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NoneElon Musk’s social media loss has — so far — not been Mark Zuckerberg’s gain. Following the election of Donald Trump earlier this month, users began fleeing X , the social media platform owned by the Trump-supporting Musk. But as the Financial Times (FT) reported Saturday (Nov. 23), the biggest beneficiary of that exodus isn’t the Meta-owned Threads — conceived as an alternative to Twitter before its name change to X — but rather the upstart social platform Bluesky . Since election day, usage of Bluesky’s app in the U.S. and Great Britain jumped by nearly 300% to 3.5 million daily users , the FT said, citing data from Similarweb . This influx was driven by academics, journalists and left-leaning politicians leaving X. Before the election, Threads had five times the number of daily U.S. users as Bluesky, but that number has since shrunk, with Threads now just 1.5 times larger than Bluesky. As the FT notes, Bluesky’s growth comes after Meta CEO Zuckerberg chose to scale back the prominence of political content across its apps, which also include Facebook and Instagram. It was a move widely viewed as an attempt to stay out of politics and avoid being involved in free speech debates. And while Trump had once labeled Meta “an enemy of the people” and threatened Zuckerberg with imprisonment, he has since said he liked Zuckerberg “much better now” because he was “staying out of the election.” Bluesky was initially funded by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey. The platform had been invite-only until earlier this year, and jumped in popularity when that requirement was dropped. While Bluesky had been in development long before Musk began his bid to purchase the platform once known as Twitter, the site happened to launch as the billionaire rolled out a series of unpopular changes on X. When Bluesky began accepting members, it began to be viewed as a Twitter alternative, like Threads and Mastodon before it. But in the case of Bluesky, users aren’t subject to the whims of an algorithm, as PYMNTS wrote in a 2023 report on the advent of text-based social media platforms. Meanwhile, this month saw a report from The Information that Meta was planning to add advertising to Threads , an initiative being led by the company’s Instagram team , with a small number of companies set to begin advertising in January. Reached for comment by PYMNTS, a spokesperson for Meta said: “Since our priority is to build consumer value first and foremost, there are no ads or monetization features currently on Threads.”

Grad assistant coach suits up to fill QB void, sets Southern Illinois record with 7 TD passesKash Patel, Donald Trump’s pick to direct the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has never served in the FBI. But he has hosted Steve Bannon’s podcast. Patel is a contributor at Real America’s Voice, the right-wing news network that produces Bannon’s show War Room, and has long appeared as a guest on the show. After top Trump adviser Bannon was imprisoned for four months earlier this year, Patel stepped up to serve as an occasional guest host. To try and understand Patel better, I listened to every episode and clip tagged with “Kash Patel” on the War Room website — and a few others that Bannon’s team missed. The overwhelming impression is that Patel is a man whose entire worldview revolves around paranoid conspiracy theories — specifically, conspiracies against both America and Trump, which for him are one and the same. It’s a specific kind of obsession that reminds me of the FBI’s first director: J. Edgar Hoover, a man who infamously abused his power to persecute political enemies. In one episode, he called on the Republican majority in Congress to unilaterally arrest Attorney General Merrick Garland — invoking an obscure legal doctrine called “inherent contempt” that has never been used in this fashion in the entirety of American history. In another, he outlined a plan for a MAGA blitz of American institutions focused on getting loyalists into high office. It is hard to tell whether Patel genuinely believes this stuff or is merely performing for Bannon’s audience. But it’s largely immaterial. Because it is this performance that made him a star in Trumpworld: his willingness to ape Trump’s own conspiratorial worldview making him into a person Trump wants to be in charge of America’s domestic security services. Once in power, his stated commitment to these beliefs — whatever he thinks privately — will push him to act in line with them. Patel, in short, is the kind of man who could become Trump’s Hoover: a man willing to push federal law enforcement into dangerously anti-democratic territory in pursuit of alleged domestic enemies. Patel believes that foreign enemies — ranging from China to Iran to drug cartels — are doing their best to infiltrate the United States and wreak havoc on its homeland. The Democrats, he believes, do not just disagree with Trump on how to handle these threats: They are actively aligned with America’s enemies. In one War Room segment, for example, Patel hosted a discredited China “expert” named Gordon Chang to warn that China was “planning an attack on our facilities on our soil.” But it’s worse than that, Chang argued: China had installed Joe Biden as the president of the United States. “They were actually able to cast the decisive vote in 2020,” Chang told Patel, claiming without evidence that China “poured money into Joe Biden’s campaign” through the Democratic crowdfunding platform ActBlue. Patel’s response was not skepticism but credulity: “I hope people are paying attention.” But Democrats are not merely unwitting cat’s paws of foreign powers, per Patel: They are nefarious actors aiming to tear down American democracy. One of Patel’s favorite phrases, one that he uses again and again on Bannon’s show, is “two-tiered system of justice.” In his mind, federal law enforcement employs two distinct standards — one for “the deep state’s” friends and another for its enemies. For this reason, Patel has an enemies list — literally. His book "Government Gangsters," which he is constantly hawking on War Room, contains an appendix listing dozens of names that comprise the “executive branch deep state.” The list ranges from names of people you know, like Vice President Kamala Harris, to people you’ve never heard of, like a former State Department diplomat named Elizabeth Dibble. If this all reminds you of Hoover — well, it should. The two men share a dangerous tendency to link enemies foreign and domestic, and a willingness to entertain dangerous abuses of law enforcement powers in fighting them. In his book "Enemies", journalist Tim Weiner argues that Hoover’s worldview was defined by a bone-deep fear of Communist plots against the American homeland. Hoover began maintaining a secret list of “enemies of the United States” inside of government and out, conducting illegal surveillance and other law-bending operations designed to bring them to heel. In theory, this is the kind of abuse of power that Patel is against. He rails constantly against government surveillance and abuses of power against political enemies. Yet at the same time, he is constantly proposing schemes — like Congress arresting Garland — that amount to efforts to criminalize political disagreements. This includes proposals to investigate prominent Democrats and even prosecute journalists. “Yes, we’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections — we’re going to come after you,” he said in a guest appearance on War Room last year. “Whether it’s criminally or civilly, we’ll figure that out.” Zack Beauchamp is a senior correspondent at Vox. His columns are syndicated by Tribune Content Agency. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves, dies at 85The Three Rivers League is not an easy district to win, but this winter it looks like the Tualatin Timberwolves could be healthy and ready to compete. Not just in league, but with some of the state’s top teams. Here’s a brief preview of all of the girls basketball teams in the Three Rivers League, listed in alphabetical order: Lake Oswego Lakers Last season: 11-13 Coach: Kaitlin Jackson Key players: Morgan Hoover, F/C, SR; Olivia Jordan, G, SR: Addie Sale, G, JR; Bella Vallardes, G/W, JR Outlook: Jackson is hoping offensive balance can be the defining characteristic of this year’s Lakers team, one she said boasts several players capable of leading the team in scoring on any given night. That list starts with Hoover and Jordan, both of whom made the all-league honorable mentions list as juniors. Hoover is an athletic forward “who can run the floor and finish at the rim,” said Jackson. Jordan, meanwhile, brings ball-handling, passing and the characteristics of a glue player. “She initiates our offense and gets everyone involved,” Jackson said, “and also has a quick shot release from the outside.” Lakeridge Pacers Last season: 6-18 Coach: Jason Brown Key players: Brooklyn Carlson, W/F, SR; Caiden Levrets, G/W, SR; Ashlyn Weiler, G/W, JR Outlook: The Pacers will surround a trio of returning starters with a cast of new characters from a variety of backgrounds that has Brown excited for the season. Joining Carlson, Levrets and Weiler (all-league second team last season) is senior guard Nahla Nelson, who is back to the sport after a year off, Charlotte Conyers, a junior guard who recently moved in from Indiana, Lily Soglo, an exchange student from France and Vi French, a junior and one of the team’s biggest risers this offseason. Additionally, junior Sophia Stapp is recovering from an ACL and the team hopes to have her back at some point this season. Oregon City Pioneers Last season: 17-9 Coach: Tiffani Traver Key players: Kaylee Wiese, G, SR Outlook: Outside of Weise, an all-league honorable mention honoree last season, the Pioneers don’t return any players with varsity experience. “We have a handful of players that we expect to contribute on any given night,” said Traver. Their development will decide where Oregon City falls in a competitive Three Rivers League this winter, having finished third a year ago. “Our team is not very tall,” she added, “but we will hang our hat on our defense. We have players who are determined to get after it on the defensive end and will make it tough for opponents to get into their offense.” St. Mary’s Blues Last season: 4-20 Coach : Art Rojas Key players: Coach did not respond to inquiry. Outlook: Coach did not respond to inquiry. Tigard Tigers Last season: 11-14 Coach: Anna Johnson Key players: Ava Gregory, C, SR; Jadyn Spadafora, G, SR; Ginny Coleman, W, SO; Isabella Harms, W, SO Outlook: Coach Johnson is under no illusions, she knows this year will have a “whole new rhythm” to it. Six seniors have departed from last year’s team and point guard Teresa Wilson, who tore her ACL early last season is still working to make it back to the court for her final season. On the positive side, that new feel will also be derived from the fact that Johnson and her staff already have a season with this program under their belt. They’re hoping year two can bring significant leaps forward. “This team has been working hard, my hope is that it shows on the court,” she said. “Focus and effort has been seen by every player and we’re hoping to push the ball up the court for a faster paced game.” Tualatin Timberwolves Last season: 20-5 Coach: Wes Pappas Key players: Jordyn Smith, C, SR; Alex Padilla, W, JR; Ries Miadich, G, JR; Maaya Lucas, G, JR; Kylie Weaver, C, JR Outlook: Despite a rash of injuries, the Tualatin Timberwolves pulled off a second-consecutive league title last season. Now healthy, they return several key players, including multiple all-league talents, and are set to welcome one of the state’s best freshman classes. Under Pappas, the Timberwolves have historically won with defense, and while they’ve had some stellar ones over the years, Pappas believes this one could “turn out to be the best ever.” He continued: “This group one-through-eleven are all tough as nails and 100% committed to defend and fight on every possession. Where this team is just different though, is on the offensive end. (They) can really shoot it and we have next level playmakers.” West Linn Lions Last season: 18-8 Coach: Brooke Cates Key players: Reese Jordan, G, JR; Kaylor Buse, G, SO; Ayla Arnold, G, JR; Sophie Maxwell, G, JR; Brie Balensifer, G, FR Outlook: This year’s Lions roster is devoid of seniors. Even so, youth has proven to be a strength for this West Linn group. Last season, with a starting lineup composed largely of freshmen and sophomores, the Lions won 14 of their final 16 games. They narrowly lost out on a Three Rivers league title, but should be right back in the fold this season to potentially make a deep playoff push. “The team culture is very positive and the girls work together to hold each other accountable,” Cates said, acknowledging the lack of seniority. Subscribe to the High School Sports+ newsletter Sign up here to get exclusive news and insights from high school sports editor Nik Streng.

The year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upwardNEW YORK — The man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a client of the medical insurer and may have targeted it because of its size and influence, a senior police official said Thursday. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told NBC New York in an interview Thursday that investigators have uncovered evidence that Luigi Mangione had prior knowledge UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference in New York City. Mangione also mentioned the company in a note found in his possession when he was detained by police in Pennsylvania. "We have no indication that he was ever a client of United Healthcare, but he does make mention that it is the fifth largest corporation in America, which would make it the largest healthcare organization in America. So that's possibly why he targeted that company," Kenny said. UnitedHealthcare is in the top 20 largest U.S. companies by market capitalization but is not the fifth largest. It is the largest U.S. health insurer. Mangione remains jailed without bail in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday after being spotted at a McDonald's in the city of Altoona, about 230 miles west of New York City. His lawyer there, Thomas Dickey, said Mangione intends to plead not guilty. Dickey also said he had yet to see evidence decisively linking his client to the crime. Mangione's arrest came five days after the caught-on-camera killing of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. Police say the shooter waited outside the hotel, where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, early Dec. 4. He approached Thompson from behind and shot him before fleeing on a bicycle through Central Park. Mangione is fighting attempts to extradite him back to New York so that he can face a murder charge in Thompson's killing. A hearing was scheduled for Dec. 30. The 26-year-old, who police say was found with a " ghost gun " matching shell casings found at the site of the shooting, is charged in Pennsylvania with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Mangione is an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family. In posts on social media, Mangione wrote about experiencing severe chronic back pain before undergoing a spinal fusion surgery in 2023. Afterward, he posted that the operation was a success and that his pain improved and mobility returned. He urged others to consider the same type of surgery. On Wednesday, police said investigators are looking at his writings about his health problems and his criticism of corporate America and the U.S. health care system. Kenny said in the NBC interview that Mangione's family reported him missing to San Francisco authorities in November.

The New Orleans Pelicans (4-12) will be monitoring eight players on the injury report, including Brandon Ingram, ahead of their Friday, November 22 game against the Golden State Warriors (11-3) at Smoothie King Center. The Warriors have listed two injured players. The game starts at 7:30 PM ET. Watch the NBA, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. In their most recent game on Wednesday, the Pelicans suffered a 128-100 loss to the Cavaliers. Antonio Reeves scored a team-leading 34 points for the Pelicans in the loss. The Warriors took care of business in their last matchup 120-97 against the Hawks on Wednesday. Andrew Wiggins recorded 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Warriors. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get live and on-demand access to NBA games. Get tickets for any NBA game this season at StubHub. Catch NBA action all season long on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .Giving back: Met Council, pols pack Thanksgiving meals for those in need in Kips Bay

Injuries pile up, 49ers uncertain QB Brock Purdy can return SundayCONWAY, Ark. (AP) — Elias Cato scored 23 points as Central Arkansas beat UNC Asheville 92-83 in double overtime on Sunday. Jordan Morris made two free throws with one second left for UNC Asheville (2-3) to force overtime tied at 71. Fletcher Abee's 3-pointer with 33 seconds left in the first overtime tied the game at 79 and led to the second extra period. Michael Evbagharu's layup gave Central Arkansas (2-4) the lead in the second OT and Cato followed with a 3-pointer as the Bears outscored the Bulldogs 21-12 to pull out the victory. Cato added nine rebounds for the Bears. Layne Taylor totaled 19 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals. Brayden Fagbemi pitched in with 19 points, seven assists and five steals. The Bulldogs (2-3) were led by Fletcher Abee, who recorded 27 points. UNC Asheville also got 17 points from Josh Banks. Toyaz Solomon finished with 15 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from . The Associated PressWASHINGTON (Reuters) -President-elect Donald Trump is expected to offer former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler the agriculture secretary job in his administration, CNN reported on Friday. Trump was due to meet with Loeffler on Friday afternoon at his Palm Beach, Florida, residence, CNN said. Reuters was not able to confirm the report. Trump chose Loeffler, a staunch supporter and donor, to co-chair his inaugural committee after he won the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election. If confirmed, Loeffler would lead a 100,000-person agency with offices in every county in the country, whose remit includes farm and nutrition programs, forestry, home and farm lending, food safety, rural development, agricultural research, trade, and more. The nominee's agenda would carry implications for American diets and wallets, both urban and rural. Department of Agriculture officials and staff negotiate trade deals, guide dietary recommendations, inspect meat, fight wildfires, support rural broadband, and much more. Loeffler was appointed to the U.S. Senate seat from Georgia in 2019 to succeed former Senator Johnny Isakson, who retired. She lost it to Democrat Raphael Warnock in a special election in 2021. During her stint in the U.S. Senate, Loeffler served briefly on the Senate Agriculture Committee. The U.S. Senate Ethics Committee in 2020 cleared Senator Loeffler of wrongdoing in connection with stock trades, her office said, after the wealthy Republican was criticized over share sales during the coronavirus outbreak. Loeffler and her husband's net worth has been estimated at more than $500 million. If confirmed, Loeffler would advise the administration on how and whether to implement clean fuel tax credits for biofuels at a time when the sector is hoping to grow through the production of sustainable aviation fuel. The nominee would also guide next year's renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal, in the shadow of disputes over Mexico's attempt to bar imports of genetically modified corn and Canada's dairy import quotas. Trump has said he again plans to institute sweeping tariffs that are likely to affect the farm sector. Loeffler, then a co-owner of the women's basketball team Atlanta Dream, came under fire in 2020 when she sent a letter to the WNBA commissioner objecting to the league's decision to campaign for racial justice and the "Black Lives Matter" movement. Loeffler faced months of activism from WNBA players who called for her removal from the ownership team. The team was sold in 2021. (Reporting by Jasper Ward, Doina Chiacu, Leah Douglas; Editing by Costas Pitas and David Ljunggren)AGM Group Holdings Inc. Announces Investment in Bitcoin Mining Equipment

Police say suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing wasn't a client of the insurerVancouver Island First Nation whose ancestors met explorer Capt. Cook sue province

Women will for the first time make up a majority of state legislators in Colorado and New Mexico next year, but at least 13 states saw losses in female representation after the November election, according to a count released Thursday by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics. While women will fill a record number of state legislative seats in 2025, the overall uptick will be slight, filling just over third of legislative seats. Races in some states are still being called. "We certainly would like to see a faster rate of change and more significant increases in each election cycle to get us to a place where parity in state legislatures is less novel and more normal," said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the CAWP, which is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. As of Wednesday, at least 2,450 women will serve in state legislatures, representing 33.2% of the seats nationwide. The previous record was set in 2024 with 2,431 women, according to the CAWP. The number of Republican women, at least 851, will break the previous record of 815 state lawmakers set in 2024. "But still, Republican women are very underrepresented compared to Democratic women," Debbie Walsh, director of the CAWP, said. From left, House Maj. Whip Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, Rep. D. Wonda Johnson, D-Church Rock and Rep. Cristina Parajon, D-Albuquerque, talk July 18 before the start of a special session, in Santa Fe, N.M. By the most recent count, 19 states will have increased the number of women in their state legislatures, according to the CAWP. The most notable increases were in New Mexico and Colorado, where women will for the first time make up a majority of lawmakers. In New Mexico, voters sent an 11 additional women to the chambers. Colorado previously attained gender parity in 2023 and is set to tip over to a slight female majority in the upcoming year. The states follow Nevada, which was the first in the country to see a female majority in the legislature following elections in 2018. Next year, women will make up almost 62% of state lawmakers in Nevada, far exceeding parity. Women in California's Senate will make up the chamber's majority for the first time in 2025 as well. Women also made notable gains in South Dakota, increasing its number by at least nine. Four of South Carolina's Sister Senators, from left, Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, Sen. Mia McLeod, I-Columbia, Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, stand in front of the Senate on June 26 with their John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award in Columbia, S.C. At least thirteen states emerged from the election with fewer female lawmakers than before, with the most significant loss occurring in South Carolina. This year, the only three Republican women in the South Carolina Senate lost their primaries after they stopped a total abortion ban from passing. Next year, only two women, who are Democrats, will be in the 46-member Senate. No other state in the country will have fewer women in its upper chamber, according to the CAWP. Women make up 55% of the state's registered voters. Half the members in the GOP dominated state were elected in 2012 or before, so it will likely be the 2040s before any Republican woman elected in the future can rise to leadership or a committee chairmanship in the chamber, which doles out leadership positions based on seniority. A net loss of five women in the legislature means they will make up only about 13% of South Carolina's lawmakers, making the state the second lowest in the country for female representation. Only West Virginia has a smaller proportion of women in the legislature. West Virginia stands to lose one more women from its legislative ranks, furthering its representation problem in the legislature where women will make up just 11% of lawmakers. Many women, lawmakers and experts say that women's voices are needed in discussions on policy, especially at a time when state government is at its most powerful in decades. Walsh, director of the CAWP, said the new changes expected from the Trump administration will turn even more policy and regulation to the states. The experiences and perspectives women offer will be increasingly needed, she said, especially on topics related to reproductive rights, healthcare, education and childcare. "The states may have to pick up where the federal government may, in fact, be walking away," Walsh said. "And so who serves in those institutions is more important now than ever." November 7, 2024: Trump Victory We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Ex-boxing champion fumes as Jake Paul given higher rating in video gameIs Your PC Ready? Discover This Stunning Indiana Jones Game