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Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’
A health care advocacy group is railing against President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health and human services secretary, saying it will be “dangerous” to the health of the American people. During a news conference Friday in front of Portland City Hall, several speakers affiliated with the nonprofit Protect Our Care, which advocates to protect the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid, decried Kennedy’s false rhetoric questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines, among other conspiracy theories. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Capitol Hill in 2023. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post “His message is, ‘We are going to make eradicated diseases great again,’ ” said Mark Gallagher, a leader of Protect Our Care Maine. Vaccines have stopped or slowed the spread of infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, polio, pertussis, chickenpox and influenza, and saved millions of lives. The quick development of COVID-19 vaccines saved millions of lives worldwide during the pandemic. Kennedy has falsely claimed that vaccines cause autism, and cast doubts about the safety of vaccines during testimony before the Maine Legislature in 2015. He also has spread myths that the 1918 influenza pandemic was caused by vaccine research, among other things. Trump’s nominees must be confirmed by the Senate, and Maine’s senators, Republican Susan Collins and independent Angus King, have not yet taken a stand on specific nominees, according to their offices. “I think you are going to do some unbelievable things,” Trump said, praising RFK Jr. during a recent event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. “If you like health and you like people that live a long time, it’s the most important position.” Kennedy, in defending his nomination, said on the X social media platform that “there’s a generational opportunity to bring together the greatest minds in science, medicine, industry, and government to put an end to the chronic disease epidemic.” “Together we will clean up corruption, stop the revolving door between industry and government, and return our health agencies to their rich tradition of gold-standard, evidence-based science,” Kennedy wrote. “I will provide Americans with transparency and access to all the data so they can make informed choices for themselves and their families.” But Dr. Patricia Hymanson, a retired physician and former state lawmaker, said Kennedy has “embraced radical conspiracy theories” about science and medicine. Hymanson also called out Kennedy for wanting to pause scientific research into new medications. “He will sabotage science and hurt people,” said Hymanson, speaking on behalf of the Maine Medical Association, which represents physicians. “We are calling on our entire federal delegation to stop this nomination. We cannot have an unqualified person who has never led undermining decades of progress to keep Mainers healthy.” Kennedy has advocated for removing fluoride from public drinking water supplies, considered by health experts as one of the most important advancements in public health during the 20th century. He has also attacked the Food and Drug Administration, which is tasked with protecting the food supply, safety of medications and approving new drugs and vaccines. “If you work for the FDA and are part of this corrupt system, I have two messages for you. 1. Preserve your records. 2. Pack your bags,” Kennedy said on social media in October. Kennedy made an appearance in 2015 before the Maine Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, w here he repeated debunked claims about vaccines as lawmakers were debating a vaccine bill. Maine lawmakers eventually passed a bill that eliminated religious and philosophic exemptions for school-required vaccinations. Since the law went into effect, Maine’s kindergarten vaccination rates have improved and are among the best in the nation. Matthew Felling, a King spokesperson, said in a written statement that the senator “will review and consider all nominations when the next administration formally sends them to the Senate in 2025 – though he acknowledges that some of those mentioned thus far do not appear to have the requisite background or experience for the important posts in question.” We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. 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Brown: Indian diplomat pushed back when he used the words "Sikh nation" OTTAWA — Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said foreign interference did not tip the scales in the Conservative party's last leadership race that installed Pierre Poilievre at the helm. Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press Dec 5, 2024 3:26 PM Dec 5, 2024 3:50 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown looks on during the Diwali Mela festival at Sesquicentennial Park in Brampton, Ont., Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said foreign interference did not tip the scales in the Conservative party's last leadership race that installed Pierre Poilievre at the helm. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Lahodynskyj OTTAWA — Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said foreign interference did not tip the scales in the Conservative party's last leadership race that installed Pierre Poilievre at the helm. But he offered up Thursday that he changed some of the language he was using after getting pushback from an Indian diplomat that some of his comments could sound like he was endorsing ideas of Sikh nationalism. Brown, who was a candidate for the leadership in 2022, was summoned to a House of Commons committee Thursday to answer questions on the 2022 race after a report from a committee on national security referred to allegations of Indian interference in an unspecified Conservative leadership campaign. "I don’t believe foreign intervention affected the final outcome of the Conservative leadership race," Brown told the House of Commons public safety and national security committee Thursday. A CBC/Radio-Canada article this week quoted several confidential sources from Brown’s campaign alleging that representatives from India’s consulate interfered to undermine his leadership bid. On Monday, Brown posted on social media about the committee's summons to say that he had no new evidence to add, and that the public inquiry on foreign interference was the proper venue to evaluate the allegations. Brown insisted to the committee Thursday that no members of the Indian government reached out to him or his campaign workers during his leadership bid, saying the relationship was "already very strained" at that point. The CBC News story also contained allegations that his national campaign co-chair Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner was pressured to withdraw her support for Brown — something she denied. When NDP MP Alistair MacGregor quizzed him on the news report, asking why she left the campaign, Brown said she left seeking to launch her own leadership bid to replace UCP leader Jason Kenney in Alberta — not from pressure from India. "At no time when we talked about her departing the campaign did she ever say it was over pressure from the consul general," he said. He said the article likely referred to a conference call more than a month before she left, after the consul general raised concerns with Rempel Garner about Brown using the words "Sikh nation." “The consul general had expressed directly to (Rempel Garner) that, obviously that was something they didn’t agree with, that it could be viewed in nationalistic terms towards the Sikh community," he said. That led him to change the language he was employing to a Punjabi term that he said meant the same thing. Liberal MP Jennifer O'Connell asked if that's "an appropriate election activity by a foreign government,” charging it was a clear instance of foreign interference. Brown replied that Indian officials "have been more robust in their opinions than some of us would be comfortable with.” A bombshell report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians into foreign interference released last spring referred to "India’s alleged interference in a Conservative Party of Canada leadership race." Brown said he was not under any kind of non-disclosure agreement with the Conservative Party that prevents him from speaking publicly about what happened during the race. He said he believes it's important to guard against foreign meddling in democracy but that he does not want to get drawn into partisan debates on Parliament Hill. Brown was not included as a witness in the public inquiry into foreign interference, which wrapped up hearings earlier this fall with a final report due in the new year. He was disqualified from the party's 2022 leadership race due to allegations related to financing rules in the Canada Elections Act. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National News Trudeau, ministers and opposition leaders address AFN gathering in Ottawa Dec 5, 2024 4:02 PM Chief 'disappointed' to see clean water used as a political tactic by Conservatives Dec 5, 2024 3:34 PM Feds outlaw another 324 types of firearms, propose donating guns to Ukraine Dec 5, 2024 3:25 PM Featured FlyerCU Boulder ranks fourth in study abroad participation nationwide
Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’Donna the elephant, who moved from the Oakland Zoo to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in 2023, died on Christmas Eve. The Oakland Zoo said on social media Friday morning that, after eating normally that morning, staff noticed a subtle change in Donna's demeanor. Veterinary and elephant care managers were immediately called to her side. Donna died at approximately 9:30 a.m. while under medical observation and evaluation. > Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 The Oakland Zoo said Donna was a beloved member of the Oakland Zoo family. After her companions M'Dunda and Lisa died, Donna moved to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in 2023, where three female African elephants of similar age (Flora, Tange, and Sukari) provided companionship. The Oakland Zoo's last elephant, Osh, was moved to the Tennessee sanctuary just a few months ago. While Donna and Osh did not get to reunite at The Sanctuary (the construction project to connect their habitats is not yet complete), the Oakland Zoo said Osh continues to thrive, getting to know his new friend Artie, as well as two female residents, Nosey and Edie, over a shared fence line. "Our hearts go out to everyone who cared for Donna, knew Donna, or had Donna touch their lives in any way," the Oakland Zoo said. "She was a beautiful soul, and though we miss her deeply, her spirit will live on with all of us." The Elephant Sanctuary said on social media "Donna had been in good health, other than age-related arthritis, which was well managed. A necropsy was conducted on Dec. 25; findings will be shared as they become available." The sanctuary said staff has shared stories of Donna's preference for rolling in the mud, noting that she was often covered in it. She is remembered as mastering the art of digging wallows and joyfully coating herself whenever possible. "Donna was deeply loved by her care staff and by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her," says Janice Zeitlin, the sanctuary's CEO. "Her sudden passing has left us heartbroken. We remain committed to understanding the cause of her passing and to honoring Donna's memory."
Several wounded N.Korean soldiers died after being captured by Ukraine: ZelenskyReturn of Darnell Nurse couldn't come soon enough for Edmonton OilersAudio Events on LinkedIn will soon be no more. In an update published this week, LinkedIn announced that it would be combining Audio Events with LinkedIn Live, effectively shutting down the audio-only streaming feature. According to the update, LinkedIn users can no longer schedule a new Audio Event as of December 2. Audio Events already scheduled before December 31 can continue as planned. Any Audio Event scheduled after that date must be rescheduled by December 15 as Audio Events will be entirely unavailable after this year. The end of LinkedIn's Audio Events LinkedIn launched Audio Events in 2022. The feature was the business professional-oriented social network's answer to Twitter's Spaces feature or the Clubhouse app. Streaming audio-only platforms became quite popular during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clubhouse, for example, was valued at $1 billion at one point. However, the audio streaming boom quickly ended as industry trends recalibrated following the end of lockdowns and the release of the COVID-19 vaccines. By 2023, Clubhouse was laying off half of its employees. LinkedIn's announcement says that the company is simply "unifying" its Audio Events and LinkedIn Live features. However, LinkedIn Live, the platform's live streaming feature, requires that users stream via a third-party service. LinkedIn Live, the platform's live streaming feature, requires that users utilize a third-party streaming service. With the closure of Audio Events, LinkedIn will also be ending native streaming services on its platform.
President-elect Donald Trump announced his selection of prominent investor Scott Bessent as the next U.S. Treasury Secretary, heralding a significant appointment in his new administration. Bessent, a well-respected figure in economic circles, comes with notable experience in international investments and is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping financial policy. His appointment follows a thorough review of potential candidates and a keen interest from Wall Street on who would take on this influential cabinet position. Bessent will face pressing challenges, including the management of federal debt and implementing Trump's economic agenda, which calls for expansive tax cuts and deregulation aimed at stimulating economic growth. (With inputs from agencies.)Here are the winners from the 2024 Gotham Awards
A MASKED thug has been filmed brandishing two huge "zombie knives" at passersby outside a school. The yob, dressed in a dark tracksuit and balaclava , was spotted walking around residential streets holding a pair of black, machete-like weapons . A clip taken by a pedestrian posted on X showed the knifeman being confronted by a pair of brave bystanders on the street. The heroic Brits yelled at him to "put it away", saying: "Look at you. "Think you're a f****** hard man with a knife ? "Get gone." READ MORE UK NEWS The thug seemed to lunge at the pair with his weapons before saying something in reply, but it was muffled by his mask. He then turned to walk away, placing both knives in one hand so he could make an obscene gesture with the other. The person holding the camera shouted after him: "I'd f*** off and all. "P**** Most read in The Sun "F*** off." The video has been heavily circulated on social media , with the man attracting universal scorn from commenters. One person claimed on Facebook that the incident had taken place outside their grandchildren's school and that pupils had been sent home for the day. Another wrote: "He intimidated nobody. "Nottingham folk don’t fear b*******." And a third added: "How are these [knives] getting into the country?" The Sun has contacted Nottinghamshire Police for comment.
Laura Loomer, an Elon Musk supporter-turned-critic, says Musk has demoted her account on Twitter/X. Musk has accused Loomer of "trolling for attention." It's a reminder: We've seen Musk run Twitter on a whim. Now that he's got an important role in politics: Will he behave the same way there? Laura Loomer has been kicked off lots of social media sites, including Twitter. After Elon Musk bought the service in 2022, he reinstated her, along with many others who had been booted by Twitter's previous management. Advertisement Now, Loomer claims, Musk's service has demoted her by stripping her account's "premium" blue-check status and other benefits. She says Musk made the move because she was criticizing his stance on immigration. You may be unaware of Loomer — described by Wikipedia as "an American far-right political activist , conspiracy theorist, and internet personality" — and/or the online rock fight about immigration and racism breaking out among different wings of Trump supporters. If so, that could mean you have a healthy relationship with the internet. Good for you. Advertisement If you'd like to know more about the latter, my colleague Hasan Chowdhury has an explainer . You could also, at your own risk, consult Twitter/X's own summary of the story. My point is, you don't need me to tell you about this. I simply want to remind you that — if Loomer's allegation is correct — this would be par for the course for Musk and his social media company. (Musk hasn't denied Loomer's charges, and has told his followers to ignore her because she's " trolling for attention ." I've asked her and Twitter/X for additional comment.) Advertisement As I've noted before, the most consistent thing about Musk's management style at Twitter is his erratic, flip-flopping, inconsistency. Sometimes it's about relatively small stuff, like wooing Don Lemon to start a talk show on Twitter, and then canceling the deal before the show ever started. Sometimes it's about really big stuff — like agreeing to pay some $44 billion for Twitter, then spending weeks in court trying not to buy it. In any case, the only way you can be surprised by stuff like this at this point is if you never paid attention. Advertisement But I do think it's still worth pointing out. Because while Musk's management style at Twitter hasn't changed, his responsibilities have changed. He's no longer just the richest person in the world, who runs important companies like Tesla and SpaceX, in addition to Twitter. Musk may now be the most powerful unelected person in America , given his importance to Donald Trump and his upcoming administration. There's his role at DOGE , for starters. And the fact that he appears to be conducting foreign policy for Trump . And that he used Twitter to temporarily tank a government funding bill this month. Advertisement We don't know how long this arrangement is going to last, and what kind of impact Musk is going to have. But we do know that for now, a man with the power to affect the way the American government operates is the same man who can change the way he runs Twitter depending on how he feels at any given moment. We shouldn't ignore that.residents were spotted braving the snow to visit a popular Govanhill bakery which is set to close its doors permanently. Two.eight.seven made the 'bittersweet' announcement that they were hanging up their after four years on Langside road last month. Owners Sam and Anna Luntley took to o tell fans that there last day of trading would be Sunday, November 24, with the pair hoping to take up a 'new challenge'. A statement read: "Time for change and for us to confirm the rumours that we will be closing two.eight.seven when our lease ends at the end of November. "We had been resisting posting on Instagram about closing as it was important to us to tell as many of our regular customers as we could in person, but we realise that the time has come to confirm the facts and hush the ever-spinning rumour mill. "Two eight seven has been a total pleasure - a project which we intended to last 18 months, but which has been such a joyful & successful venture that we find ourselves here almost 4 years on. we have met some amazing people, hosted delicious suppers, found a new community, refined & corrected things we weren’t happy with at bakery47, worked hard & had a lot of fun. "In the spirit of life is short & the world is big : full of many exciting opportunities & amazing places, we have decided to force a change - and open ourselves up to new lessons, new rhythms, new challenges & experiences. "A bittersweet decision but ultimately an exciting & positive one." The news was met with sadness by fans who turned out in their dozens this morning (Saturday, November 23) to enjoy a last chance sweet treat before the bakery closes for good at 4pm on Sunday.
Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on the ammunition used to kill UnitedHealthcare's CEO. That's according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. The words are similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend.” That's how attorneys describe insurers denying services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the words. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. Bitcoin has surpassed the $100,000 mark as the post-election rally continues. What's next? NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin has topped the $100,000 mark, extending a rally in the world’s most popular cryptocurrency sparked by the election of Donald Trump. The milestone comes just hours after the president-elect signaled a lighter regulatory approach to the crypto industry with his choice of crypto advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bitcoin has soared to unprecedented heights since Trump won the election Nov. 5. The cryptocurrency has climbed dramatically from $69,374 on Election Day and rose to more than $103,000 before falling back below $100,000 by Thursday afternoon. US judge rejects Boeing's plea deal in a conspiracy case stemming from fatal plane crashes DALLAS (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a deal that would have allowed Boeing to plead guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and pay a fine for misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 Max jetliner before two of the planes crashed, killing 346 people. The ruling on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Texas creates uncertainty around the criminal prosecution of the aerospace giant in connection with the development of its bestselling airline plane. O’Connor’s decision was almost certain to please many relatives of the passengers who died in the crashes, which took place off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia less than five months apart. McKinsey subsidiary will pay $122M for scheme to bribe South African officials, US says WASHINGTON (AP) — An African subsidiary of the consulting firm McKinsey & Company Inc. will pay a criminal penalty of more than $122 million to resolve a U.S. Justice Department investigation into a yearslong scheme to bribe South African government officials. The Justice Department says the scheme involved bribes to officials with South Africa’s state-owned and state-controlled custodian of ports, rails, and pipelines, as well as its state-controlled energy company. It netted McKinsey Africa and its parent company $85 million in profits between 2012 and 2016, officials said. McKinsey said in a statement that it “welcomes the resolution of these matters and the closure of this regretful situation.” EPA hails 'revitalized' enforcement efforts as Biden administration heads to exit WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency says it concluded more than 1,850 civil cases this year, a 3.4% increase over 2023, and charged 121 criminal defendants, a 17.6% increase over the previous year. The agency also issued $1.7 billion in financial penalties, more than double last year's total. Thursday's report was the final one account of Biden-era enforcement actions before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Enforcement efforts included first-ever criminal charges for a California man accused of smuggling climate-damaging air coolants into the United States. Engine maker Cummins Inc. paid more than $2 billion in fines and penalties after it was found to use illegal software to skirt diesel emissions tests. Work-life balance isn't working for women. Why? NEW YORK (AP) — About half of working women reported feeling stressed “a lot of the day,” compared to about 4 in 10 men, according to a Gallup report published Wednesday. The report suggests that competing demands of work and home comprise part of the problem: working women who are parents or guardians are more likely than men who are parents to say they have declined or delayed a promotion at work because of personal or family obligations, and mothers are more likely than fathers to “strongly agree” that they are the default responders for unexpected child care issues. But changing workplace culture and prioritizing well-being can improve the problem, according to Karen Guggenheim, creator of the World Happiness Summit. From outsider to the Oval Office, bitcoin surges as a new administration embraces crypto NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin burst on the scene after trust had withered in the financial system and Washington’s ability to protect people from it. Now, it’s Washington’s embrace of bitcoin that’s sending it to records. Bitcoin briefly surged above $103,000 after President-elect Donald Trump said he will nominate Paul Atkins, who's seen as friendly to crypto, to be the Securities and Exchange Commission's next chair. The crypto industry, meanwhile, did its part to bring politicians friendly to digital currencies into Washington. It's a twist from bitcoin's early days, when it was lauded as a kind of electronic cash that wouldn’t be beholden to any government or financial institution. Stock market today: Wall Street edges back from its records as bitcoin briefly pops above $100,000 NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks edged back from their records as Wall Street counted down to a big jobs report that’s coming on Friday. The S&P 500 fell 0.2% Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.2% from its own all-time high. The crypto market had more action, and bitcoin briefly burst to a record above $103,000 before falling back toward $99,000. It's climbed dramatically since Election Day on hopes President-elect Donald Trump will be more friendly to crypto. Airline stocks were strong, while Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Key members of OPEC+ alliance are putting off production increases amid slack crude prices FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Eight members of the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries have decided to put off increasing oil production as they face weaker than expected demand and competing production from non-allied countries — factors that could keep oil prices stagnant into next year. The OPEC+ members decided at an online meeting to postpone by three months production increases that had been scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The plan had been to start gradually restoring 2.2 million barrels per day over the course of 2025. That process will now be pushed back to April 1, 2025 and production increases will gradually take place over 18 months until October 2026. Fox News loses bid for Smartmatic voting-tech company's records about Philippines bribery case NEW YORK (AP) — Smartmatic does not need to give Fox News any information about U.S. federal charges against the voting machine company’s co-founder over alleged bribery in the Philippines. A New York judge on Thursday also turned down Smartmatic’s request to question two Fox Corp. board members. It already has questioned others. Smartmatic is suing Fox News for $2.7 billion. The election-technology company says its business was gutted when Fox aired false claims that Smartmatic helped rig the 2020 vote. Fox says it was just reporting on newsworthy allegations. Fox maintains the Philippines bribery allegations are pertinent to Smartmatic’s business prospects and claims of losses. Florida-based Smartmatic isn’t charged in the criminal case and says it's irrelevant in the defamation suit.Laura Loomer, an Elon Musk supporter-turned-critic, says Musk has demoted her account on Twitter/X. Musk has accused Loomer of "trolling for attention." It's a reminder: We've seen Musk run Twitter on a whim. Now that he's got an important role in politics: Will he behave the same way there? Laura Loomer has been kicked off lots of social media sites, including Twitter. After Elon Musk bought the service in 2022, he reinstated her, along with many others who had been booted by Twitter's previous management. Advertisement Now, Loomer claims, Musk's service has demoted her by stripping her account's "premium" blue-check status and other benefits. She says Musk made the move because she was criticizing his stance on immigration. You may be unaware of Loomer — described by Wikipedia as "an American far-right political activist , conspiracy theorist, and internet personality" — and/or the online rock fight about immigration and racism breaking out among different wings of Trump supporters. If so, that could mean you have a healthy relationship with the internet. Good for you. Advertisement If you'd like to know more about the latter, my colleague Hasan Chowdhury has an explainer . You could also, at your own risk, consult Twitter/X's own summary of the story. My point is, you don't need me to tell you about this. I simply want to remind you that — if Loomer's allegation is correct — this would be par for the course for Musk and his social media company. (Musk hasn't denied Loomer's charges, and has told his followers to ignore her because she's " trolling for attention ." I've asked her and Twitter/X for additional comment.) Advertisement As I've noted before, the most consistent thing about Musk's management style at Twitter is his erratic, flip-flopping, inconsistency. Sometimes it's about relatively small stuff, like wooing Don Lemon to start a talk show on Twitter, and then canceling the deal before the show ever started. Sometimes it's about really big stuff — like agreeing to pay some $44 billion for Twitter, then spending weeks in court trying not to buy it. In any case, the only way you can be surprised by stuff like this at this point is if you never paid attention. Advertisement But I do think it's still worth pointing out. Because while Musk's management style at Twitter hasn't changed, his responsibilities have changed. He's no longer just the richest person in the world, who runs important companies like Tesla and SpaceX, in addition to Twitter. Musk may now be the most powerful unelected person in America , given his importance to Donald Trump and his upcoming administration. There's his role at DOGE , for starters. And the fact that he appears to be conducting foreign policy for Trump . And that he used Twitter to temporarily tank a government funding bill this month. Advertisement We don't know how long this arrangement is going to last, and what kind of impact Musk is going to have. But we do know that for now, a man with the power to affect the way the American government operates is the same man who can change the way he runs Twitter depending on how he feels at any given moment. We shouldn't ignore that.
