ludo game download apk Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!HYDRAA reclaims 200 acres of land says Commissioner

The president of Panama is pushing back on rhetoric from President-elect Donald Trump after days of social media posts threatening to take back control of the Panama Canal. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino spoke at a press conference Thursday in which he dismissed various assertions made by the president-elect about the canal, including the accusation that China is exerting influence over its traffic. “There is absolutely no Chinese interference or involvement in anything that has to do with the Panama Canal,” said Mulino. “There are no Chinese at the canal, no Chinese nor any other world power at the canal.” This week, Trump wished a Merry Christmas to the "wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal." It was the latest in a long series of criticisms made by Trump about the crucial maritime passage, which he believes is "ripping off" the United States with high shipping rates. “There is no discrimination against any warship, whether it be from the US or another country,” Mulino said at the Thursday press conference. “The canal is Panamanian and belongs to Panamanians, and there is no possibility of opening any kind of conversation around that reality." Trump announced Wednesday that he is appointing Miami-Dade Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera as the U.S. ambassador to Panama. In the announcement, the president-elect called Panama a "country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams." He has even floated the idea of demanding "the Panama Canal be returned to [the U.S.], in full, quickly and without question" if shipping rates are not lowered. The Panama Canal was operated entirely by the U.S. government until 1977. Negotiations and treaty stipulations slowly ceded control to the Panamanian government until 1999, when full control was turned over. Trump's feud with Panamanian leaders is part of a larger trend within his foreign policy rhetoric . CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER In recent weeks, the president-elect has threatened to buy Greenland from the Kingdom of Denmark and negotiate a deal to make Canada the "51st state." These expansionist machinations have drawn criticism from Canadian leaders, and Greenland's military has bolstered security in a token gesture of defiance.

Opinion: MAGA billionaires have captured the political system

Hronsky scores 13 as Duquesne defeats Old Dominion 67-54NoneDore Copper Announces Shareholder Approval of Plan of Arrangement with Cygnus Metals

Posts Strong Adjusted EBITDA Margin ‎ 1 ‎ for Fiscal Year 2024 and Returns to Positive Sequential Growth in Fiscal Q4 2024 CINCINNATI, Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quipt Home Medical Corp. (“ Quipt ” or the “ Company ”) (NASDAQ: QIPT; TSX: QIPT), a U.S. based home medical equipment provider, focused on end-to-end respiratory care, today announced its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 financial results and operational highlights. These results pertain to the three months and year ended September 30, 2024 and are reported in U.S. Dollars. The Company no longer qualifies as a “foreign private issuer” as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 3b-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which means that the Company, as of October 1, 2024, has been required to comply with all of the periodic disclosure and current reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. Accordingly, the Company is now required to prepare its financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“ U.S. GAAP ”), starting with the Company’s fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2024 results. In addition, as required pursuant to section 4.3(4) of National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations , the Company must restate and file under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.com), ‎its interim financial reports for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 in accordance with U.S. GAAP, such interim financial reports having previously been prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (“ IFRS ”). Conference Call Quipt will host its Earnings Conference Call on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (ET). Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing: +1 (844) 763-8274, or +1 (647) 484-8814. The live audio webcast can be found on the investor section of the Company’s website through the following link: www.quipthomemedical.com . Following the conclusion of the call, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website for at least the first year following the event. Financial Highlights : Revenue for fiscal year 2024 was $245.9 million compared to $211.7 million for fiscal year 2023, representing a 16.2% increase. Organic Growth 1 was approximately $7.1 million, or 3%. The transition from IFRS to U.S. GAAP resulted in a reduction of revenues for fiscal year 2023 of $10.1 million with a corresponding elimination of bad debt expense, resulting in no change to Adjusted EBITDA 1 or net loss. The comparison periods reflect this change. The pause of the Medicare 75/25 relief as of January 1, 2024, and the withdrawal of Medicare Advantage members due to the capitated agreement engaged with other providers in the industry negatively impacted revenue by approximately $5 million for fiscal year 2024. Moreover, the estimated impact on the cash collections of accounts receivable from the February 21, 2024 cyberattack on Change Healthcare is estimated at approximately $3 million. Recurring Revenue‎ 1 for fiscal year 2024 was very strong and was approximately 78% of total revenue, driven by the growth in the Company’s re-supply platform. Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2024 was $57.9 million (23.5% margin), compared to Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2023 of $50.6 million (23.9% margin), representing a 14.3% increase. Net income (loss) for fiscal year 2024 was ($6.8) million, or ($0.16) per diluted share, compared to ($2.8) million, or ($0.07) per diluted share for fiscal year 2023. Revenue for Q4 2024 was $61.3 million compared to $59.6 million for Q4 2023, representing a 3% increase. Sequential organic revenue growth was approximately 1%. Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2024 was $13.4 million (21.8% margin) compared to $14.7 million (24.6% margin) for Q4 2023, representing an 8.8% decrease. Cash flow from operations was $35.4 million for fiscal year 2024, compared to $37 million for fiscal year 2023. The Company reported $16.2 million of cash on hand as of September 30, 2024, compared to $14.4 million as of June 30, 2024. Total credit availability of $34.7 million as of September 30, 2024 with $13.7 million available towards a revolving credit facility and $21 million available pursuant to a delayed-draw term loan facility. The Company maintains a conservative balance sheet with Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Leverage Ratio 1 of 1.6x. Operational Highlights : The Company’s customer base increased 4% year over year to approximately 153,000 unique patients served in Q4 2024 from approximately 147,000 unique patients in Q4 2023. Compared to approximately 754,000 unique set-ups/deliveries in fiscal year 2023, the Company completed approximately 854,000 unique set-ups/deliveries in fiscal year 2024, an increase of 13%. This includes approximately 480,000 respiratory resupply set-ups/deliveries for fiscal year 2024, compared to approximately 396,000 for fiscal year 2023, an increase of 21%, which the Company credits to its continued use of technology and centralized intake processes. The Company’s resupply program is a major proponent of the 78% Recurring Revenue base as the Company has significantly scaled, now representing 51%, of the Recurring Revenue mix, driving higher margin revenue and now consists of 172,000 patients as of September 30, 2024, compared to 169,000 patients as of September 30, 2023. Positive sequential organic revenue growth of 1% in Q4 2024, signaling a gradual recovery from challenges faced throughout the year. Consistent demand and referral patterns across all major product categories. The Company has approximately 314,000 unique active patients that were served at least once in the last ‎twelve months, approximately 36,000 referring physicians, and approximately 135 locations.‎ Management Commentary : “Our results for fiscal 2024 reflect the resilience of our business and the scalability of our operating model,” said Gregory Crawford, Chairman and CEO of Quipt. “Despite facing unique challenges this year, we delivered record revenue, positive year-over-year organic growth and maintained a strong Adjusted EBITDA Margin 1 . This performance underscores the strength of our diversified product offering, go-to-market strategy and the adaptability of our team. As we look ahead to calendar 2025 and beyond, we have a high confidence level in our ability to return to consistent, historical organic growth levels. Our focus remains on leveraging the demographic trends such as the aging population and increasing prevalence of chronic respiratory conditions, while expanding our referral base through our growing salesforce and strategic investments. By combining these initiatives with our disciplined approach to inorganic growth, we aim to strengthen our market position and deliver sustained growth. The demand for in-home respiratory solutions continues to grow, and our ability to provide comprehensive, patient-centric care positions us well to capture this opportunity. We remain committed to operational excellence, enhancing our recurring revenue base, and executing on our growth roadmap to drive both scale and profitability. With a strong balance sheet, we are well-equipped to allocate capital toward strategic opportunities, while also investing in organic growth to build long-term shareholder value.” “Our financial performance in fiscal 2024 highlights the stability of our core operations,” added Hardik Mehta, Chief Financial Officer of Quipt. “In the fourth quarter, we returned to positive sequential organic revenue growth, which demonstrates the regained momentum in our business. As we move into calendar 2025, we are seeing strengthening trends across our major product categories, supported by solid referral activity and steady demand for our end-to-end respiratory care solutions. These factors give us confidence that we will return to consistent, historical organic growth levels in calendar 2025. With a scalable operating model, a focused growth strategy, and favorable demographic tailwinds, we are well-positioned to seize the opportunities in front of us.” ABOUT QUIPT HOME MEDICAL CORP. The Company provides in-home monitoring and disease management services including end-to-end respiratory solutions for patients in the United States healthcare market. It seeks to continue to expand its offerings to include the management of several chronic disease states focusing on patients with heart or pulmonary disease, sleep disorders, reduced mobility, and other chronic health conditions. The primary business objective of the Company is to create shareholder value by offering a broader range of services to patients in need of in-home monitoring and chronic disease management. The Company’s organic growth strategy is to increase annual revenue per patient by offering multiple services to the same patient, consolidating the patient’s services, and making life easier for the patient. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or "forward-looking information" as such term is ‎‎‎‎‎‎defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎"will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "outlook", or the negatives thereof or variations of such words, and similar expressions ‎‎‎‎‎as ‎they relate to the Company, including: the Company anticipating a return to historical organic growth levels; are intended to ‎identify forward-looking information. All statements ‎other ‎than ‎statements of ‎‎historical fact, including those that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-‎looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the ‎Company's ‎current ‎views and ‎‎intentions with respect to future ‎events, and current information available to the ‎Company, and ‎are ‎subject to ‎‎certain risks, uncertainties and ‎assumptions, including, without limitation: the ‎Company successfully identifying, ‎‎‎negotiating and ‎completing additional acquisitions; operating and other financial metrics maintaining their ‎‎current trajectories, the Company not being impacted by any further external and unique events like the Medicare ‎‎75/25 rate cut and the Change Healthcare cybersecurity incident for the remainder of the calendar year and in 2025; and the ‎Company not being subject to a material change to it cost structure. Many ‎factors could cause the actual ‎results, ‎‎performance or achievements that may be ‎expressed ‎or implied by such ‎forward-looking statements to ‎vary from ‎‎those described herein should one or more ‎of these ‎risks or ‎uncertainties materialize. Examples of such ‎risk ‎factors ‎include, without limitation: risks related ‎to credit, market ‎‎‎(including equity, commodity, foreign exchange ‎and interest ‎rate), ‎liquidity, operational ‎‎(including technology ‎and ‎infrastructure), reputational, insurance, ‎strategic, ‎regulatory, legal, ‎environmental, and ‎capital adequacy; the ‎‎general business and economic conditions in ‎the regions ‎in which the ‎Company operates; ‎the ability of the ‎‎Company to execute on key priorities, including the ‎successful ‎completion of ‎acquisitions, ‎business retention, and ‎‎strategic plans and to attract, develop and retain ‎key ‎executives; difficulty ‎integrating ‎newly acquired businesses; ‎‎the ability to implement business strategies and ‎‎pursue business opportunities; low ‎profit ‎market segments; ‎‎disruptions in or attacks (including cyber-attacks) on ‎‎the Company's information ‎technology, ‎internet, network ‎‎access or other voice or data communications systems or ‎‎services; the evolution of ‎various types ‎of fraud or other ‎‎criminal behavior to which the Company is exposed; the ‎‎failure of third parties to ‎comply with ‎their obligations to ‎‎the Company or its affiliates; the impact of new and ‎‎changes to, or application of, ‎current ‎laws and regulations; ‎‎decline of reimbursement rates; dependence on few ‎‎payors; possible new drug ‎discoveries; a ‎novel business ‎model; ‎dependence on key suppliers; granting of permits ‎‎and licenses in a highly ‎regulated ‎business; legal proceedings and litigation, including as it relates to the civil ‎‎investigative demand (“CID”) ‎received from the Department of Justice; ‎increased competition; ‎changes in ‎foreign currency rates; ‎increased ‎‎funding costs and market volatility due to ‎market illiquidity and ‎competition for ‎funding; the ‎availability of funds ‎‎and resources to pursue operations; ‎critical accounting ‎estimates and changes ‎to accounting ‎standards, policies, ‎‎and methods used by the Company; the Company’s status as an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company; the occurrence of ‎natural and unnatural ‎catastrophic ‎events or health epidemics or concerns; as well as those risk factors ‎discussed or ‎‎referred to ‎in the Company’s disclosure ‎documents filed with ‎United States Securities and Exchange ‎Commission ‎‎(the “SEC”) and ‎available at www.sec.gov, including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and with ‎the securities ‎regulatory authorities in certain provinces of ‎Canada and ‎‎‎available at www.sedarplus.com. Should any ‎factor affect ‎the Company in an unexpected manner, or ‎should ‎‎‎assumptions underlying the forward-looking ‎statement prove ‎incorrect, the actual results or events may ‎differ ‎‎‎materially from the results or events predicted. ‎Any such forward-‎looking statements are expressly qualified ‎in their ‎‎‎entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, ‎the Company ‎does not assume responsibility for the ‎accuracy or ‎‎‎completeness of such forward-looking ‎statements. The ‎forward-looking statements included in this ‎press release ‎‎‎is made as of the date of this press ‎release and the ‎Company undertakes no obligation to publicly ‎update or revise ‎‎‎any forward-looking statements, ‎other than as ‎required by applicable law‎.‎ Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release refers to “Organic Growth”, “Recurring Revenue”, “Adjusted EBITDA”, “Adjusted EBITDA Margin” and “Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Leverage Ratio”, which are non-GAAP financial measures that do not have standardized meanings prescribed by U.S. GAAP. The ‎Company’s presentation of these financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by ‎other companies. These financial measures are intended to provide additional information to investors concerning ‎the Company’s performance.‎ Organic Growth is calculated as the increase in revenues of $34.2 million, less the revenues contributed by acquisitions of $27.1 million, divided by fiscal year 2023 revenue of $211.7 million, or 3%. Recurring Revenue for fiscal 2024 is calculated as rentals of medical equipment of $94.3 million plus sales of respiratory resupplies of $96.5 million for a total of $190.8 million, divided by total revenues of $245.9 million, or 78%. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net loss, and adding back depreciation and amortization, right-of-use operating lease amortization and interest, interest expense, net, provision (benefit) for income taxes, professional fees related to civil investigative demand and loss of foreign private issuer status, stock-based compensation, acquisition-related costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions, change in fair value of derivative liability – interest rate swap, and share of loss of equity method investment. The following table shows our non-GAAP measure, Adjusted EBITDA, reconciled to our net income (loss) for the ‎following indicated periods‎ (in $millions)‎:‎ Adjusted EBITDA Margin for fiscal 2024 is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA of $57.9 million divided by revenue of $245.9 million, or 23.5%. Q4 2024 is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA of $13.4 million divided by revenue of $61.3 million, or 21.8%. Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Leverage Ratio is calculated as Net Debt, divided by (Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 times four), and is reconciled as follows (in $millions): For further information please visit our website at www.Quipthomemedical.com, or contact: Cole Stevens VP of Corporate Development Quipt Home Medical Corp. 859-300-6455 cole.stevens@myquipt.com Gregory Crawford Chief Executive Officer Quipt Home Medical Corp. 859-300-6455 investorinfo@myquipt.com ___________________________________ 1 Non-GAAP financial measure or ratio. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.‎

Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump’s ongoing 51st state comments

Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!Unretired two-time Pro Bowl LB Shaquil Barrett signs to resume career with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

HYDRAA reclaims 200 acres of land says CommissionerWOONSOCKET, R.I. , Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health Corporation ("CVS Health" or the "Company,"NYSE: CVS ) announced today the applicable Reference Yields and Total Consideration (each as summarized in the tables below) to be paid in connection with the previously announced cash tender offer (the "Maximum Tender Offer" ) for the maximum principal amount of the following series of Maximum Tender Offer Notes (as defined below) for which the aggregate purchase price, not including Accrued Interest (as defined below), payable in respect of such Maximum Tender Offer Notes, does not exceed $1,774,423,242.62 (such maximum purchase price, the "Maximum Tender Offer Amount"): its 2.700% Senior Notes due 2040, the 3.875% Senior Notes due 2047 issued by its wholly-owned subsidiary Aetna Inc. ("Aetna"), its 4.250% Senior Notes due 2050, the 4.125% Senior Notes due 2042 issued by Aetna, its 4.125% Senior Notes due 2040, its 2.125% Senior Notes due 2031, its 1.875% Senior Notes due 2031, its 5.050% Senior Notes due 2048, the 4.500% Senior Notes due 2042 issued by Aetna and its 1.750% Senior Notes due 2030 (together, the "Maximum Tender Offer Notes"). The applicable Reference Yield for the Maximum Tender Offer Notes and the Total Consideration for the Maximum Tender Offer Notes are summarized in the table below: Maximum Tender Offer Notes : The Maximum Tender Offer is being made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated December 2, 2024 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Offer to Purchase"), which sets forth a more detailed description of the Maximum Tender Offer. Copies of the Offer to Purchase are available at www.dfking.com/cvs. The Maximum Tender Offer is open to all registered holders (individually, a "Holder" and collectively, the "Holders") of the Maximum Tender Offer Notes. The Total Consideration payable by CVS Health for the Maximum Tender Offer Notes is a price per $1,000 principal amount calculated as described in the Offer to Purchase in a manner intended to result in a yield to maturity or first par call date, as the case may be, equal to the sum of the yield to maturity of the applicable U.S. Treasury reference security specified in the table above as determined at 10:00 a.m. , New York City time, on December 16, 2024 and the applicable fixed spread shown in the table above. Maximum Tender Offer Notes that were tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to 5:00 p.m. , New York City time, on December 13, 2024 (the "Early Tender Date") and that are accepted for purchase will receive the applicable Total Consideration, which includes the Early Tender Payment (as defined in the Offer to Purchase). Maximum Tender Offer Notes that are tendered after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to 5:00 p.m. , New York City time, on December 31, 2024 (the "Maximum Tender Offer Expiration Date") (unless earlier terminated by CVS Health as described in the Offer to Purchase) and that are not validly withdrawn and that are accepted for purchase will receive only the applicable Tender Offer Consideration (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), which is the applicable Total Consideration minus the Early Tender Payment. The Maximum Tender Offer Withdrawal Deadline of 5:00 p.m. , New York City time, on December 13, 2024 has passed and, accordingly, Maximum Tender Offer Notes validly tendered in the Maximum Tender Offer may no longer be withdrawn. The settlement date for the Maximum Tender Offer Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase is expected to be December 18, 2024 , the third business day after the Early Tender Date (the "Early Settlement Date"). Although the Maximum Tender Offers is scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m. , New York City time, on December 31, 2024 , unless extended or terminated, because the aggregate purchase price of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) prior to the Early Tender Date exceeded the Maximum Tender Offer Amount, there is not expected to be a Final Settlement Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), and no Notes tendered after the Early Tender Date are expected to be accepted for purchase. In addition to the Total Consideration for the Maximum Tender Offer Notes, Holders of the Maximum Tender Offer Notes accepted for purchase on the Early Settlement Date will receive accrued and unpaid interest ("Accrued Interest") on those Maximum Tender Offer Notes from the last interest payment date with respect to those Maximum Tender Offer Notes to, but not including, the Early Settlement Date. CVS Health expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, subject to applicable law, to amend, extend or terminate the Maximum Tender Offer with respect to any or all series of Maximum Tender Offer Notes at any time if any condition to the Maximum Tender Offer is not satisfied. The Maximum Tender Offer is not conditioned on any minimum principal amount of Maximum Tender Offer Notes being tendered but the Maximum Tender Offer is subject to certain other general conditions as described in the Offer to Purchase. CVS Health has retained Barclays Capital Inc. and Mizuho Securities USA LLC to act as Dealer Managers for the Maximum Tender Offer. D.F. King & Co., Inc. has been retained to act as the Tender and Information Agent for the Maximum Tender Offer. The Offer to Purchase may be accessed at the following link: http://www.dfking.com/cvs . Requests for assistance relating to the procedures for tendering Maximum Tender Notes may be directed to the Tender and Information Agent either by email at [email protected] , or by phone (212) 269-5550 (for banks and brokers only) or (800) 487-4870 (for all others toll free). Requests for assistance relating to the terms and conditions of the Maximum Tender Offer may be directed to Barclays Capital Inc. at (800) 438-3242 (toll free) or (212) 528-7581 (collect) or Mizuho Securities USA LLC at (866) 271-7403 (toll-free) or (212) 205-7741. Beneficial owners may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase, or the solicitation of tenders with respect to, any securities, including the Maximum Tender Offer Notes. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. The Maximum Tender Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase made available to Holders of the Maximum Tender Offer Notes. None of CVS Health, the Dealer Managers, Tender and Information Agent or the trustees with respect to the Maximum Tender Offer Notes, or any of their respective affiliates, is making any recommendation as to whether or not Holders should tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of their Maximum Tender Offer Notes in response to the Maximum Tender Offer. Holders are urged to evaluate carefully all information in the Offer to Purchase, consult their own investment and tax advisers and make their own decisions whether to tender Maximum Tender Offer Notes in the Maximum Tender Offer, and, if so, the principal amount of Maximum Tender Offer Notes to tender. About CVS Health CVS Health is a leading health solutions company building a world of health around every consumer it serves and connecting care so that it works for people wherever they are. As of September 30, 2024 , the Company had more than 9,000 retail locations, more than 900 walk-in medical clinics, more than 225 primary care medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 90 million plan members and expanding specialty pharmacy solutions, and a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than 800,000 patients per year. The Company also serves an estimated more than 36 million people through traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including expanding Medicare Advantage offerings and a leading standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. The Company is creating new sources of value through its integrated model allowing it to expand into personalized, technology driven care delivery and health services, increasing access to quality care, delivering better health outcomes and lowering overall health care costs. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of CVS Health. By their nature, all forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and/or quantify. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties described in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section and under the heading "Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2024 , June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on CVS Health's forward-looking statements. CVS Health's forward-looking statements are and will be based upon management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. CVS Health does not assume any duty to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, uncertainties or otherwise. SOURCE CVS Health

Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!Net power CFO Akash Patel sells $1.9 million in stock

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