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PHOENIX — Donald Trump suggested Sunday that his new administration could try to regain control of the Panama Canal that the United States “foolishly” ceded to its Central American ally, contending that shippers are charged “ridiculous” fees to pass through the vital transportation channel linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at AmericaFest on Sunday in Phoenix. Rick Scuteri, Associated Press Panama's conservative president José Raúl Mulino, who was elected in April on a pro-business platform, roundly rejected that notion as an affront to his country's sovereignty. The Republican president-elect's comment came during his first major rally since winning the White House on Nov. 5. He also used his comments to bask in his return to power as a large audience of conservatives cheered along. It was a display of party unity at odds with a just-concluded budget fight on Capitol Hill where some GOP lawmakers openly defied their leader's demands. Addressing supporters at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Arizona, Trump pledged that his “dream team Cabinet” would deliver a booming economy, seal U.S. borders and quickly settle wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. “I can proudly proclaim that the Golden Age of America is upon us,” Trump said. “There’s a spirit that we have now that we didn’t have just a short while ago.” His appearance capped a four-day pep rally that drew more than 20,000 activists and projected an image of Republican cohesion despite the past week's turbulence in Washington with Trump pulling strings from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida as Congress worked to avoid a government shutdown heading into the Christmas holiday. House Republicans spiked a bipartisan deal after Trump and Elon Musk, his billionaire ally, expressed their opposition on social media. Budget hawks flouted Trump's request to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, which would have spared some new rounds of the same fight after he takes office Jan. 20, 2025, with Republicans holding narrow control of the House and Senate. The final agreement did not address the issue and there was no shutdown. Trump, in his remarks in Phoenix, did not mention the congressional drama, though he did reference Musk's growing power. To suggestions that "President Trump has ceded the presidency to Elon,” Trump made clear, “No, no. That’s not happening.” “He’s not gonna be president,” Trump said. The president-elect opened the speech by saying that "we want to try to bring everybody together. We’re going to try. We’re going to really give it a shot." Then he suggested Democrats have “lost their confidence” and are “befuddled” after the election but eventually will ”come over to our side because we want to have them.” A cargo ship traverses the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal on Sept. 2 in Colon, Panama. Matias Delacroix, Associated Press Atop a list of grievances — some old, some new — was the Panama Canal. “We’re being ripped off at the Panama Canal,” he said, bemoaning that his country ”foolishly gave it away.” Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts The United States built the Panama Canal in the early 1900s, as it looked for ways to facilitate the transit of commercial and military vessels between its coasts. Washington relinquished control of the waterway to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 under President Jimmy Carter. The canal depends on reservoirs to operate its locks and was heavily affected by 2023 Central American droughts that forced it to substantially reduce the number of daily slots for crossing ships. With fewer ships using the canal each day, administrators also increased the fees that are charged all shippers for reserving a slot. With weather returning to normal in the later months of this year, transit on the canal has normalized. But price increases are still expected for next year. Mulino, Panama's president, has been described as a conservative populist who aligns with Trump on many issues. Panama is a strong U.S. ally and the canal is crucial for its economy, generating about one-fifth of that government’s annual revenue. Still, Trump said, that, once his second term is underway, "If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question.” “I’m not going to stand for it," Trump said. "So to the officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly.” He did not explain how that would be possible. A short time after Trump's speech, Mulino released a video declaring that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong” to his country. Without mentioning Trump by name, Mulino addressed the president-elect's complaints over rising fees for ships crossing the canal, saying that they are set by experts who take into account operational costs, and supply and demand factors. “The tariffs are not set on a whim” Mulino said. He noted that Panama has expanded the canal over the years to increase ship traffic “on its own initiative,” and added that shipping fee increases help pay for improvements. “Panamanians may have different views on many issues” Mulino said. “But when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.” The canal aside, Trump’s appearance at Turning Point’s annual gathering affirmed the growing influence the group and its founder, Charlie Kirk, have had in the conservative movement. Kirk’s organization hired thousands of field organizers across presidential battlegrounds, helping Trump make key gains among infrequent voters and other groups of people that have trended more Democratic in recent decades, including younger voters, Black men and Latino men. ”You had Turning Point’s grassroots armies,” Trump said. “It’s not my victory, it’s your victory.” Earlier Sunday, Trump said that Stephen Miran, who worked at the Treasury Department in Trump's first term, was his choice to lead the Council of Economic Advisers. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. George Walker IV, Associated Press Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Derik Hamilton Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Matt Rourke, Associated Press The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Matt Kelley, Associated Press Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Andrew Harnik, Associated Press Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Andrew Harnik, Associated Press Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. Andy Cross, The Denver Post via AP President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Evan Vucci Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. AP Photo/Evan Vucci FILE - Former Rep. Doug Collins speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. John Bazemore - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. José Luis Villegas, Associated Press Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Matt Rourke, Associated Press Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Jonathan Newton - pool, ASSOCIATED PRESS Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. AP Photo/ Evan Vucci, File) Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. John Raoux, Associated Press Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Andrew Harnik, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. Brynn Anderson, Associated Press/Pool A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Paul Sancya, Associated Press Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Oded Balilty, Associated Press Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor and television news personality who led the fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign and became engaged to Don Jr. in 2020. Trump called her “a close friend and ally” and praised her “sharp intellect make her supremely qualified.” Guilfoyle was on stage with the family on election night. “I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First,” Don Jr. posted. The ambassador positions must be approved by the U.S. Senate. Guilfoyle said in a social media post that she was “honored to accept President Trump’s nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate.” AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. John Bazemore, Associated Press Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Rodney Scott led during Trump's first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country's borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump's policies. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. He appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He's also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Mariam Zuhaib, Associated Press Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” AP file Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Branden Camp Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Matt Rourke, Associated Press Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Evan Vucci, Associated Press photos Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Trump says he’s picking Kari Lake as director of Voice of America, installing a staunch loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor and a Senate seat to head the congressionally funded broadcaster that provides independent news reporting around the world. Lake endeared herself to Trump through her dogmatic commitment to the falsehood that both she and Trump were the victims of election fraud. She has never acknowledged losing the gubernatorial race and called herself the “lawful governor” in her 2023 book, “Unafraid: Just Getting Started.” AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Ron Johnson, Ambassador to Mexico Johnson — not the Republican senator — served as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first administration. His nomination comes as the president-elect has been threatening tariffs on Mexican imports and the mass deportation of migrants who have arrived to the U.S.-Mexico border. Johnson is also a former U.S. Army veteran and was in the Central Intelligence Agency. Tom Barrack, Ambassador to Turkey Barrack, a wealthy financier, met Trump in the 1980s while helping negotiate Trump’s purchase of the renowned Plaza Hotel. He was charged with using his personal access to the former president to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates, but was acquitted of all counts at a federal trial in 2022. Trump called him a “well-respected and experienced voice of reason.” Andrew Ferguson, Federal Trade Commission Ferguson, who is already one of the FTC's five commissioners, will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Jacob Helberg, undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment Dan Bishop, deputy director for budget at the Office of Budget and Management Leandro Rizzuto, Ambassador to the Washington-based Organization of American States Dan Newlin, Ambassador to Colombia Peter Lamelas, Ambassador to Argentina Jose Luis Magana, Associated Pressor signup to continue reading The is one of the still few large SUVs in Australia available with a hybrid option – but spoiler alert, it's still in very short supply. This is the , which is the penultimate variant in the range sitting under the even more electrified Sorento GT-Line PHEV AWD, which costs $11,000 more. Priced from a little over $73,000 before on-road costs, the updated model is a few thousand dollars dearer than before – and , unfortunately. Still, the top-spec Sorento Hybrid is around the same money as a mid-tier . The related has just arrived with better supply and a wider range of variants, but a more polarising design. Key upgrades as part of the mid-life refresh include a fresh exterior design, as well as an updated interior and an enhanced technology suite. The hybrid drivetrain, meanwhile, is unchanged. Should you be getting in the queue for one of these electrified Kias, or are you better off looking at other options? The model year 2025 (MY25) Kia Sorento didn't see any further price adjustments since the initial launch earlier in the year, though each facelifted model carries a circa-$3000 premium over the equivalent pre-update model. As was the case pre-update, the Sorento Hybrid (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid are only available in top-spec GT-Line guise due to limited supply. Kia Australia says it's working with the factory to increase allocation, but the car is sourced from the factory that supplies Europe, North America and the Korean domestic market. If you've sat in an updated Sorento GT-Line, it's pretty much the same here. Save for energy flow graphics and a dedicated hybrid menu in the infotainment system and cluster, it's otherwise the same as a Sorento GT-Line in V6 or diesel flavours. That means you get a nicely trimmed cabin with Nappa leather upholstery, lashings of gloss black, and brighter silver tones, and it's all nicely put together and has an upmarket look and feel to it. Even the base Sorento S scores a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Kia Connect, and higher grades get embedded satellite navigation with real-time traffic updates. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard across the board, as is DAB radio. The GT-Line gets the upscale twin 12.3-inch array which effectively gives the Sorento the same full digital cockpit as the larger all-electric EV9. There's also a 10-inch head-up display with better graphics, and can project turn-by-turn navigation prompts from third-party mapping apps from smartphones. There's a digital rear-view mirror on the flagship too. Kia's latest software features here, bringing wireless smartphone mirroring across the range (yay!) and Kia Connect for connected navigation, over the air software updates, and remote functions including cabin pre-conditioning, and more. Higher grades offer extended functionality too, such as surround camera snapshots on the GT-Line, and you can control the vehicle's windows GT-Line models with auto up/down functionality. All of this is accessed via the Kia Connect smartphone app. We've tried these features in other Kias, and they're handy once you get it all set up. The Bose 12-speaker premium audio system is also good, with crisp audio and punchy bass. Comfort and space up front are pretty good, with plenty of nooks and crannies to store your phones, wallets, and keys. There's a big shelf under the centre stack for your phone, toothed cupholders, and several bins and cubbies – though the door pockets will only fit smaller bottles. The GT-Line offers a wireless phone fast charger. Worth noting is some of the cubbies aren't felt or rubber lined so harder items can rattle around a bit. Another new feature of the Sorento is the touch bar that serves as a climate control panel and virtual hard controls for the infotainment system. We've seen this on the EV6 and Sportage; unlike some touch-based controls the Kia ones work much like conventional switchgear. As before, the GT-Line gets a slew of luxury features like heated and ventilated front seats, as well as a heated steering wheel and manual rear sunshades. A panoramic sunroof is again reserved for the flagship, and it's a great feature if your kids like to look up at the sky while in the car. Not much has changed in the rear other than some new seat designs and new USB-C ports on the seat backs in higher models, but there's still plenty of goodness in the second and third rows. Adults easily fit behind adults in the second row, even three abreast without it being too much of a squeeze. The third row is one of the more practical for the segment, though it's not as good as the Palisade or Carnival and the curtain airbags only cover that second window – and therefore technically don't offer full three-row coverage. The Sorento is also very kid-friendly, with five top-tether and four ISOFIX anchors meaning you can fill up the rear two rows with child capsules if you need the space. The second row has a one-touch entrance function too to make getting in and out of the rearmost seats easier. The third row itself remains one of the best in class, with enough room for average-sized adults for shorter journeys and more than enough space for kids. Disappointingly, the Sorento doesn't get a proper third zone of automatic climate control like numerous rivals do. Rounding out the rear amenities are a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, net-type map pockets behind the front seats, cupholders, and bottle holders in the doors themselves, as well as a 12V outlet behind the centre console. GT-Line models also feature heated outer second-row seats. Regardless of which Sorento you choose, there's a full-size alloy spare wheel under the boot floor as well. Props to Kia for continuing to offer this, which no doubt will be a key point of difference to many buyers. As before, it's a 1.6-litre turbocharged hybrid drivetrain underneath the skin. The combustion-only Sorento range is already good, and the HEV adds an electrified powertrain into that mix. With a small turbocharged engine and an electric motor built into the six-speed automatic transmission, the Sorento HEV requires little learning curve to get accustomed to its driving characteristics. The Sorento HEV will often start in silence, but on cold starts the petrol engine fires up shortly after with the buzzy, muted tone this unit has in other Hyundai-Kia products. It sometimes sends slight vibrations into the cabin, but it's far from harsh. Being mated to a conventional auto and not a dual-clutch, as well as having an electric motor fill the void that would normally be turbo lag, the Sorento HEV actually gets off the line quite smoothly. Compared to something like a Kluger Hybrid, which uses an e-CVT, you might need to get used to the shifting between cogs, but otherwise it's pretty conventional. You'll find it doesn't stay in EV mode much during acceleration unless you're really feathering it or rolling at slow speeds in stop-start traffic. The Sorento HEV is clearly pitched at those that rarely venture onto the open road, with its hybrid system doing its best work in town. The gearing sees the 1.6-litre engine spinning at about 2000rpm at 100km/h. By comparison, the V6 and diesel will be far less stressed on the freeway thanks to their eight-speed 'boxes. It's also evident in the indicated fuel consumption. Our week ended with an indicated readout of 6.8L/100km which is good for this size of vehicle given we mainly drove to and from the office in peak hour with high traffic, though it's still a bit up on the brand's 5.7L/100km claim. Spend more time on the highway and you'll see sevens. Technically the electric motor acts as a launch gear and reverse, so you could consider it a seven-speeder, but the final drive appears a touch short to really make this a proper all-rounder. If you spend more time on the freeway, the diesel even without idle stop-start will do better numbers than the more expensive hybrid. Otherwise it's all pretty much standard Sorento, as with the mid-life update both the Sorento HEV and PHEV have been given the same ride and handling tune as the wider range, which wasn't the case previously. As you'd expect, the Sorento HEV handles with accuracy and confidence, with a lovely balance between comfort and engagement. The updated model feels nicely tied together to mask its size, and is a little softer in its damping to add an extra layer of compliance over undulations and harder hits. The Sorento HEV barely has any added weight compared to the equivalent petrol or diesel. While Kia Australia doesn't quote 0-100km/h times, the UK division quotes 8.7 seconds for the Sorento Hybrid, with the PHEV reducing that to 8.4 seconds. According to British specs, the diesel is almost half a second slower. It doesn't feel as outright punchy as the V6, nor as effortlessly torquey as the diesel. It splits the two in terms of performance and refinement, adding the electrified low-speed drive as a bonus while also achieving diesel-like economy for the most part. Insulation from road and wind noise is good, and the new Santa Fe arguably pushes the game forward again with its very clear focus on premium rivals in terms of presentation and ambience. The array of driver assistance systems works well, as we found in the core range. Highway Driving Assist combines adaptive cruise and lane centring for a semi-autonomous highway driving experience, and works well if for the odd confusion in freeway construction zones or if a vehicle suddenly cuts you off. Blind Spot View Monitor bolsters the standard blind-spot and rear cross-traffic assist features by showing you a live side camera feed every time you indicate, and the surround camera with 3D view likewise increases visibility. If there's one complaint, it's the annoying beeps and bongs of the Speed Limit Assist default to on and can be quite annoying even if they're quieter than previous iterations. Best to add the shortcut to the assistance menu to the star-labelled button on the steering wheel. The Sorento HEV is exclusively offered in flagship GT-Line trim, meaning it comes fully loaded. The new Sorento carries over the pre-update model's five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on Euro NCAP tests. It's worth noting the updated Australian range doesn't pick up more airbags like Korean models, which get rear-side inflators and a driver's knee airbag – bringing the total to 10. Local models also appear to miss out on the 'reverse guide lamp' that's similar to the rear lights offered by Genesis models. The Kia Sorento lineup is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. High-voltage battery and motor components for electrified models are covered for seven years or 150,000 kilometres. Scheduled maintenance is required every 12 months or 10,000 kilometres – whichever comes first. Kia models with turbocharged petrol engines have shorter mileage intervals than naturally aspirated petrols and turbo-diesels. It's also worth noting the related Hyundai Santa Fe with a similar hybrid system is far cheaper to service, at least over a five-year period. * The Sorento Hybrid remains a solid option for families wanting to reduce their emissions, if you can get your hands on one. While the Australian-market diesel continues with older Euro 5 emissions systems, the HEV is easily the cleanest way to get around. If you're spending more time in town, it'll outdo both the V6 and oiler for fuel consumption. It'll take some time to make up the $4000-$5000 premium over the equivalent V6 and diesel, and the lack of national drive-away pricing means that initial deficit could be wider from the get-go. But, if you're not buying for the fuel savings and just general reduction of impact and perhaps future resale, it could be the better bet. There are a few things going against it, however. High relative consumption on the highway is one, which I imagine will only get worse with seven on board. As noted earlier, regular highway stints or plans to tow would make the cheaper and more readily available diesel a better option. Very short supply is the other huge grey cloud. You could be waiting a very long time for one. It isn't be subject to FBT exemptions like the PHEV is until April 1, 2025 – which if you're leasing, could make the plug-in more attractive. Finally, there's the fact the new Santa Fe Hybrid does the same things but offers a wider range of variants and better supply (starting from $15,000 less), as well as a more power (172kW v 169kW). It may have looks that polarise, but it has a newer version of the same mechanicals underneath. That all said, the Sorento stacks up well still against the Toyota Kluger like-for-like, and will no doubt be a very capable family chariot for those lucky few that can get one in their driveway. Hopefully open up more supply Down Under. Content originally sourced from: Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . AdvertisementBy ZEKE MILLER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weeks-long delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs, an essential step for a smooth transiton of power. It also allows those nominees who are up for Senate confirmation to face the background checks lawmakers want before voting on them. Teams of investigators have been standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers. “This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day,” said Susie Wiles, Trump’s designate to be White House chief of staff. The announcement comes a week after the Trump transition team signed an agreement with the Biden White House to allow transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump’s team to sign on. Security clearances are required to access classified information, including on ongoing operations and threats to the nation, and the Biden White House and outside experts have emphasized to Trump’s team the importance of having cleared personnel before Inauguration Day so they could be fully briefed and ready to run the government. Republican Senators have also insisted on FBI background checks for Trump’s nominees before they face confirmation votes, as has been standard practice for decades. Lawmakers have been particularly interested in seeing the findings of reviews into Trump’s designated nominee for defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence. “That’s why it’s so important that we have an FBI background check, a committee review of extensive questions and questionnaires, and a public hearing,” said. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine on Monday. John Thune, the incoming Senate Republican leader, said the Trump team “understands there’s going to have to be a thorough vetting of all these nominees.” AP congressional correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed.

LA Auto Show offers a look at classics and EV advancements all in one placeLinda Davis is a retired teacher who expects she will be able to recover some of the Social Security income she hasn’t been receiving if President Joe Biden signs a new bill to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald Linda Davis knew she needed to start planning for her future retirement, so she decided to meet with a financial adviser. That’s when she learned she wouldn’t be able to collect the full amount of Social Security benefits she had earned through part-time work and other odd jobs because of her career as a public school teacher. “I don’t think I would have entered the teaching profession if I had known what I found out later,” said the 75-year-old Portland resident. “I would be guaranteed more money upon retirement if I went into the private sector.” Davis is among the more than 25,000 Mainers — and nearly 3 million teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters and other public employees nationwide — who have been prevented from receiving full Social Security benefits because of two laws from the 1970s and ’80s. The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces the benefits available to public employees who don’t pay into Social Security through their government retirement plans, regardless of their contributions through other jobs. The other law, called the Government Pension Offset , decreases payments for surviving spouses if they receive their own government pension. But those restrictions are poised to be eliminated through the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act earlier this month. The bill, co-authored by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is now headed to President Joe Biden for his signature. “It has always bothered me that people who earned these benefits or whose spouses earned these benefits did not have the kind of security in their retirement years that they should have because of the reduced Social Security benefit,” Collins said in a recent interview. Collins has been working on repealing the two provisions for years, having held the first Senate hearing on the proposed policy in 2003 as chair of the Senate Government Affairs Committee and later introducing the Social Security Fairness Act in 2005 with the late Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-CA. Collins credited this year’s success with constituents being more organized in telling their stories, which was key to finally getting the legislation through Congress, she said. The bill also received overwhelming support in the House of Representatives, where it passed 327-75, before getting approved 76-20 in the Senate . In addition to Collins, it was also supported by the other three members of Maine’s Congressional delegation. “Across Maine, firefighters, police officers, teachers and other public servants put the well-being of our communities first; it’s past time they receive the benefits they so rightly have earned,” Sen. Angus King, a co-sponsor of the legislation, said in a written statement following the Senate vote. Maine is among seven states that have state employee pension programs that do not include a Social Security component. As a result, the state is impacted by the two provisions at a higher rate than many others. Meanwhile, in some states, certain public sector employees do contribute to Social Security through their government retirement plans and therefore are not subject to the two provisions. Some public sector employees in Maine still pay into Social Security if they also work or have worked in the private sector. Like anyone else, they can access those benefits at age 62 if they’ve paid in for 10 years, though at a reduced rate. Davis, the retired teacher from Portland, spent about 30 years as an educator. But she also held other jobs — as a secretary, pumping gas, in catering — before her time as a teacher and during summers. Linda Davis expects she will be able to recover some of Social Security income if President Biden repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision. Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald She has a pension from her teaching work, but said it’s “not a livable pension,” so Social Security from her other jobs is an important piece of her retirement. Right now, because of the Windfall Elimination Provision, she gets 40% of what she’s earned in Social Security, or about $350 per month after Medicare is deducted. She also continues to substitute teach to supplement her income. She hopes the new law, if it’s signed by Biden, will not only increase her Social Security but make a difference for other teachers and help to address staffing shortages in education. “There are so many teachers that have part-time jobs,” Davis said. “I would say most teachers do. Why would they enter the teaching profession if they’re going to be punished financially?” Maine schools are currently facing shortages across several areas, said Steve Bailey, executive director of the Maine School Boards Association and Maine School Management Association. As a former teacher, principal and superintendent who also did other work outside the school system, Bailey sees about 30% of the Social Security he should be eligible for, or $340 per month, he said. “People who might have been thinking about coming into education before, they might have said, ‘I can’t risk losing 70% of my pension if I were to leave the private sector,'” he said. “So we view this as a very large recruitment and retention gain for people coming into education. They won’t have to think they’re risking their prior earnings that they had been putting away into Social Security.” Dan Possumato spent 25 years as a civilian employee of the U.S. Army but also worked a variety of private sector jobs over his lifetime and paid into Social Security. Because of the Windfall Elimination Provision, however, he wasn’t able to get all the benefits he was entitled to had he not also worked a federal job with a pension. Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald Dan Possumato, a retired civilian employee of the U.S. Army, said the Windfall Elimination Provision has prevented him from getting about 45% of the Social Security benefits he earned in jobs before and after his government work. The 73-year-old Brunswick resident estimates he’s lost about $93,000 in the 13 years, or $600 per month, since he started drawing Social Security in 2011. Although he also has an Army pension, Possumato said the issue is about fairness. “I worked for this, just like the other people that are drawing more money with the same experience and earnings as myself,” Possumato said. “Why should I be penalized because Congress decided that was an easy target to get more revenue (from Social Security) to someone else? Every time this comes up among my fellow retirees, it’s a sore point.” Vicky Edwards, a retired teacher from Otisfield, has felt the loss of Social Security through the Government Pension Offset, which reduces the survivor benefits available to the spouse of a Social Security recipient — if the surviving spouse has their own government pension. Edwards’ husband died a year and a half into retirement. “He had paid in his entire life and he only got the benefit for a year and a half,” said Edwards, 65. She then learned that the benefits available to her would be reduced by two-thirds the amount of her pension. Other spouses are eligible for between 71% and 100% of their loved one’s benefits, according to the Social Security Administration, whereas the Government Pension Offset can result in the survivor not getting any spousal benefits. Edwards said she didn’t have an exact number for how much she thinks she will get if the law changes, but estimated it would be “more than hundreds of dollars” per month. “That’s a big difference in a retirement budget,” she said. Collins said it was that kind of anecdote that pushed her to change the law. She said opponents argued on the Senate floor that this will move up the date that the Social Security program could become financially unstable. “The Social Security system is not in good financial shape, that’s right, and that is something Congress will have to deal with,” Collins said. “But in the meantime, it’s not fair to continue this inequitable treatment of our school teachers, our firefighters, our police officers and those who have been serving the community.” She said she expects Biden to sign the legislation into law and has been in touch with the White House about the possibility of a signing ceremony. From there, she said, it will take time for the Social Security Administration to recalculate the benefits for everyone affected. The intent is to make the new be retroactive to January 2024, meaning that recipients would see about a year’s worth of back pay that they were previously ineligible for, though Collins said it’s too soon to say when people might receive the retroactive pay. “I am absolutely elated that we have finally passed legislation to fix this problem,” Collins said. “It’s long overdue.” Comments are not available on this story. Send questions/comments to the editors. « PreviousPublished 4:48 pm Thursday, November 21, 2024 By Data Skrive Ranked teams are on the Friday college basketball schedule for four games, including the Oklahoma Sooners playing the UNLV Rebels. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. 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Looking for the Perfect Gift? Shop at Cutting Edge for something truly remarkableCredits: WWE Trish Stratus , a member of the WWE Hall of Fame , has never been one to back down from a battle. Her intense feud with Becky Lynch in 2023 demonstrated the tenacity and resolve that made her a sports entertainment legend. At Payback 2023, their fierce rivalry reached a climactic showdown, but one moment from that evening went viral for a very different reason. Fans were in a frenzy as Stratus verbally attacked an audience member prior to the bout, shocking the WWE Universe . Stratus has now disclosed an unexpected twist, she doesn't even recall the incident, despite the fact that the video went viral online and sparked innumerable memes and discussions back then. Trish Stratus Can’t Recall Viral WWE Moment Due to CONCUSSION Speaking on Ring the Belle, Trish Stratus addressed the incident for the first time, offering fans an inside look at what really happened. The candid revelation left many fans stunned. Stratus, known for her poise and professionalism, confessed that the concussion had clouded her memory of the entire interaction. She said, "I didn’t say that—that must have been the Trish Stratus’ heel side coming out. Honestly, I must have had an out-of-body experience. I never swear. On my socials, I’m like, f-asterisks everywhere, and you’re saying it’s her influence because my bestie has such a foul mouth! I remember hearing about the match—like, ‘Oh, that thing you did before the match went viral.’ I was like, ‘What? First of all, I was concussed, so like, what match?’ I really had no memory of it. I was so in the moment, I didn’t even realize it happened. Then I saw it back, and I was like, ‘Guys, did I really do that?’ Little old me?" Trish Stratus and Lita on Historic RAW Main Event, Unfinished Business, and WrestleMania Rumor The clip shows Stratus, visibly angry, delivering an expletive-filled tirade to the fan moments before she steps into the ring. In the meantime, the WWE Universe was polarized: some praised her passion for having caused her angry remarks, while others found the solo Hall of Famer behaving uncharacteristically. Furthermore, the feud between Trish Stratus and Becky Lynch was easily among the most compelling storylines of 2023. Be it ruthless promos or backstage brawls, both women brought the best and worst out of each other, yet provided some moments to be remembered by fans. Their division at Payback 2023 was the end of months of hatred and delivered on all fronts. A high-octane combination of high-risk maneuvers and ruthless physical contact forced the match to be noticed as one of the year's most tabulated bouts. ALSO READ: WWE SmackDown (12/13): Start Time, Venue, How and Where to Watch Live Stream in USA and India As the WWE Universe looks back on her remarkable career, this moment becomes just another piece of the puzzle that makes Trish Stratus an icon.

Trump threatens to try to take back the Panama Canal. Panama's president balks at the suggestionSeveral hundred members of NSC gathered on Saturday morning for the party's members' congress. The day began with breakout sessions in which they could talk to members of parliament and government officials about a variety of topics, but also "political current affairs". The press was kept at a distance from these meetings. Last week, party leader Pieter Omtzigt, who had been ill at home for weeks, returned to the lower house of Dutch parliament. At the end of the morning, he addressed the congress, as did fellow party leader Nicolien van Vroonhoven, who replaced him in recent weeks. NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt said during his speech that by shouting loudly and coming up with illusory solutions, the government will not solve the problems facing the Netherlands. He specifically mentioned migration as an example of an issue on which little has been achieved. "Polarization becomes a problem when politicians add fuel to the fire, use big words, make impossible proposals and leave problems unsolved," Omtzigt said. "Then you have a debate for the sake of debate. Then you insult each other for the sake of insulting. Then you shout the loudest to get into the newspaper, the news and social media. But you neglect your task as a politician, which is to work hard on solutions for the Netherlands." Omtzigt reflected on the departure of State Secretaries Folkert Idsinga and Nora Achahbar and Members of Parliament Rosanne Hertzberger and Femke Zeedijk. "I understand a number of their objections very well," he said. "Because with the current polarization and hostile tone in the debate, you seem to win the public debate in the short term, but you lose a part of society. And worse: with apparent solutions you sometimes make the problems worse." In recent weeks two state secretaries, Folkert Idsinga and Nora Achahbar, and two members of parliament, Rosanne Hertzberger and Femke Zeedijk, resigned. All four of them indicated rough behavior in the coalition as a reason for resigning. NSC almost withdrew completely from the Schoof Cabinet. The NSC founder acknowledged that the contradictions in politics and society have proven to be sharper than he had thought. "The seas are currently incredibly high in the Netherlands, even higher than I had expected. It is wind force 11 in society." On the other hand, he also called it good that problems are at least being named. According to Omtzigt, the departed state secretaries have achieved more than asylum minister Marjolein Faber. He mentioned the tax relief as a result of the tax plan, which was largely guided through the Lower House by minister Eelco Heinen because Idsinga resigned during the process. And Achahbar "won the trust of the allowance parents, which is very important". They did their work "often in silence and without polarizing". Omtzigt, who received a standing ovation before and after his speech, also received applause for Nicolien van Vroonhoven, who replaced him during his illness. "She has shown what the core values ​​of the party are and were." Under her leadership, negotiations were resumed on the asylum chapter of the coalition agreement, which meant that the controversial use of emergency law was off the table. "State emergency law can only be used for an acute emergency situation," Omtzigt emphasized. "The situation is serious, but can be addressed through emergency legislation."Anti-NATO protest in Montreal erupts in fires, smashed windows, arrests, say police

KYIV, Ukraine — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday’s Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit Dnipro had reached a speed of Mach 11 and carried six nonnuclear warheads each releasing six submunitions. Speaking Friday to military and weapons industries officials, Putin said Russia is launching production of the Oreshnik. “No one in the world has such weapons,” he said with a thin smile. “Sooner or later other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development.” But he added, “we have this system now. And this is important.” Testing the missile will continue, “including in combat, depending on the situation and the character of security threats created for Russia,” Putin said, noting there is ”a stockpile of such systems ready for use.” Putin said that while it isn’t an intercontinental missile, it’s so powerful that the use of several of them fitted with conventional warheads in one attack could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, echoing Putin’s claim that even with conventional warheads, “the massive use of the weapon would be comparable in effect to the use of nuclear weapons.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia’s bellicose tone on Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. “The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined,” he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow’s talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. “These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.” Orbán cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick... there will be consequences,” he said. Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday’s missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.” At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.” He underlined that the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine. Three lawmakers from Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday’s previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations “in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who added this is not the first time such a threat has been received. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office continued to work in compliance with standard security measures, a spokesperson said. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile, whose name in Russian means “hazelnut tree,” was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region, and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Thursday’s attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles (6 1/2 kilometers) southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad. The stricken area was cordoned off and out of public view. With no fatalities reported from the attack, Dnipro residents resorted to dark humor on social media, mostly focused on the missile’s name, Oreshnik. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia struck a residential district of Sumy overnight with Iranian-designed Shahed drones, killing two people and injuring 13, the regional administration said. Ukraine’s Suspilne media, quoting Sumy regional head Volodymyr Artiukh, said the drones were stuffed with shrapnel elements. “These weapons are used to destroy people, not to destroy objects,” said Artiukh, according to Suspilne. Associated Press journalists Lorne Cook in Brussels, Samya Kullab in Kyiv, Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, and Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary, contributed.

Every two years, the December Legislative Interim Committee meetings after the November General Election start with each chamber holding caucus meetings to select, or confirm, the majority and minority leadership they intend to install for the next legislative session. On Sunday, Dec. 8, the House of Delegates quickly decided to continue with Del. Roger Hanshaw (District 62, R, Clay) as the Speaker of the House, and after a few rounds of voting, the Senate chose Sen. Randy Smith (District 14, R, Preston) to be the next President of the Senate and Lieutenant Governor. Coincidentally, Sen. Smith represents Mineral County, including the portions I represent in the House of Delegates. Having worked with both Speaker Hanshaw and President-elect Smith significantly over the past two years, I feel very confident that our legislature has chosen two strong and principled leaders. Over the next several weeks Speaker Hanshaw and President-elect Smith will work to identify the various other leadership roles, including committee chairs and vice chairs for their respective chambers. With only Monday and Tuesday to conduct committee meetings, both days were jam packed. My first committee meeting was the Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization, where the Performance Evaluation and Research Division (PERD) presented their reviews of the Department of Veterans Assistance and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Institute. We also had a very interesting presentation on midwifery by Ms. Angy Nixon that highlighted the importance and need for this critical service for new mothers and mothers-to-be. The Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary heard from Dr. Stephen Loyd, director of the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy. Dr. Lloyd had a wealth of information and statistics to share with us, that came at such a rapid pace that my note taking could not keep up, so I asked that Dr. Lloyd follow up with the committee in writing to provide us a detailed record of the data and information he provided so that as legislators we can take action as appropriate. Monday’s first two “bonus” meetings that I attended were the Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on Department of Transportation Accountability, and the Joint Standing Committee on Insurance and PEIA, where we heard from Ms. Melody Duke, the director of the State Board of Risk and Insurance Management (BRIM). My third “bonus” meeting was the Joint Standing Committee on Energy and Manufacturing, where we heard about Grid Reliability and Resilience from the folks at PJM. PJM is the organization that oversees the distribution and management of the electric grid in this part of the U.S. Some of the important “take aways” from the PJM presentations included: 1) the need for electrical energy to feed the data centers that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and crypto-currency is dependent upon continues to increase rapidly, and 2) we need to put in place additional electric transmission infrastructure to move the electricity from where it is produced to where it is used. Several legislators expressed concerns that we did not want West Virginia to “get taken advantage of” in the process of building new electric transmission infrastructure that only uses West Virginia as a conduit for the transmission of the energy without benefits such as additional long-term good paying jobs, and business tax revenue. PJM gave a similar, but expanded presentation on Tuesday to the Joint Standing Committee on Technology and Infrastructure, where I and other legislators asked whether PJM anticipated that their projections on future fuel mix composition, and customer electric rates might be positively affected due to the upcoming change in the federal administrations, to which they were non-committal. On Tuesday, my first committee meeting was the Select Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where we heard from several people at the Department of Natural Resources regarding the numerous benefits that are available to veterans, so many of which I was unaware, such as the “Veterans and Disabled Persons Hunts” conducted at Jennings Randolph Lake. The state parks presentation detailed all sorts of additional veteran benefits, many of which I personally could have taken advantage of in the past, but have not. For example, 50% off state parks lodging reservations booked in November for stays through mid-March of the following year. So extensive was the list of what I think are underutilized benefits, that I suggested to the committee that we need to find a way to better communicate the benefits West Virginia offers our veterans; this will be a topic I will be pursuing. On Tuesday the only “bonus” committee meeting I was able to attend was the Forest Management Review Commission, where they heard from the West Virginia Department of Transportation and a registered professional forester regarding Roadway Entry Permits which is an important step in getting the cut trees out of the woods and onto the roads for transportation to market. While in Charleston, I was able to devote time to the issue of election integrity. Monday evening the Election Integrity Caucus, for which I am a co-chair, met to discuss legislative ideas and priorities for the 2025 Regular Session of the Legislature, and then on Tuesday, I and a few other members of the Election Integrity Caucus, along with a handful of members of the Citizens for West Virginia Election Integrity group, met with the secretary of state’s office to discuss goals and some very specific election integrity issues. The goal of the Election Integrity Caucus is to work with our state and local governments to ensure that every vote cast in West Virginia is: legally valid, accurately recorded, and transparently audited. Stated in other words: No illegal votes, and no cheating. I think this is a “no brainer” that nobody in their right mind would say they don’t support. However, I also want to reassure the citizens of West Virginia that, all-in-all, I think the election process in West Virginia is pretty good and our efforts will make it even better. As your District 88 representative to the West Virginia House of Delegates, I look forward to serving you. Please feel free to contact me with legislative ideas or if you need help with a state agency. My office phone number is 304-340-3176 or you can e-mail me at rick.hillenbrand@wvhouse.gov .