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President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Jared Isaacman, a notable SpaceX customer, as head of NASA. You may remember Isaacman as the billionaire who made the first private spacewalk last September as part of the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission. That said, he's a professional flier and holds the speed record for the fastest in-atmosphere trip around the planet. It seems great news for SpaceX, which supplies NASA with rockets and capsules and is run by Elon Musk – the oligarch currently buddies with Trump and happily offering advice on how the US government should be run. "I am delighted to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration," Trump said on his personal social network. "Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration." Isaacman made his fortune as the founder and CEO of payment processor Shift4, which he established at the tender age of 16. He later founded Draken International, which uses tactical jets to provide adversary air training for military pilots. He does have space experience, having purchased four tickets for an orbital trip in SpaceX's Dragon capsule back in 2022, then raffling off three of them. Wearing a SpaceX-designed lightweight spacesuit, Isaacman was the first person to take a brief step outside the capsule. The flight was one of three planned with SpaceX as part of Isaacman's Polaris Program to advance getting humans into space using Musk's rockets. Isaacman before his last SpaceX mission. Click to enlarge "On my last mission to space, my crew and I traveled farther from Earth than anyone in over half a century. I can confidently say this second space age has only just begun," Isaacman said in a post on X, better known as Twitter. "Space holds unparalleled potential for breakthroughs in manufacturing, biotechnology, mining, and perhaps even pathways to new sources of energy. There will inevitably be a thriving space economy—one that will create opportunities for countless people to live and work in space. With the support of President Trump, I can promise you this: We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place. Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth." With Musk apparently going to be co-head of the proposed US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he'll have the whip hand on discretionary spending by Uncle Sam, which includes NASA's $24 billion budget. It's widely expected the ax will come down hard on a lot of the space agency's programs and work will be given to private contractors instead, and having a SpaceX-friendly boss of the agency would as we said be a big help for Elon, already the world's richest man. First on the chopping block is likely to be NASA's Space Launch System, which may not be a bad idea, actually. Its monstrously expensive throwaway rockets are outdated, though it may not be as easy to cancel as some might think. NASA has subcontracted the manufacturing to a lot of congressional districts and politicians may not be too keen on their constituents being out of work. Isaacman has at least made it into orbit and is clearly a huge space nerd. Whether or not that will cross over into being an effective administrator, however, is very much up in the air. ®Xavier aims to rebound from a tough week and get one more critical tune-up for a rivalry matchup when it hosts Morgan State on Tuesday night in Cincinnati. The Musketeers (7-2) were ranked No. 22 in the AP poll two weeks ago but fell out after a 25-point loss to Michigan in the Fort Myers Tip-Off tournament final on Nov. 27. Xavier then barely escaped with a 71-68 home win over South Carolina State on Dec. 1 before losing 76-72 at TCU on Thursday. Dante Maddox Jr. came off the bench to score nine points in 20 minutes on three 3-pointers against the Horned Frogs. He also grabbed six rebounds before fouling out. The Musketeers have been waiting for the Toledo transfer to add a punch to an underwhelming bench cast that many thought would be a strength for Xavier coming into the season. "I really feel like you can almost be baited into a false sense of how deep your team is because you're around guys every day and have a good, older group, which we do," Musketeers coach Sean Miller said. "You see the good in a lot of different guys. It's not until you get 8 to 10, 10 to 15 games in when you truly understand how deep your team is." Maddox hit a 3-pointer and started a fastbreak with a steal that gave Xavier a 60-54 lead with 7:28 remaining, but the Musketeers faded down the stretch and lost for the second time in three games. Maddox is averaging 4.7 points per game, while Ryan Conwell leads the team with 16.6. Tuesday's game will be the last chance for Xavier to straighten up before visiting No. 22 Cincinnati on Saturday for the teams' annual intense crosstown showdown. Morgan State (5-7) is coming off a 102-81 road loss at Bowling Green on Saturday. Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection Will Thomas led the Bears with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, while Kameron Hobbs scored 12 points off the bench. Amahrie Simpkins made all five of his field-goal attempts to add 11 points and Wynston Tabbs had 10 points, six rebounds and six assists. Tabbs leads Morgan State in scoring this season at 16.8 points per game, while Simpkins (12.8) and Thomas (12.2) round out the Bears' double-digit scorers. The Bears have struggled away from home, losing all five road contests this season. --Field Level Medialodigame 9 login 。

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People in Damascus celebrate the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, December 9, 2024 (Image: EPA/Bilal al Hammoud) Sometimes nothing happens for years. And then years — decades even — happen in a few days. Over the past 10 days, a range of Syrian rebel forces led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have mounted an offensive against the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad. They first captured Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city and economic hub, and then swept rapidly south through Hama, Homs and finally Damascus. The rebels were met with little to no resistance from the Syrian regime, nor its Russian, Iranian or Hezbollah allies. And so, the 54-year-old regime led by Hafez al-Assad and then his son Bashar has now fallen. While it may seem like these events came out of nowhere, the rapid fall of the Assad regime has a long history. Good riddance to Assad, a Syrian monster. But chaos will follow Read More A ‘long-breath’ strategy of appeasement For decades, Hafez al-Assad, Syria’s autocratic ruler from 1970-2000, had adopted a pragmatic strategy that involved building relationships with a sometimes unlikely array of state and non-state allies, proxies and clients. This “ long-breath ” strategy was helpful in keeping relations with everyone open, even if those relations were in many cases extremely precarious. For example, the regime gave preferential treatment to minorities (predominantly Alawis and other quasi-Shiite groups) and other benefits to the Sunni and Christian establishment. These policies meant these groups had a vested interest in the continuation of the regime. Bashar al-Assad continued this tradition when he came to power following his father’s death. However, he also initiated liberalisation policies in the early years of his rule that emboldened a new genre of loyalist paramilitary forces. These were often headed by many of Syria’s newly minted business elite who, in large part, created armed groups to protect their economic fiefdoms. These pro-state militia groups tended to be less disciplined than the national army, and more corrupt. In March 2011, the uprisings across the Middle East spilled over into Syria, leading to the first public protests in the country in decades. Determined to avoid Libya’s fate of external intervention, the Syrian regime quickly opened fire on unarmed protesters , killing many. This was the start of Syria’s devastating 14-year civil war. The emergence of Russian-led armed factions The Russians joined the conflict in mid-2015. One of their conditions of entry into Syria: a single, traditionally structured military command for them to work with. This necessitated various local militia groups, such as the National Defence Force and Kataeb al-Baath, being absorbed into the Syrian army through the establishment of a new Fourth Corps aligned with the Russians. Due to the unruly behaviour of many of these militias, Russia later set up a Fifth Corps in an attempt to restructure the Syrian army around personnel who were both reliable and loyal to Moscow. Then, reconciliation agreements between the regime, Russia and various rebel groups from 2016 to 2018 facilitated the integration of armed rebel groups into the Russian-led Fourth and Fifth Corps, as well as an Iranian-led division of the Syrian army. Under the terms of these reconciliation deals, men in rebel-held communities who had deserted or dodged their mandatory Syrian army conscription were expected to join within six months. Russian propaganda talking points would be very familiar to News Corp audiences Read More As Syrian researcher Abdullah al-Jabassini has explained , these agreements led to a precarious security situation in southern Syria. The agreements aimed to end fighting and restore state control over rebel-held areas. However, many of the once-rebel factions who were now, on paper at least, linked to the Syrian army, Russia and Iran, continued to operate with relative freedom and impunity. This ran counter to the regime’s presumed strategy of re-consolidating its control over the country. Many of these local armed groups continued to provide security to their communities, even erecting barriers at the entrances of each city to prevent the entry of the Syrian Army. A former Syrian governor told me in an interview in 2022: In Houran [southern Syria], generally, there is no regime control. It remains impossible for the regime to enter Busra al-Sham, Daraa City, Tafas and their surroundings, due to certain considerations or guarantees. But of course, there are no guarantees but their arms. For the past few years, the Syrian regime, Russia and Iran seemed to have some ability to control these ex-rebel groups and militias that supposedly now operated under their purview. However, this control was an illusion. In the past 10 days, the regime’s forces have completely disintegrated in the face of the opposition’s offensive. The army’s fractured levels of control and lack of resources, the dire economic situation in the country (which resulted in soldiers not being paid), and the low morale and corruption at almost every level could not sustain a military — or a security state. A state-in-waiting For more than 50 years, Syria was a suffocating kingdom of silence. People had little ability to collaborate or negotiate in meaningful ways. This made forming any common vision for Syria’s political future a daunting undertaking. Under Assad, Syria experts Robin Yassin-Kassab and Leila Al-Shami have written that “the most cunning and sycophantic” prospered. There was no culture in the deep sense of the word, only a framework empty of meaning populated by hired intellectuals, with the exception of a very few real thinkers, who were marginalised. But since the relative freezing of active combat in 2020, HTS, the Syrian National Army (linked to the Syrian Interim Government and Türkiye) and the Kurdish-led forces in northeastern Syria have had time to learn and consolidate. Foreign affairs won’t say how many Australians have been killed in Gaza, Lebanon and Israel Read More They have spent the past few years training and preparing their armed forces. They have also developed complex systems of governance, capable of meeting the needs of millions of people. Across northern Syria, these opposition groups and their political wings have set up a state-in-waiting, with ministries of economy, trade, education and humanitarian affairs. The groups also established their own civil and land registration systems, something normally considered the sole purview of recognised states. It’s right to be wary and sceptical, particularly of HTS’s supposed transformation from al-Qaeda affiliate to national liberation movement that will represent all Syrians. However, the early signs are promising. The immediate release of prisoners from the Assad regime’s infamous prison system, for example, was a deeply symbolic move aimed at endearing rebel forces to the Syrian population. When it liberated Aleppo, HTS fighters also secured banks to avoid looting. To build trust and boost morale among the local population, it diverted the electricity being funnelled to large factories to civilian residences. The group’s leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, now going by his legal name Ahmed al-Sharaa, has said he is willing to dissolve HTS in favour of creating a new structure that is more representative and capable of serving the current needs of all Syrians. A new chapter is beginning for Syria, its people and the world. The Syrian regime, a cult of personality built on the Assads, has fallen, offering hope to other people in the Middle East and beyond who continue to live under authoritarian dictatorships that change is indeed possible. May Syrians’ 2011 cry of “Dignity! Freedom! Bread!” continue to prevail. The piece firs appeared in The Conversation . Have something to say about this article? Write to us at letters@crikey.com.au . Please include your full name to be considered for publication in Crikey’s Your Say . We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.

Finding the perfect gift can be challenging, but when it comes to creativity, timeless fun, and display-worthy craftsmanship, Lego sets are a universal favorite. This guide to the best Lego gifts has been curated to include options for every age group and interest —from young kids just starting their building adventures to adults who have admired Lego for decades. Whether building Legos is his or her creative outlet , a collectible hobby, or a brand new journey, there’s a perfect set for all. These Lego gifts include something for everyone—from nostalgic designs inspired by hit movies like Harry Potter , Encanto , or Wicked to innovative builds like Minecraft’s anniversary celebration (there’s even a stunning bouquet of Lego flowers if you want to go romantic!). Don’t forget to consider the skill level of the person you’re shopping for before making a purchase. While adults can dive into detailed, intricate models like the Home Alone McCallisters’ House or Star Wars Millennium Falcon, the littles can stick with sparking their imaginations with interactive playsets like the Gabby’s Dollhouse Garden Party or a novelty hot dog food truck. So, if you’re shopping for an experienced builder or someone new to Lego, these best Lego gifts combine fun, brain power , and collector’s items that will delight any recipient regardless of age. Explore the possibilities and make this holiday season unforgettable with a gift that inspires creativity and endless play. ‘Home Alone’ House Lego Set – Best Gift for the Christmas Movie Lover Nothing captures Christmas better than the movie . This Home Alone Lego gift (aka the iconic McCallisters’ House) set is the ultimate must-have for the festive friend or family member on your list. The 3,955-piece collectible for fans of the iconic movie is designed for ages 18 and up. Consider it an advanced Lego building kit that features a detailed, interactive house, a treehouse, and the crooks’ van, complete with traps, swinging paint cans, and more. You can recreate the memorable scenes from the Christmas classic . It’s an unforgettable gift that combines nostalgia, creativity, and expert Lego craftsmanship. Beginners, beware! Marvel Avengers Tower Lego Set – Best Gift for Marvel Fan This Tower depicts the headquarters of the Avengers in Lego form. Gift it to someone who loves the mighty heroes of the Marvel superhero franchise. They’ll receive 31 figures in all, plus the detailed tower and other authentic accessories to recreate scenes from the movie. Superheroes in the set include Iron Man, Captain America, Thor—just to name a few—offering both an immersive building experience and an epic display piece. Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi Lego Set – Best Gift for the Mario Maven No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. This Mario & Yoshi Lego set appears in a pixelated design. This kit from the Super Mario World collection comes with 1,215 pieces that will thrill both big kids and adults who understand gaming nostalgia. Although this best Lego gift is designed for 18+, it features interactive elements—including a handle to make Yoshi run and a tongue action for playful adventures—that builders of all ages will like. ‘Star Wars’ Millennium Falcon Lego Set – Best Gift for the Star Wars Collector The Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon is a 1,351-piece masterpiece recreating the iconic Corellian freighter. Packed with rotating turrets, detailed interiors, and seven beloved characters, Han Solo’s legendary ship from is the best Lego gift for the building enthusiast who’s also a die-hard Star Wars fan. Once built, display it on a shelf as a collector’s item. ‘Harry Potter’ Hogwarts & Grounds Lego Set – Best Gift for the Potter Head This Hogwarts Castle and Grounds Lego set is a dream gift for adult fans of the Wizarding World. It comes with 2,660 pieces to recreate Hogwarts in stunning detail. Consider this ideal for true Lego pros, not little ones. Think: collectors who display and admire their work, or those who will then play with their creation for years to come. Tuxedo Cat Lego Set – Best Gift for the Cat Parent This Tuxedo Cat made of Legos has gone viral on TikTok with cat parents who showcase it alongside their actual fur baby who resemble it. This Lego Ideas Tuxedo Cat set features 1,710 pieces to build a lifelike, poseable black-and-white cat model with customizable details like eye color and mouth expression. Your gift recipient can use it as part of their decor or their next social media reel. Icons PAC-MAN Arcade Retro Game Lego Set – Best Gift for the Nostalgic Builder The Lego Icons PAC-MAN Arcade Retro Game Building Set embodies nostalgia and fun. This masterpiece comes with 2,651 pieces, recreating the iconic 1980s arcade game. It even features intricate retro details like a 4-way joystick, mechanical maze, and illuminating coin slot. On its pretend screen, a mini 1980s arcade scene is displayed. Perfect for the retro gaming guru, gift this to a loved one for timeless fun! Icons Over the Moon with Pharrell Williams Building Kit – Best Gift for the Pop Culture Fiend The Icons Over the Moon with Pharrell Williams consists of 966 pieces and, once built, showcases a stunning black-and-gold space shuttle, a vibrant jet-stream display, and exclusive minifigures. A true collector’s item that celebrates space exploration, this set is designed by Grammy-winning artist Pharrell Williams himself and coincides with the music icon’s Lego movie that tells the story of his life. Ideal for adult Lego collectors, pop culture aficionados, and space fans, this gift is meant to inspire its builder. Nintendo Entertainment System Lego Set – Best Gift for the ’90s Kid at Heart Combine two of their favorite passions with this Lego gift. This Lego Nintendo Entertainment System set is a 2,646-piece masterpiece for retro gamers who also love building things out of Legos. This nostalgic kit recreates the iconic NES console that was introduced to us in 1990. It even comes complete with a buildable retro TV and an interactive scrolling 8-bit Mario screen. The grown Lego collector in your life can display their Super Mario Bros. creation on a shelf somewhere in their home. LEGO Stationary Set with Minifigure – Best Gift for the Person Who Loves a Novelty Gift Fun and functional, this Lego Stationery Set can be gifted to Lego fans of all ages. This 8-piece set comes with pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, and a buildable minifigure. Perfect for school, work, or just as a novelty gift, it’s a playful way to tell your Lego-obsessed loved one you “get” them! Pixar ‘Up’ House Lego Set – Best Gift for the Adventure Seeker This Up House Lego set recreates the home from the beloved Pixar movie, . The house is also the setting of where Carl Fredricksen embarks on a balloon-fueled adventure with Russell and Dug. This 598-piece building set captures the heartwarming charm of the film, so it’s an inspiring gift for Pixar fans who loved the unforgettable animated film. The Magical Madrigal House from ‘Encanto’ Lego Set – Best Gift for the Magical Family The Magical Madrigal House Lego set is a vibrant, detailed recreation of the family home from the hit Disney’s movie. Perfect for kids ages seven and up, this 1,560-piece best Lego gift features eight colorful rooms and nine of your favorite characters, like Mirabel, Isabela, and Luisa, allowing fans to recreate iconic scenes or imagine new magical adventures. We appreciate the set’s intricate movie-inspired details and interactive play elements. Forest Animals: Red Fox Lego Set – Best Gift for the Animal Lover This Lego Creator Forest Animals: Red Fox building kit is the ultimate collector’s item for the Lego lover in your life. Not only does it give the Lego fan a chance to build one of three charming woodland creatures that came out in the original collection (there’s an owl and squirrel too), this particular box is practically out of stock everywhere. With posable limbs and intricate details, this 667-piece set sparks endless creativity and play. This rare find makes for a special gift for those ages nine and up. T. Rex Lego Set – Best Gift for the Kid Who Digs Dinos This T. Rex comes with 626 pieces. And if the dinosaur lover in your life can’t get enough, there are also a triceratops and a pterodactyl that can be combined with this gift a set of three. And the best part is, each of these dino kits feature creations with posable limbs for action-packed play. Combining the thrill of dinosaurs with the creativity of building, this gift promotes problem-solving and imagination for kids nine and up. ‘Despicable Me 4’ Minions and Gru’s Family Mansion Lego Set – Best Gift for the Little Minion in Your Life Fans of the franchise will appreciate this Minions and Gru’s Family Mansion Lego set. The master builder minions in your life can stay busy with this 868-piece set that recreates Gru’s iconic house and treehouse, packed with rooms to explore, fun accessories, and beloved characters like Gru, Lucy, and their minions. Lego Storage Cinch Bucket – Best Gift for the Most Organized Neat freaks, rejoice. This Lego Storage Cinch Bucket will keep the Lego lover in your life super organized. Made from durable polyester with a cinch closure and clear base for easy visibility, this portable bucket makes cleanup effortless while doubling as stylish on-the-go storage for Lego bricks whether they’re home building or traveling with their sets. Choose from different colors, like blue, grey, purple, orange, and red. Room Copenhagen Lego Ceramic Mug – Best Gift for the Gag Gift Exchange The Room Copenhagen Lego Ceramic Mug showcases the fun Lego Iconic Boy design we’ve come to know and love. Give it to truly Lego-obsessed fans who appreciate novelty items. Made of durable ceramic, it’s dishwasher safe and holds 17.9 oz, making it great for coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. If you don’t love this Lego face, there are other variations like Winking Face and Silly Boy. Beach Camper Van Lego Set – Best Gift for the Travel Savvy The Lego Creator Beach Camper Van set is like a fun, pretend vacation in a box. Gift it to kids 8 and up who love building and imaginative play. With 556 pieces, it transforms into a camper van, ice cream shop, and beach house. Your little builder can then immerse himself in a summer-themed scene! ‘Friends’ Central Perk Lego Building Kit – Best Gift for the Sitcom Queen Only the biggest fanatics will appreciate the Lego Ideas Central Perk set. This 1,070-piece treasure is geared towards 16+, but let’s be honest, us 40-somethings would squeal if this is gifted to us. For those who missed out on the best sitcom of all time, Central Perk was the characters’ iconic hangout spot. This detailed build includes the New York City cafe where Chandler, Monica, Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey would spend most of their days, seven minifigures, and accessories, celebrating nostalgia, creativity, and endless storytelling fun. Duplo Peppa Pig Garden and Tree House – Best Gift for Kids Under 6 Give the Lego Duplo Peppa Pig Garden and Tree House set to the toddler with a patient parent. This delightful 20-piece gift for kids age two and up features Peppa and George Pig figures, gardening tools, and a fun treehouse. Encouraging creative play and motor skill development, moms and dads may have to pitch in if the little one hasn’t quite grasped the Lego-building process. Magical Unicorn Lego Set – Best Gift for the Unicorn Kid You Know The Lego Creator Magical Unicorn delivers endless creative play for kids ages 7 and up. With 145 pieces, kids can build and transform a colorful unicorn with movable features. (There are also a seahorse and peacock in this collection if the unicorn isn’t for you.) Perfect for imaginative adventures, this set combines mythical magic with display-worthy designs kids will love. Lego Creative Suitcase – Best Gift for the Little One Who’s Always On-the-Go With Mom and Dad A portable Lego set might just be what your family needs! This Lego Classic Creative Suitcase comes with 213 colorful pieces for endless creations, housed in a sturdy, portable case. Consider it for kids ages four and up. This set sparks creativity with limitless building possibilities. Busy parents on-the-go will appreciate the convenient storage compartments provided for organization. ‘Wicked’ Welcome to Emerald City Lego Set – Best Gift for the ‘Wicked’ Obsessed Celebrate the magic of Wicked with the Lego Welcome to Emerald City set. Perfect for fans of the Broadway classic or the latest movie iteration, this enchanting 945-piece build features Glinda, Elphaba, and the iconic Emerald City. It’s the season’s must-have gift for ages nine and up. ‘Wicked’ Glinda & Elphaba’s Dormitory Lego Set – Best Gift for Your Bestie (Whether You’re the Elphaba and She’s Glinda, or Vice Versa) We don’t know about you, but we can’t get enough of Wicked . This Lego Wicked Glinda & Elphaba’s Dormitory set is perfect for kids ages 8 and up (plus, grown-ups). Your gift recipient can transform herself to one of her favorite scenes from the movie while she sings “Popular.” Gabby’s Dollhouse Kitty Fairy’s Garden Party Lego Set – Best Gift for the Gabby Watcher This Gabby’s Dollhouse Kitty Fairy’s Garden Party Lego set makes an enchanting gift for kids aged four and up. It comes with 130 pieces, and features a treehouse, slide, swing, merry-go-round, and of course the lovable characters from the hit Netflix children’s series. Hello, Gabby, Pandy Paws, and Kitty Fairy! Kids can create magical garden adventures while developing creative building and storytelling skills with this gift, too! Hot Dog Food Truck Lego Set – Best Gift for the Silliest Kid You Know To that fun-loving kid or the adult who’s really a kid-at-heart, this Lego Friends Hot Dog Food Truck set is one fun way to spend a Friday evening. With 100 pieces, it includes a buildable truck, two mini-dolls, and a cat figure, along with pretend play food accessories. Kids (or super-fun grown-ups) can enjoy role-playing adventures, or simply display their creation on a bookshelf or side table. Sea Rescue Center Lego Set – Best Gift for the Kid Who Has a Great Imagination The Lego Friends Sea Rescue Center will engage kids seven and up with its 376 pieces. This gift is perfect for kids who love animals and ocean adventures. It features three minidolls, sea otters, a seahorse, and a turtle. Once he builds the rescue center (which comes with a super-cool water scooter and slide), he can use the vet tools for imaginative marine life-saving play. Flower Bouquet Lego Set – Best Gift for the Love of Your Life She’s not impressed by a bouquet of flowers, she says. But how about a Leco Flower Bouquet Building Set? This 756-piece gift for ages 18 and up combines creativity, thoughtful thinking, and lasting beauty. Not only is it a unique alternative to real flowers, this sweet gesture comes with 15 lifelike stems, including roses and snapdragons, with posable petals. Customize your arrangement—for real—by setting it up your way. Unlike a dozen roses from the flowers hop, this timeless treasure can be displayed for a lifetime. Retro Roller Skate Lego Set – Best Gift for the Trendsetter Friend You may have seen the TikTok reels: retro skating is having a moment right now. This Retro Roller Skate building kit captures the nostalgia perfectly with its vibrant design and overall cuteness. Gift this 264-piece set to the skaters of your life (ages eight and up). They can celebrate their new hobby as they build and transform a roller skate with moving wheels. Lego Storage 3-Piece Organizer Cubes – Best Gift for Moms Who Hate Clutter Combine your pal’s love of Legos with their desire to keep their playroom in tip-top shape. Enter, the Lego Storage Organizer Cubes. This 3-piece set will keep Lego pieces and accessories neat yet accessible. Designed for ages three and up (and moms who have no patience to keep picking up kids’ Legos), this gift comes with three durable, zippered cubes with clear windows for easy organization. Use them for Lego bricks, action figures, or travel essentials for a practical, lightweight storage solution with iconic LEGO charm. Minecraft The Crafting Table Lego Set – Best Gift for the Minecraft Player Minecraft fan or not, this showpiece set can be displayed for all to see. Minecraft The Crafting Table comes with 1,195 pieces that, when built, celebrates Minecraft’s 15th anniversary. Consider it for the adult Minecraft fan or experienced builders who love a collector’s item. It also includes 12 biomes, eight iconic micro figures, and five detachable mini builds for various display options. Lego Medium Creative Brick Box – Best Gift for the Lego Beginner The best starter set for those ages four to 99, this Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box comes with 484 pieces for limitless creations. It includes colorful bricks, wheels, windows, and a green baseplate. They can also use the pieces to make trains, cars, structures, and scenes. This set wonderfully fosters creativity, offers hours of imaginative play, and doubles as convenient storage. Unlike other Lego sets that have defined instructions, the little builder in your life can make whatever they want! BTS Dynamite Lego Set – Best Gift for the K-Pop Fan Have a BTS fan in your life? The Lego Ideas BTS Dynamite set lets K-pop lovers build an iconic scene from their hit music video, “Dynamite” (the group’s first-ever all-English single). Featuring all seven band members as Lego minifigures, this 749-piece kit—complete with a retro, feel-good vibe like the music video—is the perfect gift for collectors who happen to also be BTS-obsessed.

Xavier aims to rebound from a tough week and get one more critical tune-up for a rivalry matchup when it hosts Morgan State on Tuesday night in Cincinnati. The Musketeers (7-2) were ranked No. 22 in the AP poll two weeks ago but fell out after a 25-point loss to Michigan in the Fort Myers Tip-Off tournament final on Nov. 27. Xavier then barely escaped with a 71-68 home win over South Carolina State on Dec. 1 before losing 76-72 at TCU on Thursday. Dante Maddox Jr. came off the bench to score nine points in 20 minutes on three 3-pointers against the Horned Frogs. He also grabbed six rebounds before fouling out. The Musketeers have been waiting for the Toledo transfer to add a punch to an underwhelming bench cast that many thought would be a strength for Xavier coming into the season. "I really feel like you can almost be baited into a false sense of how deep your team is because you're around guys every day and have a good, older group, which we do," Musketeers coach Sean Miller said. "You see the good in a lot of different guys. It's not until you get 8 to 10, 10 to 15 games in when you truly understand how deep your team is." Maddox hit a 3-pointer and started a fastbreak with a steal that gave Xavier a 60-54 lead with 7:28 remaining, but the Musketeers faded down the stretch and lost for the second time in three games. Maddox is averaging 4.7 points per game, while Ryan Conwell leads the team with 16.6. Tuesday's game will be the last chance for Xavier to straighten up before visiting No. 22 Cincinnati on Saturday for the teams' annual intense crosstown showdown. Morgan State (5-7) is coming off a 102-81 road loss at Bowling Green on Saturday. Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection Will Thomas led the Bears with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, while Kameron Hobbs scored 12 points off the bench. Amahrie Simpkins made all five of his field-goal attempts to add 11 points and Wynston Tabbs had 10 points, six rebounds and six assists. Tabbs leads Morgan State in scoring this season at 16.8 points per game, while Simpkins (12.8) and Thomas (12.2) round out the Bears' double-digit scorers. The Bears have struggled away from home, losing all five road contests this season. --Field Level MediaThanks to his recent fame, Travis Kelce’s brother will host a new late-night show on ESPN

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A version of this story appeared in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here . Donald Trump has made bold claims about his plans for when he takes office next month, from drastic action at the border to ending birthright citizenship and pardoning January 6 insurrectionists. When he sat down for his first postelection interview with a mainstream journalist, Kristen Welker of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he promised he would not encourage his Justice Department to go after his political enemies but added that he thinks some of them belong in jail. How those promises and desires will translate into action remains unclear, so it’s worth paying attention to what Trump said in that lengthy sit-down, which aired Sunday. Here are key lines from NBC’s interview , along with some context: What will Trump accomplish in his first 100 days? So expect something related to immigration to get everyone’s attention. In the first week of his first administration in 2017, for instance, Trump used executive authority to act on his campaign promise to ban all Muslims from traveling to the US by imposing a ban on travel from predominantly Muslim countries and also put a hold on all refugees entering the US for four months. Those moves, which made a statement, sparked protests at airports and a standoff between Trump and lawyers at the Department of Justice. Trump has talked previously about mobilizing the military to do more at the border and about effectively shutting the border with Mexico. In the NBC interview, he also talked about extending tax cuts and working with Democratic mayors to address crime in cities in his first 100 days. Do sexual misconduct and excessive drinking allegations related to Pete Hegseth — his pick for defense secretary, who told senators he would go dry — worry Trump? While there have been reports that Trump has considered alternatives to Hegseth , he has maintained public support for the former Fox News host. There have been multiple reports about Hegseth’s drinking, including that it led him to be forced out of the leadership of veterans’ advocacy groups. He also has dealt with revelations about a settlement he reached with a woman who alleged Hegseth sexually assaulted her. Can Trump guarantee tariffs won’t raise prices for American consumers? Tariffs are taxes on foreign imports paid by importers in the US. Economists generally believe tariffs raise prices for consumers , but Trump doesn’t believe it. He has promised a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico, something he may be able to accomplish without Congress. In the NBC interview, he pointed to tariffs he imposed, particularly on China, during his first term and kept in place by the Biden administration as evidence. Trump argued the US is “subsidizing” Canada to the tune of $100 billion per year and Mexico to the tune of $300 billion per year. Trump recently made a joke about annexing Canada during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Presumably he was riffing on that joke here rather than offering a serious idea. After a recent phone call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum , Trump said they had agreed to “effectively” close the border, although she later disputed that claim. It’s not entirely clear what Trump meant by arguing in the NBC interview that the US is subsidizing Canada and Mexico. It could be a reference to trade deficits between the US and those trading partners. But the trade deficit with Canada was about $54 billion in 2022 and about $131 billion with Mexico that year. The “madman theory” of foreign policy is that other countries stay in check because they think a powerful world leader is crazy and unpredictable, something Trump has embraced. Before November’s election, for example, Trump told The Wall Street Journal he would never have to use the military to protect Taiwan from China because China’s president knows he’s “f**king crazy.” Trump also argued in the NBC interview that tariffs during his first term saved “tens of thousands” of manufacturing jobs at Whirlpool in Ohio, a debatable claim since the US International Trade Commission found that the tariffs led to an uptick of about 1,800 US jobs, at a cost to consumers of about $815,000 per job. Trump said “the market” will keep companies from raising prices as a result of his tariffs. Trump argued both that tariffs will raise money and that they will be an effective diplomatic tool. The math is hard to envision, since by one estimate, Trump’s proposed tax cuts would far outstrip revenue raised by tariffs and his policies would add $7.75 trillion to the national debt over 10 years. Welker asked Trump directly whether tariffs are something he’ll really do or whether they’re a negotiating tactic. His 416-word response did not answer the question directly, but he did argue that his election has already dried up border crossings to a “trickle.” Trump wanted credit for Mexican authorities breaking up several “caravans” of migrants. Border crossings had already dropped precipitously after executive action by the Biden administration . Would Trump consider raising the minimum wage? The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009. Trump doesn’t sound likely to push for an across-the-board hike now. Some states have minimum wages over $15, while others have stayed at the federal minimum. In Alaska and Missouri , two states that backed Trump, voters also acted in November to raise the minimum wage. Trump has focused his outreach to wage earners on policy proposals such as exempting tips from taxes . Is it realistic to deport every single one of the millions of people in the US illegally? How Trump might go about mass deportation and whether he would focus on people who have not violated criminal laws has been the subject of much reporting. Read more about his immigration plans . Does that include ‘Dreamers,’ who were brought to the US as children? Trump ultimately said he wants Dreamers to be able to stay in the US and suggested “doing something” about Dreamers could involve a bipartisan deal with Democrats. But in mixed-immigration-status families, where children are citizens and their parents are not, Trump would focus on deporting the whole family Trump acknowledged these deportations are going to be hard to watch On separating families, he said they will have a choice How will Trump end birthright citizenship? Trump said he would try to end birthright citizenship with executive action, but he acknowledged it could take more because, according to the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, every person born in the US is a citizen. Amending the Constitution is a long and complicated process. There hasn’t been an amendment enacted in more than three decades. It will be interesting to see how Trump justifies trying to end birthright citizenship with the stroke of a pen. Also, the US is definitely not the only country with birthright citizenship. Read this fact check . Trump still has only ‘concepts’ of a health care plan, but it’s hard to explain Sign-ups for Obamacare plans fell during Trump’s first term even as the law became more popular. Read more about what Trump did with the Affordable Care Act . Will he follow up on making insurance companies pay for in vitro fertilization? Trump promised not to push for investigations of his political opponents Trump said he does not expect his pick to lead the FBI, Kash Patel , to necessarily investigate his political enemies. He seemed surprised when Welker read back to him a 2023 Truth Social post in which he said he would appoint a special prosecutor to look into President Joe Biden. But does he want his political enemies investigated? Will he go after Biden? Trump said he won the election for two reasons, neither of which is political retribution While he won’t push his attorney general pick, Pam Bondi, to investigate his enemies, he’s not shutting it down, either A few moments later, however Trump undercut this message when he argued that former Rep. Liz Cheney and other people on the House committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, insurrection committed a “major crime.” More on that further below. Trump would not definitely say he’ll fire FBI Director Christopher Wray That was a reference to search warrants served on Trump’s Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, and his club in New Jersey related to Trump’s refusal to turn over classified documents to the National Archives. But since Trump has picked Patel for the job, he admitted that means Wray – whose name he would not say — would have to leave: Trump didn’t read Project 2025 so that he could deny connection to it While he is hiring many people connected to the blueprint for a Republican administration and he agrees with much of it, Trump doesn’t want to be associated with it. He’s not thinking about a pardon from Biden While Trump said he thinks a president can pardon himself, he doesn’t think he needs one since the federal cases against him have been dropped . And on whether Biden should pardon him as a way to bring the country together, Trump doesn’t see it happening. He thinks Cheney and members of the January 6 committee should be in jail But Trump said he won’t instruct either his attorney general or his FBI director to go after committee members. Trump wants to focus on opening up more land for oil exploration, but he clearly maintains serious animus toward the people who investigated the insurrection. Trump alleged they destroyed evidence related to the investigation, but committee members, who issued an 800-page report along with transcripts of their interviews, have said that is not correct . In response to Trump’s argument that January 6 committee members should be jailed, Cheney said it would be inappropriate for the Department of Justice to investigate a congressional committee. He’s serious about pardoning January 6 rioters on his first day in office He may pardon people who pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers at the Capitol Trump is open to eliminating some vaccines for children, and he’s open to the disproven idea that vaccines cause autism Trump said he’s already held a long meeting with his pick for Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , and drug companies about a range of topics, including vaccines and pesticides. But Trump said RFK Jr. will not pursue radical change Welker pushed Trump by noting decades of studies have shown no link between autism and vaccines, and he brought up another disproven theory, that chlorine in the water causes autism. Trump said he wants to see more evidence about vaccines. Trump promised not to give Elon Musk’s companies special favors Trump pledged not to cut Social Security or Medicare other than to make them more efficient Ukraine should expect less help from the US and instead look to Europe, Trump said Trump said he’s actively trying to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine But he would not say whether he’s been talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will work with Trump on ending the war. Trump takes no responsibility for the divided country Welker asked Trump whether, to unite the US and turn the page, he would admit he lost the 2020 election. He would not. Trump was also asked why, if Democrats controlled the White House, he was able to win the election. He alleged many times that Democrats wanted to steal the election. He told his adult children not to come into his second administration Trump said both his wife and children are treated unfairly by the press. He did not have a ready answer when Welker asked what role his wife, Melania, would play in her second four years as first lady, but he quickly pivoted to an attack on the press. Trump will give every American the MAGA treatment Welker asked for his message to the people who didn’t vote for him.

North Fork tribal member wins Clean Energy Hall of Fame awardWheel of Fortune’s most prized tradition is the bonus round, where each episode’s winner is faced with one last puzzle and a mere 10 seconds to come away with an even bigger bundle of cash (or not). But fans want a word with host Ryan Seacrest about how he’s presenting the prizes after giving a puzzling amount of build-up to a player’s $40,000 win. On Friday, November 22’s episode, Brittany Brock, a kindergarten teacher from Chicago, Illinois, was the player to proceed to the coveted bonus round. By then she had won $17,300 in cash, a trip to Kauai, and selected “Living Thing” as her category. With the savvy additional letters of “DPBI” the two-word puzzle read as, “‘_ _ DDL_’ ‘P_PP_'”. Near-instantly, she correctly solved it as “Cuddly Puppy.” The broadcast cut to Seacrest and an excited Brock, and it was time to reveal how much she won from the prize wedge she picked. Seacrest opened the gold prize card and glanced at the figure. “And...” he told her with a surprised grin (below). After a few seconds he added, “Ready?” Broke clasped her hands over her mouth in anticipation as Seacrest then revealed she won an extra $40,000, the least one can win in the bonus round. “$40,000!” he exclaimed. This brought her to a grand total of $57,381 and she was overjoyed nonetheless, embraced her husband. On Social media, many fans celebrated the big win while left wondering why Seacrest presented the prize with such a prolonged rollout that it seemed like a bigger value and as if the confetti was about to overflow onto the Sony Pictures Studios parking lot. “Ryan acting like it’s $75,000 or $100,000 with the slow way he shows the amount,” one fan wrote when the game show shared the clip to YouTube. Over on the WoF Reddit, a fan dedicated a discussion thread to the moment titling it, “Bonus Reveal... lolz.” They continued, “I like Seacrest, but gotta admit, I’m not a fan of the dramatic 40K reveals lol.” “Agreed...” a second user wrote, arguing that a contestant in the future could be “disappointed” it’s not more. “The Mrs. and I commented on that last night. He presents it like it’s something more than the minimum prize amount! One of these days, the contestant is going to react disappointedly.” A third wrote, “He also contorts his body awkwardly and bounces around to just flip the card open. Then says ‘it was this much’ as if he can’t say the amount. Kind of weird. But the lack of higher amounts lately is noticed. I’m glad it’s been all cash so far. A lot of the cars prior were 30k, which is nice, but they were lowest prize.” “I agree, feels like he’s forcing it,” wrote a fourth. A fifth was even more critical, “I’m sorry I know a lot of people are going to get mad at me but I just don’t like him. There’s something about him, that I just don’t enjoy watching him in anything at all.” Meanwhile , Seacrest, of course, had huge shoes to fill replacing the legendary Pat Sajak alongside the iconic Vanna White after four decades for Season 42. His debut month was the strongest ratings month for WoF in the past three years, and viewers were already treated to a viral moment (via a round of sausage) . That said, there have been some other questionable moments according to fans. In September, Seacrest suffered what fans dubbed his “first blooper” , involving a prolonged reaction to rewarding a bonus round. Fans also called out the host for ruling against another player before the timer was up. There have also been a few on-screen “glitches,” and a minor spelling error in a Thanksgiving puzzle . Many fans also blamed a lack of experience on Seacrest’s mishandling of a contestant’s $1million wedge, which she instantly forfeited. Wheel of Fortune , Weeknights, Check your local listings More Headlines:

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