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8k8 discount WASHINGTON (AP) — A lead organization monitoring for food crises around the world withdrew a new report this week warning of imminent famine in north Gaza under what it called Israel's “near-total blockade,” after the U.S. asked for its retraction, U.S. officials told the Associated Press. The move follows public criticism of the report from the U.S. ambassador to Israel. The rare public dispute drew accusations from prominent aid and human-rights figures that the work of the U.S.-funded Famine Early Warning System Network , meant to reflect the opinion of unbiased international experts, has been tainted by politics. A declaration of famine would be a great embarrassment for Israel, which has insisted that its 15-month war in Gaza is aimed against the Hamas militant group and not against its civilian population. U.S. ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew earlier this week called the warning by the internationally recognized group inaccurate and “irresponsible ." Lew and the U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the monitoring group, both said the findings failed to properly account for rapidly changing circumstances in north Gaza. Humanitarian and human rights officials expressed fear of U.S. political interference in the world's monitoring system for famines. The U.S. Embassy in Israel and the State Department declined comment. FEWS officials did not respond to questions. “We work day and night with the U.N. and our Israeli partners to meet humanitarian needs — which are great — and relying on inaccurate data is irresponsible,” Lew said Tuesday. USAID confirmed to the AP that it had asked the famine-monitoring organization to withdraw its stepped-up warning issued in a report dated Monday. The report did not appear among the top updates on the group's website Thursday, but the link to it remained active . The dispute points in part to the difficulty of assessing the extent of starvation in largely isolated northern Gaza. Thousands in recent weeks have fled an intensified Israeli military crackdown that aid groups say has allowed delivery of only a dozen trucks of food and water since roughly October. FEWS Net said in its withdrawn report that unless Israel changes its policy, it expects the number of people dying of starvation and related ailments in north Gaza to reach between two and 15 per day sometime between January and March. The internationally recognized mortality threshold for famine is two or more deaths a day per 10,000 people. FEWS was created by the U.S. development agency in the 1980s and is still funded by it. But it is intended to provide independent, neutral and data-driven assessments of hunger crises, including in war zones. Its findings help guide decisions on aid by the U.S. and other governments and agencies around the world. A spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry, Oren Marmorstein, welcomed the U.S. ambassador's public challenge of the famine warning. “FEWS NET - Stop spreading these lies!” Marmorstein said on X . In challenging the findings publicly, the U.S. ambassador "leveraged his political power to undermine the work of this expert agency,” said Scott Paul, a senior manager at the Oxfam America humanitarian nonprofit. Paul stressed that he was not weighing in on the accuracy of the data or methodology of the report. “The whole point of creating FEWS is to have a group of experts make assessments about imminent famine that are untainted by political considerations,” said Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch and now a visiting professor in international affairs at Princeton University . “It sure looks like USAID is allowing political considerations -- the Biden administration’s worry about funding Israel’s starvation strategy -- to interfere." Israel says it has been operating in recent months against Hamas militants still active in northern Gaza. It says the vast majority of the area’s residents have fled and relocated to Gaza City, where most aid destined for the north is delivered. But some critics, including a former defense minister, have accused Israel of carrying out ethnic cleansing in Gaza’s far north, near the Israeli border. North Gaza has been one of the areas hardest-hit by fighting and Israel’s restrictions on aid throughout its war with Hamas militants. Global famine monitors and U.N. and U.S. officials have warned repeatedly of the imminent risk of malnutrition and deaths from starvation hitting famine levels. International officials say Israel last summer increased the amount of aid it was admitting there, under U.S. pressure. The U.S. and U.N. have said Gaza’s people as a whole need between 350 and 500 trucks a day of food and other vital needs. But the U.N. and aid groups say Israel recently has again blocked almost all aid to that part of Gaza. Cindy McCain , the American head of the U.N. World Food Program, previously called for political pressure to get food flowing to Palestinians there. Israel says it places no restrictions on aid entering Gaza and that hundreds of truckloads of goods are piled up at Gaza’s crossings and accused international aid agencies of failing to deliver the supplies. The U.N. and other aid groups say ongoing combat, looting and insufficient security by Israeli troops make it impossible to deliver aid effectively. Lew, the U.S. ambassador, said the famine warning was based on “outdated and inaccurate” data. He pointed to uncertainty over how many of the 65,000-75,000 people remaining in northern Gaza had fled in recent weeks, saying that skewed the findings. FEWS said in its report that its famine assessment holds even if as few as 10,000 people remain. USAID in its statement to AP said it had reviewed the report before it became public, and noted “discrepancies” in population estimates and some other data. The U.S. agency had asked the famine warning group to address those uncertainties and be clear in its final report to reflect how those uncertainties affected its predictions of famine, it said. “This was relayed before Ambassador Lew’s statement,” USAID said in a statement. “FEWS NET did not resolve any of these concerns and published in spite of these technical comments and a request for substantive engagement before publication. As such, USAID asked to retract the report.” Roth criticized the U.S. challenge of the report in light of the gravity of the crisis there. “This quibbling over the number of people desperate for food seems a politicized diversion from the fact that the Israeli government is blocking virtually all food from getting in,” he said, adding that “the Biden administration seems to be closing its eyes to that reality, but putting its head in the sand won’t feed anyone.” The U.S., Israel’s main backer, provided a record amount of military support in the first year of the war. At the same time, the Biden administration repeatedly urged Israel to allow more access to aid deliveries in Gaza overall, and warned that failing to do so could trigger U.S. restrictions on military support. The administration recently said Israel was making improvements and declined to carry out its threat of restrictions. Military support for Israel’s war in Gaza is politically charged in the U.S., with Republicans and some Democrats staunchly opposed any effort to limit U.S. support over the suffering of Palestinian civilians trapped in the conflict. The Biden administration’s reluctance to do more to press Israel for improved treatment of civilians undercut support for Democrats in last month’s elections. Sam Mednick and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

SlavkoSereda/iStock via Getty Images Introduction Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. ( NASDAQ: AMD ) is a semiconductor and computer hardware manufacturer in the US. They are the primary competitor with Intel for CPUs and the best contender Nvidia Corporation ( Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.DT Kenneth Grant to leave Michigan for NFL Draft

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Think of a ‘traditional’ philanthropist, and most of the famous, celebrated names which come to mind are likely to be male. But as last week highlighted, women have played a major role in Australian philanthropy and continue to inspire each other, driving momentum to expand charitable giving across all sectors of society. We can see this ripple effect throughout our history. Take Eliza Hall, who after the death of her husband Walter in 1911, decided to use the family’s wealth to establish a medical research facility with the aim of being a birthplace of discovery for all humankind. The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute gave Australia its first Nobel Prize winner in Sir Frank MacFarlane Burnett, but also touched a chord with a young Vera Ramaciotti who was inspired decades later to use the proceeds from the sale of Sydney’s Theatre Royal for the greater good. She established a charitable trust, with the first grant going to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. A few years later, Ramaciotti’s foundation would provide a grant to enable Professor Graeme Clark to complete the prototype of the first Cochlear implant. The power of influencing and inspiring others through generosity is instructive as we collectively seek to double philanthropy in Australia by 2030, an ambition supported by the federal government. There is a clear need to grow our giving. Today there are 3.3 million Australians living below the poverty line, including one in six children. Over 122,000 people are facing homelessness on any given night, with service providers facing enormous challenges to provide support to those who need it. While there are deeper structural issues at work here, it is clear that we can do more both as individuals and collectively. Tax data reveals that Australians’ philanthropic efforts lag behind our international counterparts – fewer than half of Australians with a taxable income over $1 million give to charity and receive a tax deduction, compared to 90 per cent in the US. Furthermore, the proportion of Australian taxpayers who report any charitable donation has been tracking downwards since 2010-11. To shift this trajectory, women from around Australia are coming together through the She Gives campaign to discuss ways to mobilise greater giving in Australia and to celebrate and encourage giving by Australian women. Why women? Because evidence shows that the dominant image of philanthropy has been a narrow one, largely focused on men who give generously and publicly. Yet there are innumerable inspiring untold stories of women around the country who are giving their time and their wealth, their knowledge and experience to drive positive impact. She Gives is shining a spotlight on these stories to celebrate women’s giving, and to empower and motivate more women to join a growing philanthropic community that fosters systemic social change. We should be bolder in our purpose as a nation. This is a unique moment in time with an enormous intergenerational wealth transfer taking place, and we have an opportunity to share a vision for how we want our communities to benefit. In my experience, those people who talk about wanting to leave a legacy are rarely talking about purely money. They want to help contribute to a world that is better than the one they came into and better than the one they are leaving behind. Whether your gift is large or small, whether it is through time, talent or treasure – the flow-on effect can last a lifetime. Significantly, the rise of community foundations and Private Ancillary Funds over the past decade shows growing interest in collective giving and giving locally for visible impact in local communities. At a time of such need for many Australians, reaching out with care and generosity reminds us that the essence of philanthropy is a shared commitment to lifting each other up. By inspiring each other to do more, we can drive the ripple effect further for a tide of positive change.Suggesting that the Montreal Canadiens’ decision to acquire top-four, right-shot blueliner Alexandre Carrier from the Nashville Predators means that David Savard is likely going to be traded. The NHL insider argued in a recent trade matcher article for The Athletic that it “is pretty much writing on the wall for the 34-year-old Savard, a pending unrestricted free agent who understood entering this season he could get moved at the deadline.” As part of the post — which was meant to link possible suitors to the most popular names in the trade deadline rumor mill — LeBrun chose the Edmonton Oilers as a fit. Because Savard lacks trade protection, where he goes is out of his control. That said, there are worse places to go as a pending UFA than the Oilers, who are once again Stanley Cup contenders. LeBrun explains: His play has dipped this season, but in the context of a Habs team that’s not been very good defensively, I would imagine Cup contenders would look at Savard’s body of work and conclude it would travel well if he’s put in the right role. Enter the Oilers. There will be sexier trade targets on the market, to be sure, but I think as a sixth or seventh defenseman who can help kill penalties and who won a Cup with the Lightning — plus is a right-shot D — he’s a sensible idea for Edmonton. LeBrun believes he’s not only a good fit for what Edmonton might need, but the price to acquire him would be much less than some of the other options on the market. “Especially considering I don’t think Savard would cost an arm and a leg. “That will be appealing for an Oilers team without a first-round pick this year,” LeBrun says. Would the Oilers Want David Savard for Depth? At a $3.5 million cap hit, the Oilers will want and need the Canadiens to retain some salary in the deal. But, if Edmonton can get Savard at a $1.75 cap hit (the Canadiens have one more spot left to retain), it could be a fit. The Oilers like how their blue line is coming along this season, seemingly finding their groove. But, they are but one injury away from depth issues. A Savard acquisition would give them some peace of mind, and he’s got a wealth of experience in big games, having won a Stanley Cup in 2021. This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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Liberals’ holiday tax break and cash giveaway has winners and losersKansas holds off Auburn for No. 1 in AP Top 25 as SEC grabs 3 of top 4 spots; UConn slides to No. 25 Kansas continues to hold the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll. Auburn is pushing the Jayhawks in the latest poll after winning the Maui Invitational and checked in at No. 2. Two-time reigning national champion UConn nearly fell out entirely after an 0-3 week at Maui, falling from No. 2 to 25th. The Southeastern Conference had three of the top four teams with No. 3 Tennessee and No. 4 Kentucky behind the Tigers. The poll featured six new teams, headlined by No. 13 Oregon, No. 16 Memphis and No. 18 Pittsburgh. TCU, Duke climb into top 10, Notre Dame drops in women's AP Top 25; UCLA and UConn remain 1-2 TCU has its best ranking ever in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll after a convincing win over Notre Dame. The Horned Frogs jumped eight spots to No. 9, the first time the school has ever been in the top 10. The Fighting Irish, who were third last week, fell seven spots to 10th after losses to TCU and Utah. UCLA remained No. 1, followed by UConn, South Carolina, Texas and LSU. USC, Maryland and Duke are next. Houston's Al-Shaair apologizes for hit on Jacksonville's Lawrence that led to concussion HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair took to X to apologize to Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence after his violent blow to the quarterback’s facemask led to him being carted off the field with a concussion. Back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence scrambled left on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20 win on Sunday. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback. In the long post, Al-Shaair says "To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening.” Philadelphia ready to go the distance with RockyFest week dedicated to 'Rocky' movies PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rocky Balboa fans are ready to go the distance to honor Philly’s favorite fictional fighter almost 50 years after the first movie launched the enduring series of an underdog boxer persevering despite the odds. The city Rocky called home at last has a week dedicated to the box office heavyweight champion of the world a year after the inaugural Rocky Day was held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps. RockyFest officially kicks off Tuesday and a series of events dedicated to the movies series are set to be held around the city. How to sum up 2024? The Oxford University Press word of the year is 'brain rot' LONDON (AP) — Oxford University Press has named “brain rot” its word of the year. It's defined as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state,” especially from consuming too much low-grade online content. Oxford University Press said Monday that the phrase “gained new prominence in 2024,” with its frequency of use increasing 230% from the year before. It was chosen by a combination of public vote and language analysis by Oxford lexicographers. The five other word-of-the-year finalists were demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl said the choice of phrase “feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology.” Scientists gather to decode puzzle of the world's rarest whale in 'extraordinary' New Zealand study WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Scientists and culture experts in New Zealand have begun the first-ever dissection of a spade-toothed whale, the world's rarest whale species. The creature, which washed up dead on a beach on New Zealand's South Island in July, is only the seventh specimen ever found. None has ever been seen alive at sea. Almost nothing is known about it but scientists, working with Māori cultural experts, hope to answer some of the many lingering questions this week, including where they live, what they eat, how they produce sound and how this specimen died. Hong Kong launches panda sculpture tour as the city hopes the bear craze boosts tourism HONG KONG (AP) — Thousands of giant panda sculptures will greet residents and tourists starting on Saturday in Hong Kong, where enthusiasm for the bears has grown since two cubs were born in a local theme park. The 2,500 exhibits will be publicly displayed at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui, one of Hong Kong’s popular shopping districts, this weekend before setting their footprint at three other locations this month. The displays reflect Hong Kong’s use of pandas to boost its economy as the Chinese financial hub works to regain its position as one of Asia’s top tourism destinations. Violent hit on Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence 'has no business being in our league,' coach says JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was carted off the field after taking a violent elbow to the facemask from Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. It prompted two sideline-clearing scuffles. Lawrence clenched both fists after the hit, movements consistent with what’s referred to as the “fencing response,” which can be common after a traumatic brain injury. Lawrence was on the ground for several minutes as teammates came to his defense and mobbed Al-Shaair. Lawrence eventually was helped to his feet and loaded into the front seat of a cart to be taken off the field. He was not transported to a hospital. He was quickly ruled out with a concussion, though. Al-Shaair and Jaguars rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones were ejected after the first altercation. Big Ten fines Michigan and Ohio State $100,000 each for postgame melee ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — The Big Ten Conference has announced it fined Michigan and Ohio State $100,000 each for violating the conference’s sportsmanship policy for the on-field melee at the end of the Wolverines’ win in Columbus .A fight broke out at midfield Saturday after the Wolverines’ 13-10 victory when Michigan players attempted to plant their flag on the OSU logo and were confronted by the Buckeyes. Police used pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves. One officer suffered a head injury when he was “knocked down and trampled while trying to separate players fighting." The officer was taken to a hospital and has since been released. Marshall Brickman, who co-wrote 'Annie Hall' with Woody Allen, dies at 85 NEW YORK (AP) — The Oscar-winning screenwriter Marshall Brickman, whose wide-ranging career spanned some of Woody Allen’s best films, the Broadway musical “Jersey Boys” and a number of Johnny Carson’s most beloved sketches, has died. He was 85. Brickman died Friday in Manhattan, his daughter Sophie Brickman told The New York Times. No cause of death was cited. Brickman was best known for his extensive collaboration with Allen, beginning with the 1973 film “Sleeper.” Together, they co-wrote “Annie Hall," “Manhattan” and “Manhattan Murder Mystery." The loosely structured script for “Annie Hall,” in particular, has been hailed as one of the wittiest comedies. It won Brickman and Allen an Oscar for best original screenplay.

Texas, Georgia, Alabama top SEC and national recruiting rankings after early signings

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For two years, Colorado fans have been entertained with some of the best players to come through Boulder. Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, and many others with the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3, 7-2 Big 12), will wrap up their collegiate careers with a bowl game later this month and turn their focus to the NFL. Head coach Deion Sanders, his staff and Buff Nation, however, are already peeking ahead to 2025. On Wednesday, Coach Prime and his staff signed 14 high school players as the early, three-day signing period began. In the ever-changing world of college football, this is the earliest the signing period has ever been, more than two weeks earlier than last year (Dec. 20). It’s the first step in reshaping a CU roster without Shedeur at quarterback and Hunter at cornerback and receiver. According to 247Sports, the Buffs’ class, as of Wednesday, ranks 37th nationally and fourth in the Big 12 Conference. Class size plays a role in those rankings and Coach Prime has never been one to build up a large class of prep recruits. In terms of average player rating (or the quality of the recruits), the Buffs lead the Big 12 and rank 21st nationally. The headliner of the class is Shedeur’s potential replacement, five-star quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis from Carrollton (Ga.) High School. With a .9831 rating on 247Sports.com, Lewis is the highest-rated high school quarterback to ever sign with the Buffs. Lewis was verbally committed to USC for 15 months before flipping to CU last month. Prior to Wednesday, Coach Prime could not talk about specific recruits. On Nov. 21, however, the day Lewis committed, Coach Prime had his coaches’ show and spoke about the newest commit, without mentioning his name. “It’s a great thing for the program,” he said. “We know that’s been in the working for quite some time. Great kid, great talent. I like the qualities and the home structure. I like all of that and I can’t wait to be a part of his life and coach him.” In recent years, Lewis has been close with former CU great quarterback Kordell Stewart, who is also a friend of Coach Prime. While securing one of the top quarterbacks in the country, the Buffs also put an emphasis on protecting him. Of the 14 players in the class, three are offensive linemen and two are tight ends. Two four-star linemen – Chauncey Gooden (Nashville, Tenn.) and Carde Smith (Mobile, Ala.) – lead the way up front. Combined, they had 73 scholarship offers. Smith, like Lewis, was committed to USC until recently, while Gooden was projected by some to go Clemson before committing to CU last summer. Three-star Jay Gardenhire is also joining the class as a 6-foot-8, 330-pound tackle from West Bloomfield, Mich. The Buffs also landed three receivers, all from Texas high schools: four-star prospects Quanell Farrakhan Jr. and Adrian Wilson and three-star Quentin Gibson. Defensively, the Buffs have added two linemen, an edge rusher, a linebacker and a safety. The group is headlined by four-star edge London Merritt, who was committed to Ohio State before flipping to CU last week. As a new crop of Buffs prepares to come to Boulder, the outgoing seniors have expressed confidence that even with them gone, success will continue. “We definitely laid the foundation for the younger guys to come up and keep their foot on the gas pedal, keep going, keep playing, and just believe in coaching,” Hunter said recently. Senior safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig said that when he comes back to Boulder in a few years, he expects to see more trophies on display. “We’re gonna have 2025 trophies, 2026, 2027 trophies,” he said. “That’s the standard, to win, at the end of the day.” Shedeur, projected as a top-five selection in the 2025 draft, even said he’ll do his part by donating money to the NIL collective to ensure the Buffs’ success will continue. “My main thing is surround them and give them everything that I wish I could have had,” he said after the win against Oklahoma State. “So it’s basically set them up for success, and everything in my power, I personally could do, I’m gonna do. I’m gonna donate to the collective for sure. “I’ll make sure you have a super team next year. I’m just happy for the new guys coming in and that we paved away for them. They just got to take control. They just got to take over. We’re gonna make sure everything is good, how they need it.” Notable CU did lose one commit on Wednesday, as four-star safety Alex Graham from Detroit flipped and signed with USC. He had been committed to CU since April. ... CU signed one in-state recruit, tight end Zayne DeSouza from Loveland High School. He’s just the second in-state recruit signed by Coach Prime in three recruiting cycles, with the other being current sophomore center Hank Zilinskas from the 2023 class. ... For decades, California was a recruiting hotbed for CU, but the Buffs haven’t signed any players from the Golden State in the last two classes.

Former Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya (left) and Opposition Leader, Inia Seruiratu (right) Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu has called for a thorough investigation into potential criminality and a possible cover-up related to the dismissal of former Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya. While acknowledging the Prime Minister’s decision to remove Tabuya from her ministerial role, Seruiratu expressed concerns about the integrity of the former. The main issue raised by Seruiratu involves the misrepresentation of Tabuya’s marital status. Tabuya had previously declared that she had been divorced from Robert Semaan since 2016 which allowed her to exempt his assets from official declarations. However, Seruiratu stated that recent revelations suggest they are still married, casting doubt on her honesty and transparency. Seruiratu also pointed to the controversy surrounding a private video involving Tabuya, which has circulated widely. The video, which Tabuya has stated is a personal matter with her husband, contradicts her earlier claim of being divorced. Seruiratu said that these contradictions further undermine her credibility and trust with the public. Another concern highlighted by Seruiratu is Tabuya’s role as co-chair of the National Taskforce to address Pornography in Fiji. Given the strict code of conduct required for such a position, Seruiratu argued that Tabuya’s involvement in this matter compromises her ability to lead efforts to combat pornography and protect children from online exploitation. Seruiratu also raised concerns about the influence of FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali in closing the investigation into Tabuya’s false declaration. He called for an investigation into whether Tabuya exerted any influence over Malimali to end the case, stressing the importance of maintaining the integrity of Fiji’s anti-corruption institutions. Seruiratu called for a transparent investigation into these matters to restore public trust. He emphasized the need for public officials to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability. He also stated that he would bring this matter to parliament to ensure it receives the attention it deserves. Meanwhile, FBC News has sent questions to Tabuya and Malimali regarding the concerns raised by Seruiratu.WASHINGTON − President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter Biden , who was convicted of federal gun charges and tax evasion, rocked the political world with Republican lawmakers and President-elect Donald Trump criticizing him for the move. Biden’s pardon came after months of presidential and White House denials that Hunter Biden's convictions would be wiped clean. But Biden isn’t the only president to use a pardon to erase a family member's federal conviction. He joins a short list of others who have taken similar actions - including Trump himself. More: Hunter Biden pardon 'unprecedented' and 'very unusual,' experts say Donald Trump pardoned Jared Kushner's father President-elect Donald Trump during his first term pardoned Charles Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, after he was convicted of preparing false tax returns, retaliating against a cooperating witness , and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission in 2005. Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team. Trump said at the time that Charles Kushner was devoted to philanthropic organizations and causes, which overshadowed his conviction. More: Trump links Hunter Biden's pardon to Jan. 6 rioters Charles Kushner was prosecuted by Chris Christie , who later was elected governor of New Jersey and was a top Trump ally until Jared Kushner reportedly blocked him from being names White House chief of staff. Trump, now president-elect, has named Charles Kushner the next U.S. ambassador to France . More: Who did Donald Trump pardon? What to know about Charles Kushner, Steve Bannon, other top allies Bill Clinton pardoned his brother Former President Bill Clinton on his last day in office on Jan. 20, 2001, pardoned his half-brother Roger Clinton, who spent one year in prison on drug charges, according to the Washington Post. The outlet reported he sold cocaine to an undercover police officer.I’m a progressive Californian, a Black man, and I did not vote for Democratic presidential contender Kamala Harris this year or Donald Trump. I voted for Claudia De La Cruz, the Peace and Freedom Party candidate for president. The decision was easy. With two exceptions over the last four decades of presidential elections, I have always voted for a progressive third-party presidential candidate. (The two exceptions? Hillary Clinton in 2016 because I liked the idea of breaking the glass ceiling. And Walter Mondale in 1984 because of my distaste for Ronald Reagan.) I reject the guilt-trip knock about how a third-party vote is a throwaway vote, or worse, one that opens the door for big, bad bogeyman candidates. And I don’t make my choices thinking it doesn’t matter because in my “blue” state a Democrat will win anyway. I mark my ballot the way I do because it reflects my conscience and deepest political beliefs. I’ll admit that this year I didn’t tell most of my friends and family my plan. I would have been ripped from pillar to post, verbally mugged: “It’s a wasted vote.” “It will hurt the cause.” “It is downright silly to vote for someone who almost no one has heard of in a party that hasn’t been relevant since the Vietnam War.” My relatives and associates were passionate supporters of Harris. Their enthusiasm was understandable. They would have regarded my vote as wrecking the history-making chances for a Black woman with East Indian roots to sit in the Oval Office. I understood, and I had no illusion that I could change their minds. In any case, the issue for me was not Harris, her policy positions or her campaign. (I won’t engage in the onslaught of second, third and fourth guessing about what sunk her.) The issue was and is the two-party system itself. Republican and Democratic politics are an iron chain that tethers the American electorate. Voting for De La Cruz was my way of taking a hammer to that chain. I prize independence, the right to exercise freedom of choice, and I believe that more choices are true to the spirit of democracy. This is not a starry-eyed delusion. Many countries have a pluralistic representative system with multiple political parties. Their citizens have a real choice to vote their beliefs and interests. The parties they can vote for are not on the fringe. They win offices. They hold seats in parliaments and assemblies. They often form coalitions with other parties to gain a more powerful seat at the table. The multiplicity of parties gives more people a distinct voice in how their government works. But baked into U.S. politics is the notion that there can only be two parties, and the winner takes all. The Constitution doesn’t demand it, and every four years, I hear people wishing for other choices, other parties that could have a shot at making an impact. With either a Republican or a Democrat guaranteed to take power, special interests make their bets. This year, both campaigns had king’s-ransom war chests flowing with donations from regular people but mainly from fat-cat corporations, industry and trade groups, big-gun labor unions and a parade of millionaires and billionaires. The two-party system also guaranteed that only Republican and Democratic agendas got media exposure, major endorsements and nonstop public attention. Other approaches to our challenges, our security or our role in the world just didn’t have a chance. Let me be clear again. My vote for De La Cruz was not a deliberate snub of Harris, and I have no regrets. I simply believe that for our democracy to be a democracy, the people must have choices, and those choices should not exclusively come marked with a Republican or Democrat label. Earl Ofari Hutchinson’s latest book is“ ‘President’ Trump’s America.” His commentaries can be found at thehutchinsonreport.net. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.