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Environmentalists are worried about the Trump win. But there is no time to sulk. Every year sees biodiversity plummeting and ecosystems irreversibly trashed. The stakes couldn’t be higher and it is our responsibility to try to figure out what a Trump administration could do for the environment. The answer is: a lot. Trump is a sceptic, and that is unlikely to change. But that is not the same as being an environment sceptic. The is full of people who are allergic to climate politics but who do care about the actual natural environment. Right now, even in these increasingly turbulent times, there is objectively nothing more important. And given the very public and passionate calls made by the UK’s new Foreign Secretary for the world to come together to repair our relationship with nature, this also presents an opportunity for the UK to build bridges to the new US administration. As a lifelong environmentalist I would far, far prefer a climate sceptic who recognises the importance of nature than a technocratic climate activist for whom a forest is nothing more than a cluster of carbon sticks. Tragically, that is what so much environment politics has been reduced to: carbon counting. Of all the public money channelled into tackling , just a few per cent goes on nature, and then only usually where it is a nature-based solution to climate change. Public funding for purely protecting and restoring nature remains practically non-existent. Only last week I was with pioneering elephant conservationists who were looking for funding. Their pitch was based on the ability of elephants to store carbon, through the manner in which they relate to forests. The conservationists knew that without a carbon angle, they’d be unlikely to get the funding. It’s not just the politics. I am often asked to speak to broadcasters or write articles about “the environment.” But when I press for clarity about the likely discussion, it emerges — every single time — that the discussion is about carbon politics and never about the environment. It is madness. We cannot survive without the world’s forests. But by the time you have finished reading this article, the world will have lost the equivalent of around 450 football pitches worth of tropical forest; forests that are home to 80 per cent of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, that regulate our water and climate systems and underpin the livelihoods of more than a billion people. When we convert complex ecosystems, we not only lose irreplaceable biodiversity, we lose the free services these systems provide and on which we rely for life. We know this, yet we continue to do damage to the natural world at a rate it cannot possibly sustain. And yet in terms of political priorities, this barely features. In a sane world this would be reversed. Climate change is just one of many symptoms of our abusive relationship with nature. It is the fever. And while we should of course be accelerating the transition to clean and renewable energy, it will be for nothing if we fail nature. There is no solution to climate change, no pathway to “net zero,” without nature. There’s another reason our focus should shift from carbon to nature: the “market” has already decided on a massive energy transition. Each year vastly more money is invested in new clean technology than in fossil fuels. There is a question of speed, but politicians aren’t going to be able to change the fundamentals. In ’s first term, coal use fell faster than it had in Obama’s term, despite their very different priorities. None of this is true for nature. The market continues to drive environmental destruction because it is blind to the value of nature. It sees value in nature only once it is “cashed-in.” The financial incentive to destroy a forest is roughly 40 times greater than the incentive to protect it. This despite the fact that in the real world we cannot survive without them. We need leadership at the highest levels. And if Trump were to put his bullish, hyperactive energy and impatience into tackling this crisis, there is no limit to the good a Trump administration could do. Imagine if, for example, he took on perhaps the greatest market distortion of all, something conservatives instinctively oppose, and set about reversing the billions in environmentally harmful subsidies dished out annually around the world? We are told the cost of turning the tide on nature destruction globally is around £550 billion a year. That is also roughly how much is spent each year by the top 50 food-producing countries subsidising often highly destructive land use. At this point, there is little to suggest Trump will step up. But the Republicans have a proud history of environmentalism that he could be persuaded to tap into. The environment was Teddy Roosevelt’s overriding passion. He created a network of national parks and monuments to nature that remains unrivalled to this day. Even Richard Nixon is enjoying something of a revival as environmentalists begin to acknowledge that his administration introduced more environmental protection legislation than any of his predecessors. There is nothing more conservative than stewardship, conservation, looking out for future generations, living within our means, making the polluter pay; fundamentally these are conservative values. Or should be. Back to Trump. One of his closest allies today and a person likely to hold considerable sway in the next four years is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — a man heralded by Time magazine as a “Hero for the Planet.” Trump the environmentalist? For all our sakes let us hope he surprises us.NoneFinancial Comparison: Aligos Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ALGS) & Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA)

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Gun found on suspect in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO matches shell casings at scene, police say ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) — New York City’s police commissioner says the gun found on the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO matches shell casings found at the crime scene. Commissioner Jessica Tisch also said Wednesday that lab results matched suspect Luigi Mangione’s prints to a water bottle and a snack bar wrapper found near the scene of the killing. Police had said earlier that they believed the gunman bought the items at a nearby coffee shop while awaiting his target. Mangione is jailed in Pennsylvania on weapon and forgery charges, but he also has been charged in New York with murder in Brian Thompson's death. His lawyer has noted that Mangione is presumed innocent. Authorities are scrutinizing evidence and the suspect’s experiences with the health care industry. Arguments over whether Luigi Mangione is a 'hero' offer a glimpse into an unusual American moment Memes and online posts in support of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, who's charged with killing UnitedHealthcare's CEO, have mushroomed online. Some cast Mangione as a hero. That's too far, says Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a rising Democrat who was almost the Democratic vice presidential nominee this year. CEO Brian Thompson's death touched off off these ripples. They offer a glimpse into how so many different aspects of 21st-century life can be surreally connected, from public violence to politics, from health care to humor, or attempts at it. The Trump and Biden teams insist they're working hand in glove on foreign crises WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump doesn’t think much of Joe Biden’s foreign policy record. He frequently casts the outgoing Democratic president as a feckless leader who shredded American credibility around the world during his four-year term. But the Trump and Biden national security teams have come to an understanding that they have no choice but to work together as conflicts in Gaza, Syria and Ukraine have left a significant swath of the world on a knife’s edge. It’s fuzzy how much common ground Biden and Trump’s teams have found as they navigate crises that threaten to cause more global upheaval as Trump prepares to settle back into the White House. FBI Director Wray says he intends to resign before Trump takes office in January WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray says he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January. The announcement Wednesday comes a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the position. His impending resignation will bring him three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations. Trump applauded the news Wednesday, saying it will end the weaponization of what he called the “Department of Injustice.” Syrians flock to morgues looking for loved ones who perished in Assad's prisons DAMASCUS (AP) — Many bodies have been found in Syrian detention centers and prisons since President Bashar al-Assad's government fell. Now Syrians around the world are circulating images of the corpses in hopes that they will see slain loved ones whose fate had been a mystery. At the morgue visited by The Associated Press on Wednesday in Damascus, families flocked to a wall where some of the pictures were pinned in a haunting gallery of the dead. Relatives desperately scanned the images for a recognizable face. Some of the prisoners died just weeks ago. Others perished months earlier. US warns Russia may be ready to use new lethal missile against Ukraine again in 'coming days' WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says Russia could launch its lethal new intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine again soon. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh cited a U.S. intelligence assessment in telling reporters on Wednesday that an attack could come “in the coming days.” She says the U.S. does not consider the Oreshnik missile a game changer on the battlefield. But that Russia is using the weapon to intimidate Ukraine as both sides wrestle for an advantage that will give them leverage in any negotiations to end the war. The Russian Defense Ministry also is warning it may retaliate against Kyiv for an attack on a military base in the Rostov region in southern Russia on Wednesday. Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 33 including children, Palestinian medics say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian medical officials say Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 33 people. One of the strikes hit a home where displaced people were sheltering in the isolated north, killing 19. A separate strike outside nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital killed a woman and her two children, and another strike in central Gaza killed at least seven people. Israel's military says it tries to avoid harming civilians and accuses militants of hiding among them, putting their lives in danger. Local health officials say Israel’s retaliatory offensive after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023 has killed over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Hannah Kobayashi, missing Hawaii woman whose disappearance prompted a massive search, is found safe LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hannah Kobayashi has been found safe. That’s according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Kobayashi vanished last month in Los Angeles. The missing Hawaii woman's disappearance prompted a massive search and a missing persons investigation. It was not immediately clear where she was found, but police previously said she had voluntarily crossed the border into Mexico. The LAPD said Wednesday the department will wrap up its investigation. Kobayashi's family reported her missing to law enforcement on Nov. 11 after relatives received “strange and cryptic, just alarming” text messages. Kobayashi’s mother and sister said they are “grateful” she has been found safe. Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death and fled the country is charged after returning to US GREEN LAKE, Wis. (AP) — Authorities say a Wisconsin man who faked his own drowning and left his wife and three children for Eastern Europe has willingly returned to the U.S. Ryan Borgwardt is charged with obstruction, a misdemeanor. A not-guilty plea was entered by a judge Wednesday, a day after Borgwardt's return. The judge also set bond at $500 for the obstruction charge, though Borgwardt only has to pay if he violates the conditions of his release. Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll says Borgwardt “came back on his own” because of his family. Investigators say the 45-year-old was living in the country of Georgia. Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup. But when exactly? ZURICH (AP) — Saudi Arabia scored a major win in its campaign to attract major sports events to the kingdom when it was formally appointed as the 2034 World Cup host on Wednesday. Still, many questions remain about the tournament. Key issues include during which part of the year to stage the tournament, where to play the games, whether alcohol will be allowed at all and how to protect workers rights in the massive construction projects required to host the World Cup.

Buy Smarter: The Consumer Guide to Smart TVsDonald Trump is returning to the Oval Office at a time when cybersecurity concerns are only growing . On his watch, the nation will face threats from international cyber crime gangs that hack hospitals, schools, cities and major companies. Cyber extortionists are constantly evolving their pressure techniques. International tensions are also playing out in cyber space. China-backed hackers have been penetrating systems essential to U.S. life, including water systems and power grids. Some fear China could try to these systems, should geopolitical tensions rise. As his administration responds to such threats, Trump isn’t expected to follow President Joe Biden’s playbook entirely. Biden often tried to use regulations to compel organizations in critical sectors to improve their cyber defenses. Trump will more likely seek to reduce regulations, trying to find ways to encourage voluntary improvements from the private sector. He may also put more emphasis on hacking adversaries’ IT infrastructure. A considerable number of Republican lawmakers have also called for slashing the budget of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). They believe it mis-stepped in past efforts to discourage the spread online of election-related disinformation. That agency does far more than call out disinformation, however. It also issues alerts about cyber threats and helps support state and local governments, as well as the private sector, in defending . Some experts believe the cyber agency could lose some of its authority but that there’s enough bipartisan support for its other work that Trump and the new Congress will refrain from eliminating it altogether. Although the new administration’s plans in regard to technology policy in general are still evolving, here are some of the dynamics observers in the field expect to see emerging over the next four years: One of CISA’s many responsibilities is election security. Some conservatives remain unhappy that the agency contacted social media companies about probable election-related disinformation on their platforms during the 2020 election. They charge that this amounted to CISA censoring free speech and unfairly targeting conservative voices. The agency denies these complaints but discontinued such activities prior to the 2022 election. In September, more than 100 House Republicans made a failed effort to cut CISA’s funding heavily. Project 2025 — a transition document prepared by the Heritage Foundation and authored, in part, by new Trump appointees — calls for moving CISA into a different federal department and reassigning any duplicative cybersecurity work to other agencies. Trump himself has had a mixed relationship with CISA. He signed the act that created it, then at the end of his first term famously , then its director, for insisting the 2020 election was secure. Some lawmakers in 2021 from presidential changes by giving the CISA director a five-year term but their bill failed. Accusations against CISA could get a stronger voice when Kentucky Republican Rand Paul, a critic, becomes chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Despite the criticism it's attracted from some quarters, CISA will probably not be dismantled under Trump, thanks to the valuable — and less-controversial — work it does in other areas, including protecting critical infrastructure and election processes from cyber and physical attacks. There’s also been both industry and bipartisan political support for CISA projects such as the initiative — which asks software developers to design their products with cybersecurity in mind — and the , a public-private information sharing and collaboration project. “I don’t think they’re going to get rid of CISA,” says Mark Montgomery, senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “I think even Rand Paul knows he can't get rid of CISA, although he's pissed at it.” Cybersecurity is an international question, with many ransomware criminals conducting attacks from overseas while operating out of safe harbor countries like Russia. And nation-states are a pressing threat, with China-backed hackers having penetrated U.S. , perhaps readying to disrupt them should geopolitical tensions rise. China-linked actors also recently were found hacking deep into U.S. telecommunications networks, where they apparently spied on U.S. wiretapping and captured . The Trump administration may want to go on the offensive against such threats. His first administration supported increasing efforts to in order to combat adversary hackers and prepare to disable IT infrastructure in case of a future conflict. A more aggressive approach might entail efforts to disrupt IT infrastructure used by cyber criminals in the countries harboring them, and potentially imposing sanctions in response to China-backed hacks on U.S. critical infrastructure, as well as being more aggressive in efforts to arrest or prosecute cyber criminals and other actions, says Michael Daniel, president and CEO of the nonprofit Cyber Threat Alliance. The Trump administration will probably “call out Chinese misbehavior a little more,” Montgomery suggests, while continuing to help partner nations hunt malicious behavior lurking in their networks. But when it comes to working with other nations, Trump will probably be less interested in multilateral collaborations, Daniel says, and instead focus on one-on-one relationships with other countries. The U.S. is also unlikely to ratify the , he says, both because of its multilateral nature and objections from privacy, civil liberties and law enforcement groups. The impact of cyber attacks on critical infrastructure can be massive. Last summer’s , a health-care tech company, affected roughly a third of Americans. Separately, the Environmental Protection Agency warns that drinking water systems are falling seriously short of necessary cyber protections. The Biden administration often looked to regulation to safeguard these and other critical infrastructure sectors. In the wake of the Change Healthcare attack, it announced plans to set minimum cybersecurity standards for hospitals. The EPA also tried, although unsuccessfully, to use its authority to require public water systems to assess their cybersecurity periodically. And the Biden administration responded to the 2021 ransomware attack on , which caused gasoline panic buying in the Southeastern states that depleted many gas stations, by setting cybersecurity requirements for pipeline owners and operators. As the incoming administration considers how best to defend health care, water and other critical infrastructure, it is more likely to seek to reduce regulations, not add to them. The Trump team is expected to emphasize private-sector collaboration and voluntary efforts, potentially including offering some incentives. The , enacted in 2022, was designed to help the federal government better understand the cyber threats facing the nation and warn potential victims about threats more quickly. But the law is not expected to be implemented until 2026. In the meantime, CISA has been hammering out details for how to put it into action. The Trump administration will be looking to harmonize the 2022 law with other existing federal cyber incident reporting regulations, Montgomery says. Some have questioned if South Dakota Gov. , Trump’s pick to run the Department of Homeland Security, might push back on the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. South Dakota was the only state that repeatedly declined to participate in it. The law is set to expire in 2025, after four years. Many state government cyber leaders have said that four years’ worth of grants has been helpful but not enough money to meet their needs. They’re calling for a reliable, recurring stream of cybersecurity funds. Full Republican control of Congress could lead to progress on data privacy legislation. That effort has been at a standstill due to arguments over issues such as whether a federal law would pre-empt existing state privacy laws or allow private right of action. California lawmakers have been strong opponents of any federal law superseding their strong state policy, and this dispute prompted former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, to frustrate an earlier attempt to pass a federal law. California’s Democrat-dominated delegation will have less influence now, however. The Trump administration’s lighter approach to regulation will inform its approach to artificial intelligence, as well. A Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to require tech companies to inform the federal government if they’re training advanced AI models that present a “serious risk” to national security, economic security or public health and safety, as well as to share safety test information. The order also called for efforts to combat algorithmic discrimination and for creating new standards and tools to test if AI systems were “safe, secure, and trustworthy” before they’re released to the public. Trump’s campaign platform included a promise to repeal the order, characterizing its use of the Defense Production Act as government overreach. Efforts to prevent unfairness and bias in AI systems are likely to be less of a priority for the Trump administration, says Daniel Castro, vice president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a tech think tank. Under Trump, the focus will shift to questions such as whether AI systems perform as advertised, or will AI used in medical devices, transit systems or other areas cause physical harms to users. AI companies are facing , and often don’t realize the level of security they need to defend against both nation-state and non-nation-state actors, says Montgomery, of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation. He hopes the incoming administration reaches an agreement with companies on a minimum cyber and physical security standard for AI labs. “This administration is going to take a much more laissez-faire attitude, in general, to the AI labs, but I hope in the very specific area of security, they actually turn the screws more than what has happened so far,” Montgomery says. Trump is also reportedly weighing whether to . Such an official would be charged with coordinating federal policies on AI, guiding government use of the technology and helping the new Department of Government Efficiency use AI to find fraud and waste. Meanwhile, the fate of a major Biden-era effort to boost the domestic semiconductor industry is unclear. The 2022 bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act promised billions to incentivize U.S.-based semiconductor chip manufacturing, research and development. On Tuesday, Intel secured an $8 billion grant under the program. Trump has , arguing that his tariff plans would do more to shift production to the U.S. without requiring government spending. Most of the subsidies authorized by the CHIPS Act , but the Biden administration intends distribute “almost all” the money before Trump takes office, according to Commerce Secretary . And, although many conservatives have criticized social media companies for alleged censorship, it’s unclear if the Trump administration would seek to roll back the legal protections that allow for content moderation. of the Communications Decency Act shields online services from civil liability over user-created content they host. It also allows social media companies to make well-intentioned efforts to moderate user-posted content, including letting them take down posts they deem harassing, obscene or otherwise objectionable. Some Republicans have sought to rewrite Section 230 to prevent what they view as social media platforms censoring conservative voices. However, Castro says that while companies are likely to take extra care to display neutrality in content moderation, the situation has changed. Trump and Elon Musk — a major Trump financial backer and co-leader of the new Department of Government Efficiency — both own social media platforms, potentially dampening desires for Section 230 repeal. Government Technology'sEver wanted to bring your dog with you aboard a cruise ship? Do you have a business focused on dogs and their families? If you answered yes to either question, you’ll be excited to learn that what’s being called the first-ever dog-friendly cruise is being planned aboard Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander out of the Port of Tampa in November 2025. And business opportunities await. Cruise ships famously don’t allow dogs other than service animals. Organizers of this cruise anticipate selecting from a long line of hopefuls. A “waitlist for all dog parents who have dreamt of bringing their furry friends along for their vacations will open soon,” a news release says. Organizers are calling for 250 dogs, “their owners and their closest humans” to become “inaugural ambassadors” for the cruise, which they promise will offer “unique experiences and activities including gifts and samples from top vendors, dog shows and trainings, guest speakers, costume contests, parades, and more.” The event is being staged by two organizations — Cruise Tails and Expedia Cruises of West Orlando. The website cruisetails.com seeks sponsors and investors in hopes of turning the cruise into a recurring event. Sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available for companies seeking brand visibility “across a passionate pet-loving audience,” the site says. And participants must sign photo waivers, the website says, adding, “We anticipate the fun will be all over social media and even in the press. In fact, the 250 chosen will undoubtedly be asked by sponsors to try products and post about them.” Cruise Tails was formed by Steve Matzke, a Bradenton-based entrepreneur listed on LinkedIn as beginning his career this month as an “independent consultant.” Matzke spent four years prior to that as senior director of external relations for the American Accounting Association, and 12 years before that as director of faculty and university initiatives for the American Institute of CPAs, his LinkedIn profile shows. Expedia Cruises of West Orlando was founded in 2019 by Dawn von Graff, an avid traveler who has taken more than 75 cruises and visited more than 80 countries, and her husband. She owned a computer networking firm, worked as an international tour manager, and was a top salesperson for Marriott before forming Expedia Cruises of West Orlando as a full-service travel agency. Details including dates, prices and itineraries have not yet been released. According to the website, organizers hope to select the inaugural 250 dogs based partly on how the dogs perform in a “video talent singing contest” as well as “a variety of criteria” to be announced “over the next few weeks.” The bigger the dog’s entourage, the better chance it will have to be chosen, the website says. “Preference will be given to dogs in a group which includes one dog cabin traveling with two or more associated cabins of friends or family without dogs,” it says. A spokeswoman for Margaritaville at Sea says the organizers are chartering the Islander, and the cruise will not be available for booking to the general public. Each dog will have “private relief stations” on their cabin balconies, and when dogs don’t make it to the relief station, each will have its own “pet butler” to ensure “their cabin and the boat remain in top condition,” a Cruise Tails spokeswoman said. Participants must agree to follow protocols on board, including keeping their dogs in permitted areas and making sure they are up to date with appropriate vaccinations. Dogs will not be allowed in dining areas, the ship’s casino, pool decks, lounges or music venues, according to the news release. Organizers will also be looking for workers and vendors. “We’re going to need dog walkers, pet butlers, and so much more,” the website says. And “if you have a proven skill like pet massage, grooming and pet walking or if you make custom dog costumes, have a unique dog product you would like to promote or are a well-known dog expert, we would love to chat with you.” Calls for pet handlers and vendors will be posted “in the next few months,” the site says. Whether the event turns into the profitable industry that its organizers hope for will undoubtedly depend on how the first one unfolds. A spokeswoman did not immediately have answers to such questions of what will happen to dogs that get aggressive with humans or other dogs? Will owners be required to purchase additional insurance to cover any possibilities? Will food be provided and how will feedings be handled? Contributors on Reddit.com posted mixed reactions to the announcement on Monday. “Cruises are already floating petri dishes. This doesn’t seem like a very good idea,” said one. “Now all decks are poop decks,” said another. A couple of posters worried about dogs going overboard. One said, “sounds awesome if you like dogs,” while another chimed in, “Better than a gorilla-friendly cruise, I suppose.” Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.George Kresge Jr., who wowed talk show audiences as the The Amazing Kreskin, dies

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No. 13 seed Tarleton State wins inaugural FCS playoff game, beats Drake 43-29

Five-star quarterback recruit Bryce Underwood took to social media to celebrate Michigan's surprise victory over rivals Ohio State. The Wolverines shocked the No.2 Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, thanks to game-changing special teams plays and a solid defensive performance, resulting in a 13-10 win. The unexpected outcome left fans stunned as the struggling Michigan offense managed just enough to move into Ohio State territory, setting up Dominic Zvada's decisive 21-yard field goal. Dave Portnoy weighs in on Michigan vs. Ohio State brawl as cops use pepper spray Michigan vs Ohio State ends in chaos as players brawl and police intervene The loss significantly hurt Ohio State's chances of making it to the Big Ten championship game. In celebration, Michigan players planted a large flag with a Block M at midfield, sparking a massive brawl that lasted several minutes. Underwood, a Michigan native who recently switched his commitment from LSU to the Wolverines, has already won over many team fans. The 17-year-old further endeared himself by posting the Michigan logo on his Instagram story. Underwood is the first five-star player to sign with the Wolverines since cornerback Will Johnson, who has established himself as one of college football's top defensive backs and is likely to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Michigan has missed out on high-profile in-state quarterbacks in recent years and desperately needed a strong prospect to revamp the offense under first-year head coach Sherrone Moore. The No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 ESPN 300 recruiting rankings, Underwood, made headlines by declaring his college choice with an Instagram video titled "Hometown Hero." This significant move makes him the highest-rated recruit to commit to Michigan and a shining star in Coach Moore's first recruiting class. DON'T MISS: Georgia sparks debate with escape vs Georgia Tech ahead of College Playoff Colts cult hero Andrew Luck confirms football return after retiring aged 29 Matt Rhule expecting up to 50 Nebraska players to enter transfer portal His impressive high school career at Belleville High School boasts two state titles and the distinguished title of Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year in 2023. Underwood has showcased formidable skill with a 64.8 percent pass completion, throwing for 3,329 yards and scoring 44 touchdowns. With only one loss since September 2021, he enters the state playoffs with the spotlight on Belleville to win their third state championship in four years. Michigan's aggressive recruitment strategy paid off, luring Underwood away from an earlier commitment to LSU with a competitive NIL deal, and gaining an edge from Larry Ellison's — the second-richest man in the world — support. Once Underwood puts pen to paper with the Wolverines, he will be the first No. 1 overall recruit to join the program since defensive tackle Rashan Rary in 2016. He would also join Gary and defensive backs Jabrill Peppers (2014 class) and Dax Hill (2019) as the only five-star prospects to land in Ann Arbor since 2006. Moreover, he represents the Wolverines' highest-ranked quarterback pledge since Ryan Mallett in the 2007 class. Michigan, the reigning NCAA champions, currently hold a 7-5 record following their thrilling victory over Ohio State. Meanwhile, the No.2 Buckeyes could now miss out on a clash with No. 1 Oregon in the Big 10 Championship, with Penn State likely to secure a spot. However, Ohio State is set to feature in the inaugural edition of the expanded College Football Playoff bracket.Free-flowing Arsenal back to their best in statement Champions League win to bust set-piece mythATLANTA — Already reeling from their November defeats, Democrats grappled Monday with President Joe Biden’s pardoning of his son for federal crimes, with some calling the move misguided and unwise after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who disregarded the law. The president pardoned Hunter Biden late Sunday evening, reversing his previous pledges with a grant of clemency that covers more than a decade of any federal crimes his son might have committed. The 82-year-old president said in a statement that his son’s prosecution on charges of tax evasion and falsifying a federal weapons purchase form were politically motivated. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday. She, along with Biden and other White House officials, insisted for months that Hunter Biden would not get a pardon. That explanation did not satisfy some Democrats, angry that Biden’s reversal could make it harder to take on Trump, who argues that indictments and a conviction against him were a matter of Biden and Democrats turning the justice system against him. “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wrote on social media. Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., posted: “This wasn’t a politically motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies and was convicted by a jury of his peers.” Certainly, the president has Democratic defenders who note Trump’s use of presidential power to pardon a slew of his convicted aides, associates and friends, several for activities tied to Trump’s campaign and first administration. “Trump pardoned Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort, as well as his son-in-law’s father, Charles Kushner — who he just appointed US ambassador to France,” prominent Democratic fundraiser Jon Cooper wrote on social media. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said there “is no standard for Donald Trump, and the highest standard for Democrats and Joe Biden.” Harrison pointed to Trump’s apparent plans to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray and replace him with loyalist Kash Patel and suggested the GOP’s pursuit of Hunter Biden would not have ended without clemency. First lady Jill Biden said Monday from the White House: “Of course I support the pardon of my son.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!