The latest episodes focus on the importance of mental health resources for the next generation of collegiate athletes ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics will record the finale of the third season of its "Transparent Conversations" podcast this week in Louisville as the NCAA crowns this year's women's volleyball champion. "Transparent Conversations" is aimed at sharing powerful conversations about the unique mental health issues facing today's student-athletes. The season finale, which is set to tape during the NCAA women's volleyball championship this week in Louisville , will focus on building stronger support for student-athletes' mental health. In this episode, LG takes a closer look at how we can better support the mental health of student-athletes. From schools to home to online and everywhere in between, we'll explore practical ways to create a caring, connected community that helps them thrive. Social media has played a significant role in amplifying the visibility of women's sports, allowing athletes and teams to build personal brands, reach larger audiences and inspire new generations of fans. However, navigating social media is often challenging for athletes due to the pressure to maintain a positive image, increased scrutiny and frequent exposure to criticism and harassment. This constant connectivity and potential for negative feedback have been linked to heightened mental health struggles, making it a double-edged sword for many athletes – especially in the new world of name, image and likeness (NIL). That's why, says podcast host Taylor Rooks , it's important we create safe spaces where athletes feel comfortable talking about their challenges. "Open and honest communication is the key," she said. "Being able to discuss the issues that weigh heavily on your mind is crucial, especially for these athletes who are juggling the pressures of sports, academics, family relationships and friendships. The addition of NIL is yet another layer." Rooks will welcome Victoria Garrick Browne , a USC alum and volleyball player who's gone on to play semi-pro volleyball and has become an advocate for mental health and positive body image. She shares her insights and stories via her podcast "The Hidden Opponent" and on stage at TED Talks. Joining her will be Eric Gross , a mental health therapist at the University of Louisville , who provides therapy, group and team meetings, as well as education to the coaches and staff. The final episode of "Transparent Conversations" will tape from the floor of this year's NCAA Women's Volleyball finals on Sunday, Dec. 22 and will be available in mid-January wherever you get your podcasts. The most recent episodes have tackled topics such as the importance of resilience, overcoming setbacks and balancing the entrepreneurial nature of NIL contracts and have been recorded at Rutgers University , The Ohio State University and the University of Tennessee . These episodes and others are live on Spotify and Apple Podcasts . To learn more about LG's partnership with the NCAA or listen to the "Transparent Conversations" podcast, visit www.lg.com/ncaa and www.lg.com/us/transparent-conversations. About LG Electronics USA LG Electronics USA , Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. , is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $60-billion -plus global innovator in technology and manufacturing. In the United States , LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and vehicle components. LG is an 11-time ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. www.LG.com . Media Contacts: LG Electronics USA Chris De Maria christopher.demaria@lge.com 908-548-4515 Kristi Hubert Kristi.hubert@LG-One.com 630-995-5444 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/championing-mental-health-for-ncaa-student-athletes-lg-electronics-concludes-3rd-season-of-transparent-conversations-podcast-302334207.html SOURCE LG Electronics USAOpenAI says it has no plans to release an API for Sora , its AI model that can generate reasonably realistic videos when provided with a text description or reference image. During an AMA with members of OpenAI’s dev team, Romain Huet, head of developer experience at OpenAI, said that a Sora API isn’t in the cards at the moment. “We don’t have plans for a Sora API yet,” he wrote . The reason could be capacity issues. OpenAI was forced to close applications for its Sora-powered video creation and editing suite shortly after its launch due to heavier-than-anticipated traffic. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman apologized on X. Sora, one prompt, cinematic AF pic.twitter.com/X8gzdes20M — Alex Patrascu (@maxescu) December 14, 2024 “We significantly underestimated demand for Sora,” he wrote . “It’s going to take a while to get everyone access. Trying to figure out how to do it as fast as possible!” OpenAI resumed sign-ups for Sora several days ago. Choosing not to prioritize an API for Sora threatens to put OpenAI at a disadvantage compared to one of its chief rivals, Google, which launched an API in limited access for its video-generation model, Veo , in early December. Google said this week that Veo’s successor, Veo 2 , which went viral for its impressively high-quality outputs, will get an API sometime in 2025. AWS has an API for its recently launched Nova Reel video model. And a number of startups focused on generative video offer APIs for their models. One firm, Runway, claims that its API has been used by “the world’s largest consumer technology companies to reliably generate millions of videos for their users.”
TWIN FALLS — Gov. Brad Little celebrated Friday a water mitigation agreement that will secure water storage for farmers in the Eastern Snake River Basin. In honor of the agreement, he declared Nov. 22 as Idaho Water Day. “We all know the magic of the Magic Valley is all predicated off of the water that’s represented by that map up there,” Little said in his remarks at the Twin Falls Canal Co. office. “It really is a feat.” Gov. Brad Little declared Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, as Idaho Water Day at the Twin Falls Canal Co., celebrating a water mitigation agreement that will help secure the water supply in the Eastern Snake River Basin. Dan Shewmaker, a member of the canal board, said the four-year water-mitigation agreement grants farmers safe harbor from water curtailment and guarantees 75,000 acre-feet of water storage in the event of a shortage, like a lack of rain. "First in time, first in right." That's been the rule of law governing water rights in Idaho since the turn of the 20th century. “It ensures our water supply for the duration of this mitigation agreement,” Shewmaker said. Without the agreement, he said the canal company would be at risk of reducing water deliveries at the headgate which would mean a lower yield on crops like corn and hay. Little said the agreement will not only secure water supply but, more importantly, Idaho’s water sovereignty. He said he recently met with the governors of Nebraska and Utah and said they all have huge challenges ahead. “Compromise usually is not easy,” Little said. “It says in my text I never doubted. There might have been a few times that I had a few doubts.” Sean Dolan writes about education and politics for the Times-News . Reach him at 208-735-3213 or email him at sean.dolan@magicvalley.com . Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Education/Political Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras will be out for six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Zegras had surgery Thursday, the team announced. Zegras was injured last week on a fairly innocent-looking play during the Ducks' 4-1 loss to Vegas in Anaheim. Zegras and William Karlsson only briefly got their skates and stick blades entangled, but Zegras needed help to get off the ice after taking a fall. Zegras' torn meniscus is his third major injury in just over a year, although a torn meniscus is likely a fortunate outcome for a knee injury that could have been much worse. He was limited to 31 games last season by two injury setbacks, including a broken ankle that required surgery. Zegras has four goals and six assists in 24 games this season for Anaheim, which had lost four straight heading into its road game against Toronto on Thursday night. The Ducks surprisingly activated forward Robby Fabbri from injured reserve before they faced the Maple Leafs. Fabbri had arthroscopic knee surgery on Nov. 15 and is progressing much faster than his initial predicted timeline of six to eight weeks. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHLROME, ITALY, Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently, Friedman Institute has released its analysis report "Libyan Oil and Gas Supply - Italy's Strategic Role in Mediterranean Energy ". Italy is positioning itself as a central energy hub in the Mediterranean, a strategy underpinned by its continued reliance on Libyan oil and gas. According to a recent analytical note published by the Istituto Friedman , Italy stands to benefit from the vast untapped energy resources in Libya, despite the country's ongoing instability. The analysis, titled "La turbolenta Libia: Una grande opportunità per l'Italia", highlights the growing importance of Libyan energy supplies to Italy and the geopolitical challenges and opportunities these pose. The National Oil Corporation (NOC) of Libya has made a significant announcement: approximately 70% of Libya's territory remains unexplored for oil and gas resources, suggesting significant growth potential for the sector. Libyan NOC Chairman Farhat Bengdara emphasized the corporation's commitment to developing these resources through international partnerships. Libya already holds the largest proven oil reserves in Africa, with over 48 billion barrels of oil and significant natural gas reserves. Despite these rich resources, Libya remains a high-risk investment destination due to its unstable political and security situation. The country, which fell into chaos after the 2011 NATO-backed revolution that overthrew leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been divided between two rival governments: one in the east and one in Tripoli in the west. In this context, Italy remains one of the primary international stakeholders in Libyan energy, importing substantial quantities of oil and gas despite the volatility of production levels. Italy's Energy Deal with Libya: A Double-Edged Sword The 2023 energy deal between Italy and Libya, worth $8 billion, has stirred considerable debate. Critics, including Libyan political figures and international energy experts, have raised concerns about the agreement's legality and its long-term implications. Experts also pointed out that instability, rising domestic demand, and a lack of investment have seriously hampered Libya's ability to meet foreign gas export needs. The risks associated with the Libyan energy market have been highlighted in the wake of a five-week-old block resulting from a dispute over control of the Central Bank of Libya. This disruption has had a far-reaching impact, particularly on European energy markets. A prolonged reduction in Libyan oil exports could force European stakeholders to reassess their strategic and contractual commitments. Another recent development has been the mobilization of militias in response to one Italian energy company's exploration activities in the Hamada oil and gas field. This incident underlines the risks posed by the ongoing instability in Libya, particularly for foreign investors. A Middle East expert, commented that the incident "highlights the growing risks for their investments in Libya." Despite these challenges, Italy is determined to maintain and expand its role as a key energy player in the Mediterranean region. The country already imports gas through three major pipelines from Azerbaijan, Libya, and Algeria, with additional plans for floating storage and regasification units to import more gas from Egypt and Israel. As Europe seeks to diversify its energy sources, especially in the wake of the energy crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, Italy's strategic location as a Mediterranean energy hub becomes more significant. If countries like Germany decide to increase their imports from Mediterranean producers, Italy could play a crucial role in facilitating these exports, leveraging its infrastructure for storing and transiting natural gas via depleted reservoirs in the Po Valley. However, Italy's ambitions could face challenges from regional powers competing for influence in Libya's energy sector. Countries like Turkey, France, and the United Arab Emirates have already made significant investments in Libya's energy resources and could resist Italy's increasing dominance in the region. As some European media outlets report , Italy is well aware of the potential risks, that's why it took action in securing its oil operations. The Friedman Institute's analysis underscores the critical geopolitical role that Libya's energy resources play in Italy's energy future. Despite the instability and security risks that continue to plague Libya, the potential rewards for Italy are substantial. The country's efforts to secure a central position in the Mediterranean energy landscape, coupled with Libya's untapped resources, could help Italy diversify its energy supply and enhance its geopolitical influence. For further details, please refer to the full analytical note from Istituto Friedman here. Social Links X: https://x.com/FriedmanInst Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/istitutofriedman/?locale=it_IT LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/miltonfriedmaninstitute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miltonfriedmaninstitute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friedmaninstitute/?hl=it Contact Information Brand: Istituto Friedman Contact: Media team Address: Via degli uffici del Vicario 43, Roma, 00186 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.friedmaninstitute.it/'Unbelievable' Odegaard transforms Arsenal and gets Saka smiling again
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WASHINGTON—A watchdog complaint alleges that a Biden administration official violated federal ethics law by actively maintaining a “Kamala Wins” X account supporting Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign earlier this year. “This is a straightforward case where Wolf is a government employee covered by the Hatch Act and is strictly prohibited from making political social media posts during work hours or while in government buildings,” the FACT complaint stated. “Yet, a political account directly controlled by Wolf (‘Kamala’s Wins’) and potentially several other accounts (under the ’Democratic Wins Media' umbrella) were actively posting political content during federal government workdays,” the complaint continued. “Involvement by Wolf of any kind with any of these accounts would be a Hatch Act violation. Given the prominence of Wolf’s political account, his political activity could easily be seen as coercive and hostile to other employees.” The FACT complaint listed multiple examples of “Kamala Wins” posts on X posted during official work hours that advocated the vice president’s election against former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee. The X account was titled “Biden Wins” prior to President Joe Biden’s July decision to withdraw his candidacy for a second term and endorse Harris, who was then selected as the party’s nominee by the Democratic National Convention in August. Wolf was appointed in 2023 to the ITC position as a Schedule C political appointee. Political appointees, unlike career employees, can be fired at will, but they are covered fully by the Hatch Act. Zachary Kurz, an OSC spokesman, confirmed to The Epoch Times that the FACT complaint had been filed, and said that Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger could not comment on the case. Wolf said, according to the complaint, to not be the sole poster on the “Kamala Wins” X account. “He has not provided any details about his work with the account or who was actually making the posts and when. The account continued to be active at all times of the day and posted blatant political content during the government workday,” the complaint alleged. Wolf is the second political appointee in the Biden administration to be accused of Hatch Act violations. In November, the OSC filed a Hatch Act complaint with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) against Neera Tanden, Biden’s White House Domestic Policy Adviser. The OSC said that on Aug. 30, 2024, Tanden took down an X post she had put up the day before, encouraging contributions to Democratic congressional candidates.Older siblings everywhere could appreciate John Harbaugh's refusal to concede an inch against his younger brother Jim. Even when his Baltimore Ravens faced fourth down at their 16-yard line in the second quarter, John wasn't giving up the ball without a fight. The Ravens converted that fourth down and two others on their way to a 30-23 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night, giving their coach a third victory in three matchups against his brother. It was the first time they'd faced off since Baltimore beat San Francisco — then coached by Jim Harbaugh — in the Super Bowl at the end of the 2012 season. “We grew up in the same room and have always lived our life side by side, but that’s not what the game is about,” John Harbaugh said. “The game really is about the players, and the players are always going to win the game or lose the game or whatever.” On this night, it was Baltimore's players who shined. Specifically Derrick Henry, who rushed for 140 yards. Lamar Jackson threw a couple of touchdown passes, and the defense was solid, allowing touchdowns on the first and last Los Angeles drives but not much in between. “I’m proud of our guys,” John Harbaugh said. “I’m proud of the way they came out and responded after the first 10 points — we were down 10-0, and our guys stepped up.” After converting fourth-and-1 at their 16 late in the second quarter, the Ravens scored on a 40-yard pass from Jackson to Rashod Bateman, taking the lead for good at 14-10. Baltimore's other two fourth-and-1 conversions came on a 14-play touchdown drive that spanned the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth. “We’re just confident that we’ll end up converting on those fourth downs, and we did a great job blocking,” said Henry, who converted the last two of the fourth downs. "All we had to do was make a play, and we did.” The Ravens got back to their identity a bit, rushing for 212 yards. And it wasn't just Henry and Jackson contributing. Justice Hill broke free for a 51-yard touchdown that made it 30-16 in the fourth. “Nobody wants to stand in front of (Derrick Henry) every single play, every single run,” Hill said. "You can do it one time, two times, three times, but when you have to do it 20 to 25 times, it starts to wear down. I’m glad we stuck with the run game this game, and it played out for us.” There were still too many penalties, with the Ravens flagged nine times for 102 yards. Baltimore played a pretty clean game until the fourth quarter, so several of those flags came after the Ravens had the game reasonably under control, but this is still an area of concern. With star linebacker Roquan Smith out because of a hamstring injury, Malik Harrison led the Ravens with a dozen tackles. “It’s a lot of people that doubted me coming into this game, so I’m happy I was able to ball out and show them that I can be in this league, and I can play at a high level,” Harrison said. There was a time when Isaiah Likely seemed as if he might be supplanting Mark Andrews as Baltimore's top tight end threat, but Likely went without a catch Monday. He did, however, recover the onside kick that effectively ended the game. Although Smith was out, DT Travis Jones (ankle) and C Tyler Linderbaum (back) were able to start. Jackson has now thrown 22 touchdown passes with no interceptions on Monday nights, with a passer rating of 124.3. The Ravens have one more game before their open date, and it's a showdown this weekend against a Philadelphia team that has won seven in a row. Saquon Barkley (1,392) of the Eagles and Henry (1,325) have both surpassed 1,300 yards rushing already. Nobody else in the NFL has more than 1,000. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflPEMBROKE, Bermuda — Gold Reserve Ltd. (TSX.V: GRZ) (OTCQX: GDRZF) (“ ” or the “ ”) announced that, at the annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company (“ ”) held December 12, 2024 (the “ ”), Robert A. Cohen, Paul Rivett, James Michael Johnston, Yves M. Gagnon, James P. Tunkey, David A. Knight and Jonathan Howes were elected to the board of directors of Gold Reserve (the “ ”) to hold office until the next annual meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed or their office is otherwise vacated. In addition to the foregoing, the Shareholders approved the following matters at the Meeting: In addition, at the Meeting, the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2023 were duly laid before the Shareholders. Following the Meeting, the Company appointed two additional and Bermuda-resident directors to the Board, namely Mr. George Thomas and Mr. William DeSilva. In connection with the appointments of Mr. Thomas and Mr. DeSilva, as well as the election of Mr. Howes, as directors, the Company has granted to each such director 145,000 stock options (the “ ”) under the Plan to purchase up to 145,000 Common Shares. Such grants amount to an aggregate of 435,000 Options to purchase up to 435,000 Common Shares, and were each made on December 12, 2024. Messrs. Howes, Thomas, and DeSilva’s Options will vest immediately at an exercise price of US$1.63 per Common Share. All of the Options have a maximum term of ten years from the date of grant. For further information regarding Gold Reserve Ltd., please contact: Paul Rivett (800) 625-9550 Rosebank Centre, 5th Floor, 11 Bermudiana Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda
To lure Juan Soto, Mets created a video of his statue outside Citi Field next to Tom Seaver's NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets wanted Juan Soto to know his future with them could be set in stone. When the free agent outfielder traveled to owner Steve Cohen’s house in Beverly Hills, California, for a presentation last month, the team unveiled a video that included an image of a future Soto statue outside Citi Field, next to the one erected of franchise great Tom Seaver. Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time Thursday after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. Bill Belichick 'always wanted' to give college coaching a try. Now he will at North Carolina New North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick said he had long been interested in coaching in the college ranks. But it had never worked out until now, as he takes over the Tar Heels program. Belichick led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during a 24-year run there that ended last year. Belichick's five-year deal pays him $10 million in base and supplemental salary per year. It is guaranteed only for the first three years, including for buyout purposes. There is also up to $3.5 million in annual bonuses. NFL world reacts with excitement, surprise, questions after Bill Belichick is hired to coach UNC Bill Belichick is already the most decorated coach in NFL history. His next challenge is college football after he agreed to a five-year deal to coach at North Carolina. The reaction around the NFL ranged from excitement at seeing him back on the sideline to disbelief. Some of his former players believe his skill set will work at any level. Others caution that the players he brings into UNC should prepare to have their limits tested. Travis Hunter, the 2-way standout for Colorado, is the AP college football player of the year BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter is The Associated Press college football player of the year. Hunter received 26 of the 43 votes from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes, and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. A throwback player who rarely left the field, Hunter had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. He had four interceptions and 11 passes defensed as a shutdown corner. Hunter helped the the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against BYU. Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. LeBron James ruled out of Lakers' game at Minnesota on Friday with foot soreness LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James has been ruled out of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game at Minnesota on Friday night due to soreness in his left foot. James will miss his second straight game when the Lakers return from a four-day break to face the Timberwolves. The top scorer in NBA history was away from the team this week with an excused absence attributed to “personal reasons,” coach JJ Redick said Wednesday. It’s unclear whether James will even make the quick round trip to Minnesota before the Lakers’ next game at home against Memphis on Sunday. Team claims NASCAR rescinded approval to buy new charter unless federal antitrust suit is dropped CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A new court filing says NASCAR rejected Front Row Motorsports’ agreement to purchase a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing unless the team and 23XI Racing dropped their federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock car series. Front Row and 23XI rejected NASCAR's new revenue sharing agreement and have gone to court. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo. Texas Rangers and RHP Nathan Eovaldi finalize $75 million, 3-year contract DALLAS (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi and the Texas Rangers have finalized a $75 million, three-year contract that keeps him in their starting rotation. The right-hander was the winning pitcher for Texas in its 2023 World Series clincher, and the Rangers said one of their primary goals this offseason was to re-sign Eovaldi. The sides agreed to financial terms earlier this week, pending a successful physical. To open a roster spot for Eovaldi, right-hander Roansy Contreras was designated for assignment. Eovaldi became a free agent Nov. 4 after declining a vested $20 million player option for the 2025 season. Rape investigation that Swedish media say focused on Kylian Mbappé has been closed STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish prosecutors say they have dropped a rape investigation that was launched in connection with soccer star Kylian Mbappé’s visit to Stockholm in October. In a statement, lead investigator Marina Chirakova says there is not enough evidence to continue the investigation into the allegation at a hotel. Prosecutors never publicly named the suspect in the investigation but some Swedish media reported it was Mbappé. The Real Madrid striker visited Stockholm in October during a break in the Spanish league. At the time, Mbappé’s legal team dismissed those reports as false. 2034 World Cup visitors will live in 'a bubble' and not see real life, Saudi rights activist says LONDON (AP) — A Saudi human rights activist says soccer fans visiting Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup will live in a “bubble” that doesn't reflect real life there. Lina al-Hathloul is a London-based activist whose sister was jailed in Saudi Arabia then banned from travel after campaigning to end a ban on women driving. When FIFA confirmed the kingdom as the 2034 tournament host on Wednesday its president Gianni Infantino acknowledged “the world will be watching” for positive social change. Al-Hathloul says western people “will be very safe” at the World Cup but "will see a bubble of what Saudi Arabia is.”By Joy Reid This is an adapted excerpt from the Dec. 16 episode of "The ReidOut." There’s a drone mystery gripping the Eastern Seaboard, with almost daily sightings over the past month. First spotted in New Jersey on Nov. 18, the drones appear to show up in the late hours of the night. There’s still a lot that we don’t know about them, like who is operating them or why. And it’s precisely what we don’t know that’s driving interest in them and demands that the federal government provide answers. Conspiracy has been part of our culture all the way back to the Salem witch trials and it’s only intensified with modern technology. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the federal government is sending high-tech drone detection resources to her state to investigate the phenomenon. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has also asked the White House for more federal resources to investigate the sightings. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan posted about what he saw over his house — although students of astronomy were quick to point out that most of what he filmed was the constellation Orion. The Biden administration has provided some insight into this mystery. The government agencies investigating the sightings — the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security — said they “have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” But since they’ve been unable to say where these objects came from or what they’re doing, the people who’ve decided they know exactly what’s happening have filled the void. Like noted conspiracy theorist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who flat out said in a post on X that the government is in control of the drones and refuses to tell the American people what is going on. Of course, there’s no evidence to suggest that whatsoever. But she’s got plenty of company in the MAGA world believing that, all the way up to the highest levels. Donald Trump’s longtime ally Steve Bannon suggested the same thing at a New York Young Republicans Club event over the weekend. Last week, Trump called for the drones to be shot down and suggested that the government knows more than it’s telling. The president-elect doubled down on that claim at a news conference Monday. “The government knows what is happening,” Trump claimed without any evidence. “Look, our military knows where they took off from. If it’s a garage, they can go right into that garage. They know where it came from and where it went. And for some reason, they don’t want to comment. And I think they’d be better off saying what it is. our military knows and our president knows. And for some reason, they want to keep people in suspense,” he continued. According to a joint statement released by the government agencies looking into the sightings, their assessment indicates that these drones are “a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones.” Now seems like a perfect time to remind you that America is one of the most conspiracy theory-prone countries in the world — it’s sort of in our DNA. It’s been part of our culture all the way back to the Salem witch trials and it’s only intensified with modern technology. On the eve of Halloween in 1938, when Orson Welles went on the radio and inadvertently started a panic with his broadcast of “The War of the Worlds.” Those who didn’t hear the beginning thought Martians really had invaded New Jersey. That event spawned a cottage industry of alien invasion movies and television shows. The propensity toward mass hysteria only intensified with the threat of the boogeyman of communism and the "Red Scare." After American cities began putting fluoride into drinking water in the 1940s, the far-right John Birch Society opposed the move on the grounds that it was an involuntary mass medical treatment — part of a communist plot. Of course, the granddaddy of them all for modern America is the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the only presidential assassination captured on film. It was followed by a slew of explanations that seemed to defy what people thought they saw, despite numerous investigations. Years later, Watergate came along and brought with it the end of American innocence, a tacit admission that American politicians sometimes really were liars and crooks. In the 1990s, one of my favorite ever television shows, “The X Files,” became a cultural touchstone telling America simply: “The truth is out there.” Add to that the rise of right-wing media and particularly right-wing talk radio. There, Rush Limbaugh pushed political conspiracies and led to the rise of ultra-conspiracists Glenn Beck and Alex Jones, who also happened to be key purveyors of some of the rampant conspiracy theories about President Barack Obama. Since Trump made his entry into politics by peddling conspiracy theories, it’s no surprise we’re back to it. It was Beck who wondered aloud whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency under Obama was setting up “concentration camps” for conservatives — you know, just asking questions. In 2015, Jones turned military training exercises in Texas into fearmongering about martial law claiming that it was a plan to target the local population. Jones helped stir up enough fear about it that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott actually had the Texas State Guard monitor the military training. Then, of course, there was the Obama conspiracy to end all conspiracies: birtherism, the racist idea that Obama was not born in the United States. That conspiracy was pushed, in part, by none other than Trump. Since Trump made his entry into politics by peddling conspiracy theories, it’s no surprise we’re back to it. After all, Trump’s idea that he won the 2020 election is its own elaborate conspiracy theory. But this time around, the incoming administration has a slew of conspiracy theorists on the team. I mean, why have a government that tries to keep people rational when you can potentially have a secretary of health and human services who questions whether chemicals in water can turn kids gay? Or a possible director of national intelligence who thinks there are secret U.S. biolabs in Ukraine developing weapons? Or a potential FBI director who has said supportive things about QAnon? But that’s where we are. The question now is: How do we confront a world where America is run by them? Allison Detzel contributed. Joy-Ann Reid is host of “The ReidOut” at 7 p.m. ET on MSNBC. “The ReidOut” features one-on-one conversations with politicians and newsmakers while addressing provocative political issues both inside and outside of the beltway.Internet bans could prevent children being radicalised online
