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With 'widespread freeze' possible, is the colder weather here to stay? Latest forecast
The Jacksonville Jaguars are loading up on defense ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.The team acquired veteran safety Jessie Bates from the Atlanta Falcons Monday morning in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.Bates is a one-time Pro Bowler and three-time second team All-Pro. He began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018 and spent five years with them before signing with the Falcons in 2023. During his Falcons tenure, he started every game across three-plus seasons while totaling 14 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and 392 tackles.The 29-year-old safety now joins the AFC South-leading Jaguars, who are 6-2 after dismantling the depleted Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football. Jacksonville’s defense has been one of the league’s stingiest units so far this season, ranking second in points allowed per game (15.1) and third in takeaways (15).On the other side, Atlanta adds some draft capital after falling to 3-6 with a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid on Sunday. Despite being three games under .500, the team is just 0.5 games back in the NFC South, where all four teams have three wins through nine weeks.The Jaguars are the latest team to make an addition ahead of the NFL trade deadline, which is at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The Chicago Bears struck a blockbuster for All-Pro defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, the Seattle Seahawks traded for All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and the Baltimore Ravens brought in veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett after losing Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley to injuries. Chicago Bears Oct 29 Bears acquire star DT Jeffery Simmons from Titans for 2 first-round picks NFL Nov 4 Ravens to trade for Jacoby Brissett from Cardinals to fill QB void: Report
Ballot measure takeaways: Voters back abortion rights and ID requirements at the polls
Some Democrats are promising to push for more clean energy to help tackle rising energy costs when they take control of Congress in January, though President Donald Trump says he will use his veto power aggressively.With new majorities in the House and Senate after last week’s midterms, Democrats can set an agenda boosting clean energy and addressing climate change. While those are traditionally core priorities of the party, climate was not a central topic in this election cycle.Democrats can begin investigations and hold hearings into climate policy rollbacks and elimination of green energy grants by the Republican administration, potentially trying to undo some changes and restore renewable energy incentives.Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said Trump's clean energy attacks drove up prices for taxpayers. He said Democrats will “work every angle to lower consumers' energy costs, and we will demand accountability for the massive corruption wrought by Trump's fossil-fuel donors." American Clean Power Association CEO Jason Grumet said everybody who is trying to build clean energy "feels bolstered." Enacting major changes would require Republican support because Democrats will lack the numbers to override presidential vetoes. Even then, lower energy bills are not guaranteed because prices also depend on fuel costs, demand and the expense of maintaining the electric grid."The wins give Democrats more leverage over spending and more political power to advance a coherent agenda; the question is whether they'll use that power effectively," said Lisa Sachs, director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment. "The vote was for affordability and opportunity. Democrats now need to be clear about which policies deliver them."Trump holds veto power but thinks he and Democrats can make dealsTrump said after Tuesday’s election that Democrats will send over "things that are insane" and he will veto them, speaking generally about legislation. But in the comments to Fox News, he predicted that "after a couple of months of vetoes," he and Democrats will find ways to work together.The White House said in a statement Wednesday that Trump is “committed to unleashing reliable, affordable, and secure energy sources to lower prices, strengthen our grid, and protect our national security, and is willing to work with anyone to accomplish this."Trump promised to lower energy prices. Instead, his war with Iran and other policies increased the price of gasoline, diesel and electricity. At the same time, the administration canceled many clean energy projects and grants and slowed clean energy permitting. Trump particularly dislikes offshore wind. Developer Orsted said Thursday that Revolution Wind, a large wind farm in federal waters off Rhode Island, has started operating commercially. Will the president change his tune on green energy? That’s doubtful, said former Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., co-chair of the government relations practice at ArentFox Schiff."He is likely to keep pushing his energy issues, and I think he will be forced to give some room for a new Congress to recreate a different strategy that will add clean energy," Dorgan said in an email. Trump promotes expanding production of oil, natural gas and coal, which cause climate change, because he argues that would give the U.S. the lowest-cost electricity. Mike Sommers, CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, the oil and gas industry's top lobbying group, said that as voters have changed the balance of political power in Washington, "the affordability message is unmistakable." Sommers said in a statement there is a real opportunity for bipartisan cooperation to reduce costs and strengthen the economy, starting with an energy permitting reform proposal announced in September. The Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote Monday on the legislation, which is aimed at shortening the timeline to get big energy projects started.Ife Kilimanjaro, executive director of the U.S. Climate Action Network, said Democrats should reject that proposal and use their stronger position to pass legislation that actually builds out much-needed clean energy. Reversing Trump's anti-climate policiesThe administration has reshaped the Environmental Protection Agency, reversing pollution limits as it promotes fossil fuels. Clear Street energy transition analyst Tim Moore said he expects Democrats to investigate the climate and environmental rollbacks, in an effort to block some from taking effect. Democrats could also try amending the Clean Air Act to cut carbon pollution and push back against EPA budget cuts, he added. Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., said he is cautiously optimistic some Republicans will now seek to differentiate themselves from Trump and back pro-environmental policies. But without Republican support, Democrats' more ambitious bills will largely lay out their agenda for 2028, he added. Climate is not necessarily at the top of Democrats’ list of priorities. They are targeting healthcare access, trade tariffs and the Iran war. Rep. Frank Pallone, the New Jersey Democrat who is expected to become chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the party should focus on healthcare, affordability, consumer and environmental protections, clean energy and regulating Big Tech. A potential stalemate seen on clean energy and climate policyDavid Victor, a professor of innovation and public policy at the University of California, San Diego, largely expects a stalemate at the federal level on climate and energy policy because of the divided government. He said agreement could come on some bipartisan measures such as a permitting overhaul.Victor thinks Democratic-led investigations and hearings will center on corruption and other topics that may only touch on energy and climate. Like Casten, Victor said many of the Democratic bills likely will not become law, but will outline what Democrats could accomplish if they win the White House in 2028."The Democrats are going to be drafting things that the administration's not going to like. They don't have the votes to override a veto, and on top of it, the administration is going to be in turmoil because of its own electoral failures and because of all the investigations," Victor said. "This seems to me, at the federal level, largely a recipe for kind of intense chaos over the next two years."One of the biggest wild cards is the behavior of the administration, which could use executive power to double down on rollbacks of climate and environmental rules, he said.States could advance clean energy without waiting for CongressDemocrats scored victories in races for governor in states long controlled by Republicans, including Texas and Georgia. Leah Stokes, a political scientist at the UC Santa Barbara, said there could be a lot of state action on climate next year because of those wins. That is where climate leadership has traditionally come from, she noted. At the federal level, Stokes is optimistic about extending clean energy tax credits since some Republicans support that.Jay Inslee, a former Democratic governor and congressman from Washington, also expects growing momentum for clean energy in states that elected Democratic governors, particularly in states where they also won legislative majorities. "This is a really powerful instrument for the United States to join the rest of the world and get back in a leadership position, even if we still have a climate denier that might exercise a veto on some things that we want to do federally," Inslee said. "So I hope people will pay attention to the big progress we're going to make on a state-level basis."___ Associated Press writers Alexa St. John and Matthew Daly contributed to this report.
Russell Brand sentenced to 10 1/2 years in prison for rape and sexual assault
Rep. Thomas Massie moved Monday to force a vote to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, setting the stage for a dramatic vote on whether to remove one of the Trump administration's most prominent figures following sweeping election losses.The impeachment resolution was introduced by Massie, a Kentucky Republican, as soon as the House opened for the first day of sessions after the midterms. It largely focuses on the war in Iran but also includes references to Hegseth's role in carrying out military actions in Yemen and Venezuela.Massie said the secretary’s actions amount to "high crimes and misdemeanors" and his leadership at the Pentagon "thus warrants impeachment."A vote in the House could come by mid-week, putting pressure on Republicans — many of whom blamed their election wipeout on the Iran war — but next steps are highly uncertain.House Speaker Mike Johnson had tried to prevent this outcome, and warned lawmakers against impeaching the Defense secretary while the U.S. is engaged in military actions in the Middle East."Impeaching a Cabinet secretary right now, especially the Department of War in the middle of hostilities abroad would be a terrible, terrible look, a terrible thing for our allies and our enemies to see that," Johnson, a Republican, said as he opened the chamber."We don't impeach Cabinet secretaries for political gain or for cheap tricks, and I think that's what this is and I think everybody knows it."Most House Democrats are expected to support impeaching Hegseth, with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries saying over the weekend it’s time for the Defense secretary to go.If the House votes to impeach Hegseth, it would next go to the Senate for a potential trial. Republicans remain in the majority in both chambers, until the new Congress convenes in January with Democrats in control.Hegseth issues his own defense and prepares for a fightHegseth maintains he's eager to litigate the military actions that he and President Donald Trump have taken against Iran, Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and Venezuela’s previous leaders."If you want to take issue with what we did in Epic Fury or Rough Rider or nabbing Nicolás Maduro, you're taking issue with the troops and what they accomplished, which is historic," Hegseth told reporters Monday, using the military code names for the Iran war and campaign of strikes to halt the Houthis’ attacks on shipping in the Middle East.Hegseth also announced that he would hold a rare news conference on Tuesday — his first in over 180 days — on the impeachment threat. His last briefing was in May, and he has not held one on the Iran war, strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats or other U.S. military actions since then.The Pentagon chief is bearing the brunt of anger and calls for his ouster after the Iran war and its economic impact contributed to severe Republican losses in the midterm elections that cost the party control of Congress.Hegseth waves off impeachment push as 'noise'Hegseth, after giving a speech at the Naval War College in Rhode Island, brushed aside the impeachment push."There's a lot of politically motivated people who may have substantial policy disagreements, but their disagreements are with success," he told reporters. He added that "if we want to litigate” the military actions that the Trump administration has taken, “I'm happy to do it all day long.""My team, we're not worried about the noise — it's what I told the troops, too — 'don't worry about the noise,'" he said.Asked about Vice President JD Vance blaming the Iran war for the massive GOP losses in the election, Hegseth noted that Trump said he would do it again, and "I agree."He largely repeated a line that Secretary of State Marco Rubio said to reporters a day earlier: "It doesn't have to be necessarily popular, but it can be necessary."Hegseth argued that the war was necessary because "someone had to confront the Iranian regime's pursuit of a nuclear weapon" and said "the choice was don't act and wish it away or take a bold move.”Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%.Trump defended Hegseth to reporters on Sunday night."He's guilty of two things, basically winning two wars," Trump said. "I believe we saved the Middle East and Israel combined. And it's awfully hard to say let's impeach somebody who did that."Pentagon chief insists 'Iran is devastated'Hegseth reiterated that "Iran is devastated," even though the Islamic Republic has been able to keep striking military bases in the Middle East that are used by the United States, causing billions of dollars in damage, as well as commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Disruptions to shipping in the waterway, where one-fifth of the world’s oil passed before the war, have led to higher energy prices that hit voters’ pocketbooks.He said the next steps on the war are up to Trump, including telling Iran: “Hey, we're done, and we're going to watch your nuclear material. You better not move it.”Hegseth’s defense of the war comes after about 6 in 10 voters said the U.S. made the "wrong decision" in taking military action against Iran, according to The AP Voter Poll, a survey of more than 100,000 voters in the United States.With anger in Congress rising, Hegseth has been on a social media blitz, posting a video last week acknowledging the threat of impeachment. He said it would be "all about the politics of personal destruction" and insisted that "won't work with me. You can rest assured of that."Since then, scores of political appointees within the Pentagon have posted images of Hegseth emblazoned with the words, "Stand. Fight. Defend the Republic." The White House also posted a video to social media that featured praise from Trump.
Driver lands in suburban pool after mistaking gas for brake
Some Democrats are promising to push for more clean energy to help tackle rising energy costs when they take control of Congress in January, though President Donald Trump says he will use his veto power aggressively.With new majorities in the House and Senate after last week’s midterms, Democrats can set an agenda boosting clean energy and addressing climate change. While those are traditionally core priorities of the party, climate was not a central topic in this election cycle.Democrats can begin investigations and hold hearings into climate policy rollbacks and elimination of green energy grants by the Republican administration, potentially trying to undo some changes and restore renewable energy incentives.Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said Trump's clean energy attacks drove up prices for taxpayers. He said Democrats will “work every angle to lower consumers' energy costs, and we will demand accountability for the massive corruption wrought by Trump's fossil-fuel donors." American Clean Power Association CEO Jason Grumet said everybody who is trying to build clean energy "feels bolstered." Enacting major changes would require Republican support because Democrats will lack the numbers to override presidential vetoes. Even then, lower energy bills are not guaranteed because prices also depend on fuel costs, demand and the expense of maintaining the electric grid."The wins give Democrats more leverage over spending and more political power to advance a coherent agenda; the question is whether they'll use that power effectively," said Lisa Sachs, director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment. "The vote was for affordability and opportunity. Democrats now need to be clear about which policies deliver them."Trump holds veto power but thinks he and Democrats can make dealsTrump said after Tuesday’s election that Democrats will send over "things that are insane" and he will veto them, speaking generally about legislation. But in the comments to Fox News, he predicted that "after a couple of months of vetoes," he and Democrats will find ways to work together.The White House said in a statement Wednesday that Trump is “committed to unleashing reliable, affordable, and secure energy sources to lower prices, strengthen our grid, and protect our national security, and is willing to work with anyone to accomplish this."Trump promised to lower energy prices. Instead, his war with Iran and other policies increased the price of gasoline, diesel and electricity. At the same time, the administration canceled many clean energy projects and grants and slowed clean energy permitting. Trump particularly dislikes offshore wind. Developer Orsted said Thursday that Revolution Wind, a large wind farm in federal waters off Rhode Island, has started operating commercially. Will the president change his tune on green energy? That’s doubtful, said former Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., co-chair of the government relations practice at ArentFox Schiff."He is likely to keep pushing his energy issues, and I think he will be forced to give some room for a new Congress to recreate a different strategy that will add clean energy," Dorgan said in an email. Trump promotes expanding production of oil, natural gas and coal, which cause climate change, because he argues that would give the U.S. the lowest-cost electricity. Mike Sommers, CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, the oil and gas industry's top lobbying group, said that as voters have changed the balance of political power in Washington, "the affordability message is unmistakable." Sommers said in a statement there is a real opportunity for bipartisan cooperation to reduce costs and strengthen the economy, starting with an energy permitting reform proposal announced in September. The Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote Monday on the legislation, which is aimed at shortening the timeline to get big energy projects started.Ife Kilimanjaro, executive director of the U.S. Climate Action Network, said Democrats should reject that proposal and use their stronger position to pass legislation that actually builds out much-needed clean energy. Reversing Trump's anti-climate policiesThe administration has reshaped the Environmental Protection Agency, reversing pollution limits as it promotes fossil fuels. Clear Street energy transition analyst Tim Moore said he expects Democrats to investigate the climate and environmental rollbacks, in an effort to block some from taking effect. Democrats could also try amending the Clean Air Act to cut carbon pollution and push back against EPA budget cuts, he added. Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., said he is cautiously optimistic some Republicans will now seek to differentiate themselves from Trump and back pro-environmental policies. But without Republican support, Democrats' more ambitious bills will largely lay out their agenda for 2028, he added. Climate is not necessarily at the top of Democrats’ list of priorities. They are targeting healthcare access, trade tariffs and the Iran war. Rep. Frank Pallone, the New Jersey Democrat who is expected to become chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the party should focus on healthcare, affordability, consumer and environmental protections, clean energy and regulating Big Tech. A potential stalemate seen on clean energy and climate policyDavid Victor, a professor of innovation and public policy at the University of California, San Diego, largely expects a stalemate at the federal level on climate and energy policy because of the divided government. He said agreement could come on some bipartisan measures such as a permitting overhaul.Victor thinks Democratic-led investigations and hearings will center on corruption and other topics that may only touch on energy and climate. Like Casten, Victor said many of the Democratic bills likely will not become law, but will outline what Democrats could accomplish if they win the White House in 2028."The Democrats are going to be drafting things that the administration's not going to like. They don't have the votes to override a veto, and on top of it, the administration is going to be in turmoil because of its own electoral failures and because of all the investigations," Victor said. "This seems to me, at the federal level, largely a recipe for kind of intense chaos over the next two years."One of the biggest wild cards is the behavior of the administration, which could use executive power to double down on rollbacks of climate and environmental rules, he said.States could advance clean energy without waiting for CongressDemocrats scored victories in races for governor in states long controlled by Republicans, including Texas and Georgia. Leah Stokes, a political scientist at the UC Santa Barbara, said there could be a lot of state action on climate next year because of those wins. That is where climate leadership has traditionally come from, she noted. At the federal level, Stokes is optimistic about extending clean energy tax credits since some Republicans support that.Jay Inslee, a former Democratic governor and congressman from Washington, also expects growing momentum for clean energy in states that elected Democratic governors, particularly in states where they also won legislative majorities. "This is a really powerful instrument for the United States to join the rest of the world and get back in a leadership position, even if we still have a climate denier that might exercise a veto on some things that we want to do federally," Inslee said. "So I hope people will pay attention to the big progress we're going to make on a state-level basis."___ Associated Press writers Alexa St. John and Matthew Daly contributed to this report.
Silicon Valley and Trump rally behind Nvidia CEO after his affair with alleged Chinese spy
Elon Musk and other finance moguls defend Jensen Huang after he admitted to the affair in an email to employeesNvidia's board needs to do some succession planning – sharpishDonald Trump, Elon Musk and prominent finance moguls have expressed their support for embattled Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, as the head of the world's most valuable chip company faces an internal investigation over a romantic relationship with an alleged Chinese spy."I have not ​spoken to him about it," the US president told reporters on Sunday. "I just know he's a fine person, but you never know what is going on. I'm sure, I hope everything's fine. He's done such an incredible job". Continue reading...
Brand Awaits Sentencing: Russell Brand convicted of rape and assaults; faces London term next
Russell Brand, the British comedian, has been convicted for sexually assaulting four women in distinct incidents. The court found him guilty of rape and related charges stemming from events dating back to 2004. Throughout the proceedings, Brand maintained that all encounters were consensual. Following an investigation by The Times and Channel 4, the women's stories gained significant media attention. His sentencing, anticipated on Monday, has caught considerable public scrutiny.
Nvidia opens investigation after reports CEO Jensen Huang was targeted by Chinese intelligence
Rep. Thomas Massie moved Monday to force a vote to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, setting the stage for a dramatic vote on whether to remove one of the Trump administration's most prominent figures following sweeping election losses.The impeachment resolution was introduced by Massie, a Kentucky Republican, as soon as the House opened for the first day of sessions after the midterms. It largely focuses on the war in Iran but also includes references to Hegseth's role in carrying out military actions in Yemen and Venezuela.Massie said the secretary’s actions amount to "high crimes and misdemeanors" and his leadership at the Pentagon "thus warrants impeachment."A vote in the House could come by mid-week, putting pressure on Republicans — many of whom blamed their election wipeout on the Iran war — but next steps are highly uncertain.House Speaker Mike Johnson had tried to prevent this outcome, and warned lawmakers against impeaching the Defense secretary while the U.S. is engaged in military actions in the Middle East."Impeaching a Cabinet secretary right now, especially the Department of War in the middle of hostilities abroad would be a terrible, terrible look, a terrible thing for our allies and our enemies to see that," Johnson, a Republican, said as he opened the chamber."We don't impeach Cabinet secretaries for political gain or for cheap tricks, and I think that's what this is and I think everybody knows it."Most House Democrats are expected to support impeaching Hegseth, with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries saying over the weekend it’s time for the Defense secretary to go.If the House votes to impeach Hegseth, it would next go to the Senate for a potential trial. Republicans remain in the majority in both chambers, until the new Congress convenes in January with Democrats in control.Hegseth issues his own defense and prepares for a fightHegseth maintains he's eager to litigate the military actions that he and President Donald Trump have taken against Iran, Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and Venezuela’s previous leaders."If you want to take issue with what we did in Epic Fury or Rough Rider or nabbing Nicolás Maduro, you're taking issue with the troops and what they accomplished, which is historic," Hegseth told reporters Monday, using the military code names for the Iran war and campaign of strikes to halt the Houthis’ attacks on shipping in the Middle East.Hegseth also announced that he would hold a rare news conference on Tuesday — his first in over 180 days — on the impeachment threat. His last briefing was in May, and he has not held one on the Iran war, strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats or other U.S. military actions since then.The Pentagon chief is bearing the brunt of anger and calls for his ouster after the Iran war and its economic impact contributed to severe Republican losses in the midterm elections that cost the party control of Congress.Hegseth waves off impeachment push as 'noise'Hegseth, after giving a speech at the Naval War College in Rhode Island, brushed aside the impeachment push."There's a lot of politically motivated people who may have substantial policy disagreements, but their disagreements are with success," he told reporters. He added that "if we want to litigate” the military actions that the Trump administration has taken, “I'm happy to do it all day long.""My team, we're not worried about the noise — it's what I told the troops, too — 'don't worry about the noise,'" he said.Asked about Vice President JD Vance blaming the Iran war for the massive GOP losses in the election, Hegseth noted that Trump said he would do it again, and "I agree."He largely repeated a line that Secretary of State Marco Rubio said to reporters a day earlier: "It doesn't have to be necessarily popular, but it can be necessary."Hegseth argued that the war was necessary because "someone had to confront the Iranian regime's pursuit of a nuclear weapon" and said "the choice was don't act and wish it away or take a bold move.”Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%.Trump defended Hegseth to reporters on Sunday night."He's guilty of two things, basically winning two wars," Trump said. "I believe we saved the Middle East and Israel combined. And it's awfully hard to say let's impeach somebody who did that."Pentagon chief insists 'Iran is devastated'Hegseth reiterated that "Iran is devastated," even though the Islamic Republic has been able to keep striking military bases in the Middle East that are used by the United States, causing billions of dollars in damage, as well as commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Disruptions to shipping in the waterway, where one-fifth of the world’s oil passed before the war, have led to higher energy prices that hit voters’ pocketbooks.He said the next steps on the war are up to Trump, including telling Iran: “Hey, we're done, and we're going to watch your nuclear material. You better not move it.”Hegseth’s defense of the war comes after about 6 in 10 voters said the U.S. made the "wrong decision" in taking military action against Iran, according to The AP Voter Poll, a survey of more than 100,000 voters in the United States.With anger in Congress rising, Hegseth has been on a social media blitz, posting a video last week acknowledging the threat of impeachment. He said it would be "all about the politics of personal destruction" and insisted that "won't work with me. You can rest assured of that."Since then, scores of political appointees within the Pentagon have posted images of Hegseth emblazoned with the words, "Stand. Fight. Defend the Republic." The White House also posted a video to social media that featured praise from Trump.
Senate votes on bill to speed up projects from gas pipelines to clean energy
Environmentalists torn over procedural vote to boost infrastructure projects but weaken environmental lawsIt's a bill that would make it easier to build big infrastructure projects in America – everything from fossil fuel pipelines to transmission lines that would add more clean energy to the grid. And it would roll back environmental and social protections to achieve this goal. That is why climate advocates are torn over the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs act (Baaja), which is scheduled for an initial procedural Senate vote on Monday.Donald Trump urged all senators to vote for the 417-page bill, which is sponsored by two Republicans and two Democrats in the Senate, but after last week's historic "blue wave" elections, some environmental and tribal advocates called on Democratic leadership to pump the brakes. Continue reading...
New billboards urge people to 'boycott the boycott' of Jewish-owned businesses
Some Democrats are promising to push for more clean energy to help tackle rising energy costs when they take control of Congress in January, though President Donald Trump says he will use his veto power aggressively.With new majorities in the House and Senate after last week’s midterms, Democrats can set an agenda boosting clean energy and addressing climate change. While those are traditionally core priorities of the party, climate was not a central topic in this election cycle.Democrats can begin investigations and hold hearings into climate policy rollbacks and elimination of green energy grants by the Republican administration, potentially trying to undo some changes and restore renewable energy incentives.Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said Trump's clean energy attacks drove up prices for taxpayers. He said Democrats will “work every angle to lower consumers' energy costs, and we will demand accountability for the massive corruption wrought by Trump's fossil-fuel donors." American Clean Power Association CEO Jason Grumet said everybody who is trying to build clean energy "feels bolstered." Enacting major changes would require Republican support because Democrats will lack the numbers to override presidential vetoes. Even then, lower energy bills are not guaranteed because prices also depend on fuel costs, demand and the expense of maintaining the electric grid."The wins give Democrats more leverage over spending and more political power to advance a coherent agenda; the question is whether they'll use that power effectively," said Lisa Sachs, director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment. "The vote was for affordability and opportunity. Democrats now need to be clear about which policies deliver them."Trump holds veto power but thinks he and Democrats can make dealsTrump said after Tuesday’s election that Democrats will send over "things that are insane" and he will veto them, speaking generally about legislation. But in the comments to Fox News, he predicted that "after a couple of months of vetoes," he and Democrats will find ways to work together.The White House said in a statement Wednesday that Trump is “committed to unleashing reliable, affordable, and secure energy sources to lower prices, strengthen our grid, and protect our national security, and is willing to work with anyone to accomplish this."Trump promised to lower energy prices. Instead, his war with Iran and other policies increased the price of gasoline, diesel and electricity. At the same time, the administration canceled many clean energy projects and grants and slowed clean energy permitting. Trump particularly dislikes offshore wind. Developer Orsted said Thursday that Revolution Wind, a large wind farm in federal waters off Rhode Island, has started operating commercially. Will the president change his tune on green energy? That’s doubtful, said former Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., co-chair of the government relations practice at ArentFox Schiff."He is likely to keep pushing his energy issues, and I think he will be forced to give some room for a new Congress to recreate a different strategy that will add clean energy," Dorgan said in an email. Trump promotes expanding production of oil, natural gas and coal, which cause climate change, because he argues that would give the U.S. the lowest-cost electricity. Mike Sommers, CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, the oil and gas industry's top lobbying group, said that as voters have changed the balance of political power in Washington, "the affordability message is unmistakable." Sommers said in a statement there is a real opportunity for bipartisan cooperation to reduce costs and strengthen the economy, starting with an energy permitting reform proposal announced in September. The Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote Monday on the legislation, which is aimed at shortening the timeline to get big energy projects started.Ife Kilimanjaro, executive director of the U.S. Climate Action Network, said Democrats should reject that proposal and use their stronger position to pass legislation that actually builds out much-needed clean energy. Reversing Trump's anti-climate policiesThe administration has reshaped the Environmental Protection Agency, reversing pollution limits as it promotes fossil fuels. Clear Street energy transition analyst Tim Moore said he expects Democrats to investigate the climate and environmental rollbacks, in an effort to block some from taking effect. Democrats could also try amending the Clean Air Act to cut carbon pollution and push back against EPA budget cuts, he added. Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., said he is cautiously optimistic some Republicans will now seek to differentiate themselves from Trump and back pro-environmental policies. But without Republican support, Democrats' more ambitious bills will largely lay out their agenda for 2028, he added. Climate is not necessarily at the top of Democrats’ list of priorities. They are targeting healthcare access, trade tariffs and the Iran war. Rep. Frank Pallone, the New Jersey Democrat who is expected to become chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the party should focus on healthcare, affordability, consumer and environmental protections, clean energy and regulating Big Tech. A potential stalemate seen on clean energy and climate policyDavid Victor, a professor of innovation and public policy at the University of California, San Diego, largely expects a stalemate at the federal level on climate and energy policy because of the divided government. He said agreement could come on some bipartisan measures such as a permitting overhaul.Victor thinks Democratic-led investigations and hearings will center on corruption and other topics that may only touch on energy and climate. Like Casten, Victor said many of the Democratic bills likely will not become law, but will outline what Democrats could accomplish if they win the White House in 2028."The Democrats are going to be drafting things that the administration's not going to like. They don't have the votes to override a veto, and on top of it, the administration is going to be in turmoil because of its own electoral failures and because of all the investigations," Victor said. "This seems to me, at the federal level, largely a recipe for kind of intense chaos over the next two years."One of the biggest wild cards is the behavior of the administration, which could use executive power to double down on rollbacks of climate and environmental rules, he said.States could advance clean energy without waiting for CongressDemocrats scored victories in races for governor in states long controlled by Republicans, including Texas and Georgia. Leah Stokes, a political scientist at the UC Santa Barbara, said there could be a lot of state action on climate next year because of those wins. That is where climate leadership has traditionally come from, she noted. At the federal level, Stokes is optimistic about extending clean energy tax credits since some Republicans support that.Jay Inslee, a former Democratic governor and congressman from Washington, also expects growing momentum for clean energy in states that elected Democratic governors, particularly in states where they also won legislative majorities. "This is a really powerful instrument for the United States to join the rest of the world and get back in a leadership position, even if we still have a climate denier that might exercise a veto on some things that we want to do federally," Inslee said. "So I hope people will pay attention to the big progress we're going to make on a state-level basis."___ Associated Press writers Alexa St. John and Matthew Daly contributed to this report.
Russell Brand sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for rape and sexual assault
Judge tells disgraced actor and comedian he had displayed 'casual, arrogant disregard of any woman's right to say no'Jemima Goldsmith says ex-partner Russell Brand physically assaulted herRussell Brand was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison on Monday after a judge praised his victims' bravery and accused him of living "unhindered by the rules by which decent people live".As the judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, sentenced Brand for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others, he said he had told the trial "a series of lies". The disgraced comedian had displayed a "casual, arrogant disregard of any woman's right to say no", he said. Continue reading...
On TV

Nothing airing worth remote control today. The screen can rest.

New Music

No new drops today. Go rediscover something in your old playlists.

In theaters

No new releases hitting theaters today. Your popcorn can wait.

Launching today

Nothing launching today. Every rocket is staying grounded and behaving.

Useless Fact

The average human will shed 40 pounds of skin in a lifetime.

The loonie
CAD → USD
0.7086
▼ 0.0063
CAD → EUR
0.6356
▼ 0.0012
Today In History
2004 — Swedish Writer Stieg Larsson Dies Before Millennium Series
Swedish writer and activist Stieg Larssondied from a heart attack in Stockholm, a year before The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the first installment in his internationally acclaimed Millennium series, was published
1996 — Holyfield Defeats Tyson to Regain Heavyweight Title
Evander Holyfield scored a technical knockout of Mike Tyson to win the heavyweight boxing championship for a third time. How much do you know about boxing? Scott Harrison/
1989 — Opening of the Berlin Wall
Long a symbol of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall, erected in 1961 and eventually extending 28 miles (45 km) to divide the western and eastern sectors of Berlin, was opened by the East German government on this day in 1989
1985 — Garry Kasparov becomes youngest male world chess champion
Garry Kasparov, who was 22 years old, defeated Anatoly Karpov to become the youngest male world chess champion
1984 — Release of Horror Classic A Nightmare on Elm Street
Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street was released in American theatres, introducing moviegoers to the villain Freddy Krueger; considered a horror classic, it spun off a number of sequels
1953 — Cambodia's Independence from France in 1953
Cambodia became independent from France
1943 — 1943 Creation of UN Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration was created by a 44-nation agreement
1938 — Kristallnacht: Nazi Attacks on Jews in Germany and Austria
Beginning on November 9-10, 1938, a period of Nazi-orchestrated violence and destruction against Jewish people, property, and institutions erupted across Germany and Austria. This event, known as Kristallnacht or the "Night of Broken Glass", resulted in the burning of synagogues, the looting of Jewish businesses, and the deaths of at least 91 Jewish people.
1923 — The Beer Hall Putsch - Hitler's Failed Nazi Uprising
The Beer Hall Putsch led by Adolf Hitler ended after 16 Nazis were killed on a march toward the Marienplatz in the centre of Munich, Germany. Hitler's failed attempt to overthrow the Weimar government.
1923 — Alice Coachman Becomes First Black Woman to Win Olympic Gold
Alice Coachman, the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal, was born
1922 — Einstein Awarded 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922
Albert Einstein was named the winner of the 1921 Nobel Prize for Physics for his explanation of the photoelectric effect; the Nobel committee had delayed awarding the 1921 physics prize until 1922
1922 — Dorothy Dandridge Nominated for Best Actress Oscar
American singer and film actress Dorothy Dandridge was born in 1922. She was the first Black woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.
1888 — The End of Jack the Ripper's Whitechapel Murders
Jack the Ripper's infamous killing spree in the Whitechapel district of London's East Endcame to an end
1877 — Birth of Indian Poet and Philosopher Muhammad Iqbal
Indian poet and philosopher Sir Muḥammad Iqbāl—who was known for his influential efforts to direct his fellow Muslimstoward the establishment of a separate Muslim state, an aspiration that was eventually realized in the country of Pakistan—was born in Sialkot, India (now in Pakistan)
1799 — Napoleon's Rise to Power in 1799 Coup
The Coup of 18–19 Brumaire began in Paris, marking Napoleon's rise to power and the end of the French Revolution

This is today, boiled down to the essentials. The full stash lives at logicalchaos.ca. Go get lost in it.