In September, OpenAI unveiled a radically new type of AI model called o1. "It's amazing how quickly AI model improvements get commoditized," Rahul Sonwalkar, CEO of the startup Julius AI, said. September is a lifetime ago in the AI industryWhen OpenAI previewed its o1 model in September, the product was hailed as a breakthrough. Maybe I need to consider a different strategy," the AI model wrote. Then Google appearsSnell said other companies are likely working on AI models that use the same inference-time compute approach as OpenAI.

sturti | GettyThe Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut interest rates for the third time in 2024. Despite the move, mortgage rates increased. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage spiked to 6.72% for the week ending Dec. 19, a day after the Fed meeting, according to Freddie Mac data via the Fed. At an intraday level, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage increased to 7.13% on Wednesday, up from 6.92% the day before, per Mortgage News Daily. When the Fed made its first rate cut in September, it had projected four quarter-point cuts, or a full percentage point reduction, for 2025.

An Eli Lilly & Co. Zepbound injection pen arranged in the Brooklyn borough of New York, US, on Thursday, March 28, 2024. The Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly 's blockbuster weight loss drug Zepbound for treating patients with the most common sleep-related breathing disorder, the drugmaker announced Friday, expanding its use and possibly its insurance coverage in the U.S. An estimated 80 million patients in the U.S. experience the disease, according to Eli Lilly. Eli Lilly expects to launch the drug for OSA at the beginning of next year. In June, Eli Lilly released additional data from the studies showing that Zepbound helpedresolve OSA in almost half of patients.

Even sampled more widely, silent films do have their problems when viewed from a century’s distance. And the world of silent films is a brutally racist one, in which Black people and other minority groups are all but nonexistent except as passing figures of fun. But it can be surprising how much of the silent work still holds up. Silent films vividly show us otherwise. The centrality of cooperation and attitude over speech is why the comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were just as funny in their silent films as later, when we could hear them talk.

The Food and Drug Administration expanded the approval of weight loss drug Zepbound to treat obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, the drugmaker Eli Lilly said Friday. The expanded approval could persuade more insurance companies — which have been reluctant to cover the expensive weight loss drugs — to pay for the medication. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep, cutting off airflow throughout the night. The approval is based on two trials of men and women with obesity and moderate to severe sleep apnea. Other sleep apnea treatmentsMany people who have sleep apnea go undiagnosed and untreated.

RFK Jr. was spotted wearing jeans and hiking boots in one of America's most exclusive gyms. Showcasing his fitness at 70 helps to signal that his controversial views on health are legitimate. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants you to know that he's healthy, rugged, and has an Equinox membership. AdvertisementDonald Trump's pick for the secretary of Health and Human Services was spotted working out at the elite gym in Manhattan's swanky Hudson Yards wearing jeans and hiking boots, Page Six reported on Sunday. The hiking boots also signal the outdoors and possibly his connection to environmental causes.

Netflix on Friday announced it has secured exclusive rights in the U.S. to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031. The announcement comes just days before Netflix will stream its first ever National League Football Christmas Day games. Adding the Women’s World Cup to its portfolio shows the streaming giant is continuing to bulk up its sports rights portfolio. “I’ve seen the fandom for the FIFA Women’s World Cup grow tremendously — from the electric atmosphere in France in 2019, and most recently, the incredible energy across Australia and New Zealand in 2023,” Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said in a press release. The Women’s World Cup has continued to grow in popularity, and more people in the U.S. tuned in for the women’s final in 2019 than the men’s in 2018.

As many baby boomer homeowners look to cash in on their home equity and downsize, some are grappling with a shortage of suitable homes. AdvertisementOlder homeowners are increasingly staying put, as mortgage rates and housing costs remain stubbornly elevated and inventory— particularly of affordable and accessible homes — is scarce. She says the homes she's looked at would need a lot of work and aren't in familiar neighborhoods. Courtesy of Kim Cayes'A lateral financial move'Some boomers who can afford to stay in their homes don't want to endure the costs and possible stress associated with downsizing. Andrea's income is lower than she expected it to be at this point in her life — she's struggled to work since suffering from a head injury in a car crash in 2021.

The latest incident took place on Nov. 20, when an Air Force Osprey made a precautionary landing in New Mexico after pilots got warnings indicating they needed to land immediately. No airmen were injured and the aircraft wasn't damaged, according to a spokesperson for the Air Force Special Operations Command. But the Pentagon put a temporary pause on Osprey training flights out of what it described as an abundance of caution. A catastrophic failure of the prop rotor gearbox was determined to be the primary cause of an Osprey crash in Japan last December that killed seven airmen. “How did NAVAIR conclude that flight hours is the appropriate measure to prevent crashes, and why won’t NAVAIR disclose the cut-off number of flight hours utilized to ground some Ospreys, but not others?” the statement said.

CNBC's Jim Cramer reviewed Friday's market action, dubbing the session an "exquisite moment," where stocks opened weak, but the averages climbed by the close. "We used to call days like today 'exquisite moments.' These "exquisite moments" occur when the market is oversold, according to Cramer. Cramer added that these "exquisite moments" appear when bearish investors demonstrate "overconfidence," saying that Friday saw key stocks like Palantir , Apple and Nvidia decline at the start of the session without a clear reason. "It was, indeed, an exquisite moment this morning," Cramer said.

A missile launched from Yemen struck the Israeli city of Tel Aviv early Saturday morning, marking a rare instance of a failed interception over the city, the Israel Defense Forces said. The crater left by a Houthi missile fired on Tel Aviv Saturday. In September, nine people were injured running to shelters after a ballistic missile launched from Yemen crossed into Israel, landing in an open field outside Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv, Israel’s second-largest city, serves as the nation’s commercial and diplomatic hub. On Thursday, the IDF said a school near Tel Aviv was damaged after the “partial interception” of a missile launched from Yemen.

Bank of America said a slew of stocks, including Nvidia , have plenty of upside in 2025. In addition to the chip juggernaut, the names include Block , Cadence Design Systems , Chevron and East West Bancorp . Block Wall Street is gushing over the payment fintech company, including Bank of America analyst Jason Kupferberg and team. East West Bancorp Top pick East West Bancorp is teed up for strength in the new year, according to analyst Ebrahim Poonawala. Cadence Design Systems Analyst Vivek Arya said the electronic systems design manufacturer is firing on all cylinders.

This has many Americans waiting for mortgage rates to fall. Mortgage rates can be influenced by Fed policy. This, combined with signals sent from the market for mortgage-backed securities, determine the rates issued within new mortgages. Economists at Fannie Mae say the Fed's management of its mortgage-backed securities portfolio may contribute to today's mortgage rates. This process is known as "quantitative tightening," and it may add upward pressure on the spread between mortgage rates and Treasury yields.

He's seen many misunderstandings about end-of-life medical wishes. I realized that end-of-life care was a messI had made a life-and-death mistake on both sides. I started researching end-of-life wishes and wrote a book about living wills, which convey medical wishes. Recognize this is a hard conversationThere's a misconception that talking about medical wishes can be simple, but it's not. AdvertisementTalk with a doctorThe choices around end-of-life care are very intense and nuanced.