fc 888 casino In December 1999, the world prepared for the impending global meltdown known as Y2K. It all stemmed from a seemingly small software glitch: Many older computer programs had coded dates using only two numbers for the year. At midnight on Dec. 31, a misinterpretation of "00" in the year 2000 might cause widespread errors leading to mass panic. The Clinton administration said that preparing the U.S. for Y2K was probably "the single largest technology management challenge in history." The bug threatened a cascade of potential disruptions — blackouts, medical equipment failures, banks shutting down, travel screeching to a halt — if the systems and software that helped keep society functioning no longer knew what year it was. These fears gave rise to another anxiety-inducing acronym: TEOTWAWKI — "the end of the world as we know it." Thankfully, the so-called "year 2000 problem" didn't live up to the hype. NPR covered Y2K preparations for several years leading up to the new millennium. Here's a snapshot of how people coped, as told to NPR Network reporters. Computer specialist and grassroots organizer Paloma O'Riley compared the scale and urgency of Y2K prep to telling somebody to change out a rivet on the Golden Gate Bridge. Changing out just one rivet is simple, but "if you suddenly tell this person he now has to change out all the rivets on the bridge and he has only 24 hours to do it in — that's a problem," O'Riley told reporter Jason Beaubien in 1998. So, why wasn't U.S. infrastructure ready in the first place? Stephanie Moore, then a senior analyst with Giga Information Group, told NPR it stemmed from a data-efficiency measure in the expensive early days of computers: formatting years using two digits instead of four, with most computers interpreting "00" as the year 1900. "Now, when we roll over to the year 2000, computers — instead of thinking it's 2001 — are going to think it's 1901," Moore said, adding Y2K would have been avoidable "had we used four-digit year dates all along." The date switchover rattled a swath of vital tech, including Wall Street trading systems, power plants and tools used in air traffic control. The Federal Aviation Administration put its systems through stress tests and mock scenarios as 2000 drew closer. "Twenty-three million lines of code in the air traffic control system did seem a little more daunting, I will say, than I had probably anticipated," FAA Administrator Jane Garvey told NPR in 1998. Ultimately there were no systemwide aviation breakdowns, but airlines were put on a Y2K alert. The crunch to safeguard these systems was a reminder that the technology underpinning people's daily lives was interdependent and constantly evolving. "People forget that the infrastructure for the Industrial Revolution took between 300 and 500 years to put in place," University of Washington engineering professor Mark Haselkorn said at the time. "And we're about 50 years into putting the infrastructure in place for the Information Age. So, it's not surprising we've got some problems." A mobile home; a year's supply of dehydrated food; a propane generator — those were just some of the precautionary purchases California computer programmer Scott Olmstead made in advance of 2000. (He also said he was shopping for a handgun.) If Y2K sparked a food shortage, or an electric grid failure, or even a crime spike, Olmstead told NPR he would be ready: "Whatever it is, if we want to 'bug out,' as the programmers say, we can do it. We've got a place to go." He added that he might take his money out of the bank and convert it into gold, silver and cash. While concerned citizens pondered a panic-proof wealth strategy, Brian Roby, vice president of First National Bank of Olathe, Kan., told NPR his institution would be ready to welcome customers on New Year's Day rather than take the holiday off. "We thought about it and we said, 'Hey, if we're ready, we're ready. Let's prove it. Let's be the first to be open,' " Roby said. "And we're just going to open up like it's any other normal Saturday." Some financial analysts remained skeptical Y2K would come and go with minimal disruption. But by November 1999 the Federal Reserve said it was confident the U.S. economy would weather the big switch. "Federal banking agencies have been visited and inspected. Every bank in the United States, which includes probably 9,000 to 10,000 institutions, over 99% received a satisfactory rating," Fed Board Governor Edward Kelley said at the time. Dozens of communities across the U.S. formed Y2K preparedness groups to stave off unnecessary panic. Kathy Garcia, an organizer with the Y2K Community Project in Boulder, Colo., said fears of a societal meltdown offered an opportunity to take stock. "How do we help each other out — not when a disaster hits, but beforehand?" Garcia told NPR's Margot Adler in 1999. Her project set up shop in a Boulder mall storefront, offering Y2K educational videos and exhibits on food storage. Local resident Richard Dash stopped by, urging people to consider their neighbors — not just themselves. "Do you want to be the only house with lights, and the only house with the smell of food coming from it? Do you want to really turn yourself into a bunker?" he said. Dash added he hoped nothing would come of Y2K besides a renewed feeling he could count on his community in an emergency, and it could count on him, too. Instead of conserving their extra food, he said, people could come together and share it. "We'll all have a picnic," he said. "We'll give extra food to FoodShare, and nobody's going to be hungry for a while. And that'll be just terrific." In the end, the worst fears lay in anticipation. Besides a few minor setbacks like an internet slowdown and reports of malfunctioning clocks, the aggressive planning and recalibration paid off. Humanity passed into the year 2000 without pandemonium. "I'm pleasantly surprised," John Koskinen, chair of the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion, told NPR's Weekend Edition on Jan. 1, 2000. "We expected that we would see more difficulties early on, particularly around the world." People like Jack Pentes of Charlotte, N.C., were left to figure out what to do with their emergency stockpiles. Pentes had filled 50 large soda bottles with tap water. "I used a half a dozen in the washing machine," he told NPR. "I can't bear to just pour it out and throw it away. There are too many people in the world that can't get any decent water." Food writer Michael Stern meanwhile offered a chili recipe for people with leftover canned food — namely, Spam. "One of its charms is that it doesn't decompose," Stern said. "No matter how long you cook it, it will always retain its identity as Spam." Others couldn't quite shake the instinct to plan ahead. Alfred Lubrano, an essayist for The Philadelphia Inquirer , wrote a letter included in a time capsule to be opened for "Y3K" — the year 3000. Lubrano's letter, which he read on NPR, ended with a question for whoever might find it in the next millennium. "We're human, same as you — flawed like you, decent like you," Lubrano wrote. "We have not yet figured out this world, this life. Have you?" Original reporting by NPR's Jason Beaubien, Ira Flatow, Steve Inskeep, Mary Ann Akers, Jack Speer, Larry Abramson, Margot Adler and Bob Edwards. Copyright 2024 NPR

OpenAI partners with weapons start-up Anduril on military AI - The Washington PostTrump picks Charles Kushner, Jared Kushner's father, as ambassador to France

NoneThe piece of technology sits unassumingly on top of the helmet of veteran quarterback Sam Darnold during most practices at TCO Performance Center. ADVERTISEMENT It allows the Vikings to capture footage in real time, providing a peek into the past for the man at the forefront of the future. “It’s super cool,” Darnold said. “It’s a really amazing tool to be able to use.” Though the Vikings are very much keeping the focus on this season with big goals in mind, they also have started laying the foundation for next season with the help of a GoPro camera. “This is the first time I’ve done anything like that,” Darnold said. “It doesn’t really feel like anything when it’s on my helmet.” ADVERTISEMENT That’s arguably the biggest part of its appeal. The fact that the GoPro camera weighs much less than a pound means it doesn’t interfere with anything the Vikings are trying to get done on a daily basis. It exists more or less as an accessory for Darnold at this point, taking video from his perspective whether he’s calling a play in the huddle, making a check at the line of scrimmage or scanning the field after the ball is snapped. That has been extremely useful for rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy as he continues to work his way through his recovery from a knee injury that ended his rookie campaign before it even got started. The ability to see everything through the eyes of Darnold has helped McCarthy train his brain even if he isn’t able to experience it firsthand. ADVERTISEMENT “The mental reps are of utmost importance,” McCarthy said a couple of months ago. “Just watching film from that perspective is really good.” This is the best option for the Vikings right now. Originally, after selecting McCarthy with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft, the Vikings hoped he would be able to get live reps himself this season. ADVERTISEMENT Instead, after McCarthy had surgery to repair a torn meniscus, the Vikings are doing everything in their power to make sure he’s ready for next season. That’s something head coach Kevin O’Connell has stressed whenever McCarthy’s name has been brought up. “We wanted to make sure we’re maximizing every moment for him,” O’Connell said. “We thought, ‘How do we make sure we’re doing the things that we need to do to ensure that he’s in the best possible position when he is healthy?'” The use of a GoPro camera is simply another resource the Vikings have at their disposal. ADVERTISEMENT “We’ve done a lot of different stuff that maybe we don’t do with a 10-year veteran quarterback,” O’Connell said. “Just to make sure that we’re farming an ideal learning environment for him to hit the ground running when he’s healthy.” As soon as the GoPro camera captures the footage from a particular practice, McCarthy can go back and watch it, getting a feel for what life is like in the huddle, at the line of scrimmage and after the ball is snapped. Sometimes the Vikings will even put it on in their war room, where there’s a gigantic screen that takes up an entire wall. That grandiose display is something offensive coordinator Wes Phillips appreciates because it makes it feel like McCarthy is inside the helmet. ADVERTISEMENT “It’s pretty cool to watch in there,” Phillips said. “It gives him a chance to see it a little bit more from that perspective.” Some of the other creative ways the Vikings have kept McCarthy on track include allowing him to be a part of the dialogue that goes on between O’Connell and Darnold during games. He was cleared to travel with the team for the first time last month, for example, so he was in attendance at SoFi Stadium when the Vikings suffered a 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Just getting a glimpse of what it feels like in the heat of battle will go a long way for McCarthy as he continues to develop. “I’m really excited about having him with us,” O’Connell said. “Any and all areas we can find to maximize those chances, we’re going to use it.” All the while, McCarthy has also been attending meetings, asking questions to O’Connell, Phillips, quarterback coach Josh McCown, assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski and anybody else he can find in their office at TCO Performance Center. “He’s great about saving some questions he has,” Phillips said. “He’ll do that off to the side, understanding that guys are getting ready for the game.” Though the Vikings would’ve loved for McCarthy to be able to learn everything firsthand as a rookie, they are making the most of their current situation, ensuring their young quarterback of the future is completely prepared heading into next season. “Obviously he wants more than anybody to be there physically,” Phillips said. “He’s doing everything he can to be ready when his time comes.” ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .

Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. stock rises Wednesday, still underperforms market'Fox & Friends Weekend' co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy reacts to some House Democrats vowing to boycott Trump's inauguration. Companies that previously feuded with President-elect Trump are now making seven-figure donations to his 2025 inauguration. Trump has butted heads with several Fortune 500 company executives over the years, but following his presidential election victory in November, some of those same big-business leaders are dropping major cash on the incoming president's exclusive inaugural festivities. "In the first term, everyone was fighting me. This time, everyone wants to be my friend," Trump recently said at Mar-a-Lago, according to The Washington Post. Meta, the world's largest social media network headed by Mark Zuckerberg, suspended Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts in 2021 after the events of Jan. 6 — which Trump called an "insult" to his voters. In his new book, titled "Save America," Trump accused Zuckerberg of "plotting" against him in 2020. DOJ SEEKS TO BLOCK JAN. 6 DEFENDANTS FROM ATTENDING TRUMP INAUGURATION Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., arrives following a break during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 31. (Kent Nishimura) "He told me there was nobody like Trump on Facebook. But at the same time, and for whatever reason, steered it against me," Trump wrote. "We are watching him closely, and if he does anything illegal this time he will spend the rest of his life in prison — as will others who cheat in the 2024 Presidential Election." Trump, in his book, also accused Zuckerberg of "always plotting to install shameful Lock Boxes in a true PLOT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT." However, the relationship appeared to change course as the election drew nearer. After Trump's Butler, Pennsylvania, assassination attempt in July, Zuckerberg said Trump's fist pump in the air after suffering a bullet wound to the ear was "one of the most bada-- things I've ever seen in my life." Shortly after Trump won the election in November, Zuckerberg met with the incoming president at Mar-a-Lago. Just weeks later, Meta donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund. JOHNSON ALLIES URGE TRUMP TO INTERVENE AS MESSY SPEAKER BATTLE THREATENS TO DELAY 2024 CERTIFICATION "Mark Zuckerberg has been very clear about his desire to be a supporter of and a participant in this change that we're seeing all around America, all around the world with this reform movement that Donald Trump is leading," Trump adviser Stephen Miller said during an appearance on "The Ingraham Angle." Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos, is donating $1 million to Trump's 2025 inauguration. (AP Images) Despite a yearlong clash between Amazon's billionaire founder, Jeff Bezos — who also owns The Washington Post — and the incoming president, the e-commerce company recently pledged to donate $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund. After Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity in 2016 that Amazon was "getting away with murder, tax-wise," Bezos fired back at the then-presidential candidate. Bezos, appearing at a technology conference, said that Trump's comments were "not an appropriate way for a presidential candidate to behave." "Washington Post employees want to go on strike because Bezos isn’t paying them enough. I think a really long strike would be a great idea," Trump wrote in another hit at the billionaire on X, then Twitter, in June 2018. "Employees would get more money and we would get rid of Fake News for an extended period of time! Is @WaPo a registered lobbyist?" The mood appeared to have shifted following the 2024 election, when Bezos said he was "very optimistic" about Trump's regulatory agenda. President-elect Trump smiles during Turning Point USA's AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix on Sunday. (Rebecca Noble) "I’m very hopeful — he seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation," Bezos said at the New York Times DealBook Summit . "My point of view is, if I can help him do that, I’m going to help him." When Ford agreed to make a deal to meet California's efficiency standards, the company defied then-President Trump's plans to push back on the state setting its own green energy standards for automakers. Trump voiced his opposition to the auto giant's decision, saying that Henry Ford, the company's founder, would be "very disappointed if he saw his modern-day descendants wanting to build a much more expensive car that is far less safe and doesn’t work as well, because execs don’t want to fight California regulators." The blue oval logo of Ford Motor Company sits on the cross-hatched grille of a 2008 F-150 pickup truck at a Ford dealership in Centennial, Colorado, on Nov. 2, 2008. (David Zalubowski) Ford, one of the world's largest automakers, recently announced it will be making a seven-figure donation to Trump's inauguration in January. Other major automakers, such as GM and Toyota, will also make individual donations of $1 million to Trump. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump will also receive a $1 million inauguration donation from Intuit, whose stock recently dropped in November after it was reported that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was considering creating a free tax-filing app. Aubrie Spady is a Writer for Fox News Digital.Secondary Bond market: Profit-taking dulls rating upgrade optimism

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He left office in a stunning landslide defeat after a single term as the nation’s 39th president. But Jimmy Carter wasn’t done yet. Instead of withdrawing quietly from public life as most former presidents have, James Earl Carter Jr. went to work. As a champion for democracy, human rights, public health and housing the poor, he has been credited widely, even from critics of his bumpy time in office, for producing the nation’s “best post-presidency.” It certainly has been the longest. Jimmy Carter died Sunday in his home in Plains, Georgia, The Associated Press reported Sunday. He was 100 years old. When the Carter Presidential Center at Emory University in Atlanta announced back on Feb. 18 that he was in home hospice care, the then-99-year-old was the nation’s oldest living, longest-lived and longest-married president — and with the longest post-presidency. His beloved wife, Rosalynn, died on Nov. 19 and, after Carter’s long stay on this earth even after that February announcement, many Americans are hoping that this famously loving couple now will be reunited. “I am a farmer, an engineer, a businessman, a planner, a scientist, a governor and a Christian,” he said in announcing his candidacy for the presidency in December 1974. The times were right for Carter. He ran as an outsider, a little-known moderate and former Georgia governor against a crowded field of Democratic hopefuls hoping to take advantage of the public’s desire for change after the Watergate scandal. A fiscally conservative former naval officer who taught Sunday school and was a critic of abortion, Carter seemed to be just what the party needed — and it worked. Carter’s acceptance speech to the Democratic National Convention touched all the right buttons, even quoting Bob Dylan. It was like a revival sermon for a new generation of post-Vietnam voters, offering comfort for the party’s mostly Southern moderates and encouragement for Black voters, encouraged by Carter’s support from the family of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders. But, after his election, the honeymoon didn’t last long. Carter repeatedly had problems working with Congress, even though his party held control of both houses. He even ran into such a bitter dispute with Sen. Ted Kennedy over the Massachusetts Democrat’s proposed national health insurance plan that it led to Kennedy’s challenging Carter in the 1980 Democratic primaries. Kennedy lost that nomination battle, but the fight left the party more divided and contributed to Carter’s landslide defeat by Ronald Reagan. Cartoonist Scott Stantis on the legacy of former President Jimmy Carter. (Scott Stantis/For the Chicago Tribune) What went wrong? Carter’s rejection of business-as-usual politics made Watergate-weary voters roar with approval. But his fierce independence of mind and spirit, despite his calm and thoughtful demeanor, turned into a liability as he tried to work with Congress, even in those days when it was dominated by his fellow partisans. But that independence of mind and spirit proved to be better suited to his post-presidency. He went to dozens of countries on teams of election monitors. He often wielded a hammer on Habitat for Humanity projects. He wrote a shelf of books, fiction as well as nonfiction. He taught Sunday school. He greeted many surprised Americans on airplanes with a warm smile. Carter helped negotiate a 1994 agreement that suspended North Korea’s nuclear weapons program (a deal that collapsed in 2002). The Carter Center, which he set up in 1982 in conjunction with Emory University to promote democracy, combat disease and resolve conflicts, helped win him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He didn’t shy away from taking provocative positions — as in 2006, when he accused Israel of inflicting “a system of apartheid” on Palestinians. Nor was he reluctant to criticize his successors, including Democratic ones: He faulted Barack Obama for failing to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and waiting “too long” to confront the security threat posed by the Islamic State group in 2014. Carter didn’t mind if he ruffled feathers as long as he was advancing his principles. Historian Lewis Gould quoted “a prominent politician” who said, “Carter reminds me of a South Georgia turtle. He doesn’t go around a log. He just sticks his head in the middle and pushes and pushes until the log gives way.” Often, the log did. Elected in 1976 as a refreshing contrast to the ruthless, cynical Richard Nixon and the pleasant but underwhelming career pol Gerald Ford, Carter eventually saw his approval rating plummet and got only 41% of the vote in his reelection campaign against Reagan. Democratic candidates are fond of invoking the achievements of Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, John F. Kennedy and Franklin Roosevelt. They rarely mention Carter. That’s not surprising, given the turmoil and dysfunction that characterized the late 1970s. The economy was a never-ending nightmare: Carter presided over double-digit inflation, record interest rates, a recession and a gasoline shortage. While in office, he showed little capacity to inspire most citizens the way he inspired his nominating convention. He had trouble working with Congress despite enjoying Democratic control of both houses. In 1980, a campaign adviser wrote in a memo, “The public is now convinced that Jimmy Carter is an inept man.” His overt Baptist faith and professions of integrity — “I will never lie to you,” he promised in 1976 — sometimes came across as self-righteous. AP Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, from left, President Jimmy Carter and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin shake hands during a White House announcement on Sept. 18, 1978, of the accord reached at the Camp David summit. (Associated Press) On the foreign front, things were no better. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979 despite his efforts to improve relations with Moscow, and critics blamed his defense cuts for emboldening the Kremlin. But nothing compared with the humiliation when Iranians invaded the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage. When Carter ordered a military rescue, its failure became a symbol of his alleged incompetence. On the other hand, his presidency hardly was devoid of achievements. His herculean efforts helped bring about a historic peace agreement between Israel and Egypt — effectively assuring the survival of the Jewish state by neutralizing its most formidable enemy. He named Paul Volcker head of the Federal Reserve, and Volcker took the painful steps that vanquished inflation. They are familiar these days. But Carter was undoubtedly a better ex-president than president. Just one accomplishment would warrant his inclusion in the history books: the near-eradication of the Guinea worm, a nasty parasite that once afflicted millions in Africa and is now almost unknown, thanks to a two-decade-old campaign led by the Carter Center. Jimmy Carter didn’t always have the right formula for making the world a better place. But to his eternal credit, he never stopped trying. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com .

Kansas once required voters to prove citizenship. That didn't work out so wellAs the year draws to a close, reflecting on how it unfolded can feel overwhelming—especially if the memories feel blurry or tinged with pain. For some, trauma makes it hard to take stock. For others, the absence of significant milestones can leave them wondering where the time went. If you’re struggling to summarise the year, let me assure you that this is entirely natural. Not every year demands a neatly packaged conclusion. Life isn’t an itemised ledger, and we owe no one an account of how we’ve spent our days—except, perhaps, our Creator and even that reckoning is meant for the end of life, not the end of a year. If you’re finding it hard to reflect on 2024, you’re not alone. Many of us have faced challenges that make looking back feel more like a burden than a celebration. There can be many reasons why it is hard to summarise the year. It could be the economy. Economic hardship has been a defining struggle for many this year. In Nigeria, the economy hit rock bottom, creating unbearable conditions for citizens. The toll has been both collective and personal, leaving many exhausted and traumatised. It could be personal challenges. For me, the highs of 2024 were often accompanied by lows, creating a confusing emotional landscape. I faced mental and emotional battles I hadn’t anticipated, and the hardest blow was losing my unborn child. Reflecting on the year inevitably stirs up these painful memories, making it difficult to process or find closure. These two factors—the state of the economy and personal hardships—are why many, myself included, find it easier to look forward to a fresh start in 2025 than to make sense of the year gone by. If you find yourself unable to put the year into words, there are some steps I’ve taken to navigate the difficulty. Acknowledge your feelings It’s okay if you can’t summarise the year. Some experiences are too complex to categorise, and there’s no rule saying you must tie everything together neatly. Accept the feelings—whether they’re sadness, confusion, or frustration—and don’t force yourself to unpack them all at once. Focus on the present Instead of dwelling on the past, try to make the most of the remaining days of the year. For instance, I approached Christmas differently this year. I recognised the emotions that could have dampened my mood and instead chose to enjoy simple pleasures: sharing food and movies with loved ones. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was meaningful. Create intentional moments The last days of the year don’t need to be perfect. They simply need to come and go, and you can make them worthwhile by being mindful. Engage in small activities that bring you joy, whether it’s journaling, taking a walk, or connecting with someone you care about. This year has been a confusing one for many people, myself included. I’ve read countless posts online where others share their heartbreaks, losses, and setbacks. 2024 has been universally difficult, reminding me not to take my struggles too personally. The year was full of contradictions for me. Things that should have made me happy left me sad. Opportunities that seemed like breakthroughs became sources of stagnation. This duality—where joy and pain coexist—has made it challenging to look back without feeling overwhelmed. But I’ve realised that I don’t need to have all the answers right now. Instead, I’m choosing to end the year with intention, however small. Moving Forward It’s okay if 2024 feels like a blur or a mess. Not every year will have a clear story or a satisfying conclusion. What matters is how we choose to move forward. As the final days of the year unfold, allow yourself grace. Be present, engage in activities that bring peace, and know that you’ve done your best to navigate this chapter. There’s no need to force closure; sometimes, it’s enough to simply let the year come to an end and trust that the new one will bring fresh opportunities to grow, heal and thrive. *** Feature Image by Polina Tankilevitch for PexelsAuthored by Julianna Frieman via Headline USA , Democrats on social media called for President Joe Biden to deport Elon Musk one month before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration as the billionaire’s influence over the incoming administration became a point of attack. Despite Biden’s apparent senility for the past four years, reaffirmed Thursday by a bombshell Wall Street Journal report , leftist pundits have attempted to drive a wedge between Trump and Musk with warnings of usurpation. CNN’s Scott Jennings slammed panelists Sunday for feigning concern over the “unelected” Musk having Trump’s ear, saying, “Unelected people have been running the government for the last four years.” CNN’s Scott Jennings slams media for feigning concern over the “unelected” Elon Musk while ignoring the WSJ’s Biden bombshell. “Unelected people have been running the government for the last four years.” https://t.co/GNbVCU3Zxk Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have commented on Musk’s close relationship with Trump. Rep. Tony Gonzales , R-Texas, told Face the Nation on Sunday that “it feels as if Elon Musk is our prime minister,” while Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., sarcastically slammed the SpaceX owner as “President Musk after he helped tank a 1,547 page federal spending bill. "It feels like Elon Musk is our Prime Minister ... a large part of that voice is a reflection of the voice of the people." This is an astute point. Elon Musk is acting as a populist leader, not an oligarchic one. It is why Trump was re-elected president. pic.twitter.com/qGtpLGpmOL Jayapal is right: Trump isn’t the president to be but rather Elon Musk the illegal alien is. pic.twitter.com/qDjGmdV5EK Trump dropped a constitutional truth bomb on the idea of a “ President Musk ” during his speech Sunday at Turning Point USA’s America Fest Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. “No, he’s not going to be president, that I can tell you,” Trump told the crowd of the “smart” Department of Government Efficiency head. “And I’m safe, you know why? Because he can’t be—he wasn’t born in this country!” 🚨 TRUMP: “No, Elon Musk is NOT going to be President, that I can tell you. And I’m safe, you know why? Because he can’t be, he wasn’t born in this country. HAHAHA! 🫵😹” lmao pic.twitter.com/dEdEJzwOEm Leftists on X recently jumped on the fact that Musk was born in South Africa by calling for his deportation—completely ignoring the rampant amount of i llegal migrant criminals roaming the U.S. “He should be deported,” Secular Talk host Kyle Kulinski wrote on the Musk-owned social media site. Democrats are now calling for Elon to be deported. pic.twitter.com/ScMzIUuU5g While Kulinski faced backlash for his call for Musk’s deportation, similar posts appeared on X since Trump’s historic victory. He’s a legal immigrant, genius. Only a fuckstick would deport the most successful innovator of our lifetime and keep pedophile legislators who keep us poor. We should deport you. Yes let’s deport the guy with national security level technology. Does that really make sense to you? “I don’t remember going to the polls and seeing Elon Musk as being a candidate on anything. So why is he meeting with Congress about the government budget? Please deport this oligarchy back to South Africa. Elon Musk thinks he’s the president, because he bought Trump,” X user @OliviaHoney11 raged Thursday. I don't remember going to the polls and seeing Elon Musk as being a candidate on anything. So why is he meeting with Congress about the government budget? Please deport this oligarchy back to South Africa. Elon Musk thinks he's the president, because he bought Trump. Deport Musk! https://t.co/xpu2w71HP5 Another user, @badbadtzlevi143, expressed hate toward legal immigrants like Musk and said, “Let’s DRAIN THE SWAMP and make this non us native GO BACK TO WHERE HE CAME FROM.” i’m calling for the deportation of elon musk. let’s DRAIN THE SWAMP and make this non us native GO BACK TO WHERE HE CAME FROM https://t.co/pZei60MQKu Defund & deport lying POS Prez Musk! https://t.co/R7jSjZGR8b "BIDEN, DEPORT ELON MUSK AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!!" https://t.co/PadeAyWP2D pic.twitter.com/P0A6LQlE7g “BIDEN, DEPORT ELON MUSK AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!!” X user @leonrealone added Sunday.

Photos: Remembering Jimmy Carter, the 39th US presidentHow a GoPro camera has helped the Vikings keep rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy on trackMeta Platforms, Inc META , the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, aims to advance wearable technology by integrating displays into its Ray-Ban smart glasses by 2025, the Financial Times reports. The $300 sunglasses, developed with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica ESLOF ESLOY , could feature small screens to display notifications and responses from Meta’s virtual assistant, the Financial Times cites familiar sources. This development aims to position Meta as a frontrunner in augmented reality (AR) and wearable computing, which has the potential to replace smartphones as key computing devices. Also Read: Meta Cuts Jobs in WhatsApp, Instagram, and Reality Labs In Latest Reorganization According to the report, the next iteration of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, expected in late 2025, will introduce display technology, marking a step toward CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s vision of lightweight AR headsets. The move aligns with Meta’s broader strategy to integrate advanced technologies into everyday wearables, competing with companies like Apple Inc AAPL . Meta is also fast-tracking the development of its prototype AR glasses, Orion, after receiving positive feedback from early testers. The glasses feature advanced silicon carbide lenses for brighter and larger imagery. Last week, Meta launched three new features for its Ray-Ban smart glasses, including live AI, live translations, and Shazam . Meta’s smart glasses have emerged as a blockbuster product in 60% of Ray-Ban stores in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa . Despite lacking AI features in Europe, the glasses outperformed conventional Ray-Ban models. In mid-December, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth flagged 2025 as the most significant year in the history of the Reality Labs unit behind the company’s glasses and headsets. According to reports, the current model features sensitive in-ear speakers, cameras, and microphones. Wall Street firms, including JMP Securities, Wedbush, Oppenheimer, and Guggenheim, hailed Meta’s launch of a VR headset and AI updates after the Connect event in September. They expect Meta’s AI and VR innovations to be pivotal in helping it reach valuations like Apple’s. Meta stock surged 71% year-to-date. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through Vanguard Large-Cap ETF VV and Vanguard Communication Services ETF VOX . Price Action: META stock is up 2.28% at $598.53 at last check Monday. Also Read: Meta’s Reels Monetization and AI Innovations Drive Top AI Pick: Analyst Photo via Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

NoneNotable quotes by Jimmy Carter