Following the 2024 election, Senator Sanders clarified that he is not currently advocating for a new political party, despite recent speculation. However, he emphasized the need for more working-class candidates and suggested that running as an Independent, outside the Democratic primary, might be strategically advantageous in certain situations. Sanders highlighted Dan Osborn’s successful independent campaign as a model, illustrating the potential for candidates who challenge both established parties and resonate with working-class voters. He believes a stronger working-class movement is crucial for achieving meaningful political change.
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Black Friday 2024 shattered previous ecommerce sales records, reaching $10.8 billion in US online sales—a 10.2% year-over-year increase. This surge, driven by mobile shopping (55% of online sales) and increased Buy Now, Pay Later usage (8.8% year-over-year growth), surpassed even Thanksgiving’s online sales. Significant growth was observed in categories like toys (622% increase over October daily average), highlighting consumers’ responsiveness to deep discounts averaging 28% off. Globally, Black Friday online sales reached $74.4 billion, with AI playing a significant role in driving conversions.
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Experts predict that President Trump’s administration will initially target specific civil servants for dismissal, using them as examples before potentially enacting mass layoffs. This strategy leverages the “Schedule F” executive order, reclassifying certain federal employees as at-will employees lacking typical civil service protections. While mass firings are possible, the administration might instead encourage resignations through the threat of Schedule F and relocation of government jobs, potentially leading to an exodus of experienced personnel. This approach, however, presents legal complexities, particularly regarding veterans’ appeal rights and the potential erosion of institutional knowledge. Ultimately, the Trump administration will need to balance its desire for rapid change with potential legal challenges and political ramifications.
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Following Donald Trump’s reelection, Republican lawmakers have escalated attacks against Democratic colleagues. Rep. Randy Fine threatened Reps. Tlaib and Omar, while Rep. Nancy Mace, despite past pro-LGBTQ statements, introduced a resolution banning transgender women from Capitol women’s restrooms, even posting a video of herself altering a bathroom sign. This transphobic rhetoric was echoed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Speaker Mike Johnson supported Mace’s actions, despite the lack of single-occupancy restrooms in the Capitol building. These actions represent a significant escalation of partisan hostility.
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Poland’s government approved legislation expanding hate crime laws to include sexual orientation, gender, age, and disability, punishable by up to three years imprisonment for public insults and five years for violence or threats. This update addresses the UN Human Rights Council’s concerns and fulfills a coalition agreement, marking a shift from previous anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. While the bill initially included “gender identity,” the final version uses “sex/gender,” a decision criticized by some LGBT+ groups for potentially excluding transgender individuals. The bill now proceeds to parliament for approval before potentially reaching President Duda.
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Handelsbanken’s head of forecasting, Johan Löf, predicts that President-elect Trump’s policies will lead to increased inflation. This resurgence of inflation poses a significant economic challenge. Löf’s analysis highlights the potential negative consequences of these policies on the U.S. economy. The forecast anticipates a considerable inflationary impact stemming from Trump’s proposed economic agenda.
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Actress Cheryl Hines recently shared an Instagram video promoting her Hines & Young beauty line, inadvertently showcasing her husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., showering in the background. The video, featuring Hines playfully chiding Kennedy, comes amidst recent controversies surrounding Kennedy’s political stances and a past sexting scandal. The post also subtly linked Hines’ MAHA candles to Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” campaign. The seemingly lighthearted video offers a glimpse into the couple’s life following the recent media attention.
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Germany will deploy Patriot missile units to Poland starting in January 2025, a decision jointly announced by German and Polish defense ministers. This deployment, lasting up to six months, will protect a key logistical hub in Rzeszów, supporting Ukraine’s defense and securing NATO airspace. The move follows a previous deployment in 2024 and complements Poland’s own efforts to strengthen its air defenses amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Two German fire units will be involved in the operation, coordinated with Poland and NATO.
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On November 29th, Ukrainian military intelligence reported the destruction of three high-value Russian radar systems in Crimea—two $5 million 48Y6-K1 Podlet systems and a $30 million Kasta-2E2 radar. These mobile radars, crucial for detecting low-altitude air targets, were struck following a similar attack on a Podlet system the previous day. While Ukraine’s HUR claimed responsibility, independent verification is pending. These attacks are consistent with Ukraine’s ongoing targeting of Russian military infrastructure in occupied Crimea.
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Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, faced scrutiny over a college newspaper column published during his tenure as publisher of *The Princeton Tory*. The column, authored by another student, John Andrews, argued that unconsciousness, without duress, did not constitute rape. While Hegseth did not write the article, his role as publisher implies responsibility for the magazine’s content. The incident resurfaced amidst other past controversies, including allegations of sexual assault and his outspoken conservative views expressed in the magazine. The current publisher of *The Princeton Tory* stated that the responsibilities of the publisher role varied over time.
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John Q. Hosedrinker