WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is weighing whether to issue sweeping pardons for officials and allies who the White House fears could be unjustly targeted by President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, a preemptive move that would be a novel and risky use of the president’s extraordinary constitutional power. The deliberations so far are largely at the level of White House lawyers. But Biden himself has discussed the topic with some senior aides, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss the sensitive subject. No decisions have been made, the people said, and it is possible Biden opts to do nothing at all. Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes – and usually those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for those who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. They fear that Trump and his allies, who have boasted of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for their targets even if they don’t result in prosecutions. While the president’s pardon power is absolute, Biden’s use in this fashion would mark a significant expansion of how they are deployed, and some Biden aides fear it could lay the groundwork for an even more drastic usage by Trump. They also worry that issuing pardons would feed into claims by Trump and his allies that the individuals committed acts that necessitated immunity. Recipients could include infectious-disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was instrumental in combating the coronavirus pandemic and who has become a pariah to conservatives angry about mask mandates and vaccines. Others include witnesses in Trump’s criminal or civil trials and Biden administration officials who have drawn the ire of the incoming president and his allies. Some fearful former officials have reached out to the Biden White House preemptively seeking some sort of protection from the future Trump administration, one of the people said. It follows Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter — not just for his convictions on federal gun and tax violations, but for any potential federal offense committed over an 11-year period, as the president feared that Trump allies would seek to prosecute his son for other offenses. That could serve as a model for other pardons Biden might issue to those who could find themselves in legal jeopardy under Trump. Biden is not the first to consider such pardons — Trump aides considered them for him and his supporters involved in his failed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election that culminated in a violent riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But he could be the first to issue them since Trump’s pardons never materialized before he left office nearly four years ago. Gerald Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” in 1974 to his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. He believed a potential trial would “cause prolonged and divisive debate over the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States," as written in the pardon proclamation. Politico was first to report that Biden was studying the use of preemptive pardons. On the campaign trail, Trump made no secret of his desire to seek revenge on those who prosecuted him or crossed him. Trump has talked about “enemies from within" and circulated social media posts that call for the jailing of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. He also zeroed in on former Rep. Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican who campaigned for Harris and helped investigate Jan. 6, and he promoted a social media post that suggested he wanted military tribunals for supposed treason. Kash Patel, whom Trump has announced as his nominee to be director of the FBI, has listed dozens of former government officials he wanted to “come after.” Richard Painter, a Trump critic who served as the top White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said he was reluctantly in support of having Biden issue sweeping pardons to people who could be targeted by Trump's administration. He said he hoped that would “clean the slate” for the incoming president and encourage him to focus on governing, not on punishing his political allies. “It’s not an ideal situation at all,” Painter said. “We have a whole lot of bad options confronting us at this point.” While the Supreme Court this year ruled that the president enjoys broad immunity from prosecution for what could be considered official acts, his aides and allies enjoy no such shield. Some fear that Trump could use the promise of a blanket pardon to encourage his allies to take actions they might otherwise resist for fear of running afoul of the law. “There could be blatant illegal conduct over the next four years, and he can go out and pardon his people before he leaves office,” Painter said. "But if he’s going to do that, he’s going to do that anyway regardless of what Biden does." More conventional pardons from Biden, such as those for sentencing disparities for people convicted of federal crimes, are expected before the end of the year, the White House said.Trudeau told Trump Americans would also suffer if tariffs are imposed, a Canadian minister saysNone

Shoplifting is a growing blight on brick-and-mortar retailers globally and across the state, and San Francisco’s stores are no exception. Brazen criminals feel they can shoplift by day or break-and-enter at night, typically without fear of arrest or reprisals. The closure of Bayside Market is a notable recent example , but there are many more, and with stores operating on knife-edge margins, competing against online stores with few such concerns, the next theft could be the last. With little help from over-stretched police, despite a recent 911 response center $9 million renovation , and unresponsive politicians, stores have to take their own preventative steps. Larceny rates, which includes shoplifting, have been on the rise for years in San Francisco, despite a recent dip . Beyond more barriers and security guards, retailers aim to tilt the battle in their favor, replacing current security systems with smart and AI-powered systems. These improve on traditional models by being able to differentiate between suspicious and normal behavior. They can identify repeat offenders through facial ID, and other methods since many thieves wear hoods or masks, such as their clothing or walking gait. In grocery stores, AI is already used at self-checkouts in Walmart to monitor people “fake-scanning” high value goods and trying to escape without paying. Linked camera systems can follow and link criminals to their vehicles through license plate recognition. And in the integrated Internet of Things smart systems of the near future, they could track them through related big data services, identifying their mobile devices as they move, or even social media posts (not all criminals are particularly smart, after all). The question of privacy remains an obvious concern for shoppers. And, despite the recent state political opposition toward AI safety legislation, AI-powered security cameras are being rolled out around San Francisco stores today to save their stores for tomorrow. For those facing crime today, AI security systems and cameras help reduce the workload on the operators, alerting them to suspicious activity automatically. That means security teams can spend more time on the floor, being guided to incidents by the AI. Artificial intelligence can also perform behavior analysis that identifies and tracks suspicious activity, such as people loitering in one part of a store, or unusual movements like an accomplice trying to divert staff attention so the criminal can act unseen. Additional benefits of AI include the camera’s ability to identify the sound of breaking glass or gunshots and alert security teams and staff to the safest course of action, and call the police automatically. Beyond crime, an additional benefit of AI is footfall monitoring tools that can identify choke points or empty zones in the store, helping improve layouts for security, safety, and to improve sales. While the cost of a new AI security system for a large store can be substantial, the cost can be offset by lower insurance premiums, reduced crime, improved recovery rates, and greater visitor numbers as the store becomes a safer place. While crime continues largely unabated all shoppers are used to seeing cameras and their faces on screens by the tills. For stores, large and small, the arrival of AI comes as an invisible addition, but one that can improve their chances of survival and help drive growth through a range of AI-powered services. As mentioned at the start of this piece, shoplifting is a global problem, but retailers around the world are already seeing the benefits of AI in action. Across California and the wider US, Sam’s Club is installing AI-powered cameras in a trial to prevent shoplifting. It checks photos of their basket or cart against what they paid for at the checkout. British retail chain Co-op is using it in multiple stores to detect if someone has left without paying for an item, or whether someone has entered with a concealed weapon. And closer to home, a Chicago store reported a 50% drop in theft after installing AI-powered security cameras that monitor people making attempts to pocket or conceal items before leaving the store without paying. Given the distressed state of many malls, strip malls, and even high-end outlets, AI, already used successfully in medicine, insurance and many other areas of our lives is coming to a store near you to help prevent crime and keep the store alive, something that most shoppers will welcome. *The San Francisco Examiner newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content.From Noah Ebije, Kaduna Governor Uba Sani has called on stakeholders across Kaduna State, to make inputs into the 2025 budget proposal, before the document is sent to the House of Assembly for deliberations. The Governor made this known at a town hall at the weekend, where civil society groups, professional associations and youth associations as well as women’s groups were present. A draft 2025 budget proposal of ₦ 790.43 billion was presented at the meeting Speaking at the event, the Governor said that ‘’2025 shall be devoted to the consolidation of the progress so far made in opening up the rural areas through massive infrastructural development. “That is why we tagged our proposed 2025 Budget “Sustaining Rural Transformation and Inclusive Development,’’ he said, adding that ‘’we are also targeting the areas inhabited by the urban poor. Every citizen deserves to live a better life.’’ Governor Uba Sani reminded that ‘’at my inauguration as Governor on May 29 2023, I made a solemn pledge to our citizens to run an administration that will not shy away from taking tough decisions for the greater good of our people. “I promised to undertake programmes and policies that will enhance productivity, encourage creativity and harness the rich diversity and cosmopolitan nature of our state. “I further pledged that our programmes and policies shall be people – oriented. I shall run an all – inclusive government that will leave no one or any part of Kaduna State behind,’’ he added. “The Governor said that ‘’in the last 18 months, we have committed ourselves to the rapid transformation of our rural communities through massive infrastructural development, revival and revitalization of the health and educational sectors, frontally fighting poverty, and strengthening our partnership with security forces to secure our dear state.’’ Governor Uba Sani said that his administration has recorded remarkable achievements in key sectors in the last 18 months and he listed improved security, infrastructural development and human capital development. He also said that there has been an improvement in the education sector, healthcare, agriculture and social intervention programmes as well as citizens rights protection, transparency and accountability, in the last 18 months. “In the area of security, we have forged a solid partnership with federal security forces to secure Kaduna State. We have been giving them logistics support to enhance their operations. We distributed 150 operational vehicles and 500 motorcycles to security forces and the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVS). “The State Government, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, has sustained efforts in the improvement of deployment of additional troops to cover identified target areas in order to ensure sustainable peace across the State, ‘’ he added. According to the Governor, the Kaduna State Security Trust Fund Law ‘’will ensure funding support towards efforts to degrade bandits and terrorists in the state, with the productive engagement of the private sector. “The Trust Fund will raise funds for the acquisition and deployment of even more security equipment, personnel and materials as well as training,’’ he further added. The Governor said that the efforts of the Peace Dialogue Group, which was established by the Kaduna State Government in collaboration with federal agencies and security services, has returned peace to Birnin Gwari. He said that last Thursday, ‘’I reopened the famous and strategic Birnin Gwari Market, thus signaling the commencement of commercial activities. The long abandoned Birnin Gwari Road has come back to life.’’ On infrastructural development, the Governor disclosed that his administration has ‘’undertaken 68 road projects, covering a total of approximately 700 kilometres. We are also upgrading urban road infrastructure.’’ Governor Uba Sani said that ‘’in the area of Human Capital Development, our administration has channeled its efforts towards the welfare and empowerment of the citizens through creative initiatives for women and youths, robust social investment programnes for poor and vulnerable persons, revitalizing the educational sector, and reviving the health sector. ‘’ The Governor said that he has constructed 62 new secondary schools, comprising 39 Junior and 23 Senior Secondary Schools, across the three Senatorial zones. “To ensure effective teaching and learning, 2,000 qualified teachers have been recruited, awaiting deployment to these newly completed schools,’’ he further said. “Recognizing the continued demand for quality education, approval has been given for the construction of an additional 50 secondary schools across the state,’’ he added. In addition, Kaduna State Government has ‘’constructed 2,326 new classrooms, renovated 707 classrooms, supplied 30,742 two-seater pupil’s furniture, provided 3,704 Teachers Furniture, and constructed 918 VIP Cubicle Toilets and 51 hand pump boreholes in schools across the state.’’ The Governor further said that his administration is ‘’building three Vocational and Technological Skills Acquisition Cities to equip our youths with the requisite skills to enable them take up jobs in industries and other businesses our administration has attracted to Kaduna State. The Skills Cities will graduate at least 12,000 youths annually. “We are also remodeling the Panteka Market in Kaduna to become a major centre for skills acquisition, engaging over 38,000 artisans. We are carrying out comprehensive infrastructure upgrade at Panteka Market to make it an international center for skills acquisition and job creation,’’ he added. According to him, Kaduna State Government is collaborating with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to provide Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) certification for graduates of the Skills Cities and Panteka Market. “On Wednesday, 27th November, 2024, I commissioned the remodelled, upgraded and fully equipped Dabo Lere Memorial Hospital, Kaduna. We have embarked on the remodelling, equipping and upgrading of 13 General Hospitals in the 3 Senatorial Zones of the State, ‘’ he added. The Governor listed General Hospital Gwantu, General Hospital Rigasa, General Hospital Maigana, in Sanga, Igabi and Soba local governments respectively, as some of the hospitals that have been remodeled, equipped and upgraded. Others are Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Kafanchan, in Jemaá local government; General Hospital Giwa, in Giwa local government and Ikara General Hospital, located at Ikara local government. The rest are General Hospital Sabon Tasha, Chikun LGA; General Hospital Saminaka, Lere LGA, and General Hospital Kachia, Kachia LGA. On Agriculture, he said that his government recorded the largest Free Fertilizer Distribution in Kaduna’s History, adding that ‘’we made history with the distribution of 500 trucks of fertilizer from which 240,000 bags were given out free to 120,000 smallholder farmers.’’ “By removing the financial barriers to agricultural inputs, we ensured that our farmers can cultivate with confidence and that our state will reap the rewards of higher productivity and income,’’ he added. Giving key highlights of the 2025 budget, the Commissioner of Planning and Budget, Alhaji Muktar Ahmed disclosed that 26% was earmarked to Education and 16% to Health, totaling 42% to these critical sectors. According to him, Recurrent Expenditure, including Debt Service, stands at ₦248,245,007,409.60 and total Capital Expenditure is ₦542,194,572,673.56. Giving the expenditure breakdown, the commissioner said that ₦370,557,608,564.16 has been earmarked for the Economic Sector, comprising Agriculture, Public Works, Infrastructure On the other hand, ₦358,070,895,572.14 is for the Social Sector which is made up of the Education, Health, Social Development General Administration: ₦ 48,328,500,762.08. The Law and Justice Sector will have ₦ 13,482,575,184.78.Lululemon, UnitedHealth, HPE, Rubrik, Asana, AMC, Docusign, Ulta Beauty, and More Movers - Barron's

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden pardons for officials and allies who the White House fears could be unjustly administration, a preemptive move that would be a novel and risky use of the president’s extraordinary constitutional power. The deliberations so far are largely at the level of White House lawyers. But Biden himself has discussed the topic with some senior aides, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss the sensitive subject. No decisions have been made, the people said, and it is possible Biden opts to do nothing at all. Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes – and usually those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for those who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. They fear that Trump and his allies, who have boasted of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for their targets even if they don’t result in prosecutions. While the president’s pardon power is absolute, Biden’s use in this fashion would mark a significant expansion of how they are deployed, and some Biden aides fear it could lay the groundwork for an even more drastic usage by Trump. They also worry that issuing pardons would feed into claims by Trump and his allies that the individuals committed acts that necessitated immunity. Recipients could include infectious-disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was instrumental in combating the coronavirus pandemic and who has become a pariah to conservatives angry about mask mandates and vaccines. Others include witnesses in Trump’s criminal or civil trials and Biden administration officials who have drawn the ire of the incoming president and his allies. Some fearful former officials have reached out to the Biden White House preemptively seeking some sort of protection from the future Trump administration, one of the people said. It follows Biden’s decision to — not just for his convictions on federal gun and tax violations, but for any potential federal offense committed over an 11-year period, as the president feared that Trump allies would seek to prosecute his son for other offenses. That could serve as a model for other pardons Biden might issue to those who could find themselves in legal jeopardy under Trump. Biden is not the first to consider such pardons — Trump aides considered them for him and his supporters involved in his failed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election that culminated in a violent riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But he could be the first to issue them since Trump’s pardons never materialized before he left office nearly four years ago. Gerald Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” in 1974 to his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. He believed a potential trial would “cause prolonged and divisive debate over the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States," as written in the pardon proclamation. Politico was first to report that Biden was studying the use of preemptive pardons. On the campaign trail, Trump made no secret of his desire to seek revenge on those who prosecuted him or crossed him. Trump has talked about and circulated social media posts that call for the jailing of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. He also a conservative Republican who campaigned for Harris and helped investigate Jan. 6, and he promoted a social media post that suggested he wanted military tribunals for supposed treason. as his nominee to be director of the FBI, has listed dozens of former government officials he wanted to “come after.” Richard Painter, a Trump critic who served as the top White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said he was reluctantly in support of having Biden issue sweeping pardons to people who could be targeted by Trump's administration. He said he hoped that would “clean the slate” for the incoming president and encourage him to focus on governing, not on punishing his political allies. “It’s not an ideal situation at all,” Painter said. “We have a whole lot of bad options confronting us at this point.” While the from prosecution for what could be considered official acts, his aides and allies enjoy no such shield. Some fear that Trump could use the promise of a blanket pardon to encourage his allies to take actions they might otherwise resist for fear of running afoul of the law. “There could be blatant illegal conduct over the next four years, and he can go out and pardon his people before he leaves office,” Painter said. "But if he’s going to do that, he’s going to do that anyway regardless of what Biden does." More conventional pardons from Biden, such as those for sentencing disparities for people convicted of federal crimes, are expected before the end of the year, the White House said.CLUTE — Clute Intermediate has implemented a Texas Association of Future Educators program at the campus, and it already is delivering positive results. Eight students recently competed in an Area 4 TAFE Competition at the University of Houston Downtown in three categories: public speaking, Children’s Lit Pre-K and Interactive Bulletin Board. Several advanced to the state competition. “It’s a student organization created to allow young men and women an opportunity to explore the teaching profession,” Brazoswood High School Teacher Mary Ashley Jimenez said. “I have been the adviser for the Brazoswood TAFE program since 2018.” Only seventh and eighth-grade students can participate in the program at Clute Intermediate. As the Brazoswood High School program grew, Jimenez received help from Principles of Education and Training teacher Cameron Peters. At Brazosport High School, CTE teacher Jaime Moreno works with its FADE program. Students can aspire to become teachers, counselors, social workers, administrators or anything similar. “It’s also a good way for them to become involved in something which is important,” Jimenez said. When Jimenez took TAFE members from Brazoswood High School to the Educators Rising National Competition in Washington D.C., during the summer, she heard middle schools called out alongside the high schools. That inspired her to expand the program in the district, she said. “In my head, I was like, ‘We can do this in BISD too,’” she said. “I decided to start with Clute Intermediate because I am already on their campus a few times a week with my Practicum in Education Brazoswood students. We started the process by having some of the high school TAFE students go to Clute during lunches and do lunch presentations and hand out flyers.” Jimenez decided to bring the program to Clute Intermediate because its students will transfer to Brazoswood High School. “It is very helpful if students already have an idea of what your club is about when they come into high school,” she said. “It also matches up with the Education and Training pathway we offer, which is for students, who are interested in a career working with children and young adults in some way.” At their first competition, the Clute Intermediate students started with public speaking, Children’s Lit Pre-K and an Interactive Bulletin Board. An Interactive Bulletin Board can be any topic, subject or grade for something that can be utilized in a classroom. Seventh-graders Eliza Faltysek and Vivianna Flores did Multiplication Mania for their Interactive Bulletin Board. The board was inspired by a crossword game for people to solve the presented problem. Seventh-graders Jayson Torres and Jarmiah Clay did Solar Science for their Interactive Bulletin Board. “They had to put the planets in order first,” Jimenez said. “Then they had to match the name to it, and then they had to determine the type of terrain.” Eighth-grader A’myriah Patterson’s Interactive Bulletin Board presented Caterpillar Math, in which people had to build and solve a problem. All of those students earned places in the state competition. For the Children’s Lit Pre-K, participants write and illustrate their books. Seventh-grader Cecilia Alvarado made it to state with her book “ABC of Food.” Flores also entered her book about a girl’s first day of school. “I remember that when I was a kid when I was going to a new grade, I’d feel scared because I didn’t have the exact teachers that I knew before and I knew well,” Flores said. Eighth-grader Evangelun Aguirre and seventh-grader Viviana Damian competed in Public Speaking. Damian presented a topic on teacher retention. “I’m more familiar with speaking,” she said. “I’m not afraid to speak in front of other people, and I’m very confident.” Damian wants to be a teacher to impact students and to make school an enjoyable environment, she said. “They researched and found ideas, and we worked on them three times a week during the school day,” Jimenez said. “One of my seniors, James Mann, was also a huge help and would meet at Clute during meeting times and work with the kids.” Brazosport ISD offers numerous options for student growth, such as the Education and Training program, TAFE and Career and Technical Education programs, Jimenez said. Eventually, Jimenez wants to bring TAFE to Lake Jackson Intermediate. “They really do help students build critical skills like communication, creativity, and problem-solving, making them more prepared for careers after high school,” she said. The State Competition will be Feb. 17 at Moody Gardens in Galveston.ORLANDO, Fla. — UCF coach Gus Malzahn is resigning after four seasons with the school. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report the move, which will see Malzahn to leave to take the offensive coordinator job at Florida State. Malzahn previously worked with FSU coach Mike Norvell during their time at Tulsa under then-coach Todd Graham from 2007-08. The Knights ended a disappointing 4-8 season in which they lost eight of their last nine games, the longest losing streak since 2015. Malzahn, 59, was in the fourth year of a contract through 2028. His buyout, it is reported, would have been $13.75 million. He finished 27-25 at UCF but lost 16 of his last 22 games and was a dismal 4-14 in two seasons in the Big 12. After back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2021-22, the Knights went 6-7 in 2023 and 4-8 in 2024. This season started with high expectations as Malzahn made sweeping changes to the program. He retooled the strength and conditioning department and hired Ted Roof and Tim Harris Jr. as defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively. He also added nearly 50 new players to the roster, leaning heavily on the transfer market. UCF started by winning its first three games against New Hampshire, Sam Houston and a thrilling comeback at TCU, but offensive struggles saw the Knights tumble through a TBD-game losing streak to finish the season. Terry Mohajir hired Malzahn on Feb. 15, 2021, six days after he was hired to replace Danny White. The move came eight weeks after Malzahn had been fired at Auburn after eight seasons of coaching the Tigers. The two briefly worked together at Arkansas State in 2012 before Malzahn left for the Auburn job. “When he [Mohajir] offered the job, I was like, ‘I’m in.’ There wasn’t thinking about or talking about ...,” Malzahn said during his introductory press conference. “This will be one of the best programs in college football in a short time. This is a job that I plan on being here and building it.” UCF opened the 2021 season with non-conference wins over Boise State and Bethune-Cookman before traveling to Louisville on Sept. 17, where quarterback Dillon Gabriel suffered a fractured collarbone in the final minute of a 42-35 loss. Backup Mikey Keene would finish out the season as Gabriel announced his intention to transfer. The Knights would finish the season on the plus side by accepting a bid to join the Big 12 Conference in September and then by defeating Florida 29-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl. Malzahn struck transfer portal gold in the offseason when he signed former Ole Miss quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. Plumlee, a two-sport star with the Rebels, helped guide UCF to the American Athletic Conference Championship in its final season. However, Plumlee’s injury forced the Knights to go with Keene and freshman Thomas Castellanos. The team finished with losses to Tulane in the conference championship and Duke in the Military Bowl. Plumlee would return in 2023 as UCF transitioned to the Big 12 but would go down with a knee injury in the final minute of the Knights’ 18-16 win at Boise State on Sept. 9. He would miss the next four games as backup Timmy McClain took over the team. Even on his return, Plumlee couldn’t help UCF, on a five-game losing streak to open conference play. The Knights got their first Big 12 win at Cincinnati on Nov. 4 and upset No. 15 Oklahoma State the following week, but the team still needed a win over Houston in the regular-season finale to secure a bowl bid for the eighth straight season. From the moment Malzahn stepped on campus, he prioritized recruiting, particularly in Central Florida. “We’re going to recruit like our hair’s on fire,” Malzahn said at the time. “We’re going to go after the best players in America and we’re not backing down to anybody.” From 2007 to 2020, UCF signed 10 four-star high school and junior college prospects. Eight four-star prospects were in the three recruiting classes signed under Malzahn. The 2024 recruiting class earned a composite ranking of 39 from 247Sports, the highest-ranked class in school history. The 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 41 and has commitments from three four-star prospects. Malzahn has always leaned on the transfer market, signing 60 players over the past three seasons. Some have paid huge dividends, such as Javon Baker, Lee Hunter, Kobe Hudson, Tylan Grable, Bula Schmidt, Amari Kight, Marcellus Marshall, Trent Whittemore, Gage King, Ethan Barr, Deshawn Pace and Plumlee. Others haven’t been as successful, such as quarterback KJ Jefferson, who started the first five games of this season before being benched for poor performance. Jefferson’s struggles forced the Knights to play musical chairs at quarterback, with true freshman EJ Colson, redshirt sophomore Jacurri Brown and redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk all seeing action at one point or another this season. This season’s struggles led to several players utilizing the NCAA’s redshirt rule after four games, including starting slot receiver Xavier Townsend and kicker Colton Boomer, who have also entered the transfer portal. Defensive end Kaven Call posted a letter to Malzahn on Twitter in which he accused the UCF coaching staff of recently kicking him off the team when he requested to be redshirted. 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The industry buzz is we will see repeats between now and Christmas so if you miss the deal first time around, keep checking.

Trump voices support for Hegseth, says he's "doing very well"

Your child’s ski boots can impact their overall skiing experience and may even undermine their love for the sport if they find the boots awkward fitting and uncomfortable. In addition to comfort, the ability to retain warmth and be breathable are important qualities your kid’s ski boot should have. If your child is ready to hit the slopes and you’re looking for the ideal pair of boots, ensure you choose one that provides comfort and inspires confidence, such as our top pick, Fischer Junior/Kids RC4 60 Thermoshape Alpine On/Off-Piste Ski Boots . There are several types of ski boots for kids, such as rear-entry and front-entry designs as well as performance and adjustable boot options. Rear-entry boots allow your child to slip in their feet from the back, while front entry includes a tongue that opens forward and allows the child to slide in their foot from the top. Another type is performance boots, which are made for older kids who want a better performance from their footwear. The adjustable ski boot is another option, and it is a great choice for kids who grow out of their footwear quickly. It’s easy to think your child’s boots are too small because they feel stiff and tight, but some boots are designed to be stiff. To avoid making a mistake with the sizing, take your child with you to the ski shop to get them sized. You can speak to a ski technician to learn more about the fit process. Let your child try on the boot with the liner while wearing socks. If the liner is tight, then the boots may be too small. If your child is just starting with skiing and is only confident skiing on green runs, they are considered a beginner. Their category is intermediate if they can ski confidently on the blue square terrains. However, they are advanced if they can ski anything on the mountain. Kids’ ski boots usually come with ratings depending on their experience level. The boots with a lower flex rating are designed for beginners and are comfortable to wear but deliver less on performance. Those with a higher rating are usually less comfortable but provide better performance. Some children may end up abandoning skiing because they’d rather be doing something else other than constantly taking their boots on and off. Front-entry and rear-entry ski boots are easy to wear, so choose either of these options for a fussy child. Your child’s boots should grip the floor properly to minimize their chance of falling when skiing. This feature is known as slip resistance and is often determined by the type of material used to fabricate the outsole of the boots. Generally, slip-resistant soles are textured and made of rubber. Waterproof ski boots are made of nonporous materials and can keep your child’s feet dry even when submerged in water. There are water-resistant boots designed to repel water, but these won’t prevent your child’s feet from getting wet in heavy rain or snow. Most kids’ ski boots cost $25-$40. Some expensive options are made with high-quality waterproof material, costing up to $60. A. Ski boots have a different sizing for shoes, called Mondo sizing, which measures the inside of the foot. To get the right size for your child, use a tape measure to measure the length of their feet, then check the size chart to get the correct size. A. If your child is just starting with skiing, choose a pair of boots that can easily flex, like front-entry ski boots. Fischer Junior/Kids RC4 60 Thermoshape Alpine On/Off-Piste Ski Boots What you need to know: These ski boots are an excellent choice for beginner skiers thanks to their soft flex design and thermoformable technology. What you’ll love: These Soma-Tec boots are designed to enable maximum control and prevent the ankle and knee joints from twisting when skiing. They also include a micro-adjustable buckle system for quick and easy adjustment. They feature a thermoformable boot liner designed to give an adapted fit. What you should consider: Some users mentioned that the sizing isn’t accurate. Salomon T3 RT Ski Boots What you need to know: These ski boots come in three unique colors and are suitable for both boys and girls. What you’ll love: These boots are made with polyurethane, which gives them unique durability. They are also easy to put on or off and include micro-adjustments in the buckle to ensure a custom fit. What you should consider: They might run small for children with big feet. Rossignol Comp J4 Ski Boots Kid’s What you need to know: These ski boots are designed with comfort in mind thanks to their comfort liners and unique diagonal buckles. What you’ll love: They include liners that are made with soft materials and designed to give optimal comfort and all-day cushioning. They also feature diagonal buckles that offer a more natural foot wrapping and excellent heel support. What you should consider: The buckles are made of thin metal wire, which might not be very durable. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.Share Tweet Share Share Email Have you noticed the buzz in the crypto world this week? Cardano has seen $160 million worth of ADA scooped up by whales, and Arbitrum has hit a staggering $5 billion in total value locked (TVL). These projects are gaining momentum, but another name deserves your attention—Qubetics ($TICS). With over 10,800 token holders and more than 359 million tokens sold, Qubetics is carving its path as one of the best cryptos to invest in this week. The Qubetics presale offers a 10% discount, but there’s a catch: you only have three days left before the next stage begins, raising the price once again. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just stepping into the blockchain world, this could be your chance to capitalise on a rapidly growing project. Let’s break down what makes Qubetics, Cardano, and Arbitrum stand out this week. Qubetics Presale Offers Limited-Time Opportunity for Investors Qubetics is revolutionising asset ownership through its innovative Real World Asset Tokenization platform . By converting physical and digital assets into tradeable tokens, it’s making high-value investments accessible to everyone. With over 10,800 token holders and 359 million $TICS tokens sold, Qubetics is already building a strong community of backers. Imagine a real estate company tokenising luxury properties, enabling everyday investors to own a fraction of high-end developments. Or picture an entrepreneur raising funds by tokenising equipment—avoiding the red tape of traditional loans. Qubetics bridges the gap, offering liquidity to previously illiquid markets. Currently, in its 13th presale stage, $TICS tokens are priced at $0.0342. Each stage lasts just seven days, with a 10% price hike every Sunday at midnight. Analysts predict $TICS could reach $0.25 by the presale’s end, yielding a 630.19% ROI. Post-mainnet launch, $TICS could hit $10, delivering an extraordinary 29107.82% ROI. For example, an investment of $2,440,000 at the current price would yield approximately 71,428,571 $TICS tokens. If $TICS reaches $10, this could translate into a massive $714 million. What sets Qubetics apart is its role as the world’s first Web3 aggregator , uniting major blockchains to ensure seamless interoperability. It’s not just about tokens—it’s about building a functional and interconnected blockchain ecosystem. To dive deeper into this project, you can watch this video. Cardano Sees Whale Accumulation Amidst Key Upgrades Cardano is making headlines this week as whales have purchased $160 million worth of ADA tokens during a price dip. This significant activity highlights investor confidence in the project’s long-term potential. But that’s not all. Cardano is preparing for the highly anticipated Chang hard fork, aimed at improving scalability and governance. This upgrade is expected to boost the network’s transaction throughput to over 1,000 transactions per second, making it more efficient for decentralised applications. Another game-changing development is Cardano’s integration with Bitcoin’s liquidity via the Bitcoin OS Bridge. This move unlocks new opportunities for decentralised finance (DeFi) on Cardano, leveraging Bitcoin’s market dominance. With its growing ecosystem and recent advancements, Cardano continues to solidify its position among the best cryptos to invest in this week. Arbitrum Reaches $5 Billion in Total Value Locked Arbitrum, a layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum, has achieved a major milestone by reaching $5 billion in TVL. This growth reflects the increasing adoption of its technology, which enhances Ethereum’s scalability and lowers transaction costs. Recent collaborations, like the partnership between Aethir and MetaStreet to launch Yield Pass on Arbitrum’s blockchain, showcase its expanding ecosystem. This collaboration aims to provide new opportunities for decentralised finance and gaming platforms. Analysts are optimistic about Arbitrum’s future, suggesting it remains undervalued compared to its competitors. With its ability to handle high transaction volumes and facilitate cost-efficient dApp development, Arbitrum is a promising choice for both developers and investors. As its ecosystem continues to grow, Arbitrum is undeniably one of the best cryptos to invest in this week. Conclusion: Why Qubetics, Cardano, and Arbitrum Are This Week’s Top Picks The cryptocurrency market is filled with opportunities, but few projects offer the innovation and growth potential of Qubetics, Cardano, and Arbitrum. Qubetics’ Real World Asset Tokenization and limited-time 10% presale discount make it a standout choice for investors seeking high returns. Meanwhile, Cardano’s whale activity and upcoming upgrades, combined with Arbitrum’s rapid TVL growth and partnerships, ensure these projects are worth considering. With only three days left before Qubetics’ next price increase, this is the moment to act. Whether you’re a seasoned crypto enthusiast or exploring the market for the first time, these three projects represent the best cryptos to invest in this week. For More Information: Qubetics: https://qubetics.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/qubetics Twitter: https://twitter.com/qubetics Related Items: Blockchain , Qubetic Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Combining Blockchain and VR: Redefining Immersive Experiences Top 4 Crypto Coins For 2025: BlockDAG, Chainlink, Arbitrum & Bitcoin Cash—Who Will Spearhead the Next Bull Run? Solana’s Comeback, Celestia’s Vision, and Qubetics’ 10% Discount Deadline Lead the Best Cryptos to Invest in Today Comments

Qubetics’ 3-Day Window for 10% Discount, Cardano’s Bitcoin Integration, and Arbitrum’s Layer-2 Strength, Define the Best Cryptos to Watch This Week(Reuters) - Mikaela Shiffrin will be sidelined for at least a few weeks after she suffered a puncture wound in her abdomen and severe muscle trauma during a giant slalom race in Killington, Vermont, the twice Olympic gold medallist said on Monday. Shiffrin was chasing a milestone 100th World Cup win on Saturday when she caught an edge and crashed into the safety netting at full speed, remaining down for several minutes before being taken to a medical clinic. Shiffrin thanked her fans for their support on social media on Monday and said it would take "a few weeks minimum" to be able to "take on much of any force." "I literally have a puncture wound and some pretty significant muscular trauma around my whole right oblique area," said Shiffrin. "We're starting the process to be on the mend and I hope to get back to being able to ski soon-ish." Shiffrin previously missed six weeks after injuring her knee in a high-speed crash in January while competing in a World Cup downhill in Cortina d'Ampezzo and subsequently dropped the discipline from her schedule. Shiffrin is already considered the most successful Alpine skier in World Cup history when she topped retired Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark's record 86 wins in March. (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid a mixed Monday of trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% from its to post a record for the 54th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 28.7% to lead the market. Following allegations of misconduct and the , the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company’s board. It also said that it doesn’t expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 3.2% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 0.5% after the chip company said and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger’s replacement, and its chair said it’s “committed to restoring investor confidence.” Intel recently to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street’s frenzy around AI. Stellantis, meanwhile, skidded following the . Carlos Tavares steps down after nearly four years in the top spot of the automaker, which owns car brands like Jeep, Citroën and Ram, amid an ongoing and an inventory backlog at dealerships. The world’s fourth-largest automaker’s stock fell 6.3% in Milan. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 likewise fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 5% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what’s expected to be the best on record and coming off . Target, which recently gave a , fell 1.2%. , which gave a more optimistic forecast, rose 0.2%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.4%. All told, the S&P 500 added 14.77 points to 6,047.15. The Dow fell 128.65 to 44,782.00, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 185.78 to 19,403.95. The stock market largely took latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won’t create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The dollar has long been the currency of choice for global trade. Speculation has also been around a long time that other currencies could knock it off its mantle, but no contender has come close. The U.S. dollar’s value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris . The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed above 4.23% during the morning before falling back to 4.19%. That was just above its level of 4.18% late Friday. A report in the morning showed the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted again last month, but not by as much as economists expected. This upcoming week will bring several big updates on the job market, including the October job openings report, weekly unemployment benefits data and the all-important November jobs report. They could steer the next moves for which recently began to give support to the economy. Economists expect Friday’s headliner report to show U.S. employers accelerated their hiring in November, coming off that was hampered by damaging hurricanes and strikes. “We now find ourselves in the middle of this Goldilocks zone, where economic health supports earnings growth while remaining weak enough to justify potential Fed rate cuts,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. In financial markets abroad, Chinese stocks led gains worldwide as monthly surveys showed improving conditions for manufacturing, partly driven by a surge in orders ahead of Trump’s inauguration next month. Both official and private sector surveys of factory managers showed strong new orders and export orders, possibly partly linked to efforts by importers in the U.S. to beat potential tariff hikes by once he takes office. Indexes rose 0.7% in Hong Kong and 1.1% in Shanghai. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

Bulls continued their stampede at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday as shares gained more than 1,200 points in an unabated rally. The benchmark KSE-100 index climbed 1,274.55 points, or 1.27 per cent, to stand at 101,357.32 points from the last close of 100,082.77 at 4:38pm. Awais Ashraf, director research at AKD Securities, said the KSE-100 index was “maintaining its upward momentum, driven by expectations of a substantial rate cut in the upcoming Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) scheduled for next month as the KIBOR [Karachi Interbank Offered Rate] and T-bill yields approach 13pc”. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)’s Monetary Policy Committee is due to meet on December 16 to determine changes in the key interest rate. Yesterday, the KSE-100 index crossed the 100,000 milestone for the first time, which analysts attributed to the new International Monetary Fund loan coupled with fiscal and monetary discipline improving investors’ sentiments. They also noted a faster-than-expected fall in inflation and interest rates generating cash liquidity to the stock market. Despite the gains, the market’s price-to-earnings ratio still traded at 5x compared to the historical average of 7x, according to Mohammed Sohail, chief executive of Topline Securities. He noted there was a 20pc annual return in the rupee and a 13pc annual return in the greenback which stood as a “testament to resilience and potential” of the PSX. Separately, the yen rallied Friday after forecast-busting inflation data out of Tokyo boosted talk of another Japanese interest rate cut next month, while equity markets were mixed as traders weigh the economic outlook during a second Trump administration. With Wall Street closed for the Thanksgiving break, there were few catalysts to drive business heading into the weekend and at the end of a rollercoaster month dominated by uncertainty in the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory. Traders are tracking developments surrounding the tycoon as he builds a hawkish cabinet and outlines his plans, including a threat to hammer China, Canada and Mexico with hefty tariffs on his first day. Eyes were also on Japan, where figures showed consumer prices in Tokyo — seen as a bellwether for the country — jumped to 2.6 percent in November, well up from October and much more than expected. The news ignited speculation the central bank will hike rates for a third time this year. Expectations for an increase in borrowing costs have picked up pace in recent weeks after Bank of Japan governor Kazuo Ueda said officials would have to tighten policy if the economy continued to perform in line with forecasts. Friday’s price data came as separate figures showed the jobs market remained tight. Bets on a rate increase have risen to more than 60 percent, according to Bloomberg News. The yen rallied Friday, hitting less than 150 per dollar for the first time in a month. The currency was also supported by forecasts that the Federal Reserve will lower US rates at its December meeting — narrowing the yield differential and making the Japanese unit more attractive to investors. The report “will probably strengthen the BoJ’s conviction that inflation momentum is building, with its two percent target looking (increasingly) secure”, said Taro Kimura, an economist with Bloomberg Economics. The BoJ hiked rates in March for the first time in 17 years as it looked to move away from a long-running ultra-loose monetary policy. However, a second, surprise lift at the end of July sparked turmoil on markets and led to a major unwind of the so-called “yen carry trade” in which investors used the cheaper currency to purchase higher-yielding assets. The stronger yen weighed Japanese exporters and pushed Tokyo stocks lower on Friday. Other Asian markets fluctuated, with Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta and Taipei in the red, while Wellington, Mumbai and Bangkok were slightly higher. Hong Kong and Shanghai gained after Chinese authorities held a meeting to discuss plans to boost stunted consumption, a key goal for Beijing as they look to kickstart the world’s number two economy. The euro edged up but remained under pressure owing to uncertainty over budget cuts to reduce France’s huge deficit, and as Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government struggles amid tough opposition from the right and left. Economic weakness in Germany in particular has also dampened enthusiasm in Europe. Oil prices rose after the OPEC+ alliance postponed a weekend meeting to December 5, with analysts saying there were signs of disagreement among the group over plans to increase output. Bitcoin was sitting at about $96,500, having suffered a big drop at the start of the week following its worst run since Trump’s electoral success. Still, it is widely tipped to top $100,000 on expectations the new president will ease restrictions on the digital currency market.Prue Leith defends MasterChef star Gregg Wallace amid misconduct allegations

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The University of Colorado basketball honored Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter on a successful season, and before the ceremony, the two had some fun on the court. Hunter seemed to have a little more fun, though, as he decided to show off his crazy athletic ability. The Heisman Trophy winner was doing between-the-legs dunks and shooting no-look half-court shots while Shedeur looked on in awe. Originally, when they were suiting up, Shedeur just wanted to have a three-point contest with his teammate. But Travis upped the ante and challenged him to a dunk contest. The only catch: Shedeur can’t dunk. “C’mon, you selfish bro,” Shedeur said in protest , however, with a big smile on his face. “You know I can’t dunk, and I ain’t going to try.” While the possible future number one overall pick wasn’t too thrilled with the idea, it didn’t stop Hunter. He stole the show on the court. The lefty made a Steph Curry-like half-court shot, for one, that even got a reaction from Shedeur. He followed that up with a couple of sweet dunks that looked straight out of the NBA dunk contest. It was a funny interaction between the two soon-to-be opponents. Furthermore, Shedeur expressed afterward that he was genuinely happy for Hunter. Not just because he got to show off his basketball skills, but he’s just happy in general for his friend. It’s been a dream year for Hunter. He won several awards to go along, including the Heisman Trophy. Hunter boosted his draft stock a ton over the course of the season as well. He’s now projected to be picked in the top three with his teammate, Shedeur. Sanders is fully supportive of the recognition Hunter has received this year, and why shouldn’t he be? The two have been inseparable since they arrived at Jackson State with Shedeur’s father, Deion. They do media appearances together, podcasts, and of course, Shedeur threw the ball to Hunter for several years. One thing fans haven’t particularly considered is how weird it’s going to be to see the two playing against each other. That’s why Colorado decided to host the event with the two before their basketball game against Bellarmine. It might be the second-to-last time we see the two wearing the same jersey for quite some time. They are set to appear in the upcoming Bowl Game against BYU. Since Shedeur, Hunter, and Deion arrived in Colorado, everything across the board has gone up. Student enrollment rates, football attendance numbers, and ticket prices have all skyrocketed. This will go a long way in helping with facility, stadium, and even campus upgrades. A lot of exciting things are in store for the program, for sure. It was nice to see the duo on the court together. Now, the two turn their full attention towards the 2025 NFL Draft.Kash Patel in 2022 (Image: AP/José Luis Villegas) “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job.” That was George W. Bush’s high praise for the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Michael Brown, for its response to Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing deluge of New Orleans in September 2005. No-one else, alas, shared the sentiment: within days, Brown — whom Bush had appointed — would be sidelined from the Katrina response by his boss, the head of the Department of Homeland Security. Ten days later, Brown, a lawyer on the fringes of Republican politics who’d lucked into a job in the expanding Bush counterterrorism apparatus and who had minimal experience in emergency management, quit FEMA. The 1,392 lives lost in the deluge — principally due to a failed state and federal government response — were grim testament to what happens when someone without experience is put into a key position during an emergency. But later, a more complicated story would emerge of Brown as not merely a poor leader but a failed turf warrior who had been unable to protect FEMA from budget cuts as resources were shifted to the post-9/11 counterterrorism focus in the newly created Department of Homeland Security. It might be easier to ask which of Trump’s cabinet picks HAVEN’T been accused of sexual misconduct Read More Donald Trump hasn’t nominated a head of FEMA yet — its current head is a veteran emergency administrator — but his pick to run Homeland Security is South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, whose entire focus will be border control. With Trump promising to use troops to help round up undocumented immigrants for deportation, what are the chances that the mistakes of the Bush years will be replayed, only this time with border control, not terrorism, the idée fixe of Homeland Security. That is, until another major hurricane arrives and exposes the failings of another FEMA head... who is then scapegoated by a desperate administration. The perils of appointing people not merely clearly unsuited to cabinet roles — an anti-vaxxer as health secretary; an alleged child sex trafficker as attorney-general — but wholly lacking in the kind of experience needed to run large organisations continue to be a blinking red warning light on Donald Trump’s proposed appointments. The latest is Trump’s proposal to appoint Kash Patel as head of the FBI. Patel, a lawyer and political staffer before becoming a full-time Trump cheerleader, has zero law enforcement or executive experience, but strong views on the FBI: it’s part of the deep state conspiracy against Trump and must have its Washington headquarters shut down (who knew that voting against “Defund the Police” would lead to, well, defunding the police?). Patel has also promised that the new Trump administration would “come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections... We’re going to come after you, whether it’s criminally or civilly — we’ll figure that out.” That’s the person now in charge of one of the world’s largest domestic security services. But please, don’t dare call them fascists. And in any event, “press freedom” is just one of those ridiculous beliefs of out-of-touch elites. Problematically there’s a head of the FBI there already — one appointed by Trump in 2017 (you do have to admire the genius of the deep state — managing to convince Trump himself to appoint someone who would implement its agenda). Christopher Wray’s appointment doesn’t end until 2027, but he’s expected to be fired. While Patel will be directing the FBI to go after journalists who reported that Biden won the 2020 election — no need to bother at Fox, Kash — the FBI’s day job of investigating terrorism, foreign espionage, organised crime, corruption, civil rights abuses and drug trafficking will receive lower priority (assuming FBI resources are not redeployed to the war on undocumented migrants). At least, until a terrorist attack happens that the FBI received warnings of but failed to do anything about; then it will be time for scapegoats. Da pacem, Domine: Why Trump is what democracy needs Read More This grim reality of large government organisations, one not understood by the Elon Musks and Gina Rineharts of the world, is that delivering goods or services (health; infrastructure; security; emergency management; education) on a state or country-sized scale to the satisfaction of those being served is complex, demanding and rarely achieved consistently even by skilled, experienced professional administrators. Insert people who aren’t skilled and experienced and the system might continue to deliver if they’re backed by enough more junior experts. But in a crisis or emergency, which places stress on bureaucratic systems that ends up accumulating at the weakest link, the systems start to malfunction. Insert people actively hostile to the organisation’s goals, or bent on pursuing others, and it doesn’t take a crisis to create dysfunction. White Americans who voted for Trump might be perfectly happy for the federal government to be crippled and broken by Trump’s appointees — the whole system’s rotten, after all, so why not bring it crashing down? How long that sentiment survives amid natural disasters or terrorist attacks will be an interesting question. 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.