Feds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’LOS ANGELES — After another loss, this one of the 37-20 variety to the Philadelphia Eagles , Rams head coach Sean McVay was once again asked about his offense’s third-down conversion rate. It’s been a recurring issue for the Rams (5-6) this season, especially in the previous three games in which the Rams failed to convert more than 25% of their attempts on third downs. But Sunday marked a new low, as the Rams went 0-for-8, their first time failing to convert a single third down all season. “There’s a lot of different reasons. It wasn’t one thing in particular,” McVay said. “But that hasn’t been successful enough. It’s been an area that we have to be better at, no doubt about it.” The Rams rank 31st in the NFL, ahead of only Cleveland, in third-down conversion percentage with a 31.71% mark. They are similarly 31st in estimated points added (EPA) on third downs at -0.287 per play. The Rams actually have a respectable success rate when running the ball on third down at 54.5%. But they aren’t getting into enough and-short situations to justify handoffs on third downs, as evidenced by Sunday’s performance. The Rams lined up for 11 third downs on Sunday, though three were nullified by penalty. They faced an average distance of 9.4 yards on those plays. This number is slightly inflated by two 10-yard penalties committed by the Rams on third downs; as far as what distance the Rams had earned through their work on first and second downs, the number is 7.9 yards. On their eight third-down plays that were allowed to stand, the Rams ran seven pass plays and one run, a white-flag handoff on third-and-13 that gained 8 yards. On the seven drop backs, quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 2 of 4 passes for 10 yards while being sacked three times, all on to-go distances of 9 or greater yards in which Philadelphia’s pass rushers knew what was coming. “We didn’t put ourselves in a lot of favorable ones today,” Stafford said. “You don’t do that against that defense, it’s going to be difficult. No doubt there are some that we can convert on, look back on but it takes great execution by everybody to convert on third down. We just gotta do a better job.” The Rams actually did move the sticks after one third down, a third-and-16, but did not get credit for it in the stat book because it came via a Philadelphia pass interference penalty. So then, what did the Rams do to put themselves in these unfavorable situations? Let’s take a look at the first and second downs in the second quarter or later, given the Rams did not reach third down until the second quarter. The Rams ran the ball 10 times and dialed up 24 drop backs on first and second downs after the first quarter; given the nature of the blowout loss, the imbalance in play calls is not surprising. On the 10 carries, the Rams managed 23 yards and allowed three tackles for loss. Stafford was also sacked twice while completing 14 of 22 attempts. And this is where inconsistent execution in the run game is hurting the Rams, a team that wants to power the ball down defenses’ throats using their big bodies on the line and duo blocking. The Rams have made a heavy investment in this aspect of the team over the last two years. The second-round pick spent on guard Steve Avila. Big contracts paid to interior linemen Kevin Dotson and Jonah Jackson. The addition of Blake Corum in the third round in April to take some of the load off starting back Kyren Williams. Related Articles Los Angeles Rams | Alexander: Rams-Eagles was Saquon Barkley’s show Los Angeles Rams | Rams running out of time to fix offense after loss to Eagles Los Angeles Rams | Rams prepare for primetime Eagles game as NFC West heats up Los Angeles Rams | Philadelphia Eagles at Rams: Who has the edge? Los Angeles Rams | Rams’ ultra-competitive pass rush thrives working ‘five as one’ But 11 games into the season, injuries and shuffling rotations along the offensive line have made that goal difficult to achieve. But that doesn’t stop the Rams in believing it can still be their identity. “I think we know what we’re really about and how to get where we want to get. I think we’ll lean a little bit more on the run,” Dotson said in the post-game locker room Sunday. “I feel like our run game is a little I guess underrated. I feel like we run it pretty good when we actually get it all set. It’s just the matter of fact of getting ourselves in situations where running is better.” “When you’re looking at a lot of third-and-longs and the opportunity for a rush to kind of play with their hair set on fire, it definitely presents a lot of difficulties for anybody in this league,” receiver Puka Nacua added. “It’s the physical game of football that has been playing for a long time and it starts in the trenches and being able to make sure that we can protect our back and not allowing safeties to kind of cap off on some of our hits and stuff like that, being able to get to that second level with a great push.”The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shut down access to the Affordable Care Act marketplace to two health insurance agencies. Here's a look at what's happened.Noneslot game online free credit 。

Colorado Buffaloes Turn Heads With New Heisman Campaign for Travis Hunter, Shedeur SandersServing up home-cooked dog food

Michigan upsets No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 for Wolverines' 4th straight win in the bitter rivalry COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Dominic Zvada kicked a 21-yard field goal with 45 seconds left and Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10, likely ending the Buckeyes’ hopes of returning to the Big Ten title game next week. Late in the game, Kalel Mullings broke away for a 27-yard run, setting up the Wolverines at Ohio State’s 17-yard line with two minutes remaining. The drive stalled at the 3, and Zvada came on for the chip shot. Ohio State got the ball back but couldn’t move it, with Will Howard throwing incomplete on fourth down to seal the Wolverines’ fourth straight win over their bitter rival. Sellers' 20-yard TD run with 1:08 to go lifts No. 16 South Carolina to 17-14 win over No. 12 Clemson CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — LaNorris Sellers' 20-yard TD run with 1:08 to play lifted No. 16 South Carolina to a 17-14 victory over No. 12 Clemson. The Gamecocks won their sixth straight game, including four over ranked opponents, and may have played themselves into College Football Playoff's 12-team field. They wouldn't have done it without Sellers, who spun away from a defender in the backfield, broke through the line and cut left on his way to the winning score. Sellers rushed for 166 yards and threw for 164 in South Carolina's second straight win at Clemson. Mikaela Shiffrin is alert and being evaluated after crashing in final run of World Cup giant slalom KILLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — American ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin is alert and being evaluated for injuries after crashing in her second run of a World Cup giant slalom race. Shiffrin was going for her 100th World Cup win when she crashed, did a flip and slid into the protective fencing. She stayed down on the course for quite some time as the ski patrol attended to her. The 29-year-old was taken off the hill on a sled and waved to the cheering crowd. The U.S. Ski Team said she was taken to a medical clinic for evaluation. Shiffrin was leading after the first run of the GS. Reigning Olympic champion Sara Hector of Sweden won. Andrew Luck returns to Stanford as the GM of the football program STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford in hopes of turning around a struggling football program that he once helped become a national power. Athletic director Bernard Muir announced that Luck has been hired as the general manager of the Stanford football team and tasked with overseeing all aspects of the program that just finished its fourth straight 3-9 season. Luck will work with coach Troy Taylor on recruiting and roster management, and with athletic department and university leadership on fundraising, alumni relations, sponsorships, student-athlete support and stadium experience. Luck has kept a low profile since his surprise retirement from the NFL at age 29 in 2019. Saka stars in Arsenal rout at West Ham as Van Nistelrooy watches new team Leicester lose Arsenal was inspired by Bukayo Saka in scoring five goals in a wild first half before settling for a 5-2 win over West Ham that lifted the team into second place in the Premier League. Arsenal is attempting to chase down Liverpool and is now six points behind the leader. Saka was one of five different scorers for Arsenal at the Olympic Stadium and also had a hand in three goals, by Gabriel, Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard. Ruud van Nistelrooy witnessed at first hand the scale of his task to keep Leicester in the league. Leicester was beaten at Brentford 4-1 in front of Van Nistelrooy, who watched from the stands after being hired on Friday. Jared Porter acknowledges he sent inappropriate text message to reporter, leading Mets to fire him Jared Porter acknowledged he sent an inappropriate text message to a reporter while he was a Chicago Cubs executive in 2016, which led to the New York Mets firing him as general manager in 2021 after just 38 days. Porter made his first public comments on his firing during an episode of the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast released Friday. Porter was hired by the Mets on Dec. 13, 2020, and fired on Jan. 19, 2021, about nine hours after an ESPN report detailing that he sent sexually explicit, uninvited text messages and images to a female reporter. Norris defies orders and gives Piastri the Qatar sprint while Verstappen takes pole LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Lando Norris ignored team orders as he handed his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri the win the sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix in a one-two finish for the team. Norris started on pole position and kept the lead at the start as Piastri squeezed past the Mercedes of George Russell for second. Norris gave the lead to Piastri with the finish line in sight, paying back Piastri for gifting him a win in a sprint race in Brazil when Norris was still fighting Max Verstappen for the drivers’ title. Champion Max Verstappen secured pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix. Face facts: Statues of stars like Kane and Ronaldo don't always deliver. Sculptors offer advice LONDON (AP) — One art critic compared the new Harry Kane bronze statue to a bulging-jawed comic strip character. The infamous Cristiano Ronaldo bust in 2017 gave the chiseled soccer star a chubby face and goofy smile. Sculptors are offering tips to avoid pitfalls. London-based Hywel Pratley says sculptors must first get the subject's profile correct “and then you can go forward with more confidence.” Probably best to avoid smiles, Pratley adds because it's “really difficult to do teeth looking good in sculpture." London-based sculptural conservator Lucy Branch suggests an open vote because the public tends "to know whether the artist has hit the nail on the head.” Colorado State advances to MW volleyball final and will take the court against San Jose State LAS VEGAS (AP) — Colorado State coach Emily Kohan said her team will take the floor against San Jose State in the Mountain West volleyball championship rather than become the latest team to forfeit to the Spartans. The top-seeded Rams advanced to the tournament final on Friday by beating San Diego State 20-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23. An automatic bid to the 64-team NCAA Tournament is on the line in Saturday’s final. Several schools have forfeited to San Jose State this season. In a lawsuit recently filed by players from various schools against the conference and San Jose State officials, plaintiffs cited unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State team. Bears fire coach Matt Eberflus after skid marked by poor decisions late in games CHICAGO (AP) — Matt Eberflus has been fired by the Chicago Bears, one day after botching a timeout in a loss to Detroit. Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will serve as interim coach. Eberflus was 14-32 in two-plus seasons with the Bears, who fell to 4-8 with their sixth straight loss on Thursday. The Bears began the season eyeing a playoff spot following an offensive overhaul but are now last in the NFC North. Eberflus’ 14-31 record in 2 1/2 seasons ranks among the worst in the history of the founding NFL franchise. The Bears were plagued by questionable decision-making late in games, including on Thursday when they allowed the clock to run out.NEW YORK (AP) — There's no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * NEW YORK (AP) — There's no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? NEW YORK (AP) — There’s no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. In the wake of the very contentious and divisive 2024 presidential election, the upcoming celebration of Thanksgiving and the ramp-up of the winter holiday season could be a boon for some — a respite from the events of the larger world in the gathering of family and loved ones. Hours and even days spent with people who have played the largest roles in our lives. Another chapter in a lifetime of memories. That’s one scenario. For others, that same period — particularly because of the polarizing presidential campaign — is something to dread. There is the likelihood of disagreements, harsh words, hurt feelings and raised voices looming large. Those who make a study of people and their relationships to each other in an increasingly complex 21st-century say there are choices that those with potentially fraught personal situations can make — things to do and things to avoid — that could help them and their families get through this time with a minimum of open conflict and a chance at getting to the point of the holidays in the first place. DO assess honestly where you are with it all For those who feel strongly about the election’s outcome, and know that the people they would be spending the holiday feel just as strongly in the other direction, take the time to honestly assess if you’re ready to spend time together in THIS moment, barely a few weeks after Election Day — and a time when feelings are still running high. The answer might be that you’re not, and it might be better to take a temporary break, says Justin Jones-Fosu, author of “I Respectfully Disagree: How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World.” “You have to assess your own readiness,” he says, “Each person is going be very different in this.” He emphasizes that it’s not about taking a permanent step back. “Right now is that moment that we’re talking about because it’s still so fresh. Christmas may be different.” DON’T miss the bigger picture of what the holiday is all about Keep focused on why why you decided to go in the first place, Jones-Fosu says. Maybe it’s because there’s a relative there you don’t get to see often, or a loved one is getting up in age, or your kids want to see their cousins. Keeping that reason in mind could help you get through the time. DO set boundaries If you decide getting together is the way to go, but you know politics is still a dicey subject, set a goal of making the holiday a politics-free zone and stick with it, says Karl Pillemer, a professor at Cornell University whose work includes research on family estrangement. “Will a political conversation change anyone’s mind?” he says. “If there is no possibility of changing anyone’s mind, then create a demilitarized zone and don’t talk about it.” DON’T take the bait Let’s be honest. Sometimes, despite best efforts and intentions to keep the holiday gathering politics- and drama-free, there’s someone who’s got something to say and is going to say it. In that case, avoid getting drawn into it, says Tracy Hutchinson, a professor in the graduate clinical mental health counseling program at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. “Not to take the hook is one of the most important things, and it is challenging,” she says. After all, you don’t have to go to every argument you’re invited to. DO think about what will happen after the holiday Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. If you risk getting caught up in the moment, consider engaging in what Pillemer calls “forward mapping.” This involves thinking medium and long term rather than just about right now — strategy rather than tactics. Maybe imagine yourself six months from now looking back on the dinner and thinking about the memories you’d want to have. “Think about how you would like to remember this holiday,” he says. “Do you want to remember it with your brother and sister-in-law storming out and going home because you’ve had a two-hour argument?” DON’T feel you have to be there uninterrupted Things getting intense? Defuse the situation. Walk away. And it doesn’t have to be in a huff. Sometimes a calm and collected time out is just what you — and the family — might need. Says Hutchinson: “If they do start to do something like that, you could say, `I’ve got to make this phone call. I’ve got to go to the bathroom. I’m going to take a walk around the block.'” Advertisement Advertisement

Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference and classified documents cases against Donald Trump

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oncocyte Corp. (NASDAQ: OCX), a diagnostics technology company, today announced the publication of favorable data regarding its DetermaCNITM assay. In a paper recently published in the journal Acta Neuropathologica Communications, DetermaCNI showed promise as a liquid biopsy method for diagnosing and profiling central nervous system tumors by measuring somatic copy number aberrations (SCNAs) in cerebrospinal fluid. For context, copy number instability (CNI) is a scientifically well-known hallmark of cancer. DetermaCNITM is a patented approach to measuring CNI for the diagnosis and monitoring of cancer. Nearly 300,000 patients in the U.S. each year face primary brain tumors or brain metastasis 1 . The current standard of care for the confirmation and classification of brain tumors often involves high-risk, highly invasive biopsy of brain tissue. Thus, a liquid biopsy method for diagnosing brain tumors could offer significant benefits over currently available methods, representing a potential $300 million U.S. market opportunity. Among the study authors were Oncocyte Chief Science Officer Ekke Schuetz and Senior R&D Director Julia Beck. “This was a proof of principle study to assess whether copy number instability could be measured in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with brain cancer. The findings suggest that a significant number of the nearly 300,000 patients diagnosed with brain tumors every year in the U.S. could benefit from DetermaCNI,” Dr. Schuetz said. “We congratulate the research team in Frankfurt on the publication of this study in an area of high unmet need.” As noted in the paper, the gold standard for precise diagnostic classification of brain tumors requires a biopsy, with risks including limited sensitivity and failing to measure the diverse potential regions of the tumor. SCNAs were observed in the cerebrospinal fluid of ten out of the 12 patients with confirmed central nervous system cancers. SCNAs were not observed in any of the 11 patients with benign or unclear central nervous system lesions. The detection of SCNAs is highly specific for tumor-derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA). Overall, this new study demonstrates DetermaCNI’s potential for providing a molecularly informed diagnosis of central nervous system cancers, mapping tumor heterogeneity, tracking tumor evolution, and surveilling tumor patients through a liquid biopsy of cerebrospinal fluid. Oncocyte believes this study validates the future clinical potential for DetermaCNI, as well as the direction of the company’s research and development pipeline, which is designed to drive sustained rapid growth over the next decade. Oncocyte’s mission is to democratize access to molecular diagnostic testing to improve patient outcomes. The company is investing in developing products to serve the separate verticals of organ transplant testing and oncology. Oncocyte is presently commercializing its transplant product line, which includes the VitaGraftTM and GraftAssureTM tests. It expects to commercialize its oncology assays over the next two years. _______________ 1 “Brain Metastases.” MD Anderson Cancer Center , www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/brain-metastases.html. And “Brain Tumor Facts.” National Brain Tumor Society , 20 Feb. 2024, braintumor.org/brain-tumors/about-brain-tumors/brain-tumor-facts/. About Oncocyte Oncocyte is a diagnostics technology company. The Company’s tests are designed to help provide clarity and confidence to physicians and their patients. VitaGraftTM is a clinical blood-based dd-cfDNA solid organ transplantation monitoring test. GraftAssureTM is a research use only (RUO) blood-based solid dd-cfDNA organ transplantation monitoring test kit for decentralized use. DetermaIOTM is a gene expression test that assesses the tumor microenvironment to predict response to immunotherapies. DetermaCNITM is a blood-based monitoring tool for monitoring therapeutic efficacy in cancer patients. For more information about Oncocyte, please visit https://oncocyte.com/ . For more information about our products, please visit the following web pages: VitaGraft KidneyTM - https://oncocyte.com/vitagraft-kidney/ VitaGraft Liver TM - https://oncocyte.com/vitagraft-liver/ GraftAssureTM - https://oncocyte.com/graftassure/ DetermaIOTM - https://oncocyte.com/determa-io/ DetermaCNITM - https://oncocyte.com/determa-cni/ VitaGraftTM, GraftAssureTM, DetermaIOTM, and DetermaCNITM are trademarks of Oncocyte Corporation. CONTACT: Jeff Ramson PCG Advisory (646) 863-6893 jramson@pcgadvisory.com Forward-Looking Statements Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as “will,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “may,” and similar expressions) are forward-looking statements. These statements include those pertaining to, among other things, the belief that the new study validates the future clinical potential for DetermaCNI, as well as the direction of the company’s research and development pipeline, the expectation that Oncocyte will commercialize its oncology assays over the next two years, and other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of diagnostic tests or products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, the capacity of Oncocyte’s third-party supplied blood sample analytic system to provide consistent and precise analytic results on a commercial scale, potential interruptions to supply chains, the need and ability to obtain future capital, maintenance of intellectual property rights in all applicable jurisdictions, obligations to third parties with respect to licensed or acquired technology and products, the need to obtain third party reimbursement for patients’ use of any diagnostic tests Oncocyte or its subsidiaries commercialize in applicable jurisdictions, and risks inherent in strategic transactions such as the potential failure to realize anticipated benefits, legal, regulatory or political changes in the applicable jurisdictions, accounting and quality controls, potential greater than estimated allocations of resources to develop and commercialize technologies, or potential failure to maintain any laboratory accreditation or certification. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and accordingly such statements should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of Oncocyte, particularly those mentioned in the “Risk Factors” and other cautionary statements found in Oncocyte’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, which are available from the SEC’s website. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Oncocyte undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.

Only one more half stands between Evansville and the win they were favored to collect coming into this afternoon. They have jumped out to a quick 34-28 lead against Campbell. Evansville has yet to string together two consecutive wins, but this may be their chance. For now, things are looking good for them. Campbell Fighting Camels @ Evansville Aces Current Records: Campbell 3-3, Evansville 2-4 When: Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 4 p.m. ET Where: Ford Center -- Evansville, Indiana TV: ESPN Plus Follow: CBS Sports App Online Streaming: Catch select College Basketball matches on Fubo (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.) Ticket Cost: $21.65 The Campbell Fighting Camels' road trip will continue as they head out to face the Evansville Aces at 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday at Ford Center. The Fighting Camels are expected to lose this one by 4.5 points, so we'll see if that gives them a bit of motivation. There's no need to mince words: Campbell lost to Ohio State on Friday, and Campbell lost bad. The score wound up at 104-60. The Fighting Camels were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 53-27. Campbell struggled to work together and finished the game with only six assists. That's the fewest assists they've posted since back in November of 2023. Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Evansville). They enjoyed a cozy 98-81 victory over Green Bay on Friday. The high-flying offensive performance was a huge turnaround for the Aces considering their 30-point performance the contest before. Evansville's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Cam Haffner led the charge by shooting 5-for-9 from beyond the arc and almost dropping a double-double on 27 points and nine rebounds. Haffner had some trouble finding his footing against Ohio State on Tuesday, so this was a step in the right direction. Another player making a difference was Tanner Cuff, who had 15 points in addition to seven rebounds and six assists. Campbell's loss dropped their record down to 3-3. As for Evansville, with the win, they broke their three-game losing streak and moved their record to 2-4. Campbell came up short against Evansville in their previous meeting back in December of 2022, falling 72-66. Can Campbell avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough. Evansville is a 4.5-point favorite against Campbell, according to the latest college basketball odds . The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Aces as a 4-point favorite. The over/under is 144.5 points. See college basketball picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now . Evansville won the only game these two teams have played in the last 2 years. Dec 07, 2022 - Evansville 72 vs. Campbell 66Fagan-Walcott has been a standout player for York so far during his loan spell, having made 12 appearances so far for City. That includes one goal, which drew the Minstermen level in their 2-1 victory at FC Halifax Town as the first of two strikes in stoppage-time against the Shaymen, and an assist, which came for Ollie Pearce in Saturday's 4-0 victory over Yeovil Town. After a tease was published on social media by City co-chairman Matt Uggla on Saturday evening, are now reporting that a deal has been agreed between Cardiff and York to turn Fagan-Walcott's stay permanent. 👀 The centre-back boasts Champions League experience having appeared for Tottenham Hotspur in their Round of 16 defeat to Red Bull Leipzig, with Fagan-Walcott developing throughout the North London side's academy. He would go on to have a loan spell at Dundee in Scotland, before making the permanent move to Cardiff in 2023. Fagan-Walcott struggled with injuries during his time with the Bluebirds, but found regular minutes whilst on loan at Dunfermline Athletic, accumulating 15 appearances. York beat League and Scottish interest to acquire Fagan-Walcott on-loan in September, where he has established himself as a key part of Adam Hinshelwood's side.

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s vision for education revolves around a single goal: to rid America’s schools of perceived “wokeness” and “left-wing indoctrination.” The president-elect wants to forbid classroom lessons on gender identity and structural racism. He wants to abolish diversity and inclusion offices. He wants to keep transgender athletes out of girls’ sports. Throughout his campaign, the Republican depicted schools as a political battleground to be won back from the left. Now that he’s won the White House, he plans to use federal money as leverage to advance his vision of education across the nation. Trump’s education plan pledges to cut funding for schools that defy him on a multitude of issues. On his first day in office, Trump has repeatedly said he will cut money to “any school pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content on our children.” On the campaign trail, Trump said he would “not give one penny” to schools with vaccine or mask requirements. He said it would be done through executive action, though even some of his supporters say he lacks the authority to make such swift and sweeping changes. Trump’s opponents say his vision of America’s schools is warped by politics — that the type of liberal indoctrination he rails against is a fiction. They say his proposals will undermine public education and hurt the students who need schools’ services the most. “It’s fear-based, non-factual information, and I would call it propaganda,” said Wil Del Pilar, senior vice president for Education Trust, a research and advocacy organization. “There is no evidence that students are being taught to question their sexuality in schools. There is no evidence that our American education system is full of maniacs.” Trump’s platform calls for “massive funding preferences” for states and schools that end teacher tenure, enact universal school choice programs and allow parents to elect school principals. Perhaps his most ambitious promise is to shut down the U.S. Education Department entirely, a goal of conservative politicians for decades, saying it has been infiltrated by “radicals.” America’s public K-12 schools get about 14% of their revenue from the federal government, mainly from programs targeting low-income students and special education. The vast majority of schools’ money comes from local taxes and state governments. Colleges rely more heavily on federal money, especially the grants and loans the government gives students to pay for tuition. Trump’s strongest tool to put schools’ money on the line is his authority to enforce civil rights — the Education Department has the power to cut federal funding to schools and colleges that fail to follow civil rights laws. The president can’t immediately revoke money from large numbers of districts, but if he targets a few through civil rights inquiries, others are likely to fall in line, said Bob Eitel, president of the conservative Defense of Freedom Institute and an education official during Trump’s first term. That authority could be used to go after schools and colleges that have diversity and inclusion offices or those accused of antisemitism, Eitel said. “This is not a Day One loss of funding,” Eitel said, referencing Trump’s campaign promise. “But at the end of the day, the president will get his way on this issue, because I do think that there are some real legal issues.” Trump also has hinted at potential legislation to deliver some of his promises, including fining universities over diversity initiatives. To get colleges to shutter diversity programs — which Trump says amount to discrimination — he said he “will advance a measure to have them fined up to the entire amount of their endowment.” His platform also calls for a new, free online university called the American Academy, to be paid for by “taxing, fining and suing excessively large private university endowments.” During his first term, Trump occasionally threatened to cut money from schools that defied him, including those slow to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic and colleges he accused of curbing free speech. Most of the threats came to nothing, though he succeeded in getting Congress to add a tax on wealthy university endowments, and his Education Department made sweeping changes to rules around campus sexual assault. Universities hope their relationship with the administration won’t be as antagonistic as Trump’s rhetoric suggests. “Education has been an easy target during the campaign season,” said Peter McDonough, general counsel for the American Council on Education, an association of university presidents. “But a partnership between higher education and the administration is going to be better for the country than an attack on education.” Trump’s threats of severe penalties seem to contradict another of his education pillars — the extraction of the federal government from schools. In closing the Education Department, Trump said he would return “all education work and needs back to the states.” “We’re going to end education coming out of Washington, D.C.,” Trump said on his website last year. In his platform, he pledged to ensure schools are “free from political meddling.” On Tuesday, Trump named billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. McMahon served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she has expressed support for charter schools and school choice. Rather than letting states and schools decide their stance on polarizing issues, Trump is proposing blanket bans that align with his vision. Taking a neutral stance and letting states decide wouldn’t deliver Trump’s campaign promises, said Max Eden, a senior fellow at AEI, a conservative think tank. For example, Trump plans to rescind guidance from President Joe Biden’s administration that extended Title IX protections to LGBTQ+ students. And Trump would go further, promising a nationwide ban on transgender women in women’s sports. “Trump ran on getting boys out of girls’ sports. He didn’t run on letting boys play in girls’ sports in blue states if they want to,” Eden said. Trump also wants a say in school curriculum, vowing to fight for “patriotic” education. He promised to reinstate his 1776 Commission, which he created in 2021 to promote patriotic education. The panel created a report that called progressivism a “challenge to American principles” alongside fascism. Adding to that effort, Trump is proposing a new credentialing body to certify teachers “who embrace patriotic values.” Few of his biggest education goals can be accomplished quickly, and many would require new action from Congress or federal processes that usually take months. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on the founder of Georgia’s ruling political party, which has steered the country away from a pro-Western stance and towards Russia, US officials said. The US State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation”, according to a statement. The designation of Mr Ivanishvili is the latest in a series of sanctions the US has placed on Georgian politicians and others this year. Those sanctions include freezes on assets and properties those targeted may have in US jurisdictions or that might enter US jurisdictions as well as travel bans on the targets and members of their families. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia.” Mr Ivanishvili is a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia’s prime minister. In 2012, he founded Georgian Dream, Georgia’s longtime ruling party. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBT+ rights, prompting the European Union to suspend Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely. In October, Georgian Dream won another term in a divisive parliamentary election that has led to more mass protests. Last month, the country’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced a four-year suspension of talks on Georgia’s bid to join the European Union, fuelling further public outrage.