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TOWSON, Md. — The clean-cut streets outside Baltimore where Luigi Mangione grew up are a picture of suburban idyll: Tidy lawns, flowering bushes, stately Colonials and Capes in muted colors. Mangione enjoyed all the trappings of that privilege. He went to the high-end Gilman private school where he became valedictorian, got into an Ivy League School and earned a master’s in computer science. He had every opportunity to make a difference. But that stereotype was shattered with the caught-on video cold-blooded killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . And since Mangione’s arrest last week, a critical question has gone unanswered: Why would someone with so much privilege and promise allegedly turn to cold-blooded murder to make his point? Dr. Naftali Berrill, a forensic psychologist, said it’s not as uncommon as people might think for someone with Mangione’s history and resources to commit acts of violence. “It’s that privilege that leads to a grandiose sense of self , a sense that they’re entitled to pursue a certain course of action. ‘I’m a hero. I’m so brazen, that I think I can shoot someone in broad daylight,” Dr. Berrill said. Mangione, who grew up seemingly with everything, might have felt he had a “unique perspective,” and an ability to “outfox law enforcement” with his Ivy League education, Dr. Berrill speculated. “There’s a grand delusion that to do this is OK because they’re serving a greater good . And that he’s so special that he’s so special that he wouldn’t get caught,” he added. Five days after the Dec. 4 killing outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown, where Thompson was scheduled to speak, Mangione was spotted in a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He is now in a Pennsylvania prison as he awaits extradition to NYC, where he will be tried on a charge of second-degree murder . 'Bright and kind soul' Mangione’s paternal grandfather, Nicholas Mangione, built the family’s wealth as a real-estate developer after being born into poverty, the son of an Italian immigrant in Baltimore’s Little Italy, according to a 1995 profile in The Baltimore Sun . One of 37 cousins , Mangione grew up in a modest Colonial home on the corner of Buckley Court near Chatterleigh Circle, a sleepy cul-de-sac in Towson where neighbors were stunned to hear the news. “I couldn’t believe it,” one neighbor said. “I’m shocked.” “I knew his parents. The parents were very nice people. They were pretty much to themselves. But very nice people,” he said. “They didn’t really socialize with the community to my knowledge. ...They were well-off. You’d never know, they were down-to-earth people.” His cousin, Nino Mangione , a GOP lawmaker who represents a suburban Baltimore district in the state’s House of Delegates, posted a statement from the family expressing their shock over the brutal slaying. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Nino Mangione posted on Facebook. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” A similar theme was picked up by many of his friends. A high school friend, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Daily News he is “truly saddened and speechless” at the allegations, saying they don’t align with the Mangione he knew. “Luigi Mangione was, is, and will continue to be loved by his friends, family, and everyone he came into contact with,” the friend said in a statement. “He is a bright and kind soul, motivated by a deep care for the world and improving it for everyone around him. He is a creator and scholar. I truly hope he will have a chance to speak for himself at the appropriate time because I have full confidence that his words are worth listening to.” Other high school pals described him to the New York Times as intelligent and driven, “a big believer in the power of technology to change the world,” according to one of those friends, Aaron Cranston. He graduated as valedictorian of the private all-boys Gilman School where he played soccer and ran track. He went to the University of Pennsylvania , earned a master’s degree in computer science, and co-founded a video game development lab at the Ivy League school. According to a LinkedIn profile, after his internship, Mangione was a teaching assistant at the University of Pennsylvania in data structures and algorithms and also worked as a teaching assistant at Stanford University for a summer program in AI. Since graduation, Mangione had been working as a data engineer for TrueCar , a California-based online car marketplace, according to the LinkedIn profile. Dr Louis Schlesinger, a professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice said, the narrative has come to revolve around Mangione, instead of his victim, partly because of his background. “The offender intrigues everybody because it’s the opposite of what you expect,” Schlesinger said. “He’s obviously intelligent, went to U Penn, his family is super wealthy, and it just doesn’t compute with average people. “It’s not that we’re surprised. We’re intrigued because it flies in the face of what we think and what we hear.” Health care anger Cops are looking into an emergency room visit by Mangione, who suffered a back injury on July 4, 2023. The visit is being investigated in connection with the alleged killer’s apparent animosity towards the health care industry. Investigators are monitoring his Facebook account, which was said to have highlighted the difficulties he went through as a result of the injury. Michael TenEyck, an assistant professor of criminology at the University of Texas at Arlington said that while Magione had a lot going for him — attractiveness, a charming personality, wealth — that all may have been canceled out by his physical pain. “If you wake up every day with back pain, it may not matter. Just mere discomfort every day might push someone over that edge,” TenEyck said. R.J. Martin, who founded a co-living space called Surfbreak in Honolulu, where Mangione lived for six months, said Mangione told him he was suffering from a spinal misalignment, the Times reported. A photo posted on X believed to belong to Mangione shows an x-ray of a spine with screws in it, and his Goodreads.com account included reviews of several books about back pain. “He knew that dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasn’t possible,” Martin told the Times. “I remember him telling me that, and my heart just breaks.” At some point, Mangione became focused on the ills of the health care industry — a theme that has resonated with many following the saga across the nation. Mangione’s now-taken-down Goodreads.com account offered a glimpse at the books he was reading and contemplating over the last year. Included in an online list of books he read this year is Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski’s “Industrial Society and its Future,” which Mangione rated four out of five stars. “He was a violent individual — rightfully imprisoned — who maimed innocent people. While these actions tend to be characterized as those of a crazy luddite, however, they are more accurately seen as those of an extreme political revolutionary,” his review said. “When all other forms of communication fail, violence is necessary to survive,” the post went on to say. “It’s not terrorism, it’s war and revolution.” Mangione had a 260-word manifesto on him when he was arrested, which gave an apparent confession to the execution, police sources said. The note made clear he acted alone— and that while what he did “had to be done,” he’s sorry for the harm it caused. “Frankly, these parasites had it coming,” police sources said he wrote. Mangione also noted that people in the United States pay more in health care expenses than those in any other country but Americans’ life expectancy is ranked at No. 42 worldwide. Dr. Berrill said his manifesto only furthers his point that Mangione may have had an inflated ego due to his background. “I’m unique. I’m special. I’m entitled. It speaks to that grandiosity,” Dr. Berrill said. Cops found the words “Deny,” “Delay,” and “Depose” written on the bullets — a supposed insurance industry mantra for delaying claims and maximizing profits — leading police to believe that the killer was, in fact, motivated by a beef with the insurance industry. “The castings on the shell — that shows he put thought into it. It wasn’t a crime of passion ,” said TenEyck. Mental health concerns Another key question, experts say, is whether Mangione was suffering from some sort of mental illness. There were several signs of potential instability in the months leading up the shooting. Around six months ago, Mangione cut off contact with his friends and family, according to the Times. Mangione’s last known address is Honolulu, and also had connections to San Francisco, police said. In January Mangione pleaded no contest to trespassing at Nu’uanu Pali Lookout, a public park in Kaneohe, Hawaii, and paid a $100 fine. “He seems to be a very smart individual,” forensic psychologist, Dr. Alexis Reyes said, noting Mangione’s academic achievement, privilege, seemingly close family ties, and ability to remain employed.“ For the most part up until at least a few months ago,” she said. “That’s what we really want to pay attention to from a mental health aspect.” “His mother had filed a missing person report six months ago. We start to feel this normally social individual become very isolated,” Reyes continued. Schlesinger said there aren’t any clear answers about potential mental illness quite yet. Nothing has been raised in court. “It’s more speculation based on no facts. We’re just going to have to wait, and even then, there are different degrees of mental illness . It’s way more complicated than what we can put in a sound bite,” he said. Mangione lashed out as he arrived at court for a hearing on Tuesday about an “insult to the intelligence of the American people.” Appearing clad in an orange jumpsuit, media crews captured Mangioni appearing to be upset, struggling with court security officers and yelling to members of the press in mostly inaudible statements, describing something as “completely out of touch” as officers slammed him up against a wall. Manhattan psychiatrist, Dr. Gail Saltz, said Mangione’s arrest has garnered harsh reactions across the board. “Many of us think that if we had what he has and where he came from, that we would protect all that, and not risk it, not do something like this,” Dr. Saltz said. “It’s sort of a perfect storm here. It’s not just those things,” she said of Mangione’s apparent advantages in life. “It’s somebody planning and carrying out a murder in New York City in broad daylight of a CEO of a major company. It’s the audacity of the crime and who was killed.” “It challenges our ideology as a society,” Dr. Reyes added. “The reality is we are all humans. Just because he is a privileged individual who is better equipped doesn’t necessarily mean that is enough to prevent him or anyone from a similar background from acting in a similar way,” Reyes said. ©2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Billionaire Elon Musk poured more than $20 million into a mysterious super PAC at the end of the 2024 campaign, part of more than $250 million he spent overall to boost President-elect Donald Trump, new campaign finance reports show. Musk financed RBG PAC, according to the group's report filed Thursday night with the Federal Election Commission. The super PAC, which did not disclose its donors before the election, launched ads contending that Trump did not support a federal abortion ban. All of the money the group pulled in — $20.5 million — came from a single donation from the “Elon Musk Revocable Trust” located in Austin, Texas. RBG PAC spent almost all of its funds on digital ads, mailers and text messages, according to the campaign finance report, which covered Oct. 17 through Nov. 25. The group's website states that Trump and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg agree on the abortion issue, drawing criticism from Ginsburg's granddaughter Clara Spara, who told the New York Times that the message was "nothing short of appalling." Trump took credit for the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, a decision that came after three Trump-appointed justices voted with the majority to overturn the national right to an abortion. (One of those justices, Amy Coney Barrett, was appointed to replace Ginsburg weeks before the 2020 election, after Ginsburg died in mid-September.) As president, he supported a federal ban on abortion after 20 weeks. But during this campaign, Trump backed away from that position and instead declared he supported states' rights to decide abortion laws . Democrats still hit Trump hard on those past positions to argue that if elected, he and a Republican Congress would act to restrict abortion nationwide. The late ad blitz from RBG PAC only represents a fraction of Musk's total election spending this year: He also financed America PAC, a super PAC which reported spending $157 million supporting Trump in the presidential race. America PAC's latest campaign finance report showed Musk donated $238 million to the group throughout the election cycle, including $120 million in the final weeks of the race alone. Federal disclosures show America PAC spent heavily on canvassing, text message-based get-out-the-vote efforts, printing and postage (likely for direct mail) and digital advertising too. It also ran a controversial cash giveaway that gave out $1 million each day to someone who signed the group's conservative-leaning petition. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner sued Musk and America PAC in late October trying to halt the giveaway, but a judge in the state didn't agree to stop the program . The Justice Department also warned the PAC around the same time that the giveaway might be illegal, but it's taken no public action on it. America PAC’s campaign finance report lists each of those $1 million prizes as payments for a "spokesperson consultant." Musk also gave $3 million to the MAHA Alliance , a super PAC affiliated with Robert F. Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" push, in late October. It's possible that Musk donated more to pro-Trump efforts too, as political committees continue to file fundraising reports pegged to Thursday night's deadline. The Space X and Tesla founder is one of Trump's top donors this cycle , but he's also been among his most visible. He's been a regular presence at Mar-a-Lago and by Trump's side during the transition (to the consternation of some in Trump's orbit ). Trump tapped Musk to advise him on cutting spending across the federal government as the co-chair of his " Department of Government Efficiency " initiative. This story first appeared on NBCNews.com . More from NBC News:
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NEW YORK – Richard Parsons, one of corporate America's most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup, died Thursday. He was 76. Parsons, who died at his Manhattan home, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015 and cited “unanticipated complications” from the disease for cutting back on work a few years later. Recommended Videos The financial services company Lazard, where Parsons was a longtime board member, confirmed his death. The NBA, where Parsons was interim CEO of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014, was among organizations offering condolences. “Dick Parsons was a brilliant and transformational leader and a giant of the media industry who led with integrity and never shied away from a challenge,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. Parsons’ friend Ronald Lauder told The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer. Parsons stepped down Dec. 3 from the boards of Lazard and Lauder's company, Estée Lauder, citing health reasons. He had been on Estée Lauder’s board for 25 years. Parsons, a Brooklyn native who started college at 16, was named chairman of Citigroup in 2009, one month after leaving Time Warner Inc., where he helped restore the company’s stature following its much-maligned acquisition by internet provider America Online Inc. He steered Citigroup back to profit after financial turmoil from the subprime mortgage crisis, which upended the economy in 2007 and 2008. Parsons was named to the board of CBS in September 2018 but resigned a month later because of illness. Parsons said in a statement at the time that he was already dealing with multiple myeloma when he joined the board, but “unanticipated complications have created additional new challenges.” He said his doctors advised him to cut back on his commitments to ensure recovery. “Dick’s storied career embodied the finest traditions of American business leadership,” Lazard said in a statement. The company, where Parsons was a board member from 2012 until this month, praised his “unmistakable intelligence and his irresistible warmth.” “Dick was more than an iconic leader in Lazard’s history — he was a testament to how wisdom, warmth, and unwavering judgment could shape not just companies, but people’s lives,” the company said. “His legacy lives on in the countless leaders he counseled, the institutions he renewed, and the doors he opened for others.” Parsons was known as a skilled negotiator, a diplomat and a crisis manager. Although he was with Time Warner through its difficulties with AOL, he earned respect for the company and rebuilt its relations with Wall Street. He streamlined Time Warner’s structure, pared debt and sold Warner Music Group and a book publishing division. He also fended off a challenge from activist investor Carl Icahn in 2006 to break up the company and helped Time Warner reach settlements with investors and regulators over questionable accounting practices at AOL. Parsons joined Time Warner as president in 1995 after serving as chairman and chief executive of Dime Bancorp Inc., one of the largest U.S. thrift institutions. In 2001, after AOL used its fortunes as the leading provider of Internet access in the U.S. to buy Time Warner for $106 billion in stock, Parsons became co-chief operating officer with AOL executive Robert Pittman. In that role, he was in charge of the company’s content businesses, including movie studios and recorded music. He became CEO in 2002 with the retirement of Gerald Levin, one of the key architects of that merger. Parsons was named Time Warner chairman the following year, replacing AOL founder Steve Case, who had also championed the combination. The newly formed company’s Internet division quickly became a drag on Time Warner. The promised synergies between traditional and new media never materialized. AOL began seeing a reduction in subscribers in 2002 as Americans replaced dial-up connections with broadband from cable TV and phone companies. Parsons stepped down as CEO in 2007 and as chairman in 2008. A year later AOL split from Time Warner and began trading as a separate company, following years of struggles to reinvent itself as a business focused on advertising and content. Time Warner is now owned by AT&T Inc. A board member of Citigroup and its predecessor, Citibank, since 1996, Parsons was named chairman in 2009 at a time of turmoil for the financial institution. Citigroup had suffered five straight quarters of losses and received $45 billion in government aid. Its board had been criticized for allowing the bank to invest so heavily in the risky housing market. Citigroup returned to profit under Parsons, starting in 2010, and would not have a quarterly loss again until the fourth quarter of 2017. Parsons retired from that job in 2012. In 2014 he stepped in as interim CEO of the Clippers until Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer took over later that year. Parsons, a Republican, previously worked as a lawyer for Nelson Rockefeller, a former Republican governor of New York, and in Gerald Ford’s White House. Those early stints gave him grounding in politics and negotiations. He also was an economic adviser on President Barack Obama’s transition team. Parsons, who loved jazz and co-owned a Harlem jazz club, also served as Chairman of the Apollo Theater and the Jazz Foundation of America. And he held positions on the boards of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Parsons played basketball at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received his law degree from Albany Law School in 1971. He is survived by his wife, Laura, and their family. ___ This obituary was primarily written by the late Associated Press reporter Anick Jesdanun, who died in 2020 .
2025 will be a year of spiritual searching for those born with a Root number 7 (born on the 7th, 16th, or 25th of any month). This year, the energies of the number 9 are active, governed by the fiery Mars. This synergy drives you toward self-actualisation and motivates you to work hard towards achieving your dreams. But the impact of Mars is not as strong as one might think. The Moon, associated with number 2, tames Mars for its nurturing nature. Mercury, connected with number 5, also plays a great role in the year and enhances your capacity to form better interpersonal relationships. If you learn how to act and think at the same time, this active year will be to your benefit. Also Read Numerology for 2025: Find your personal year number in 2025 Career Horoscope 2025 The energies around you in 2025 will be productive and contemplative and provide a great opportunity to advance in your career. However, this year, you should be careful not to get lost in your thoughts and miss out on new opportunities that come your way. If you are seeking a new job, 2025 is one of the years that you may have to be more aggressive in job hunting. You’re going to be motivated to take on new tasks and should be able to thrive in a variety of contexts based on your inherent flexibility. However, beware of getting carried away by the thought process. One of the possible threats is connected with Mercury and may lead to misunderstandings at work. Do not leave anything to the imagination of others, and consider how people will take what you are saying. Finance Horoscope 2025 People with Root Number 7 may find that 2025 will bring an interesting mix of potential and risk to their financial lives. Diversification will be the key to their investment approach. By adopting a moderate strategy, they can overcome challenges. Mercury’s effect indicates this is a good year to consider short-term investments, which will likely need more flexibility. You might fancy sectors currently changing at a high rate, such as technology, green energy, or organisational innovation. Other sectors that might prove profitable this year include communication and media. Mercury rules communication and technology, and its influence usually goes to the side of business. You should buy stocks of companies that operate in the digital space, use digital tools for their operations, or are in the media sector and are expected to post better results in 2025. The healthcare sector remains relevant as more people work towards enhancing their mental and physical health. The wellness, mental health, and sustainability sectors are expected to be the most successful next year. If you are self-analytical, you may consider it noble to fund industries that contribute to people's health. Love Horoscope 2025 Root Number 7 people are in for a good year in 2025 regarding love and relationships. For singles, 2025 is a year to find a partner who will appreciate your inner self and thoughtful personality. Mars, the planet that rules number 9, has a rather active and hot character that will help you leave your shell and try something new. This year, you will look for someone who respects your desire to be alone and independent while in a relationship and has a similar level of emotional responsiveness. For those just starting dating, 2025 is a great year of development and many new experiences. You may start discussing things you have never discussed with your partner before, or you will find out that you both like the same things. The Moon’s energy focuses on the feeling level, so this is a good time to share your emotions and deepen your connection. For those already committed, 2025 will be a year of spiritual development and some difficulties. The Moon’s energy provides care and protection; thus, the aspects of security and mutual understanding become important. Mars’ energy may make you go through heightened activity, especially concerning your personal goals or needs. Health Horoscope 2025 In general, 2025 demands a balance with your physical and emotional self. The Root Number 7 people are usually spiritual and concerned with their internal world, so you may overlook the mundane aspects of caring for yourself. When you have an emotional disturbance or feelings that are not dealt with, you may develop physical complaints that may include skin and hair problems. Managing your work-life and communication balance will ensure that stress that is not healthy for your body does not affect you. Root Number 7 people may feel sensitive in the nervous system regarding the sensitive body parts. The Moon may also cause the emotional sensitivity to manifest in some sort of digestive system disorder, such as indigestion, bloating, or acid reflux.By PETER SMITH A social-media tribute to Coptic Christians. A billboard in Amish country. A visit to a revered Jewish gravesite. While Donald Trump’s lock on the white evangelical vote is legendary, he and his campaign allies also wooed smaller religious groups, far from the mainstream. As it turned out, Trump won by decisive margins, but his campaign aggressively courted niche communities with the understanding that every vote could be critical, particularly in swing states. Voter surveys such as exit polls, which canvass broad swaths of the electorate, aren’t able to gauge the impact of such microtargeting, but some backers say the effort was worth it. Just one week before the election, Trump directed a post on the social-media platform X to Coptic Christians in the United States —- whose church has ancient roots in Egypt. He saluted their “Steadfast Faith in God, Perseverance through Centuries of Persecution and Love for this Great Country.” “This was the first time seeing a major U.S. presidential candidate address the community in this manner,” said Mariam Wahba, a Coptic Christian and research analyst with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based research institute. “It was really a profound moment.” She said many Copts share the conservative social views of other Christian groups in the Republican constituency, and they may already have been Trump supporters. But the posting reinforced those bonds. Coptic bishops sent the president-elect congratulations after his victory and cited their “shared social and family values.” Some Assyrian Christians — another faith group with Middle Eastern roots — similarly bonded with Trump, whose mispronunciation of “Assyrian” at a rally created a viral video moment and drew attention to their support. Sam Darmo, a Phoenix real estate agent and co-founder of Assyrians for Trump, said many community members cited the economy, illegal immigration and other prominent voter issues. They echoed other conservative Christians’ concerns, he said, on issues such as abortion, gender identity and religious expression in public. But he said Trump supported various Middle Eastern Christians recovering from the Islamic State group’s oppressive rule. Darmo also credited Massad Boulos, father-in-law to Trump’s daughter Tiffany, for mobilizing various Middle Eastern Christian groups, including Chaldean Catholics, and other voters, particularly in Michigan, such as Muslims. “He brought all these minority groups together,” he said. “We’re hoping to continue that relationship.” But members of Middle Eastern-rooted Christian groups, and their politics, are far from monolithic, said Marcus Zacharia, founder of Progressive Copts, a program of Informed Immigrants, an organization that promotes dialogue on sensitive topics among such groups in the United States and Canada. He said many younger community members question Trump’s stances on issues such as immigration, and sense that conservatives sometimes tokenize them by focusing on the plight of persecuted Christians in the Middle East while neglecting wider issues of repression in countries there that the U.S. supports. He said there needs to be more informed dialogue across the political divide in these communities. “There is no more high time than these next four years to have that way of conducting conversations,” he said. Courting the Amish Republicans also made an aggressive push for Amish voters , particularly in the swing state of Pennsylvania, where they are most numerous at about 92,000 (many below voting age). The GOP has made similar efforts in the past, even though researchers have found that less than 10% of them typically vote, due to their separatism from society. But Republicans used billboards, mailers, ads and door-to-door campaigner to drive turnout in Lancaster County, home base to the nation’s largest Amish settlement. On Election Day, Amish voters Samuel Stoltzfus and his wife Lillian Stoltzfus said they were supporting Trump, citing their anti-abortion beliefs. “We basically look at it as murder,” Stoltzfus, 31, said outside a polling center in the Lancaster County community of New Holland, where dozens of other members of the local Amish community voted. Trump has wavered on the issue, dismaying some abortion opponents, though many have said Republicans still align more closely to their views. Stolzfus added: “Make America great again and keep the moral values,” he said. “Let’s go back to the roots.” Steven Nolt, a history professor at Elizabethtown College in Lancaster College who studies the Amish and their voting patterns, said that while it’s too early to say definitively without further research, he doesn’t see evidence of a larger turnout this year. Lancaster County as a whole — most of which is not Amish — is a GOP stronghold that Trump won handily, though both parties’ votes edged up from 2020, according to unofficial results posted by the Pennsylvania Department of State. Trump’s biggest increases were in urban or suburban areas with few Amish, while some areas with larger Amish populations generally saw a modest increase in the Trump vote, said Nolt, director of the college’s Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. “Bottom line, percentage-wise, not much change in the parts of Lancaster County where the Amish live,” he said. Paying respects at a Chabad grave Trump directly reached out to members of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of Orthodox Judaism. Related Articles National Politics | Trump convinced Republicans to overlook his misconduct. But can he do the same for his nominees? National Politics | Trump gave Interior nominee one directive for a half-billion acres of US land: ‘Drill.’ National Politics | Trump’s team is delaying transition agreements. What does it mean for security checks and governing? National Politics | Judge delays Trump hush money sentencing in order to decide where case should go now National Politics | Republicans scramble to fill JD Vance’s Ohio Senate seat On Oct. 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, Trump made a symbolically resonant visit to the “Ohel,” the burial site of the movement’s revered late leader, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. Wearing a yarmulke, the traditional Jewish skullcap, Trump, who has Jewish family members, brought a written prayer to the Ohel and laid a small stone at the grave in keeping with tradition. The site in New York City, while particularly central to Chabad adherents, draws an array of Jewish and other visitors, including politicians. About two-thirds of Jewish voters overall supported Trump’s opponent, Democrat Kamala Harris, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. But the Trump campaign has made a particular outreach to Orthodox Jews, citing issues including his policies toward Israel in his first administration. Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowitz of Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida said it was moving for him to see images of Trump’s visit. “The mere fact that he made a huge effort, obviously it was important to him,” he said. Associated Press journalist Luis Henao contributed.Travel expert Gabe Saglie explains his top holiday travel tips on ‘Your World.’ Some people may want to consider being a bit more ... diplomatic. That's the overall assessment of commenters on a viral Reddit thread after a man described the experience of going for a nature hike with his brother while on vacation in Arizona — then shared his blunt response to a question his brother asked him after their hike was done. "I am a guy who, when I don't enjoy something, I'll tell you I don't," Reddit user "Ness_Lucas" wrote at the start of his post on the social media site a few days ago. FLIGHT PASSENGER CALLS OUT FELLOW FLYERS FOR BAD HABIT, SHARES FIX FOR PROBLEM As of Sunday, the post had accumulated over 6,000 reactions. He added, "But if I commit to something, I'll see it through to the end without complaining." A man described the experience of going for a nature hike with his brother (not pictured) while they were on vacation — and social media commenters had a field day with the account. (iStock) He said the issue "came to a head" when he was " on vacation with my older brother in Arizona, who wanted to do a lot of nature hikes." Wrote the man on Reddit, " Nature hikes are fine. I don't mind them, but I do dislike walking up large hills." "Walking uphill ... is very draining and leaves me sweaty." He added, "Walking downhill is the easiest thing ever. It's like being nature's passenger princess. You just put your foot forward and let gravity do all the work." ‘GATE LICE’ AND ‘SEAT SQUATTERS’ AMONG 2024'S MOST VIRAL TRAVEL TRENDS He went on, "Walking uphill, conversely, is very draining and leaves me sweaty." He continued, "I don't make a point to complain about something when I do it, so when I was walking uphill, despite not liking it much, I held [a] basic conversation with my brother." "When I was walking uphill, despite not liking it much, I held [a] basic conversation with my brother," wrote a man on social media as others weighed in on his dilemma. (iStock) However, once the pair began to head back down, the man said his brother "asked me if I was having fun — and I said no." He added, "Not because of any fault of my brother. I just didn't find the activity fun. Not even bad, just satisfactory." "I don't like it when people ask for my opinion and get upset when I give my honest answer." Later, when the brother was driving the Reddit poster to the airport for his flight home, the man said his brother told him, "If I ask you if you're having fun, don't say 'no.'" HOT TRAVEL TREND HAS PEOPLE PRIORITIZING WELLNESS, PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES: ‘KEEPS ME MENTALLY SHARP’ Wrote the Redditor, "I understand that it can be demoralizing to hear someone's not having fun." However, "I don't like it when people ask for my opinion and get upset when I give my honest answer," he said. "Sometimes in life you have to walk uphill to get to where you're going," wrote one responder on the viral Reddit thread. (iStock) "If I'm not having fun, I'll just say I'm not having fun." Responders on the Reddit page known as "Am I the a--hole" had a field day with the post — rendering their general assessment that the man was indeed the "a--hole" for the way he replied to his family member . "People want to hear that you're enjoying their company." Wrote one commenter in the top-rated response, "'It's been a fun day hanging with you, but, man, this hike is steep' [or] 'I'm looking forward to the downhill bit!' That's the sort of polite answer people are looking for." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER The same person added, "You acknowledge you're enjoying your brother's company, which was what he was looking for, but you can also acknowledge the hike is hard/difficult etc. It doesn't matter how much the activity sucks — people want to hear that you're enjoying their company ." A man turned to Reddit for insights into his personal dilemma — and was blasted by most people for his blunt comments to his brother. (iStock) Another individual put it this way, responding to the first commenter, "Exactly! It's a small social nicety that expresses that 'I'm happy to spend time with you, even if I don't enjoy the activity.'" For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle Yet another person said pointedly, "You are perched on your self-anointed pedestal and expecting everyone to treat you like a little princess. Your brother probably regrets ever going on a hike with you. Sometimes in life you have to walk uphill to get to where you're going." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP A different commenter let the Reddit poster off the hook but shared this suggestion: "Not everyone is into hiking. That's a personal choice. But a better option would be to talk with your brother and compromise on doing something you will BOTH enjoy." Fox News Digital reached out to a psychologist for thoughts. Maureen Mackey is managing editor of lifestyle at Fox News Digital.I couldn't stop myself from giggling. A sudsy giggle. I was brushing my teeth, but this was no ordinary toothbrush I was using. It was the Feno Smartbrush — and with its 18,000 bristles, it was navigating all of my teeth, top and bottom, at the same time. The vibration was startlingly different. The entire lower part of my face was shaking, from my gumline to the base of my jaw. It felt like a massage for my teeth, cheeks and the craniofacial muscles surrounding my mouth. Foamy residue escaped onto my chin and chest. The Feno Smartbrush is a mouthful. Carly Quellman/CNET It was a mouthful. In a good way. For an anxious, teeth-grinding adult like me, the silly visual in the mirror of my mouth vibrating for 20 seconds was worth the feeling that came along with it. Plus, it removed all those tricky goji berry remnants that always seem to evade my regular electric toothbrush. The Smartbrush is a U-shaped device, with top and bottom sections like the mouthguards that athletes use, attached to a fist-sized handle that holds the power source and a camera. It's the flagship product of Feno, a 3-year-old company driven by the belief that "transformative oral health technology" is on the cusp of a breakthrough moment. It was created by Dr. Kenny Brown, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who's also Feno's CEO and a co-founder. He designed it to address problems he saw firsthand with his patients. "We believe oral health is your overall health," Brown tells me when we meet at BioscienceLA, which for Feno doubles as a nonprofit organization for health tech companies and its brick-and-mortar. "When it comes to oral hygiene, patients tend to fail in two aspects: time and technique." How many of us really put in the 2-plus minutes of brushing that dentists recommend? And are we really putting brush to tooth as effectively as we should? Feno cuts the time to just 20 seconds, and its Smartbrush does the work for you. It's a radically different approach from the normal... Carly Quellman
Patchwork Patchwork is a chill two-player puzzle game where you and your opponent compete to create the best quilt. The tactile experience and cozy results are relaxing on a chilly day. If you have more than two players, try Calico instead, where you’ll create quilts for cats. Carcassonne In Carcassonne, players compete to build Medieval cities and fields by laying tiles. The game takes a bit of strategy and luck, and it will generate some friendly competition among children and adults alike. The charming artwork also will transport you on a road trip from the comfort of your home. Everdell and Flamecraft For those looking for longer gameplay, Everdell will have you playing as cute forest creatures building new cities during a game that averages a little over an hour. Flamecraft is another delightfully whimsical game where players try to attract dragons to improve the reputation of their shops. Each of these games is simple to pick up and, with every playthrough offering something new, they’ll get you through the season. Everdell and Flamecraft can also be single-player games if you need a break from socialization. Puzzle and organization games If having everything in its place provides calm in the chaos, you’ll love Unpacking. This puzzle game, available on Switch, PC and Xbox, has you unpacking boxes and putting items away. Playing games like Unpacking can be a meditative experience. Other puzzle games like A Little to the Left and Spiritfarer blend stories into the gameplay. Farming, building and simulation games Maintaining a virtual farm or building a make-believe castle from your sofa can be a great stress reliever. Stardew Valley is a quintessential farming game surrounded by charming townspeople. Palia, a massively multiplayer online game, features farming, quests and community building with other players. It’s also free. For those with a Nintendo Switch, the Animal Crossing series has you interacting with other animal players in a peaceful village. With multiplayer modes, these games are great options for playing with friends and family from afar. For a single-player escape, try the recently released Tiny Glade on PC where you’ll build castles. This cozy game’s detailed artistry and conflict-free gameplay will bring hours of relaxation. Or build a world from tiles in Dorfromantik. The game can be entirely chill or provide a bit of strategy if you want to go for a high score. Relaxing card games A pack of cards is reliable entertainment at any gathering. From classics to innovative new card games, having a few in your collection can be worthwhile. Card games can range from simple to complex, a few minutes to a few hours and single-player to dozens of players. If you have a standard deck of playing cards, Blitz is a great option for any number of players. Also known as Thirty One, this game gives every player three cards and lets them trade out a card on each turn, trying to get a value of thirty-one. President is another simple social card game where players race to get rid of their cards in ascending order. Some people play it as a drinking game. For a two-player card game, try The Fox in the Forest. This trick-taking card game features cozy graphics, and its fast, simple gameplay is perfect for a winter date night. For two to four players, Arboretum has darling tree graphics on its cards. Players lay cards down with the goal of creating a beautiful garden.
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Josh Allen showed extreme trust in Amari Cooper in the Buffalo Bills’ 40-14 blowout victory over the New York Jets on Sunday. On a 30-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter that broke the game open, Cooper was covered. But the Bills’ quarterback threw the ball anyway, and the veteran receiver came down with an outstanding catch that gave the Bills a 19-0 lead. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (18) makes a catch against New York Jets cornerback Brandin Echols (26) in the end zone for a touchdown during the third quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. “Josh knows just the type of ball to throw in those situations, and he threw it up and I came down with it,” Cooper said in the locker room afterward. Here’s a review of key plays from the Bills’ win, starting with Cooper’s catch: Cooper ran a fake post and go up the right sideline against Jets cornerback Brandin Echols. But Echols, playing in place of injured starter Sauce Gardner, didn’t bite on Cooper’s fake to the middle of the field. Photos: Buffalo Bills dominate New York Jets 40-14 “Honestly, I’ve ran that route hundreds of times at this point,” Cooper said. “Generally, when the corner doesn’t bite on it, the quarterback just comes off of you and throws it somewhere else. When I saw the corner didn’t bite ... I wasn’t jogging, but I was like, ‘OK, he’s going to come off of me.’ Something told me, 'OK, he’s about to throw it,' so I sped up a little bit. It was just a routine catch, really, as far as high-pointing the ball. It was something I learned to do as a youngin', for sure.” Watching Cooper twist his body in the air to the outside and pluck the ball, not everyone thought it was a routine catch. “I put my hands on my head and just started yelling,” Bills receiver Khalil Shakir said. “Just to see those type of plays, it’s amazing. I was speechless in the moment, because it was such a great play.” Recapping the Buffalo Bills' rout of the New York Jets to clinch the No. 2 seed The Jets had just one safety deep, Chuck Clark, and he had no chance to get to the sideline to help. “Yeah, we had a little double-move; they played post high, and I saw what I thought was a favorable matchup and just gave him an opportunity,” Allen said. “Too many times this year I've tried to throw a perfect ball and lead him and then get it right in his hands. Just kind of made a concerted effort over the last week or two to give them opportunities – especially him and (Keon Coleman, No.) 0 – give them opportunities on some of these fade balls. And he just did what Amari does.” Added Cooper: “That’s the type of quarterback he is: He’s going to give you an opportunity. Every quarterback isn’t that way for some reason. I am grateful for that. I’ve just got to continue to show that I’ll come down and make these plays.” Allen gave Coleman a chance to make a play late in the third quarter when he lobbed up a cross-field throw while scrambling out of the pocket to the right. Cooper out-leaped Jets linebacker Quincy Williams for the 14-yard touchdown, which gave the Bills a 33-0 lead. It might have been an ill-advised throw if Allen had not thrown the ball so high. It took a big leap by Coleman, or the ball would have gone out of the end zone. Coleman was running a shallow crossing route against cornerback D.J. Reed but broke deep to the end zone when he saw Allen scrambling. Running back Ty Johnson was running a sideline route in the left flat and also broke to the end zone. Johnson was behind Coleman in the end zone, which is why Williams was in Coleman’s vicinity. “I was pointing at him, and I threw it and I felt, in the corner of my eye, Ty Johnson, and I think Quincy Williams over there,” Allen said. “And I was like, 'Oh, shoot, they're going to be both in the same spot.' But, you know, that's the reason why we drafted (No.) 0 – to go up and make plays like that – and he made a heck of a play.” Observations: Buffalo Bills' defense feasts on disinterested New York Jets team in blowout win Coleman said he saw Allen scramble and, in his words, “just tried to be QB-friendly. He went all the way to the right. He told me go back that way. I went back and he let it go. “I just checked to see who was right there,” Coleman said of Williams. “The only thing going through my head jumping was that they would have to undercut me to get the ball out of my hands.” The Jets’ woeful situation at offensive tackle cost them on the safety by A.J. Epenesa late in the second quarter. Give defensive coordinator Bobby Babich some credit, too. The Bills threatened a double-A gap blitz, with both linebackers (Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano) lined up over the gaps on either side of the center. But at the snap, Bernard and Milano dropped out into coverage. The Jets’ offensive line was concerned about protecting up the middle, and that fouled up the protection on the outside. Left tackle Max Mitchell looked toward Ed Oliver first before looking outside at Epenesa. By that point, Epenesa was unblocked off the edge and sacked Aaron Rodgers in the end zone for an easy safety. The Bills rushed only four men on the play. That put the Bills up 9-0. “It puts them in a tough spot,” Epenesa said of the fake blitz. “It looks like we’re bringing more than they can block. They’ve got to make a decision. Someone’s gotta come free. It puts them in a tough spot and it makes them play on our terms. So that’s kind of the way we’d like to do it.” Mitchell, making his first start of the season, was Plan C for the Jets at left tackle. They started the season with 34-year-old, injury-prone Tyron Smith. He lasted 10 starts before going on injured reserve. Rookie first-round draft pick Ola Fashanu replaced Smith but went on injured reserve this week with a foot injury. That left Mitchell, a third-year backup, to take over. The Bills attacked a two-deep look on the key play of their opening scoring drive. It was a third-and-13 from the Buffalo 47 after Spencer Brown had been called for a chintzy holding penalty, which wiped out a 37-yard pass to Coleman. The Bills sent Shakir on a route up the deep middle of the field, attracting the attention of both deep safeties, Clark and Tony Adams. The Jets actually were in a four-deep quarters coverage, so there were no linebackers in the middle of the field. Mack Hollins came running behind Shakir and was wide-open because the Jets’ linebackers were matched up on receivers in the flats. It was a perfect play for the Jets’ defense and a 23-yard gain to the Jets’ 30. Dion Dawkins blocked up Hasson Reddick on the edge, and center Connor McGovern rode defensive tackle Quinnen Williams deep in the pocket past Allen. Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
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Wake Forest 67, Detroit 57
