Health director promises a better St. Louis County animal shelter despite volunteer pause

-- Shares Facebook Twitter Reddit Email Charlamagne Tha God thinks that Democrats can no longer claim any moral authority after President Joe Biden pardoned his son. During a visit to " The View " on Wednesday, the radio host fell into a heated debate with host Whoopi Goldberg over the president's decision to clear his son of several tax and gun-related charges. In particular, Charlamagne took offense at Biden's insistence that he w "All of the criticism is valid because, you know, Democrats stand on this moral high ground all the time, and, you know, they act so self-righteous," he shared. [President Biden] kept saying things like, 'You know, nobody is above the law, I respect the jury’s decision in regards to my son.' He didn’t believe that, but he didn’t have to volunteer that lie to begin with." Goldberg countered that Biden was flipping the table of a rigged game. "He got sick of watching everybody else get over," Goldberg shared, seemingly pointing to the vacated cases against President-elect Donald Trump . "Why can’t you say when Democrats are wrong?" Charlamagne asked in reply. "And why can’t Republicans say when Republicans are wrong?” The pair then called each other "ridiculous," but made up before the end of the segment. Related Joe Biden’s Hunter lesson: The political high road is a mirage The president laid out his reasoning for pardoning Hunter Biden in a statement shared earlier this week. He said that his son was the victim of "raw politics" and that the cases against him were an attack from the GOP. "No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son – and that is wrong," he said. "In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough." Watch the entire segment below: Read more about Hunter Biden "Enough is enough": President Joe Biden pardons son Hunter Biden Meghan McCain called out for referring to Hunter Biden as a “nepo baby” "One last chance": Biden's pardon of Hunter can't be his final act of clemency, Democrats say MORE FROM Alex Galbraith Advertisement:WASHINGTON — Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter after earlier promising he would do no such thing, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That displeasure tracks with the bipartisan uproar in Washington that ignited over the president's about-face. The survey found that a relatively small share of Americans "strongly" or "somewhat" approve of the pardon, which came after the younger Biden was convicted on gun and tax charges. About half said they "strongly" or "somewhat" disapprove, and about 2 in 10 neither approve nor disapprove. The Democratic president said repeatedly that he would not use his pardon power for the benefit of his family, and the White House continued to insist, even after Republican Donald Trump's election win in November, that Biden's position had not changed — until it suddenly did. People are also reading... Nebraska transportation director: Expressway system won't be done until 2042 At the courthouse, Dec. 7, 2024 Camper total loss after fire north of Beatrice 27-year-old Beatrice man sentenced for May assault Stabler scores 22 in Lady O's season opening win BPS receives a "good" classification Holiday lights travel through downtown Beatrice for annual parade Orangemen open season with win over Nebraska City P.E.O. sponsors Holiday Tour of Homes Missouri man sentenced for attempted sexual assault At the courthouse, Nov. 30, 2024 Community Players open holiday play Amie Just: This recruiting class marks the beginning of a new era — one without walk-ons Traffic enforcement campaigns net safety reminders, citations Lonnie Meyer Hunter Biden leaves federal court Sept. 5 in Los Angeles after pleading guilty to federal tax charges. "I know it's not right to believe politicians as far as what they say compared to what they do, but he did explicitly say, 'I will not pardon my son,'" said Peter Prestia, a 59-year-old Republican from Woodland Park, New Jersey, just west of New York City, who said he strongly disagreed with the move. "So, it's just the fact that he went back on his word." In issuing a pardon Dec. 1, Biden argued that the Justice Department had presided over a "miscarriage of justice" in prosecuting his son. The president used some of the same kind of language that Trump does to describe the criminal cases against him and his other legal predicaments. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said it was a decision that Biden struggled with but came to shortly before he made the announcement, "because of how politically infected these cases were" as well as "what his political opponents were trying to do." The poll found that about 4 in 10 Democrats approve of the pardon, while about 3 in 10 disapprove and about one-quarter did not have an opinion or did not know enough to say. The vast majority of Republicans and about half of independents had a negative opinion. President Joe Biden and son Hunter Biden walk Nov. 29 in downtown Nantucket Mass. For some, it was easy to see family taking priority over politics. "Do you have kids?" asked Robert Jenkins, a 63-year-old Democrat who runs a lumber yard and gas station in Gallipolis, Ohio. "You're gonna leave office and not pardon your kid? I mean, it's a no-brainer to me." But Prestia, who is semiretired from working for a digital marketing conglomerate, said Biden would have been better off not making promises. "He does have that right to pardon anybody he wants. But he just should have kept his mouth shut, and he did it because it was before the election, so it's just a bold-faced lie," Prestia said. Despite the unpopularity of his decision, the president's approval rating has not shifted meaningfully since before his party lost the White House to Trump. About 4 in 10 Americans "somewhat" or "strongly" approve of the way Biden is handling his job as president, which is about where his approval rating stood in AP-NORC polls since January 2022. Still, the pardon keeps creating political shock waves, with Republicans, and even some top Democrats, decrying it. Older adults are more likely than younger ones to approve of Biden's pardoning his son, according to the poll, though their support is not especially strong. About one-third of those ages 60 and older approve, compared with about 2 in 10 adults under 60. The age divide is driven partially by the fact that younger adults are more likely than older ones to say they neither approve nor disapprove of the pardon or that they do not know enough to say. President Joe Biden walks with his son Hunter Biden on July 26 as he heads toward Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. About 6 in 10 white adults disapprove of the pardon, compared with slightly less than half of Hispanic adults and about 3 in 10 Black adults. Relatively large shares of Black and Hispanic Americans — about 3 in 10 — were neutral, the poll found. "Don't say you're gonna do something and then fall back," said Trinell Champ, 43, a Democrat from Nederland, Texas, who works in the home health industry and said she disapproved of the pardon. "At the end of the day, all you have is your word." Champ, who is Black, voted for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump. "I just had my hopes up for her, but I wasn't 100% positive," she said. Champ also said she does not approve of Biden's handling of the presidency and thinks the country is on the wrong track. "While he was in office, I felt like I really didn't see a lot of changes," she said. "I just felt like everything just kind of stayed the same," Champ said. Overall, though, the pardon did not appear to be a driving factor in many Americans' assessment of Biden's job performance. The share of Black Americans who approve of the way he is handling his job as president did fall slightly since October, but it is hard to assess what role the pardon may have played. Photos: Joe Biden through the years Joe Biden, 1972 Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) carries both of his sons, Joseph R. III, left, and Robert H., during an appearance at the Democratic state convention last summer, 1972. At center is his wife Neilia Biden, who was killed in an auto crash, Dec. 20, 1972. With them are Governor-elect Sherman W. Tribbitt and his wife, Jeanne. (AP Photo) Joe Biden, 1972 Joseph Biden, the newly-elected Democratic Senator from Delaware, is shown in Washington, Dec. 12, 1972. (AP Photo/Henry Griffin) Joe Biden, 1972 1972 - Is first elected to the Senate at age 29, defeating Republican Senator J. Caleb Boggs. Wins re-election in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996 and 2002. The newly-elected Democratic senator from Delaware, Joe Biden, is shown, Dec. 13, 1972. Joe Biden, 1972 Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) kisses the cheek of an unidentified friend who offered consoling words after a memorial service in Wilmington, Del., Dec. 22, 1972, for Biden's wife Neilia, their 13-month-old daughter Naomi Christina, who perished in a car-truck crash. Biden's two sons were hospitalized with serious injuries. (AP Photo/Bill Ingraham) Joe Biden, 1973 December 18, 1972 - While Christmas shopping, Biden's first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, and daughter, Naomi Biden, are killed in a car accident. His sons are badly injured, but survive. January 5, 1973 - Is sworn in as US senator of Delaware at son Beau Biden's bedside in the hospital. In this Jan. 5, 1973 file photo, four-year-old Beau Biden, foreground, plays near his father, Joe Biden, center, being sworn in as the U.S. senator from Delaware, by Senate Secretary Frank Valeo, left, in ceremonies in a Wilmington hospital. Beau was injured in an accident that killed his mother and sister in December 1972. Biden's father, Robert Hunter, holds the Bible. (AP Photo/File) Joe Biden, 1987 1987-1995 - Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, rubs his temples while speaking during confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Robert H. Bork, Sept. 17, 1987, on Capitol Hill. (AP Photo/John Duricka) Joe Biden, 1987 June 9, 1987 - Enters the 1988 presidential race, but drops out three months later following reports of plagiarism and false claims about his academic record. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) waves from his train as he leaves Wilmington, Del., after announcing his candidacy for president, June 9, 1987. At right, son Beau carries daughter; to Biden's right is his wife Jill and son Hunter. (AP Photo/George Widman) Joe Biden, 1988 February 1988 - Undergoes surgery to repair an aneurysm in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.), wearing a University of Delaware baseball cap, leaves Walter Reed Army Hospital accompanied by his son Hunter Biden, Thursday, March 24, 1988, Washington, D.C. Biden had been in the hospital for 11 days so that surgeons could implant a small umbrella-like filter in a vein to prevent blood clots from reaching his lungs. (AP Photo/Adele Starr) Joe Biden, 1991 In this Oct. 12, 1991 file photo Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Biden, D-Del., points angrily at Clarence Thomas during comments at the end of hearings on Thomas' nomination to the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. looks on at right. (AP Photo/Greg Gibson, File) Joe Biden, 1993 January 20, 1990 - Introduces a bill that becomes the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The act addresses sexual assault and domestic violence. It is signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), left, stands behind a flag as Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), second from right, along with other congresswomen meet reporters on Capitol Hill, Feb. 24, 1993, to discuss the Violence Against Women Act. From left are: Sen. Biden; Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.); Rep. Pat Schroeder (D-Colo); Sen. Boxer; and Rep. Constance Morella of Maryland. (AP Photo/Barry Thumma) Joe Biden, 1993 In this April 9, 1993, file photo Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del. stands in front of a Danish armored personnel carrier at the UN-controlled Sarajevo Airport, making a statement about his trip to the besieged Bosnian capital. (AP Photo/Michael Stravato, File) Joe Biden, 2003 Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, meets reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003 to discuss the United Nations-Iraq vote. (AP Photo/Terry Ashe) Joe Biden, 2007 Democratic presidential hopeful, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., presides over a hearing of the committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007 to discuss the remaining options in Iraq. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook) Joe Biden, 2007 Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden D-Del., smiles during the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Presidential Forum Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007, in Waterloo, Iowa. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) Joe Biden, 2007 January 31, 2007 - Files a statement of candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission to run for president. August 1, 2007 - His memoir, "Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics," is published. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., left, listens as Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., responds to a question during the first Democratic presidential primary debate of the 2008 election hosted by the South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC., Thursday, April 26, 2007. At right is Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-NY. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Joe Biden, 2008 Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., speaks at a Caucus night rally in Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008. Biden abandoned his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday after a poor showing in the state's caucuses. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Joe Biden, 2008 In this Jan. 3, 2008, file photo, Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., rests his head on the shoulder of his wife, Jill, as they stand in a hallway awaiting his introductions for a rally at the UAW Hall in Dubuque, Iowa on the day of the Iowa caucus in Dubuque, Iowa. (AP Photo/Mark Hirsch, File) Joe Biden, 2008 August 23, 2008 - Is named the vice-presidential running mate of Barack Obama. In this Aug. 23, 2008 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., and his vice presidential running mate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., appear together in Springfield, Ill. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, file) Joe Biden, 2008 In this Sept. 16, 2008 file photo, then Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del. arrives by Amtrak in Wilmington, Del., (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) Joe Biden, 2008 In this Oct. 2,2008 file photo, Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., left, and Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin face off during the vice presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam, File) Joe Biden, 2008 November 4, 2008 - Is elected vice president of the United States. President-elect Barack Obama, left, and Vice President-elect Joe Biden wave to the crowd after Obama's acceptance speech at his election night party at Grant Park in Chicago before giving his acceptance speech Tuesday night, Nov. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) Joe Biden, 2009 January 20, 2009 - Is sworn in as vice president of the United States. Vice President Joe Biden, left, with his wife Jill at his side, taking the oath of office from Justice John Paul Stevens at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) Joe Biden, 2009 February 7, 2009 - Delivers his first major speech as vice president at a security conference in Germany. US Vice President Joe Biden addresses the participants of the International Conference on Security Policy, Sicherheitskonferenz, at the hotel "Bayerischer Hof" in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Joe Biden, 2010 September 1, 2010 - Presides over a ceremony in Iraq to formally mark the end of the US combat mission in Iraq. US Vice President Joe Biden, left, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, center, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen, right, stand while the US National Anthem is played during the United States Forces-Iraq change of command ceremony in Baghdad on Wednesday Sept. 1, 2010, as a new US military mission in Iraq was launched ending seven years of combat. (AP Photo/Jim Watson Pool) Joe Biden, 2012 November 6, 2012 - Obama and Biden are reelected, defeating Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. Vice President Joe Biden exits with his wife Jill Biden after voting at Alexis I. duPont High School, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Greenville, Del. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Joe Biden, 2013 Vice President Joe Biden, with his wife Jill Biden, center, holding the Biden Family Bible, shakes hands with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor after taking the oath of office during an official ceremony at the Naval Observatory, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Joe Biden, 2014 October 2, 2014 - Speaking at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Biden tells attendees that ISIS has been inadvertently strengthened by actions taken by Turkey, the UAE and other Middle Eastern allies to help opposition groups fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In this Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014 file photo, Vice President Joe Biden speaks to students, faculty and staff at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. Biden is due to headline a Democratic campaign rally in Las Vegas, with a downtown appearance Monday, Oct. 6, 2014, to talk about raising the minimum wage. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson,File) Joe Biden, 2015 May 30, 2015 - Biden's eldest son, Beau Biden, passes away from brain cancer at age 46. In this June 6, 2015 file photo, Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by his family, holds his hand over his heart as he watches an honor guard carry a casket containing the remains of his son, former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, into St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del. for funeral services. Beau Biden died of brain cancer May 30 at age 46. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Joe Biden, 2015 October 21, 2015 - Says he will not seek the presidency, announcing that the window for a successful campaign "has closed." December 6, 2016 - Doesn't rule out running for president in 2020, saying "I'm not committing not to run. I'm not committing to anything. I learned a long time ago fate has a strange way of intervening." President Barack Obama hugs Vice President Joe Biden as Biden waves at the end Biden's announcement in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, that he will not run for the presidential nomination. Jill Biden is at right. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Joe Biden, 2017 Vice President Joe Biden pauses between mock swearing in ceremonies in the Old Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, as the 115th Congress begins. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Joe Biden, 2017 January 12, 2017 - Obama surprises Biden by presenting him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during a White House ceremony. President Barack Obama presents Vice President Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Joe Biden, 2017 February 1, 2017 - Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, launch the Biden Foundation, an organization that will work on seven issues: foreign policy; Biden's cancer initiative; community colleges and military families; protecting children; equality; ending violence against women; and strengthening the middle class. February 7, 2017 - Is named the Benjamin Franklin presidential practice professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where he will lead the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement. He will also serve as the founding chair of the University of Delaware's Biden Institute, the university announces. March 1, 2017 - Biden receives the Congressional Patriot Award from the Bipartisan Policy Center. He receives the honor in recognition of his work crafting bipartisan legislation with Republicans and Democrats. Former Vice President Joe Biden tucks notes into his jacket after speaking at an event to formally launch the Biden Institute, a research and policy center focused on domestic issues at the University of Delaware, in Newark, Del., Monday, March 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Joe Biden, 2019 In this March 26, 2019, file photo, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the Biden Courage Awards in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File) Joe Biden, 2019 April 25, 2019 - Announces he is running for president in a campaign video posted to social media. Hours later, the Biden Foundation board chair, Ted Kaufman, announces the immediate suspension of all the organization's operations. Former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden arrives at the Wilmington train station Thursday April 25, 2019 in Wilmington, Delaware. Biden announced his candidacy for president via video on Thursday morning. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Joe Biden, 2019 In this June 6, 2019, file photo, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the "I Will Vote" fundraising gala in Atlanta. Biden shifted to oppose longstanding restrictions on federal funding of abortion during his remarks. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) Joe Biden, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden signs a copy of his book "Promise Me, Dad" at a campaign rally at Modern Woodmen Park, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Davenport, Iowa. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Joe Biden, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a primary night election rally in Columbia, S.C., Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 after winning the South Carolina primary. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Joe Biden, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a primary night election rally in Columbia, S.C., Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, after winning the South Carolina primary. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Joe Biden, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a primary election night campaign rally Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Joe Biden, 2020 August 20, 2020: Joe Biden accepts the Democratic nomination for president Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Joe Biden, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, with Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., raise their arms up as fireworks go off in the background during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. Looking on are Jill Biden, far left, and Harris' husband Doug Emhoff, far right. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Joe Biden, 2020 President Donald Trump, left, and Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, right, with moderator Chris Wallace, center, of Fox News during the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Joe Biden, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, right, and former President Barack Obama greet each other with an air elbow bump, at the conclusion of rally at Northwestern High School in Flint, Mich., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Joe Biden, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden arrives to speak at a rally at Belle Isle Casino in Detroit, Mich., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, which former President Barack Obama also attended. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Joe Biden, 2020 President-elect Joe Biden gestures on stage after speaking, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) Joe Biden, 2020 FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, file photo, from left, Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Harris, President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, stand on stage together, in Wilmington, Del. The theme for Biden’s inauguration will be “America United." Unity is an issue that’s long been a central focus for Biden but one that’s taken on added weight in the wake of the violence at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool, File) Joe Biden, 2020 President-elect Joe Biden announces his climate and energy team nominees and appointees at The Queen Theater in Wilmington Del., Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Joe Biden, 2021 President Joe Biden speaks about his domestic agenda from the East Room of the White House in Washington on Oct. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Joe Biden, 2021 U.S. President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Pope Francis as they meet at the Vatican on Oct. 29, 2021. (Vatican Media via AP) Joe Biden, 2021 President Joe Biden removes his face mask as he arrives in the East Room of the White House to speak about the evacuation of American citizens, their families, special immigrant visa applicants and vulnerable Afghans on Aug. 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Joe Biden, 2022 Cherelle Griner, wife of WNBA star Brittney Griner, speaks after President Joe Biden announced Brittney Griner's release in a prisoner swap with Russia on Dec. 8, 2022, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Also attending are Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris. Joe Biden, 2022 President Joe Biden holds the microphone to Chocolate, the national Thanksgiving turkey, during a pardoning ceremony Nov. 21, 2022, at the White House in Washington. Joe Biden, 2022 President Joe Biden holds an Atlanta Braves jersey during an event celebrating the Major League Baseball 2021 World Series champion Atlanta Braves in the East Room of the White House on Sept. 26, 2022, in Washington. Joe Biden, 2022 President Joe Biden receives his COVID-19 booster from a member of the White House medical unit during an event in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus on Oct. 25, 2022, in Washington. Joe Biden, 2022 President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive to give treats to trick-or-treaters on the South Lawn of the White House, on Halloween on Oct. 31, 2022, in Washington. Joe Biden, 2022 U.S. President Joe Biden, left, talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo during their bilateral meeting ahead of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, on Nov. 14, 2022. Joe Biden, 2022 U.S. President Joe Biden, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit meeting Nov. 14, 2022, in Bali, Indonesia. Joe Biden, 2023 President Joe Biden is greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport on Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv. Joe Biden, 2023 President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House on Oct. 19, 2023, in Washington, about the war in Israel and Ukraine. Joe Biden, 2023 President Joe Biden arrives to speak at the Amtrak Bear Maintenance Facility on Nov. 6, 2023, in Bear, Del. Joe Biden, 2023 President Joe Biden, accompanied by Office of Management and Budget director Shalanda Young, left, and Women's Alzheimer's Movement founder Maria Shriver, right, gives first lady Jill Biden a kiss after giving her the pen he used to sign a presidential memorandum that will establish the first-ever White House Initiative on Women's Health Research in the Oval Office of the White House on Nov. 13, 2023, in Washington. Joe Biden, 2023 President Joe Biden pauses as he speaks to reporters in Nantucket, Mass. on Nov. 26, 2023, about hostages freed by Hamas in a third set of releases under a four-day cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas. Joe Biden, 2023 President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House on Dec. 12, 2023, in Washington. Joe Biden, 2023 President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy depart a news conference in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House Campus on Dec. 12, 2023, in Washington. Joe Biden, 2023 President Joe Biden speaks during a funeral service for retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor at the Washington National Cathedral on Dec. 19, 2023, in Washington. O'Connor, an Arizona native and the first woman to serve on the nation's highest court, died Dec. 1, 2023, at age 93. Joe Biden, 2024 President Joe Biden arrives to deliver remarks on the economy on June 28, 2023, at the Old Post Office in Chicago. Joe Biden, 2024 President Joe Biden, right, stands as an Army carry team moves the transfer case containing the remains of U.S. Army Sgt. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Ga., at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Feb. 2, 2024. Sanders was killed in a drone attack in Jordan on Jan. 28, 2024. Joe Biden, 2024 President Joe Biden speaks during the State of the Union address on Capitol Hill on March 7, 2024, in Washington, as Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Mike Johnson listen. Joe Biden, 2024 Vice President Kamala Harris embraces President Joe Biden after a speech on health care in Raleigh, N.C., on March. 26, 2024. Joe Biden, 2024 President Joe Biden greets Zion Schrode, 8 months, of Marin County, Calif., as he is held by his mother Erin Schrode during a Jewish American Heritage Month event, on May 20, 2024, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. Joe Biden, 2024 Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, left, and CEO Clark Hunt, right, watch as President Joe Biden, center, puts on a Chiefs helmet during an event with the Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs on the South Lawn of the White House, on May 31, 2024, to celebrate their championship season and victory in Super Bowl LVIII. Joe Biden, 2024 President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk in the Normandy American Cemetery following a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, on June 6, 2024, in Normandy. Joe Biden, 2024 U.S. President Joe Biden, right, greets Pope Francis ahead of a working session on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Energy, Africa-Mediterranean, on day two of the 50th G7 summit at Borgo Egnazia, southern Italy, on June 14, 2024. Joe Biden, 2024 President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event with former President Barack Obama moderated by Jimmy Kimmel at the Peacock Theater on June 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. Joe Biden, 2024 President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, participate in a presidential debate hosted by CNN on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Joe Biden, 2024 First lady Jill Biden, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff view the Independence Day firework display over the National Mall from the balcony of the White House, on July 4, 2024, in Washington. Joe Biden, 2024 President Joe Biden, right, and the Rev. Dr. J. Louis Felton pray at a church service at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ on July 7, 2024, in Philadelphia. Joe Biden, 2024 President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on July 14, 2024, about the assassination attempt of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Joe Biden, 2024 President Joe Biden pauses as he speaks at the Biden campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del., on Feb. 3, 2024. Joe Biden, 2024 President Joe Biden walks on stage to speak during the NAACP national convention July 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. Joe Biden, 2024 President Joe Biden walks between tombstones as he arrives to attend a mass at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del., on July 6, 2024. The poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

Bill Belichick Is Really Going To College As North Carolina’s Head CoachNone

limate change is one of the most important and urgent challenges facing humanity. Climate change is causing drastic changes in Earth’s climate system. The United Nations (UN) says that climate change is happening faster than ever and is primarily caused by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activities. These changes are becoming more pronounced every year, including more intense heat, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and extreme weather events. This article examines the nature of climate change, its causes and implications, and uses recent examples to highlight immediate impacts and underline the need for urgent action. Climate change means long-term changes in temperature, rainfall, wind patterns, and other elements of Earth’s climate. While natural factors such as volcanic eruptions and solar cycles have always influenced the climate, scientists agree that the current rate of change is largely due to human activities. Excessive burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, causing global temperatures to rise—commonly known as global warming. : : In the summer of 2023, Europe faced one of its hottest summers on record. Countries such as Spain, Italy, and Greece experienced prolonged heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 40 °C (104 °F). These extreme temperatures led to massive forest fires, especially in the Mediterranean region. Greece, in particular, struggled with hundreds of forest fires that devastated large swaths of land, forced mass evacuations, and depleted firefighting resources. In Italy, major cities such as Rome and Milan faced record-breaking temperatures, posing health risks, disrupting daily life, and impacting the tourism-dependent local economy. Such extreme weather events are projected to become more frequent due to climate change. According to a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), more than 47,000 people died in Europe as a result of high temperatures in 2023, which was the hottest year on record globally and the second hottest in Europe. : Pakistan experienced historic flooding in 2022, with effects continuing into 2023. Torrential rains caused the Indus River to swell, submerging a third of the country. The floods killed more than 1,700 people, displaced millions, and destroyed vital infrastructure, homes, and agricultural land. The country faced a humanitarian crisis as displaced communities struggled with food and water shortages, and waterborne diseases such as malaria and dengue spread rapidly. Scientists link the intensity and frequency of such flooding events to climate change, as warmer temperatures lead to increased evaporation and, as a result, more intense rainfall events. : The Great Barrier Reef in Australia, one of the world’s most iconic and biodiverse ecosystems, is suffering from coral bleaching—a phenomenon caused primarily by rising ocean temperatures. Bleaching occurs when corals, stressed by warming water, expel algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn white. In 2022 and 2023, researchers observed significant bleaching events, which are now becoming annual occurrences. Without substantial action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, scientists predict the reef could suffer irreversible damage, resulting in the loss of a vital marine habitat. : Another major consequence of climate change is the melting of polar ice and glaciers, which contribute to rising sea levels. Greenland and Antarctica, home to the world’s largest ice sheets, are losing ice at unprecedented rates. According to NASA, Greenland is losing an average of 279 billion tons of ice per year, while Antarctica is losing about 148 billion tonnes of ice. This loss of ice is causing sea levels to rise, posing a serious threat to coastal cities and island nations. Cities such as Miami, New York, and Mumbai are already implementing measures to address the risk of flooding and coastal erosion, while low-lying islands such as the Maldives are at risk of becoming uninhabitable. : Climate change is also contributing to severe droughts, which threaten water supplies in many parts of the world. For example, the western United States has been experiencing prolonged droughts that have affected agriculture, lowered reservoir levels, and increased the risk of wildfires. California has implemented water restrictions, and other states are also grappling with water management challenges. Meanwhile, in Africa, countries such as Kenya and Somalia are experiencing severe droughts, threatening food security and livelihoods, leaving millions of people at risk of hunger and malnutrition. : The recent flooding in Dubai can be considered an example of how climate change can affect weather patterns on a global scale, including in areas with typically arid climates. Dubai experienced an unusual amount of rain in January 2023, causing flooding of streets, homes, and businesses. Flooding is rare in such arid and desert-like environments, and scientists are investigating whether climate change is contributing to changes in rainfall patterns and the intensity of rainfall events in these regions. While no single weather event can conclusively prove climate change, such unusual rainfall coincides with the larger trend of more intense and unpredictable weather patterns associated with climate warming. Warmer atmospheric temperatures increase evaporation, which, as a result, can lead to more moisture in the air. This moisture can cause heavy rainfall in unexpected places, such as Dubai, where infrastructure is not typically designed to handle such events. : A couple of decades ago, winter in India typically began in September or October. However, in recent years, the cold season has started much later. This shift is primarily due to climate change, as the rise in global temperatures disrupts seasonal patterns, including the Indian monsoon and the onset of winter. Factors such as urban heat islands, changing wind patterns, and events like La Niña (La Niña is typically associated with enhanced rainfall during India’s southwest monsoon) also contribute to warming during the early months of winter. This delay reflects a global climate change trend that impacts agriculture, wildlife, and daily life. Addressing these changes requires global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and adopt sustainable practices. The World Economic Forum estimates that by 2050, climate change will cause 14.5 million deaths and $12.5 trillion in economic losses, both directly and indirectly. Another study published in Current Issues in Tourism estimates that in the 2050s, the US ski season will be shortened by between 14–33 days (low emissions scenario) and 27 to 62 days (high emissions scenario), leading to direct economic losses of $657 million to $1.352 billion annually. The examples above show why it is important to tackle climate change around the world. Governments, businesses, and individuals all have important roles to play. Countries have agreed on the Paris Agreement, which aims to keep global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius, with a target of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. To achieve this, we must significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions, switch to renewable energy sources, and protect and restore natural ecosystems. People can help by making sustainable choices, using less energy, and supporting policies and businesses that focus on climate action. However, the biggest changes must come from governments and large companies, as they have the most power to make a massive impact. Climate change is no longer a future threat but a present reality with serious consequences. Recent examples of extreme weather, environmental damage, and humanitarian crises show how deeply a warming world affects us. Tackling climate change requires global teamwork, bold policy action, and a shared commitment to a sustainable future. On a global level, agreements such as the Paris Agreement and efforts to reach net-zero emissions are important steps. Countries are planting forests, taxing carbon pollution, and investing in clean technologies. Youth movements and green city projects are raising awareness and promoting action. Governments and businesses play a big role, but even small actions like using solar panels or reducing waste matter. Urgent action is vital to protect the planet for future generations. Together, we can create a cleaner, safer world. The choices we make today will shape the world for generations to come.

Keller: Trump's cabinet confirmation process may show restraints on his powerUS readies $988m aid package to Ukraine including rockets and drones - document

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen.-elect Adam Schiff, both prominent Democrats, have broken with President Joe Biden over the decision to pardon his son Hunter. Newsom was quoted as telling Politico he was disappointed and couldn’t support Biden’s decision of a “full and unconditional” pardon. Schiff told USA Today the move sets “a bad precedent.” Hunter Biden was convicted in June of lying about his drug use on a federal form while buying a gun in Delaware and later pleaded guilty to tax fraud in California. The presidential pardon covers not only those two cases but also other “offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.” On Sunday, Biden justified the pardon by saying his son was “selectively and unfairly prosecuted” by political opponents. "In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough," Biden’s statement said. "Here’s the truth: I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process, and it led to a miscarriage of justice – and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further. I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision." Newsom had stuck with support for Biden's re-election bid until the president ultimately stepped aside. He is also widely considered a possible future presidential contender. Newsom told Politico that he understood Biden’s motivation for the pardon. But he also mentioned his disappointment that the president reversed his earlier position that he wouldn’t interfere in his son’s case. “With everything the president and his family have been through, I completely understand the instinct to protect Hunter,” Newsom told Politico. “But I took the president at his word. So, by definition, I’m disappointed and can’t support the decision.” Another prominent Democrat who criticized the pardon was Schiff, the California congressman newly elected to the U.S. Senate. Schiff told USA Today the move “sets a bad precedent.” “I understand as a father he wanted to help his son, but that precedent will almost certainly be abused by his successor, and he committed to not pardoning his son,” he said. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., meanwhile, said on MSNBC that he was “surprised” by the announcement given Biden’s previous comments that he would not pardon Hunter. “Not sure I would have made the decision he announced,” Padilla said. Padilla went on to say, “The reason we’re talking about pardons here is because of what we can expect in a second Trump administration.” See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter

Former Man City cult hero Shaun Goater lands manager job after boss is sacked following bizarre social media post

‘Political point scoring’: Premier Chris Minns responds to ‘disgraceful’ ICAC referral - Sky News AustraliaSyrian insurgents reach the capital's suburbs. Worried residents flee and stock up on supplies BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents’ stunning march across Syria is gaining speed with news that they have reached the suburbs of the capital of Damascus. The government on Saturday was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels’ moves around Damascus were reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander. They came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions. The factions are by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Amazon has poured another $4 billion into Anthropic, the artificial intelligence startup behind the chatbot Claude. This new funding doubles Amazon's total investment in the startup to $8 billion. According to a recent report by Reuters, despite the sizable backing, Anthropic remains independent, with the latest funding to be released in phases, starting with $1.3 billion. Anthropic is using Amazon's AI chips, Trainium and Inferentia, to train its advanced AI models. The startup is also working closely with Amazon's Annapurna Labs to develop new processors. This is part of Amazon's broader effort to compete with companies like Microsoft and Google in the fast-moving race to dominate AI technology, suggests Reuters. In addition to funding, Amazon has become Anthropic's primary cloud provider through Amazon Web Services (AWS), which helps distribute the startup's AI models to customers. This collaboration is expected to bring Anthropic significant revenue while promoting Amazon's AI capabilities, as per the Reuters report. Anthropic is also in talks with other investors to raise more money, aiming to capitalise on the AI boom. The race for AI dominance has seen massive investments, including OpenAI's $6.6 billion funding round last month, which valued the company at $157 billion. Anthropic was co-founded by siblings and former OpenAI executives Dario and Daniela Amodei. The startup has previously secured funding from Alphabet, Google's parent company, which committed $2 billion in total investments. Anthropic also uses Google Cloud for some of its operations.

Phuket took a significant step toward sustainable tourism with the launch of the "Phuket Old Town Carbon Neutrality 2030" initiative, aimed at making the historic old town the first carbon-neutral area in Thailand by 2030. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong, on behalf of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, recently presided over the launch ceremony for the initiative at 72nd Anniversary Queen Sirikit Park in Phuket Old Town. The event was attended by local government officials, private sector representatives and community leaders. According to Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation chairman Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, the initiative was started by his foundation and gained support from Phuket City Municipality, the Big Data Institute (BDI) and the Phuket Old Town community. The collaboration is aimed at achieving carbon neutrality in the old town by 2030 and creating a model of sustainable tourism development. The initiative focuses on reducing the environmental impact of tourism through efficient resource management, waste reduction, systematic recycling, and the promotion of community participation. Key components of the project include waste segregation using colour-coded bags for different types of waste and the use of smart technology to monitor and manage carbon emissions. Notably, the BDI has implemented an innovative system to track carbon dioxide emissions in real-time by analysing traffic, waste and water pollution data. The goal is to reduce carbon dioxide in the old town by 30% in three years and 50% by 2030. In addition to the initiative, Phuket has been chosen to host the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference in 2026, underlining its commitment to environmental preservation while maintaining its appeal as a world-class tourist destination. Attractions like the popular Lard Yai Sunday walking street, which attracts around 30,000 visitors weekly, showcase the vibrant culture of Phuket Old Town but also highlight the challenges of waste and carbon management. Phuket governor Sophon Suwanrat stressed the need for clear strategies to address environmental challenges as international standards for sustainable tourism continue to evolve. Phuket mayor Saroj Angkanapilas echoed this sentiment, noting the importance of preserving the town's heritage while embracing global trends in sustainability.

Sam Darnold leads game-winning drive in OT and Vikings beat Bears 30-27 after blowing late leadyber Monday is the Monday after , and since people finish their family dinner and watching the games, they are already waiting for the best deals, so from the beginning of the day, people crowd the entrances of the malls, so here are the ideal options to make the most of your money. Online shopping, the Cyber Monday trend Thanks to the passion for online shopping, the sales that were once reserved for a single day or the weekend after Thanksgiving have expanded not only to Cyber Monday itself, but also before and after. In some cases, the sales last a whole " ", giving consumers even more opportunities to shop. Whether you're looking to upgrade your own technology, buy toys and games to give to the children in your life, add some chef-worthy tools to your kitchen or finally treat yourself to that beauty product or trendy fashion garment, Cyber Monday sales at major retailers like Amazon, Target and Best Buy give shoppers another chance to stock up on everything they'll need for the holidays, or even invest heavily in technology like computers and even cars. The best Wal-Mart deals for Cyber Monday Blackstone Original 28-inch Two-Burner Propane Gas Griddle: $147 (save $50) Dyson V11 Extra cordless vacuum: $349.99 (save $250) Flybar Disney Bluey 6V Bumper Car: $69 (save $50) Cate & Chloe 18k White Gold Swarovski Crystal Hoop Earrings: $15.99 (save $99.01) 65-inch TCL 4K UHD Smart TV with Roku: $228 (save $301) Michael Kors Women's Down Winter Coat: $159 (save $60) Revolve360 Slim 2-in-1 Rotating Car Seat: $229.99 (save $120) What is Cyber Monday? Cyber Monday is one of the most important sales events of the year. It originated as a complement to Black Friday, and over time became equally lucrative for retailers and even big business. The official term was coined by the National Retail Federation in 2005, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. The organization noticed an influx of online shopping on the Monday after Thanksgiving, as people returned to work and used their internet connections, at the time faster in the office rather than at home, to start their holiday shopping. As with Black Friday, retailers take advantage of this by turning it into a full-fledged sales event. As the name suggests, Cyber Monday is generally associated with online sales compared to traditional Black Friday deals in brick-and-mortar stores, but as time has gone on, both shopping holidays now tend to offer both digital and in-store options.