Former Duke star and NBA participant Kyle Singler drew concern throughout the basketball world Tuesday after posting a pair of weird movies on Instagram.

Within the two movies, with the primary posted Monday evening and the second Tuesday afternoon, a shirtless Singler rants in a virtually empty room about being handled badly by his “neighborhood” and implies he has been making an attempt to begin a brand new enterprise after his enjoying profession, which ended when he retired in 2019.

Singler’s assertion within the first video:

And the second:

These two movies are the one posts on Singler’s Instagram web page as of Tuesday afternoon.

The 2 movies created vital worries about Singler’s psychological well being. Kevin Love, who performed on Singler’s AAU workforce earlier than faculty, known as for everybody who may to help Singler. Love has spoken about his personal psychological well being struggles up to now.

Along with Love, NBA veterans Isaiah Thomas and Andre Drummond each commented on Singler’s movies with supportive messages. Thomas wrote, “Right here for you bro! All the time and perpetually,” with Drummond including, “You are not alone brother! I am right here for you.”

Singler holds an essential place in Duke basketball historical past as one of many stars of their 2010 nationwide championship workforce. Alongside present Duke head coach Jon Scheyer, he obtained first-team All-ACC honors and Most Excellent Participant of the Closing 4 that season.

The Detroit Pistons drafted Singler with the thirty third general choose of the 2011 NBA Draft. He spent the primary three years of his NBA profession as a starter, however noticed his enjoying time fade over the next years. He averaged 6.5 factors in 21.9 minutes per recreation in six seasons with the Pistons and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.

After his launch from the Thunder in 2018, Singler performed a pair of seasons in Spain earlier than saying his retirement in 2019 as a result of private causes.

The NBA Cup continues with 12 video games on Friday evening. The match runs by means of Dec. 17.

It was referred to as the In-Season Event final yr when it debuted, after years and years of Commissioner Adam Silver wanting so as to add one thing further to the common season. All 30 groups participate and can play 4 group-stage video games.

From there, eight groups transfer to the quarterfinals and the winners of these video games will head to Las Vegas for the semifinals on Dec. 14.

All video games within the match — apart from the championship recreation — rely within the regular-season standings and statistics. The championship recreation is taken into account further and isn’t a part of the 82-game season for the 2 groups that make the ultimate.

What’s at stake?

To the winners: delight, a trophy and cash.

Gamers on the successful workforce will declare $514,971 every, whereas $205,988 goes to every participant on the runner-up workforce, $102,994 to gamers whose groups misplaced within the semifinals and $51,497 to these gamers whose groups misplaced within the quarterfinals.

Who performs the place and who performs when?

A breakdown of the teams and the standings:

East Group A — New York 1-0, Orlando 1-0, Brooklyn 0-0, Charlotte 0-1, Philadelphia 0-1.

Schedule: New York 111, Philadelphia 99;Orlando 114, Charlotte 89; Brooklyn at New York, Friday; Philadelphia at Orlando, Friday; Charlotte at Brooklyn, Tuesday; Brooklyn at Philadelphia, Nov. 22; New York at Charlotte, Nov. 29; Orlando at Brooklyn, Nov. 29; Philadelphia at Charlotte, Dec. 3; Orlando at New York, Dec. 3.

East Group B — Milwaukee 1-0, Detroit 1-0, Indiana 0-0, Miami 0-1, Toronto 0-1.

Schedule: Detroit 123, Miami 121;Milwaukee 99, Toronto 85; Miami at Indiana, Friday; Detroit at Toronto, Friday; Indiana at Milwaukee, Nov. 22; Milwaukee at Miami, Nov. 26; Toronto at Miami, Nov. 29; Detroit at Indiana, Nov. 29; Milwaukee at Detroit, Dec. 3; Indiana at Toronto, Dec. 3.

East Group C — Atlanta 1-0, Cleveland 0-0, Chicago 0-0, Washington 0-0, Boston 0-1.

Schedule: Atlanta 117, Boston 116; Chicago at Cleveland, Friday; Washington at Atlanta, Friday; Cleveland at Boston, Tuesday; Atlanta at Chicago, Nov. 22; Boston at Washington, Nov. 22; Chicago at Washington, Nov. 26; Boston at Chicago, Nov. 29; Cleveland at Atlanta, Nov. 29; Washington at Cleveland, Dec. 3.

West Group A — Portland 1-0, Los Angeles Clippers 0-0, Sacramento 0-0, Houston 0-0, Minnesota 0-1.

Schedule: Portland 106, Minnesota 98; Minnesota at Sacramento, Friday; LA Clippers at Houston, Friday; Sacramento at LA Clippers, Nov. 22; Portland at Houston, Nov. 22; Houston at Minnesota, Nov. 26; LA Clippers at Minnesota, Nov. 29; Sacramento at Portland, Nov. 29; Houston at Sacramento, Dec. 3; Portland at LA Clippers, Dec. 3.

West Group B — Phoenix 1-0, Oklahoma Metropolis 0-0, Los Angeles Lakers 0-0, San Antonio 0-0, Utah 0-1.

Schedule: Phoenix 120, Utah 112; LA Lakers at San Antonio, Friday; Phoenix at Oklahoma Metropolis, Friday; Oklahoma Metropolis at San Antonio, Tuesday; Utah at LA Lakers, Tuesday; LA Lakers at Phoenix, Nov. 26; San Antonio at Utah, Nov. 26; Oklahoma Metropolis at LA Lakers, Nov. 29; Utah at Oklahoma Metropolis, Dec. 3; San Antonio at Phoenix, Dec. 3.

West Group C — Golden State 1-0, Denver 0-0, New Orleans 0-0, Memphis 0-0, Dallas 0-1.

Schedule: Golden State 120, Dallas 117; Denver at New Orleans, Friday; Memphis at Golden State, Friday; Denver at Memphis, Tuesday; New Orleans at Dallas, Tuesday; Dallas at Denver, Nov. 22; Golden State at New Orleans, Nov. 22; New Orleans at Memphis, Nov. 29; Memphis at Dallas, Dec. 3; Golden State at Denver, Dec. 3.

What to know

If groups get eradicated in group play, they’ll have two extra video games added to their schedule. If groups get eradicated within the quarterfinals, they’ll have another recreation added.

All groups have solely 80 video games scheduled thus far within the common season however will play 82. That’s why the title recreation doesn’t rely; it could be an 83rd recreation for these groups (the 80 video games which can be already scheduled, then the quarterfinal, then the semifinal can be their 82 video games).

Not each recreation performed over the subsequent month is a match recreation. A fast method to know if it’s a match matchup: Each workforce has a brand new, distinctive court docket for these video games. See these courts, and also you’ll comprehend it’s a Cup recreation.

Betting favorites

In accordance with BetMGM Sportsbook, Boston’s loss to Atlanta had an enormous impact on the chances of who’ll win the NBA Cup.

New York (+600) is the brand new favourite, adopted by the reigning NBA champion Celtics (+800) and Cleveland (+800) tied because the second alternative. Golden State has its odds all the way down to +900, with Denver +1000. Oklahoma Metropolis and the defending Cup champion Lakers are each +1200.

Methods to watch

ESPN has a doubleheader Friday with Lakers-Spurs adopted by Grizzlies-Warriors. TNT has a doubleheader Tuesday, with Cavaliers-Celtics adopted by Thunder-Spurs.

ESPN has one other doubleheader on Nov. 22; TNT may have them on Nov. 26 and Dec. 3.

On the “Black Friday” buying vacation of Nov. 29, ESPN and NBA TV will present 5 Cup video games — spanning about 13 hours of protection in all — with video games beginning at midday and tipping off by means of 10 p.m.

Native broadcasts will even be obtainable, as common.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Disney Channel alumna Skai Jackson is all grown up and beginning a household of her personal.

A consultant for Jackson, identified for the Disney collection “Jessie” and “Bunk’d,” confirmed to The Instances on Tuesday that the 22-year-old actor is anticipating her first youngster. Jackson first revealed the child information to Individuals, sharing that she is anticipating the child together with her boyfriend, whose identification she has not publicly revealed.

“My coronary heart is so full,” Jackson informed the journal, including she is worked up for a “new chapter in my life” personally and professionally.

The TV star confirmed her being pregnant three months after she was arrested on suspicion of home violence at Common Studios in Hollywood. She was arrested Aug. 9 after safety personnel observed her and her boyfriend getting right into a bodily altercation on the theme park, which is adjoining to the Common CityWalk eating and buying district.

On the time, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division informed The Instances that an preliminary investigation decided the actor was the first aggressor. Each Jackson and her boyfriend denied reviews of a bodily altercation, a supply informed TMZ in August. The supply additionally revealed that the couple was engaged and anticipating their first youngster. Jackson was booked on the West Hollywood station. Her bail was set for $20,000 and he or she was cited and launched hours after her arrest.

Per week later the Los Angeles District Legal professional’s Workplace determined it is not going to cost Jackson, based on a number of retailers. “Skai is relieved that the investigation revealed that this was nothing greater than a misunderstanding,” a consultant for the actor informed Us Weekly in August.

A soon-to-be mother, Jackson isn’t any stranger to entertaining youngsters. Whereas she is greatest identified for her work on Disney Channel, Jackson’s TV profession additionally consists of voice appearing roles within the youngsters‘s collection “Bubble Guppies,” “Dora the Explorer” and “Dragons: Rescue Riders.”

Lately she has additionally appeared in HBO’s “A Black Woman Sketch Present,” the quick movie “Large Boss” (based mostly on the lifetime of fellow former youngster star KeKe Palmer) and the films “Sheroes” and “The Man within the White Van.”

Past TV and movie, Jackson additionally starred within the 2019 music video “Panini” with rapper Lil Nas X.

Instances employees author Nardine Saad contributed to this report.

• Get NBA League Go TODAY >

Let the Emirates NBA Cup 2024 video games start!

Discover the newest updates, standings and a easy reminder of the way it works beneath:

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Newest outcomes

Right here’s what occurred on the primary night time of NBA Cup motion.

• East A: Magic 114, Hornets 89 – Franz Wagner scores a season-high 32 factors in three quarters and Orlando goes on a 30-6 run within the second half to drag away from Charlotte.
• East B: Pistons 123, Warmth 121 (OT) – Jalen Duren flushes an inbound alley-oop with 1.1 seconds left and Malik Beasley hits the go-ahead free throw after Miami will get a technical for calling a timeout they didn’t have.
• East C: Hawks 117, Celtics 116 – With out Trae Younger, Atlanta overcomes 37 factors from Jaylen Brown and rides Jalen Johnson’s triple-double (18 factors, 13 rebounds, 10 assists) previous Boston.
• East A: Knicks 111, 76ers 99 – Karl-Anthony Cities delivers a double-double (21 factors, 13 rebounds) and New York spoils the season debut of Joel Embiid, who finishes with 13 factors in 26 minutes.
• East B: Bucks 99, Raptors 85 – Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the way in which with 23 factors and Milwaukee earns a much-needed win over Toronto regardless of a career-high 32 factors from Gradey Dick.
• West B: Suns 120, Jazz 112 – Devin Booker scores 15 of his 31 factors within the fourth quarter and Mason Plumlee fills in properly for Jusuf Nurkic with 15 factors and 14 rebounds.
• West A: Blazers 122, Wolves 108 – Robert Williams III and Jerami Grant every rating 19 factors and Portland catches hearth from 3-point vary (18-for-32) whereas rolling previous Minnesota.
• West C: Warriors 120, Mavericks 117 – Stephen Curry scores 37 factors, together with Golden State’s closing 12, to rally the Warriors in Klay Thompson’s emotional return to Chase Middle.

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Explainer

Relating to the NBA Cup, you solely must know these two phrases: Group Play and Knockout Rounds.

Group Play: All 30 groups have been randomly drawn into teams of 5 inside their convention based mostly on won-loss information from the 2023-24 common season. Every crew will play 4 designated Group Play video games – one sport in opposition to every opponent in its group, with two video games at dwelling and two on the street. 

Knockout Rounds: Eight groups advance to this stage: the six groups with the very best standing from their Group Play video games and two “wild playing cards” (the crew from every convention with the very best file in Group Play video games however completed second in its group). This stage is single-elimination: Quarterfinals > Semifinals > Championship.

Want extra clarification? Go deeper.

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Teams

West Group A | Preview

• Minnesota Timberwolves
• LA Clippers
• Sacramento Kings
• Houston Rockets
• Portland Path Blazers

West Group B | Preview

• Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
• Phoenix Suns
• Los Angeles Lakers
• Utah Jazz
• San Antonio Spurs

West Group C | Preview

• Denver Nuggets
• Dallas Mavericks
• New Orleans Pelicans
• Golden State Warriors
• Memphis Grizzlies

East Group A | Preview

• New York Knicks
• Orlando Magic
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Brooklyn Nets
• Charlotte Hornets

East Group B | Preview

• Milwaukee Bucks
• Indiana Pacers
• Miami Warmth
• Toronto Raptors
• Detroit Pistons

East Group C | Preview

• Boston Celtics
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Chicago Bulls
• Atlanta Hawks
• Washington Wizards

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Group Play standings

A full breakdown of the standings, together with level differential, may be discovered right here.

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Group Play schedule

Group Play video games might be performed on “Cup Nights,” which is able to happen each Tuesday and Friday from Nov. 12 by way of Dec. 3. The one NBA video games performed on Cup Nights might be Group Play video games.

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Knockout Spherical schedule

The matchups for the Knockout Spherical might be revealed Dec. 3.

Quarterfinals

• Tuesday, Dec. 10
• Wednesday, Dec. 11

Semifinals

Finals

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Knockout Spherical bracket

The eight-team bracket might be decided based mostly on the outcomes of the Group Play stage.

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NBA Cup stat leaders

Who will make the All-NBA Cup Group? Keep updated on the highest performers from the Cup video games.

Calling all “Jessie” followers! The youngest of the Ross clan goes to be a mother.

Skai Jackson, who performed Zuri Ross on the Disney Channel sitcom starring Debby Ryan, revealed she is pregnant together with her first youngster in an announcement to Folks journal revealed Tuesday.

Jackson, 22, is anticipating together with her boyfriend, who has not been publicly recognized.

“I am thrilled to start this new chapter in my life — embracing motherhood and diving into new appearing tasks,” Jackson informed the outlet. “My coronary heart is so full!”

Jackson’s being pregnant follows the actress’s latest brush with the legislation. Jackson was arrested on Aug. 9 on suspicion of home battery, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division confirmed to USA TODAY on the time. The previous youngster star was apprehended throughout an outing at Common Studios Hollywood after it was decided she was “the first aggressor” within the home incident.

Want a break? Play the USA TODAY Day by day Crossword Puzzle.

‘Our hearts are so full’:Lea Michele provides start to child No. 2 with husband Zandy Reich

Safety personnel from Common Studios reportedly alerted police after witnessing Jackson push her boyfriend greater than as soon as, in line with TMZ. Authorities subsequently reviewed surveillance footage from the L.A. theme park, which allegedly confirmed Jackson pushing the unidentified sufferer, per Folks journal and the Los Angeles Instances.

No accidents had been reported following the altercation, the LASD spokesperson informed USA TODAY. Jackson was taken to LASD’s West Hollywood station for reserving and was launched just a few hours later.

Hollywood infants:Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger welcome their first son collectively

In a 2023 interview with Folks journal, Jackson mirrored that being a task mannequin comes with “numerous stress,” telling the journal, “On the finish of the day, I take a look at myself because the common particular person that folks simply occur to love or get pleasure from.”

“It is crucial for me to place out the best message, be optimistic always and provides my followers nice recommendation,” Jackson added. “Allow them to know that something that they need to do in life, they’ll obtain it.”

Jackson’s newest position was an look within the 2023 thriller “The Man within the White Van,” directed by Warren Skeels.

Former President Donald Trump tapped former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a supporter of Israeli annexation of the West Financial institution and a longtime chief within the evangelical Christian wing of the Republican Occasion, to be his ambassador to Israel because the U.S. ally wages a number of conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and Syria.

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What You Want To Know

• Former President Donald Trump named former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be his ambassador to Israel because the U.S. ally wages a number of conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and Syria

• The 69-year-old Baptist minister and former Fox Information host has remained in right-wing media since leaving workplace in 2007 and ran once more briefly for president in 2016
• U.S. assist for Israel is central to many evangelical Christian’s international coverage beliefs and Huckabee has long-standing ties with the nation

• Israel will garner a lot focus through the early months of Trump’s upcoming administration

• “There’s no legitimate purpose to have a cease-fire with Hamas. They’re not able to having an honorable negotiation,” Huckabee mentioned in June

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Huckabee is the newest choice by Trump for his subsequent administration who’s a fervent supporter of Israel’s struggle efforts, with New York Rep. Elise Stefanik having been nominated for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, a hawkish backer of Israel and critic of Iran, as his nationwide safety adviser. Ambassadorships are largely Senate confirmable positions, which means Huckabee must be authorised by a Republican-controlled chamber.

Huckabee, who was a prime contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, is the daddy of present Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trump’s former White Home press secretary.

“I’m happy to announce that the Extremely Revered former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, has been nominated to be The USA Ambassador to Israel. Mike has been an excellent public servant, Governor, and Chief in Religion for a few years,” Trump mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday. “He loves Israel, and the individuals of Israel, and likewise, the individuals of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to result in Peace within the Center East!”

The 69-year-old Baptist minister and former Fox Information host has remained in right-wing media since leaving workplace in 2007 and ran once more briefly for president in 2016. Huckabee mentioned after Trump was first elected in 2016 that he mentioned a Cupboard function with the incoming president, however that it was not “the best match.” He was additionally reportedly thought-about for the Israeli ambassadorship on the time.

U.S. assist for Israel is central to many evangelical Christian’s international coverage beliefs and Huckabee has long-standing ties with the nation.

“Evangelicals and so many individuals assist Israel a lot extra. It is not only a Jewish individuals, it is so many Christians are so supportive of Israel,” Trump noticed at a “Believers and Ballots” city corridor in Georgia final month. 

Huckabee has led paid tour group visits to Israel for years, steadily promoting the journeys on conservative-leaning information shops. He wrote in 2017 he began organizing journeys to Israel in 1981. 

“Let me assist you to expertise Israel in a complete way—embracing the Biblical historical past and classes, but in addition understanding Israel as the middle of the geo-political universe of the Center East and plenty of elements of the world,” Huckabee wrote in a 2017 Fb submit. 

Throughout a 2017 journey to an Israeli settlement within the West Financial institution, that are unlawful in accordance with worldwide legislation, Huckabee mentioned “there is no such thing as a such factor as a West Financial institution” and “no such factor as an occupation.” In 2018, he mentioned he “sooner or later may wish to buy a vacation house” in one other settlement. He has expressed assist for Israel’s annexation of the West Financial institution

In 2019, Trump named Huckabee to the board of the Kennedy Middle in Washington for a time period set to run out in September 2024. After supporting and spreading Trump’s false claims in regards to the 2020 election, Huckabee campaigned for him this yr. 

Israel will garner a lot focus through the early months of Trump’s upcoming administration, because it has for the final yr because the Hamas assault on Oct. 7, 2023, that triggered a bigger battle. Israel’s bombardment and floor invasion of Gaza have killed greater than 43,000 Palestinians, greater than half of them ladies and kids, in accordance with native well being authorities, who don’t say what number of of these killed have been militants. The United Nations’ Human Rights Workplace mentioned final week that round 70% individuals killed between Nov. 2023 and April 2024 have been ladies and kids.

“There’s no legitimate purpose to have a cease-fire with Hamas. They’re not able to having an honorable negotiation,” Huckabee mentioned in June. “And each time one thing is placed on the desk, they fake that they’re gonna hearken to it, they fake that they’re for it after which they at all times reject it.”

“That is like making an attempt to barter with the Nazis in World Battle II. You simply don’t,” he continued. “You beat them. You defeat them. You eradicate them.”

Round 90% of Gaza’s inhabitants of two.3 million has been displaced, and lots of of hundreds are packed into squalid tent camps, with little meals, water or hygiene services. The USA has rushed billions of {dollars} in navy assist to Israel through the struggle, whereas urgent it to permit extra assist into Gaza. Israeli President Isaac Herzog was on the White Home to fulfill with President Joe Biden on Tuesday as combating between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah has elevated and humanitarian assist organizations have mentioned that Israel’s failure to get assist into Gaza has “dramatically worsened the state of affairs on the bottom, notably in Northern Gaza.” 

On Tuesday, Palestinian medical officers mentioned Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed not less than 31 individuals up to now 24 hours and paramedics in Lebanon mentioned an Israeli airstrike on an condo constructing killed not less than six individuals whereas 4, together with a girl who is nearly 90, remained buried underneath the rubble. Hezbollah started firing into Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. For the reason that battle erupted, greater than 3,200 individuals have been killed in Lebanon and greater than 14,000 wounded, the nation’s Well being Ministry reported.

Trump has promised to finish the wars within the Center East with out saying how. He was a staunch defender of Israel throughout his earlier time period, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says they’ve spoken thrice since his reelection final week.

The Republican Jewish Coalition praised Trump’s choose, noting Huckabee’s “abounding love of Israel and its individuals is second to none.”

“Because the Jewish state continues to battle an existential struggle for survival towards Iran and its terrorist proxies, Governor Huckabee will symbolize America’s ironclad dedication to Israel’s safety with distinction,” the coalition mentioned in an announcement. 

Trump’s ambassador to Israel throughout his first time period, David Friedman, wrote on social media that Huckabee “is certainly one of Israel’s biggest mates.”

The Related Press contributed to this report.

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to move what he is calling the “Division of Authorities Effectivity” (DOGE) — an acronym that’s an obvious wink to the dog-themed cryptocurrency by the identical title that began as a joke and skyrocketed after Musk promoted it.

Trump made the announcement in a press release Tuesday night, indicating DOGE and its management, Musk and Ramaswamy, will concentrate on regulating authorities spending.

Whereas it’s not but clear whether or not this entity will exist inside the federal authorities or outdoors, an official authorities company can’t be created with out an act of Congress.

“Collectively, these two great People will pave the way in which for my Administration to dismantle Authorities Paperwork, slash extra laws, reduce wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Businesses – Important to the ‘Save America’ Motion,” Trump wrote. “I stay up for Elon and Vivek making modifications to the Federal Paperwork with a watch on effectivity and, on the identical time, making life higher for all People.”

The transfer by Trump marks one other deviation from political custom in assembling a brand new administration. It is also a continuation of Trump’s relationships with Musk and Ramaswamy, businessmen who’re each comparatively new to politics however have turn out to be shut allies of the incoming president.

On the marketing campaign path, Trump spoke of making a job within the federal authorities for Musk, who’s the richest man on this planet and owns Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X.

Musk has turn out to be an more and more influential voice in conservative politics. He first proposed a “authorities effectivity fee” that might monitor federal businesses throughout a dialog he had with Trump on X. Since successful the presidential election, Trump and Musk have remained in shut orbit.

The appointment additionally brings Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, formally into Trump’s administration after he was reported to have as soon as been into account for vice chairman.

“We won’t go gently,” Ramaswamy stated in a publish on X in response to the information whereas tagging Musk, who commented individually in Trump’s unique announcement.

“This may ship shockwaves by the system, and anybody concerned in Authorities waste, which is lots of people!” Musk stated.

Whereas most dept heads must be confirmed by the Senate, it is unclear what formalities Musk and Ramaswamy must undergo for these roles.

For Musk, having a direct function within the administration raises questions on potential conflicts of curiosity. He may probably acquire regulatory authority over federal businesses that oversee a lot of his firms that obtain authorities funding, together with Tesla, SpaceX and Starlink. Musk’s firms have additionally been the topic of federal investigations.

Musk and Trump

Musk grew to become a significant supporter of Trump within the ultimate leg of his presidential bid, showing on the marketing campaign path and spending greater than $100 million on organizing efforts by his tremendous PAC, America PAC. His political contributions went on to surpass the entire quantity of public donations from your complete oil business.

Musk’s relationship with Trump exists a world aside from the cautious means most American CEOs navigate politics — though Musk already has a historical past of breaking from company custom.

The tech mogul’s assist for Trump was additionally a shocking ideological pivot. Musk, who constructed his huge fortune on electrical autos with a declared dedication to preventing local weather change, is now embracing a politician who constantly dismisses considerations about carbon emissions.

That stated, Trump’s appreciation was public. On the marketing campaign path he softened a few of his rhetoric in opposition to electrical autos, saying he had “no selection” to be in favor of them after Musk’s endorsement. Trump additionally known as Musk a “tremendous genius” in his victory speech and included Musk in a household picture after the election.

Musk went on to weigh in on spending cuts whereas talking to Trump supporters at a rally in New York Metropolis forward of Election Day, arguing the funds for the federal authorities may very well be considerably shrunk by “a minimum of” $2 trillion.

Chopping prices in enterprise; spending huge in politics

He has a document of slicing spending inside his companies. After shopping for X, he performed mass layoffs, vastly decreasing the dimensions of the corporate from 8,000 to 1,500 folks.

Forward of Trump’s announcement, Musk additionally said he plans to maintain his tremendous PAC lively as Republicans gear up for particular elections and the midterms.

Like Musk, Ramaswamy has additionally known as for drastic reductions in federal spending.

Till he dropped out of the 2024 presidential race in January to endorse Trump, Ramaswamy vowed to scale back the function of the federal authorities. His coverage proposals included slashing the Federal Reserve workforce by a minimum of 90% and deporting American-born youngsters of undocumented immigrants.

Washington
CNN
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President-elect Donald Trump introduced Tuesday that he has nominated former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to function United States ambassador to Israel, a powerful defender of Israel who as soon as argued that there was “no such factor as a Palestinian.”

“Mike has been an awesome public servant, Governor, and Chief in Religion for a few years. He loves Israel, and the individuals of Israel, and likewise, the individuals of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to result in Peace within the Center East!” Trump mentioned in a press release.

Huckabee’s daughter, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, served as Trump’s press secretary throughout his first administration.

Huckabee has been staunchly pro-Israeli all through his profession – together with on what he says is the nation’s claims to the West Financial institution.

On Wednesday he mentioned it was “in fact” attainable that the US would again the Israeli authorities if it have been to try to annex the Israeli-occupied territory.

In an interview on Israeli Military Radio, Huckabee was requested whether or not the Trump administration would help annexation within the West Financial institution, identified in Israel as making use of “sovereignty.”

“Properly in fact,” Huckabee mentioned. “I received’t make the coverage, I’ll perform the coverage of the president. However he has already demonstrated in his first time period that there’s by no means been an American president that has been extra useful in securing an understanding of the sovereignty of Israel.”

“From the transferring of the embassy, recognition of the Golan Heights and Jerusalem because the capital. Nobody has completed greater than President Trump. And I absolutely count on that that can proceed.”

Israel has occupied the West Financial institution since seizing the territory from Jordan in 1967. Within the a long time since, it has expanded Jewish settlements within the space, that are thought-about unlawful underneath worldwide legislation, regardless of signing a collection of peace agreements with the Palestinians within the Nineteen Nineties. Round half 1,000,000 Israelis stay in West Financial institution settlements.

His choice will come as a welcome fruits of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lengthy mission to shore up ties to American evangelicals.

Huckabee has spent ample time in Israel, and he led a tour within the nation for the corporate Senior Grownup Journey Inc. as not too long ago as Might, based on the corporate’s web site.

In a video obtained by CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski throughout Huckabee’s 2015 run for president, Huckabee prompt that if a Palestinian state have been to be created, it ought to be in neighboring international locations like Egypt, Syria or Jordan, quite than inside Israel’s borders.

“Principally, there actually isn’t any such factor as — I have to be cautious about saying this, as a result of individuals will actually get upset — there’s actually no such factor as a Palestinian,” Huckabee mentioned at a 2008 marketing campaign cease in Massachusetts whereas talking to 2 Orthodox Jewish males. “There’s not.”

He’s been a supporter of Israeli settlements within the West Financial institution, together with laying a cornerstone for a brand new neighborhood in one of many largest settlements, simply east of Jerusalem, in 2017.

He instructed CNN’s Oren Lieberman on the time that he rejected using the phrase “settlements.”

“I believe Israel has title deed to Judea and Samaria,” mentioned Huckabee, utilizing the biblical phrases for the West Financial institution. “There are particular phrases I refuse to make use of. There is no such thing as a such factor as a West Financial institution. It’s Judea and Samaria. There’s no such factor as a settlement. They’re communities, they’re neighborhoods, they’re cities. There’s no such factor as an occupation.”

Israeli officers welcomed Trump’s alternative of ambassador.

Far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who’s pushing for the annexation of settlements within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, congratulated Huckabee in a publish on X.

Smotrich, who’s answerable for the settlements, wrote of Huckabee, “As a constant and constant pal of the State of Israel and a supporter of the settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria, who for a few years fought for our state and our proper to all elements of the Land of Israel, I’ve little doubt that we have now received and along with him we are going to strengthen Israel’s safety and power and strengthen our maintain in all its areas.”

Newly appointed International Minister Gideon Sa’ar known as Huckabee a “longstanding pal of Israel” in a publish on X and mentioned he seems to be ahead to working to “strengthen the bond between our peoples.”

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, additionally congratulated Huckabee, saying, “I believe he can be an awesome ambassador to Israel.” Dannon mentioned Huckabee is “very acquainted” with the info on the bottom and has been to Israel a number of instances, together with after the lethal October 7, 2023, Hamas assaults.

Minister of Nationwide Safety Itamar Ben-Gvir additionally expressed his help. He posted Huckabee’s title to X, adopted by emojis of the American flag, a coronary heart and an Israeli flag.

CNN’s Lauren Izso, Dana Karni and Mick Krever contributed to this report.

CNN
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President-elect Donald Trump introduced Tuesday that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a brand new “Division of Authorities Effectivity” in his second administration.

“Collectively, these two fantastic Individuals will pave the best way for my Administration to dismantle Authorities Forms, slash extra rules, lower wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Companies,” Trump stated in an announcement.

The announcement of Ramaswamy and notably Musk, who leads corporations with current, profitable authorities contracts, raises fast questions on potential conflicts of curiosity. It isn’t instantly clear how the division – which Trump stated would “present recommendation and steering from outdoors of Authorities” – would function, and whether or not a Congress even totally managed by Republicans would have the urge for food to approve such an enormous overhaul of presidency spending and operations.

Trump had proposed the creation of a authorities effectivity fee as a part of a slate of latest financial plans that he unveiled in early September. On the time, he stated Musk had agreed to guide it if he had been to safe a return to the White Home.

Trump’s assertion Tuesday night time quoted Musk as saying that “it will ship shockwaves by means of the system, and anybody concerned in Authorities waste, which is lots of people!”

Ramaswamy individually responded on X with a slogan he typically used throughout his presidential marketing campaign to name for the elimination of federal businesses, writing: “SHUT IT DOWN.”

On the marketing campaign path, Trump pointed to his proposed authorities effectivity fee as a technique to cut back authorities spending. “As the primary order of enterprise, this fee will develop an motion plan to completely remove fraud and improper funds inside six months,” he stated in September. “This may save trillions of {dollars}.”

Ramaswamy, who beforehand challenged Trump within the Republican presidential major earlier than endorsing him in January, made decreasing waste in authorities spending a key coverage platform for his marketing campaign.

Final yr, Ramaswamy – who had promised on the marketing campaign path to remove the FBI, the Division of Training and the Nuclear Regulatory Fee, which might lay off 1000’s of federal employees within the course of – launched a white paper outlining a authorized framework he stated would permit the president to remove federal businesses of his selection.

Musk, for his half, stated whereas supporting Trump on the marketing campaign path that he’d pitch an enormous rollback of presidency rules, of which he has lengthy griped. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has additionally floated an evaluation system that threatens layoffs to wasteful staff and proposed providing beneficiant severance packages to laid-off authorities employees.

Musk first instructed Trump type a authorities effectivity fee and appoint him to it in an August dialog between the 2 hosted on X. Trump responded, “I’d like it.”

A couple of days later, Musk posted on X a picture of himself at a podium labeled Division of Authorities Effectivity and D.O.G.E., the title of Musk’s favourite meme and cryptocurrency. “I’m prepared to serve,” he wrote.

On Tuesday, he pledged on X that such an workplace would submit all of its actions on-line for transparency and teased “a leaderboard for many insanely dumb spending of your tax {dollars}.”

The work of the division, Trump stated in his assertion, will finish no later than July 4, 2026. “A smaller Authorities, with extra effectivity and fewer forms, would be the good present to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. I’m assured they are going to succeed!” he stated.

Musk, who slashed workers after shopping for Twitter – now X – in 2022, has embraced the concept of being the “Secretary of Value-Slicing,” as Trump referred to as him in a Fox Information interview final month.

Requested by Trump-Vance transition workforce co-chair Howard Lutnick at a rally final month how a lot he might lower out of the nation’s $6.5 trillion finances, Musk responded: “Nicely, I believe we might do at the least $2 trillion.”

“Your cash is being wasted, and the Division of Authorities Effectivity goes to repair that,” Musk stated on the Madison Sq. Backyard rally in New York Metropolis. “We’re going to get the federal government off your again and out of your pocketbook.”

(The federal authorities spent $6.8 trillion in fiscal 2024, in line with the Treasury Division.)

However specialists have voiced doubts about Musk with the ability to slash anyplace close to $2 trillion.

Talking at The Financial Membership of New York Tuesday, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers stated that Musk can be fortunate to search out $200 billion in federal finances cuts for the reason that scope for curbing waste is proscribed.

Glenn Hubbard, an economist and former dean of Columbia College’s Enterprise Faculty, stated it might be very difficult to slash that a lot spending if curiosity bills, entitlement applications and protection had been off limits.

“It’s simply mathematically inconceivable to search out $2 trillion,” Hubbard, a former chairman of the US Council of Financial Advisers within the George W. Bush administration, stated on the Financial Membership.

Trump and congressional Republicans have lengthy pointed to combating waste, fraud and abuse as methods to save lots of the federal authorities cash. However that chorus is “typically an excuse to do nothing,” Marc Goldwein, senior coverage director for the Committee for a Accountable Federal Price range, instructed CNN when Trump first mentioned making a authorities effectivity fee.

The fee must be given a broad mandate to assessment the most important federal spending applications – Social Safety, Medicare and protection – to be handiest, Goldwein stated.

A essential union for federal employees, who’re already bracing for the chance of a purge throughout the second Trump administration, additionally blasted the concept of a authorities effectivity fee.

“Elon Musk and Donald Trump care about one factor: lining their very own pockets. Not authorities effectivity, and definitely not making issues higher for on a regular basis Individuals,” American Federation of Authorities Staff Nationwide President Everett Kelley stated in an announcement in early September.

This story has been up to date with further particulars.

CNN’s David Goldman contributed to this report.

“Dancing With the Stars” hit a brand new milestone on Nov. 12, and revealed who was heading to the semifinals for Season 33. The five hundredth episode opened with execs — together with returning favourite Sharna Burgess — for the opening quantity, “Loopy in Love,” the identical opening quantity from the 2005 collection premiere. Many previous rivals returned to the ballroom, together with Adam Rippon, Ginger Zee, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Alyson Hannigan, AJ McLean and Simone Biles.

This week, every of the remaining six groups carried out routines honoring fan-favorite performances from the previous.

Final week ended with a tie on the leaderboard: Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson had 32 factors, as did Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong. So each got here able to battle for that high spot.

Joey and Jenna carried out a up to date routine, impressed by Riker Lynch and Allison Holker’s Season 20 efficiency. “I assumed it lacked a little bit of rawness,” Carrie Ann Inaba mentioned after the routine, whereas Derek Hough replied, “I disagree!” Derek, who gave a 9 to the pair final week, gave them a ten.

In the meantime, Chandler Kinney and professional Brandon Armstrong paid tribute to Derek and Kellie Pickler’s Season 16 efficiency with an Argentine Tango. Derek appreciated it a lot he “most popular” theirs over his — and the opposite judges agreed; the pair earned the primary good 30 of the season.

Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach, who honored James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess’ Season 23 efficiency with an Argentine Tango, didn’t impress Carrie Ann, who gave them an 8 and advised them she missed the Dwight from earlier within the season.

Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten fell to the underside of the leaderboard in the course of the Halloween week however made fairly the comeback with a Quickstep impressed by Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold’s Season 25 efficiency, incomes a ten from Carrie Ann.

After their solo dances, the {couples} got the final word problem, studying a dance model and music 5 minutes earlier than performing reside. Whereas all pairs impressed the judges, solely Chandler and Brandon obtained an ideal rating of 30 for the problem.

In the end, after viewers votes have been added in, Dwight and Daniella have been eradicated.