Author: Grace Thompson

A New York judge on Monday delayed the start of the criminal trial ofSteve Bannon, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump and his former White House adviser. Bannon faces numerous charges from the Manhattan district attorney's office, whichallegeshedefraudeddonorswho believed they were giving money to build a wall at the southern U.S. border. He pleaded not guilty. Bannon's trial had been scheduled for Dec. 9. At a hearing Monday, Judge April Newbauer pushed the date back to Feb. 25 after she granted prosecutors' motion to allow additional financial evidence that they say goes to Bannon's motive. "We re not changing it again," Newbauer told both sides, including Bannon, who attended virtually. Bannon was indictedin September 2022 on charges including money laundering, scheming to def...

If you celebrate Hanukkah, which starts on Dec. 25 this year, you may be looking forgiftsto give loved ones after eating latkes, lighting the menorah and playing spin the dreidel. On the other hand, if you plan on hosting or attending a gathering, you re likely shopping for themed decor and other supplies to entertain a crowd. To help guide your search this season, I rounded up a handful of Hanukkah-inspired gifts for everyone on your list, as well as Judaica to display at home. GO Ahead and SkipBest Hanukkah gifts for adults|Best Hanukkah gifts for kids and teens|Best Hanukkah food and beverage gifts|Best Judaica Selected. Our top picks Best for adults I Could Nosh by Jake Cohen $18.33 $35.00 Amazon ...

WASHINGTON Congress facesa Dec. 20 deadline to fund the government and avert a shutdown, and Speaker Mike Johnson says House Republicans will probably push the fight into early 2025 rather than reach a full-year funding deal this year. We re running out of clock. Dec. 20 is the deadline. We re still hopeful that we might be able to get that done, but if not, we ll have a temporary measure, I think, that would go into the first part of next year and allow us the necessary time to get this done, Johnson, R-La., said on Fox News Sunday. That would extend the deadline into early in President-elect Donald Trump s second term. By then, Republicans will have taken control of the Senate from Democrats while maintaining a narrow House majority, giving them more power over federal funding for th...

An elevated risk for the spread of wildfires continues Monday as swaths of the Northeast grapple with blazes, winds and dry conditions but respite may come later this week with some much-needed rain. Parts of upstate New York, and the Big Apple, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts, are at an increased risk of wildfire spread Monday due to northwest winds, minimum relative humidity and dry conditions. Voluntary evacuations over the weekend of the town of Warwick, and Wah Ta Wah Park in Greenwood Lake, New York, helped firefighters tackle the Jennings Creek wildfire and helped protect at least165 homes. Those evacuations remain in place and the state of emergency for Orange County has been extended. People who evacuated were encouraged to shelter at Greenwood Lake Middle School, whic...

WhileBlack Fridayis still a couple weeks aways, many retailers, includingHome Depot, are already discounting tons of bestselling products from major brands, giving you early access to its holiday deals. From now through until Dec. 4, you can shop Home Depot s Black Friday sale, which is offering up to 50% off select home appliances,vacuums, power tools,smart home devices, furniture andholiday decor. I regularly cover deals at popular home and kitchen retailers so I know what brands are actually worth investing in and what makes a good sale. Below, I rounded up the best early Black Friday deals at Home Depot and will continue to update this list through the entirety of the sale. GO Ahead and SkipThe best early Black Friday sales at Home Depot|Why trust NBC Select? Selected. Our top pi...

Social media influencers were a hot topic during the 2024 presidential race as both parties courted creators ahead of the election. Now, a newPew Research Center surveyreveals just how impactful so-called news influencers are in the current information ecosystem. About 21% of U.S. adults are turning to news influencers for information, with most saying creators helped them better understand current events and civic issues, according to the study.Note: Thank you for visiting our website! We strive to keep you informed with the latest updates based on expected timelines, although please note that we are not affiliated with any official bodies. Our team is committed to ensuring accuracy and transparency in our reporting, verifying all information before publication. We aim to bring you reli...

Does Kennedy Ryan like making her readers cry? Technically,yes, she says. The bestselling author, who s celebrating the rerelease of her novel Reel, loves writing emotionally charged journeys. I like creating stories where people are going to feel things deeply. Writing is not just vocational. I see it as a calling, Ryan tells TODAY.com. I see my purpose for being here on Earth to write stories that crater in people s hearts. And when something has that kind of emotional impact, it lasts. Reel, which was self-published by Ryan in 2021, is the first book in her Hollywood Renaissance series. It follows Broadway actor Neevah Saint and director Canon Holt as they film a biopic of fictional Harlem Renaissance entertainer Dessi Blue. During production, the two begin to fall in love and mu...

The race for Democratic Party chair has officially launched with former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, a onetime presidential candidate, announcing a bid to take the reins. O'Malley, who has faded from the national scene of late,made a brief bid in 2016to lead the Democratic National Committee, only to withdraw his name days later. A person with knowledge of O Malley's plans said he has already connected with key party leaders who have "expressed interest in his vision for the Democratic Party s future." He is expected over the next several weeks to lay out the key tenets to his vision for the party. They include communicating with Americans "not through fear" but terms of in providing a better future. O'Malley, who is the commissioner of the Social Security Administration, is expected to ...

Trump Mediais reportedly in advanced talks to buy the cryptocurrency trading firmBakkt, the Financial TimesreportedMonday, citing two people with knowledge of the talks. The news sent shares of both companies soaring. Trump Media, which is majority-owned by President-electDonald Trump, shot up by double digits minutes after the FT report was published. The company, which operates the Truth Social app and trades on the Nasdaq as DJT, closed more than 16% higher. Shares of Bakkt which was created byIntercontinental Exchange, the owner of the New York Stock Exchange skyrocketed more than 162% amid repeatedtrading haltsdue to volatility. Kelly Loeffler, a previous CEO of Bakkt, is the co-chair of Trump s inauguration committee. Loeffler, who is married to Intercontinental Exchange CEO Je...

President Joe Biden proudly called himself themost pro-labor presidentin American history, but working-class voters moved further than ever from their traditional home in the Democratic Party in this year s election, leading some to rethink their approach to winning working-class voters. While unions say their extensive organizing efforts helped Democrats largelyhold the linewith their members Vice President Kamala Harris support among union householdsthis yearwas slightly down from Biden sin 2020, according to NBC News exit polling the party s erosion among working-class voters more generally is alarming. According to Brent Booker, general president of the Laborers International Union of North America, the party hasn't really embraced working-class people and hasn't for decades. If ...