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WACO, Texas (AP) — Sawyer Robertson threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns as Baylor won its sixth straight to keep alive its slim hopes for a berth in the Big 12 championship game, beating Kansas 45-17 on Saturday. The Bears (8-4, 6-3 Big 12) scored touchdowns on three consecutive possessions in the first half to take a 21-7 lead, then found the end zone on all three of their drives in the third quarter. Bryson Washington ran for 192 yards on 27 carries that included a 10-yard TD run and punching in from the 1 in the second half for Baylor. “I’m proud of that team in the locker room there, just the grit they showed,” Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. “To go through the season we’ve had and not let the outside on the inside, all those things are just really hard.” Kansas (5-7, 4-5) entered on a three-game winning streak — all against ranked teams — to be in position for bowl eligibility with a win. But the Jayhawks had no answers for Baylor’s offense. “It’s extremely disappointing because this team has overcome so much,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. “It’s been a roller-coaster year in many ways, and we didn’t fulfill expectations. We battled back. The locker room stayed together. To play a team like this that is playing really well and playing physical, and to do it on the road, is a challenge, and one that we didn’t answer.” Devin Neal ran for 133 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries for Kansas. Jalon Daniels was 12-of-23 passing for 280 yards passing, and had two passes intercepted by Baylor safety Devyn Bobby. Baylor, which started 0-3 in league play, had to wait for the outcomes of games later Saturday. Arizona had to beat Arizona State, Kansas State had to beat Iowa State and Houston had to beat BYU for the Bears to get into next week’s conference title game. “I feel like what is being built here can be sustained because of the quality of people we have," Aranda said. Robertson was 23-for-31 passing, with TDs of 36- and 39-yards to Monaray Baldwin in the first quarter before a 14-yard score to Josh Cameron in the second. Baldwin caught seven passes for 119 yards, and Cameron added eight receptions for 102. “To finish the game and the season the way we did, it’s super special," Robertson said. Kansas: The Jayhawks rarely had issues moving the ball in the first half. Despite trailing 21-10 at intermission, the Jayhawks had outgained Baylor 301-283. Their problems came with holding onto the ball and scoring when they had the chance. Tabor Allen missed a 38-yard field goal to end the Jayhawks’ first possession, and they had promising drives end on a Daniels interception and Tevita Noa fumble after a 39-yard reception. Baylor: The Bears made a remarkable turnaround in the second half of the season. They began the year with coach Dave Aranda’s future considered tenuous at best, and a 2-4 start only made calls for him to be replaced louder. But Aranda and Baylor haven’t lost since Oct. 5 against Iowa State. Baylor’s first two TDs came off the same route from Baldwin, and the second was nearly a replay of the first. Baldwin lined up in the slot to the right side in a one-on-one matchup with Kansas safety Marvin Grant and ran right by him and down the sideline. The only difference in the plays was that Baldwin had to adjust and keep his feet in bounds as he went to the ground in the end zone for the first score. Robertson hit him in stride as he crossed the goal line on the second. “He’s such a good teammate, a good athlete, fun to throw to, because he can run by anybody," Robertson said. "But it was the same route, just different formations.” Kansas’ season is over. Baylor has to wait to see when and where it will play its next game. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballcolour your own magical ocean 。

LA Galaxy wins record 6th MLS CupIf she becomes education secretary, Linda McMahon could revise Title IX rules that serve to protect students from sex discrimination, including sexual violence. by Nadra Little , for The 19th Education leaders and advocates are speaking out against Linda McMahon, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to become education secretary, as a sexual misconduct lawsuit involving the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) garners increased interest. In October, attorneys filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of five men accusing McMahon and her husband, WWE co-founder Vince McMahon, of ignoring the sexual abuse by a male WWE employee that they endured as teen boys during the 1980s and 1990s. The men worked as “ring boys” who set up and broke down wrestling rings at WWE matches. They allege that WWE officials knew about the abuse they experienced but did not intervene. “The sexual misconduct lawsuit — it's going to get a lot of scrutiny, and I'm very troubled by those allegations,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the labor union representing 1.8 million members. “She's going to have to respond to them, about whether or not she was complicit in hiding or in covering up sexual assault. How can you be the head of education in America [with these allegations]? It's antithetical, right?” RELATED STORY: Trump taps woman behind ‘Hell in a Cell’ to smack down public education Laura A. Brevetti, an attorney for McMahon, provided a statement to The 19th in which she described the civil suit against her client as “baseless” and “filled with scurrilous lies, exaggerations, and misrepresentations.” Brevetti said that the FBI looked into the allegations years ago and “found no grounds to continue the investigation.” Along with administering federal funding, guaranteeing all students equal access to education, and ensuring schools comply with the law, the Department of Education issues updates to Title IX, a civil rights statute that prevents federally funded schools from practicing sex discrimination, which includes sexual misconduct. The accusations against McMahon have raised questions about whether she’s capable of keeping students safe. School personnel such as teachers and principals are mandated reporters, meaning they have a legal obligation to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to the authorities. But McMahon has no classroom experience, having led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term. The record of Betsy DeVos, education secretary during that term, has only added to the concerns about McMahon since DeVos was widely criticized for making Title IX revisions that created barriers for students trying to report sexual misconduct. The DeVos guidelines allowed schools to dismiss all but the most severe complaints of sexual harassment, subject complainants to live hearings with cross examinations, ignore cases of sexual violence involving students that occurred off campus, and drag out sexual misconduct investigations for so long that, in some cases, students graduated before action was taken. In the spring, President Joe Biden’s administration issued new Title IX guidelines that strengthened protections for survivors, but their advocates fear these gains will be reversed during the second Trump administration. Several nominees to his Cabinet posts have been accused of sexual misconduct, with Matt Gaetz withdrawing from consideration as attorney general as the allegations against him were scrutinized. A jury has found Trump himself liable for sexual abuse, and dozens of women have accused him of sexual misconduct. For organizations dedicated to ending sexual violence on K-12 and college campuses, McMahon’s nomination comes as a blow. Kenyora Parham, CEO of End Rape On Campus, a nonprofit working to end campus sexual violence by supporting survivors, prevention education, and policy reform, told The 19th in a statement that she is outraged that McMahon could be the next education secretary. She urged policymakers and fellow advocates to mobilize against her nomination. The allegations against her are “not only appalling but disqualifying for a role that demands the utmost integrity and commitment to student safety,” Parham said. “This nomination is a blatant and dangerous move by the Trump administration, signaling a calculated agenda to dismantle the protections afforded by Title IX. Title IX is a vital safeguard that ensures the rights of all students, particularly those who are LGBTQ+, pregnant or parenting and students of color. These protections are ... crucial for creating an educational environment free from discrimination and abuse.” Emma Grasso Levine, senior manager of Title IX policy and programs at Know Your IX, a project focused on ending gender-based and sexual violence in schools, said that she’s extremely concerned that McMahon’s nomination could lead to a “Betsy DeVos 2.0 situation.” That means, she said, “someone who is not qualified to lead the Department of Education, whose role, as instructed by the incoming administration, may be to reduce funding or dismantle staffing and key functions of that department that are meant to protect student civil rights.” Trump has repeatedly said that he will eliminate the Department of Education. On Thursday, Sen. Mike Rounds, a Republican representing South Dakota, initiated the process by introducing the “ Returning Education to Our States Act ” to disband the federal agency. The president-elect also wants to privatize education by increasing students’ access to taxpayer-funded vouchers that would cover some of their expenses at independent secular and religious schools. As chair of the board of the America First Policy Institute, which promotes Trump’s public policy proposals, McMahon has worked toward privatization. RELATED STORY: What happens if Republicans really do kill the Education Department? McMahon’s education resume has also cast doubt on her qualifications to lead the department. Current Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona worked as a classroom teacher, school principal, assistant superintendent, and education commissioner in Connecticut before Biden nominated him for the post. Also from Connecticut, McMahon served on the Connecticut State Board of Education from 2009 to 2010. At that time, critics wondered if she was qualified to serve, a controversy that grew when McMahon said that she had a bachelor’s degree in education when her degree is actually in French. McMahon has also sat on the trustee board of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, off and on since 2004. The Catholic institution announced in 2012 that it was naming its student commons building in the billionaire’s honor following her $5 million gift to the university during one of her two failed bids to become a U.S. senator representing Connecticut. Levine called McMahon’s lack of classroom experience and misconduct allegations “incredibly concerning” and questioned how she would enforce Title IX or address complaints filed with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, which addresses claims of discrimination. Jasmine Bolton, who served as senior counsel in the Office for Civil Rights from 2021 to 2023, also has misgivings. Bolton is now policy director at the Partnership for the Future of Learning, a network of organizations fighting for educational equity and high-quality public schools. “It does send a message to our children, to youth, when you see people who have either credible allegations of sexual assault or who have suppressed allegations of sexual assault ascending to these heights without ever having to take accountability for their actions,” she said. “It is problematic, especially in this case, there’s someone who will be in charge of overseeing reregulation under Title IX. We expect that they will take aim at Title IX again, if not to address sexual assault provisions, then certainly to address the protections offered to students based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.” Trump has made it clear that he plans to roll back protections for LGBTQ+ students and to retaliate against schools for teaching critical race theory and gender ideology. Bolton lamented that schools get caught in the crossfire of partisan politics, tailoring Title IX guidelines to the ideology of the administration in power. “There's a special sting that somebody who herself might be investigated under these regulations were she an administrator at a school, whether that's K-12 or or higher ed, that this is the person who may be changing the rules, making it harder for everyone, harder for schools, harder for students, to create safe environments,” Bolton said. “That is incredibly frustrating.” Trump has selected several Cabinet nominees with sexual misconduct allegations after insinuating that educators are threats to children. In a campaign video last year, he implied that the Department of Education was filled with “people that in many cases hate our children.” Conservatives in recent years have characterized teachers “as groomers,” an appropriation of a term used to describe how pedophiles prime children for abuse. In August, disparaging comments Vice President-elect JD Vance made about teachers during his 2021 Senate campaign resurfaced. He stopped short of calling teachers “groomers” but suggested he didn’t trust educators without children. Singling out Weingarten as a person who “wants to brainwash and destroy the mind[s] of children,” he said that “she should have some of her own and leave ours the hell alone.” Despite these attacks on teachers and on her personally, Weingarten, a “mom by marriage,” said that she is willing to reach across the aisle for the sake of the nation’s children because when teachers enter the classroom, they don’t have the option of working with some students and ignoring others. “That's just not who we are as people,” she said. “We make a difference in the lives of kids, and even when there are differing views, you have to be able to engage across the aisle. You can't say that a disagreement on an issue makes somebody a sworn enemy. That's who teachers are, and that's who I am. So the test for me is, ‘What are they going to do about helping kids achieve?’” In a statement after Trump selected McMahon as the nominee, Weingarten said that the AFT reached out to DeVos at the beginning of her tenure as education secretary and would do the same with the WWE co-founder. But that doesn’t mean the organization won’t resist when appropriate. “If they're going to continue smearing teachers, if they're going to continue to undermine public education, we will fight that,” Weingarten said. “Period.”

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No. 12 West Virginia women beat Boise State 82-47 to reach title game of Gulf Coast ShowcasePeople in the Syrian capital Damascus are bracing themselves as insurgents appear to be on the brink of entering the city. or signup to continue reading The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told dpa the capture of Damascus by the rebels and the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government are now only a matter of time. The British-based war monitor has been one of the leading sources of information about the war-torn country for years. It relies on a network of informants in Syria. The Syrian government, meanwhile, sought to counter speculation about the imminent capture of Damascus by the rebels. Interior Minister Mohammad al-Rahmoun told state television that there is a "very strong security ring on the outskirts of Damascus" and advised people to stay in their homes. An army spokesman said in a televised address that forces in the vicinity of Damascus were being reinforced. "Our armed forces units are strengthening their deployment lines throughout the Damascus countryside and the southern region to prevent any incidents as a result of the chaos that the terrorists are trying to create through their platforms, tools and sleeper cells in some areas," the spokesman said. Syrian rebels and local opposition forces have already surrounded areas on the outskirts of Damascus, activists and the observatory said earlier on Saturday. While government troops said they were "repositioning", insurgents were gaining further territory in the south of the country and on the border with Israel, increasing the pressure on al-Assad. Al-Assad's office in Damascus denied rumours that the president had fled. "We confirm that the Syrian president is pursuing his work and national and constitutional tasks from the capital, Damascus," a statement by the Syrian presidency said. It further stated that there would be no short-term foreign visits. The stated objective of the insurgents is the overthrow of the government. The leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohamed al-Joulani, issued a statement encouraging his fighters. "Damascus is waiting for you," he said. He later issued a second statement, stating that "the fall of the criminal regime is very near" and urged his fighters "to have mercy" on residents. He also instructed Syrian government forces to go to their homes and stay there, or lay down their arms, and they would be safe. Residents in the Damascus countryside told dpa that they had seen government troops withdrawing towards the capital city on foot. The cities of Muadamiyat al-Sham, Jaramana and Sahnaya witnessed demonstrations by local people in support of the opposition forces, who advanced towards Syrian army checkpoints. Soldiers reportedly withdrew from the checkpoints, allowing local rebel factions then took control of these locations. The civil war in Syria flared up again suddenly last week with a rebel offensive led by HTS. The group seized many areas in the north-west of the country, including the key cities of Aleppo and Hama. Other groups have since joined in, some in the south of the country. They are now positioned on the outskirts of Damascus. HTS fighters are reportedly already operating in the strategically important city of Homs, north of Damascus. The group stated that forces stationed behind enemy lines had begun "special operations" within the city. Simultaneously, there is a massive assault from several sides. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that armed confrontations were occurring in Homs. However, it remains unclear whether the rebel alliance has sufficient fighters to capture Homs, home to about 1.4 million people. The fighting is the latest stage in a conflict that began in 2011 with protests against al-Assad's government that were ruthlessly put down by security forces. The spiral of violence led to a civil war with international involvement, in which Russia, Iran, Turkey and the United States are pursuing their own interests. Some 14 million people have been displaced. According to UN estimates, more than 300,000 civilians have died so far. No political solution has been in sight for years. The Israeli military has deployed additional forces to the border with Syria as rebels continued their advances throughout the country. The Israel Defense Forces said on Telegram that they were deploying additional defensive forces to the Golan Heights and along the border. The announcement was the second of its kind in 24 hours. The IDF later said it was determined to prevent any violation of the sovereignty of the state of Israel. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. 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Nonehusband, who is a co-founder of Reddit, backs the PGA Tour's decision to collaborate with golf content creators as finally has an opportunity to make it to the pro scene. The 30-year-old blonde bombshell previously tried to go professional with the LPGA in the 2010s but failed to make the cut and subsequently switched her focus to coaching and modelling career. And she has been remarkably successful amassing some four million followers on Instagram, and a further 1.6 million on TikTok, with over 11 million likes on the Chinese social media platform. So it's no surprise she's part of eight influencers who will link up with the PGA to help drive the content online as well as providing "complimentary" coverage, and the 41-year-old father-of-two is a big fan of the move. "Very smart move," wrote online by taking to X.com, formerly Twitter, to endorse The man with a net worth of $150m is very supportive of female athletes and regularly encourages them to succeed in their chosen disciplines, as well as trying to financially support them through the ATHLOS scheme. He is also an investor in the National Women's Soccer League through Angel City FC and supported his wife, Williams, through the latter stages of her professional tennis career as they started a family together. Spiranac reacts to PGA collaboration The new collaboration with the PGA officially sees members link up as part of the Creator Council as they help with fan engagement strategies to grow the profile of the sport through social media networks. And for , the invitation and recognition made her reflect on her own path to stardom as she celebrated her own rise as well as the industry too. "In 2015 I went viral and that catapulted my social media journey," posted to X.com. "At that time there was no such thing as golf content creators on social media. "Over these past 9 years it's been amazing to share my love for this incredible game with so many people. I'm proud of the path I paved for myself in golf and how far this industry has grown with so many talented creators who share a common goal. "To be on the Creator Council is an honor and I'm very excited to continue to do my part to grow the game!"

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Syrian rebels push into Damascus: Bashar al-Assad 'nowhere to be seen' as his soldiers flee into Iraq and opposition fighters reach capital city's suburbsI’m a gypsy – how we decorate for Christmas, I’ve got a Harrods tree & tartan sofa covers, people say it’s beautiful

US News Today Live Updates on December 8, 2024 : Donald Trump says US should avoid Syria: ‘This is a mess, but not our fight, let it play out’

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Who Said ~ 9% Yields Cannot Grow Further? Consider These 2 PicksThe foreign ministers demanded that 'fundamental rights, including freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, must be upheld and protected as per Georgia's constitution'. The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland have condemned "the disproportionate use of force" against pro-EU protesters in Georgia as the wave of unrest continues for a tenth night. In their joint statement, the three foreign ministers – Annalena Baerbock, Jean-Noël Barrot and Radosław Sikorski - called for the immediate release of opposition members. More than 400 protesters, including opposition leaders and at least 50 journalists, have been detained, while over 100 people have been treated for injuries. The ministers demanded that "fundamental rights, including freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, must be upheld and protected as per Georgia’s constitution and international commitments." Germany, France and Poland also called on the ruling Georgian Dream party to deescalate tensions and open an inclusive dialogue with all political forces and representatives of civil society. "We underscore our determination to support the democratic and European aspirations of the Georgian people," the statement said. The security crackdown has also drawn condemnation from the United States. Speaking at a ministerial conference of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Secretary of State Antony Blinken denounced what he described as a brutal "repression of those calling for their country to stay on the path to closer ties with Europe." The ruling Georgian Dream retained control of parliament in a disputed parliamentary election on 26 October, a vote that was widely seen as a referendum on Georgia's EU aspirations. The opposition accused the governing party of rigging the vote with the help neighbouring Russia to keep what they call the 'Moscow-friendly' Georgian Dream party in power. But the initial protests against the election took on a new dimension and spread beyond the capital Tbilisi after the Georgian Dream’s decision last Thursday to put EU accession talks on hold until at least 2028. "There is just no way that they are going to get their ends with violence because more people are going to come out, more people are going to be on our side because of it. I don't know what their plan is, to be honest, I have no idea. They are doing the opposite of what they are supposed to do," said protester, Elene Chikovani. The decision to suspend accession talks was in response to a European Parliament resolution that criticised the elections as neither free nor fair. It said the election represented another manifestation of Georgia’s continued democratic backsliding "for which the ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible." International observers say they saw instances of violence, bribery and double voting at the polls, prompting some EU lawmakers to demand a re-run. The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 on condition that it meet the bloc's recommendations, but Brussels put that process on hold earlier this year after the passage of a controversial 'foreign influence' law, which was widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms. Critics have also accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted toward Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights. Georgia's pro-EU president, Salome Zourabichvili, has long been at odds with the Georgian Dream and has refused to sign what she sees as some of their more contentious pieces of legislation into law. On Saturday, she met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. In a post on X after that meeting, she thanked Zelenskyy for Ukraine's "steadfast and unwavering support for the Georgian people", adding there is "no alternative" to her country's future within the EU. Also on X, Zelenskyy said he supported Georgia's fight for a "dignified future" and said he would coordinate with global partners to deliver a response to support the Georgian people in their fight to "live freely and independently".

Faisal Mohamed Saleh* The idea of a government-in-exile has resurfaced in discussions among Sudanese civil society groups and opponents of the Port Sudan government. This concept, championed by those who oppose the current military rule, proposes the formation of an exiled government that would delegitimize the authority of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and represent all groups rejecting the ongoing war and advocating for a return to a democratic path. Proponents of this idea argue that al-Burhan’s government lacks control over significant portions of Sudan, and this reality presents an opportunity for the opposition to provide services and care to citizens outside the government’s reach. While not entirely new, this concept is relatively unprecedented in Sudan’s history of political conflict. Historically, Sudanese opposition movements against military and dictatorial regimes have successfully formed alliances to lead resistance efforts. This was evident in the Graduates’ Congress, the Front of Entities that toppled Ibrahim Abboud’s regime in 1964, the National Alliance for National Salvation that ousted Nimeiri in 1985, and the National Democratic Alliance formed in the early 1990s to oppose al-Bashir’s rule. Despite the presence of armed factions and territories under opposition control during al-Bashir’s era, the notion of a government-in-exile was never raised. Why, then, is it being proposed now? Proponents of this idea have failed to provide compelling justifications. Furthermore, an examination of the potential outcomes reveals a risky venture that could lead to disastrous consequences. The most dangerous of these is the formal declaration of the country’s division, a calamity that wise minds are striving to avoid. Experiences in neighbouring countries like Libya, Syria, and Yemen demonstrate that governments in exile have not led to positive developments but rather legitimized divisions, hindering dialogue and negotiation from resolving conflicts. While it’s true that Sudan is currently divided between the government in Port Sudan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), this is a reality imposed by force of arms, and it should not be accepted or legitimized. The RSF has established local civilian administrations in areas under its control, but these lack genuine authority and serve merely as a facade for the RSF’s military power. A government-in-exile would likely suffer the same fate, becoming a mere shadow of the RSF. Should such a government be formed and attempt to exercise influence, it would only find it in RSF-occupied territories. It is unrealistic to expect those who have taken up arms, regardless of their affiliation, to submit to a civilian administration composed of politicians who have not participated in the fighting. More likely, they would exploit these political groups to advance their agendas. Even worse, a civilian political group would be burdened with the responsibility for all the atrocities committed by the RSF in areas under its control. The most crucial question is whether any country or international organization would recognize such a government-in-exile. Currently, there is no indication of international willingness to do so, and there is no reason to repeat failed experiments in the region. It is naive to assume that those who acknowledge the opposition as a significant voice in Sudanese affairs would be prepared to recognize them as a government-in-exile. This is a different matter and would be subject to complex calculations that ultimately would not favour a government-in-exile. * Former information and culture minister during first Hamdock’s transitional cabinet.

For years, patients in the U.S. health care system have grown frustrated with a bureaucracy they don’t understand. Doctors are included in an insurer’s network one year but not the next. Getting someone on the phone to help can be next to impossible. Coverage of care and prescriptions is often unceremoniously denied. This week’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has unleashed a wave of public feeling — exasperation, anger, resentment, helplessness — from Americans sharing personal stories of interactions with insurance companies, often seen as faceless corporate giants. In particular, the words written on ammunition found at the shooting scene — “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” echoing a phrase used to describe how insurers dodge claim payouts — amplified voices that have long been critical of the industry. “All of a sudden, I am fired up again,” said Tim Anderson, describing how his wife, Mary, had to deal with UnitedHealthcare coverage denials before she died from Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in 2022. Anderson said they couldn’t get coverage for machines to help his wife breathe or talk — toward the end, she communicated by blinking when he showed her pictures. The family had to rely on donations from a local ALS group, he said. “The business model for insurance is don’t pay,” said Anderson, 67, of Centerville, Ohio. “When Mary could still talk, she said to me to keep fighting this,” he added. “It needs to be exposed.” For Anderson and others, Thompson’s death and the message left at the scene have created an opportunity to vent their frustrations. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic, as police efforts to find the gunman keep the case in the news . Hans Maristela said he understands why the chatter is bubbling up. The 54-year-old caregiver in California was moved to comment on Facebook about UnitedHealthcare’s reputation of denying coverage. As a Catholic, he said, he grieves Thompson’s death and feels for his family, especially with the holidays around the corner. But he sees frustration with insurers even among his clients, most of them wealthy older people who’ve not been shielded from high out-of-pocket costs. “And then you know the CEO of this company you pay a lot of money to gets $10 million dollars a year, you won’t have a lot of sympathy for the guy,” Maristela said, citing Thompson’s compensation package that included base pay and stock options. “Health care is a business, I understand, but the obsession with share price, with profit, has to be reevaluated.” University of Pennsylvania researcher Michael Anne Kyle said she’s not surprised by the growth of conversation around insurers. “People are often struggling with this by themselves, and when you see someone else talk about it, that may prompt you to join the conversation,” she said. Kyle studies how patients access care and said she’s seen frustration with the system build for years. Costs are rising, and insurers are using more controls such as prior authorizations and doctor networks to manage them. Patients are often stuck in the middle of disputes between doctors and insurers. “Patients are already spending a lot of money on health care, and then they’re still facing problems with the service,” she said. Insurers often note that most of the money they bring in goes back out the door to pay claims, and that they try to corral soaring costs and the overuse of some care. In Ohio, Anderson said his initial reaction to the CEO shooting was to question whether it was connected to a coverage denial, like the ones he’d experienced with his wife. “I definitely do not condone killing people,” he said. “But I read it and said, ‘I wonder if somebody had a spouse whose coverage was denied.’” It’s something Will Flanary, a Portland-based ophthalmologist and comedian with a large social media following, saw online a lot in the shooting’s immediate aftermath and found very telling. “It’s zero sympathy,” he said. “And the lesson to take away from that is not, ‘Let’s shame people for celebrating a murder.’ No, it’s: ‘Look at the amount of anger that people have toward this system that’s taken advantage of people and do something to try to fix that.’” Flanary’s content, published under the name Dr. Glaucomflecken , started out as niche eye doctor jokes and a way to cope with his own experiences with two cancer diagnoses and a sudden cardiac arrest. But it has evolved, featuring character skits that call attention to and satirize the decisions of large health insurers, including UnitedHealthcare. He said he’s never seen conversations around health insurance policy take off the way they did this week — and he hopes these new voices can help bring about change. “I’m always talking about how powerful social media can be with advocacy,” he said, “because it really is the only way to put a significant amount of pressure on these corporations who are doing bad things for patients.” — TOM MURPHY and DEVI SHASTRI, AP Health Writers The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.