NBC News White House correspondent Monica Alba asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre if President-elect Donald Trump’s transition will “impede” the “transfer of power” by failing to sign necessary transition papers.

The Trump transition has thus far not completed transition agreements, called Memoranda of Understanding or MOUs, that are needed to begin key aspects of the transfer of power with the White House and the General Services Administration (GSA).

At Thursday’s White House press briefing, KJP told Alba that the Biden administration is doing everything they can do to make things go smoothly — but the Trump/Vance team still hasn’t signed:

MONICA ALBA: Karine, does the White House have any reaction to Matt Gaetz withdrawing his name for consideration to be the next attorney general?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, what I’ll say is — and we’ve been pretty steadfast on being consistent here — not going to comment on every personnel matter or personnel matters here that the president-elect is deciding or is nominating people for — at these respective agencies. We really, truly want to respect the transfer of power. We want it to be efficient. We want it to — to happen in a way that the — the American people deserve, and that’s what we’ve been trying to do. And we believe that is very much part of our democratic principle, and that’s what you’re seeing this president do and lead by example.

More broadly — as we talk about the Department of Justice more broadly, look, the president has said when it comes to investigation, that department should be independent. There should be no partisanship. There should be no loyalty to one party or the other. The loyalty should be to the Constitution, and the loyalty should be to the rule of law. And that is something I believe and we believe the president has led also, on that particular issue, by example.

MONICA ALBA: And then on that topic, our understanding is that the Trump transition team hasn’t signed the MOUs that are outstanding still. Is there any update that you can provide on your end? Any progress there? Or is there concern now —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

MONICA ALBA: — about how that may impede some of that transfer of power you’re talking to?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. And so — and, look, as you know, the president, President Biden, met with the president-elect to show that transition of power and obviously offering any assistance needed to make sure that happens in a way that is peaceful, obviously, and efficient. And so, that was one part of it.

Our teams continue to stay in touch. As of now, to your point, the Trump-Vance transition team has not yet entered into the agreements with the White House and the General Service Administration. And, as you know, the chief of staff, Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, here has reached out to the — the cochairs and have co- — consistently reiterated the — the wanting to work together in making sure that they have what they need.

So, we’re going to continue to engage with the Trump transition team to ensure that we do have that efficient, effective transition of power. And in those conversation, we certainly are stressing that the White House and the administration stand ready to provide assistance and that access to services and information certainly outlined in the GSA and the White House Memorandum of Agreement — those MOUs.

So, those conversations continue, and we want this to go smoothly, and that’s what we’re trying to get to.

Watch above via The White House.

Ana Navarro caused a firestorm on Friday’s episode of The View after coming out in support of Pam Bondi, President-Elect Donald Trump’s newest nominee for Attorney General.

Trump’s initial pick, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), dropped out of consideration this week amid allegations he had sex with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz has denied the allegations.

“I have known Pam Bondi for many, many, many years,” Navarro began. “I will tell you, I don’t want to ruin her reputation with MAGA people, but Pam Bondi and I hung out a lot when she was attorney general of Florida and she would come to Miami. We drank a lot together. I liked her a lot. She’s not a kook. What’s a little election denialism between friends when at least — Listen, everything in life is relative.”

Bondi was a vocal proponent of election denialism following the 2020 presidential election.

“Election denialism is a very big deal now,” Sunny Hostin scolded, while Alyssa Farah Griffin interjected, “You gotta take the wins where you can find them, folks!”

The discussion then descended into a cacophany of opinions.

NAVARRO: Everything in life is relative. There is no accusation of sexual harassment or assault against her. There’s no accusations —

JOY BEHAR: She’s a woman.

GRIFFIN: She’s also qualified!

[UNINTELLIGIBLE BANTER]

BEHAR: She hasn’t beheaded a whale. She hasn’t stabbed a dead bear cub. I mean, my God!

HOSTIN: You can’t minimize some of the things she has done and I think we have a clip of some of her former comments.

The clips included Bondi claiming on Fox News, “We do have evidence of cheating. We are not going anywhere until they declare that we won Pennsylvania. These fake ballots that are coming in late. And back to observation, they’re not letting us watch the process.”

When Peter Doocy questioned, “Pam, did you just say ‘fake ballots’?” she answered, “There could be. That’s the problem.”

After the clips, Hostin said, “So I don’t want — I don’t think we need to minimize someone like that being, who is supposed to be the people’s attorney at the Department of Justice. She’s going to be Trump’s attorney.”

“I would still take her over Matt Gaetz,” Haines interjected as Navarro added, “Take the dead bear cub over Matt Gaetz.”

Watch the clip above via ABC’s The View.

Picture-in-picture support has been around on Android phones since all the way back in 2017 with the launch of Android 8 (also known as Android Oreo). It means you can keep a video playing while you get on with something else on your phone: checking emails, revamping your home screen, browsing the web, or whatever it is.

The feature is intended to be as straightforward and as simple as possible, and should work seamlessly, but there are a few things you need to know about which apps support the mode, how you can enable or disable picture-in-picture, and what your options are for changing how your floating window looks.

How to enable picture-in-picture

The first point to be aware of when it comes to picture-in-picture is that it's not going to work with every video app: It's up to the developers to add the necessary support. If it isn't included, when you switch away from an app with a video playing, the app will simply close and the video playback will stop.

There's no definitive list of apps that do or don't support picture-in-picture available anywhere—all you can do is test the apps you use and see what happens. Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, and YouTube are apps that offer picture-in-picture support on Android, for example, while BBC iPlayer is one of the apps that doesn't. If you use an app that doesn't have this mode, you can get in touch with the developer to request it.

You can block apps from using picture-in-picture, if needed. Credit: Lifehacker

In some cases, there is a workaround for the problem of missing picture-in-picture support: Loading the video in the Chrome browser. You can then tap the picture-in-picture button (the small rectangle inside a large one) to get a pop-out window. This works with the BBC iPlayer website, for example, though it may not work with every app.

Whether or not your apps of choice support picture-in-picture, you can enable or disable the feature on an app-by-app basis from the Android Settings screen. Tap Apps > Special app access > Picture-in-picture to see a list of apps and set permissions: If an app you know supports picture-in-picture isn't launching the mode properly, it might be because the permission is disabled on this screen.

Switching to picture-in-picture mode

If you're watching a video in an app, launching picture-in-picture mode is as simple as switching to a different app or the home screen while the video is still playing (which on most modern Android phones means swiping up from the bottom of the screen). The video carries on playing in a small overlay window.

You can still control video playback: Tap on the window to bring up the pause button, which you can tap to pause playback. Tap again to resume. You'll also see buttons for jumping forwards or backwards by 10 seconds, a full screen button in the middle for going back to the original app.

Picture-in-picture lets you float videos over the home screen and other apps. Credit: Lifehacker

All these buttons should be consistent across your picture-in-picture windows, no matter which app you're using. You'll also notice a gear icon (top right), which leads you to the one of the picture-in-picture permission toggle switches mentioned above. You can't have two picture-in-picture windows up at once, but you can have a video overlaid on top of another—though in that case, only one can be playing at a time.

Tap and drag the window if you want to move it somewhere else (though it will always snap to one edge of the screen). Use two fingers and a pinch gesture if you want to change the size of the overlay. If you rotate the screen, the picture-in-picture window rotates too. To close the overlay, tap the X button (top right) on the window, or drag it down to the X widget at the bottom of the screen (it'll show up when you start moving it).

Democratic CNN analyst Julie Roginsky told anchor Jim Acosta that a pair of Trump picks — would-be Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and DNI nominee Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) —  used to trash President-elect Donald Trump in private when Roginsky worked at Fox News.

CNN unearthed audio of Trump HHS pick Robert F. Kennedy Jr. trashing Trump and his supporters on his radio show — even likening him to Hitler.

On Thursday’s edition of CNN Newsroom With Jim Acosta, Acosta asked Roginsky about the resurfaced comments. As she responded, Roginsky casually revealed Hegseth would privately “say ridiculous” things that would not please Trump if he heard them — and so did Gabbard:

JIM ACOSTA: Julie. I mean, I do want to move to another story– CNN’s K File. Our friend Andrew Kaczynski recently uncovered harsh descriptions of Trump and his supporters that RFK Jr. previously applauded.

On his radio show In 2016, Trump’s pick to lead Health and Human Services agreed that Trump’s base is full of, quote, “idiots and bootlickers.”.

He also likened Trump to Adolf Hitler in a statement to CNN. RFK Jr now says he supports Trump’s vision and regrets his past comments, saying you no longer holds these beliefs. Julie, what do you think about all that?

JULIE ROGINSKY: I mean, it’s it’s an a long line of people who have bent the knee to Donald Trump.

Marco Rubio, I’m old enough to remember, used to make fun of Donald Trump’s genitalia.

Pete Hegseth, who I used to work with at Fox privately would say ridiculous things about Donald Trump, things that Trump would not want to hear.

And so Tulsi Gabbard would trash Donald Trump repeatedly and so on and so forth.

And so did the majority of the Republicans who serve in the United States Senate now until they all bent the knee. They all knelt before Zod.

BRAD TODD: But wait a second. We just had an election where a lot of Democrats who ran for the U.S. Senate talked about how well they worked with Trump. Tammy Baldwin bragged on Trump. Bob Casey bragged on Trump. Sherrod Brown and Jon Tester bragged on Trump.

JULIE ROGINSKY: They lost, except for one.

BRAD TODD: Well, let’s make sure. Let’s make sure we clear this up–

JIM ACOSTA: And I said and I also think that I mean, Trump kind of collects past critics like Infinity Stones. If I could throw in a Avengers reference there, I mean, that is something he’s done time and again. And it seems to me he seems to be doing it with a lot of the picks in his cabinet. Maybe even his vice president.

BRAD TODD: Over time, he’s actually gotten to where he can get over past criticism. You know, that’s a thing he’s he’s grown toward. He doesn’t change much, but that’s one thing he’s changed.

JIM ACOSTA: All right. Thanks, guys. Appreciate.

Watch above via CNN Newsroom With Jim Acosta.

It's been a couple months now since Apple's big iOS 18 update introduced RCS support to the iPhone. In many ways, it's been a game changer: Ditching SMS for RCS has meant group chats function better, and videos are sent in higher quality. But there's still one big drawback to RCS on iPhone that has yet to be fixed: Your messages aren't encrypted.

What is RCS?

To fully understand the issue, it's important to know what RCS actually is. RCS stands for Rich Communication Services, and is basically a souped up version of SMS: The platform supports modern messaging features, like typing bubbles, high-quality image and video sharing, functioning group chats, and end-to-end encryption. SMS doesn't support these features, so using it—especially in group settings—can be a pain.

RCS isn't available on all Android messaging services, but if your partner's Android setup supports it, and you have it enabled on your iPhone, your conversations should feel very similar to iMessaging between other iPhones (minus the green bubbles, of course). Now, most of these features are currently working: You should be able to see when they're typing; you should be able to send photos and videos in high resolution; and group chats should function much as they do between iPhones. There's just one big issue.

RCS on iOS isn't encrypted

At this time, messages sent and received via RCS between iPhones and Androids are not end-to-end encrypted. That means any conversations you have with Android friends are vulnerable, since these messages are sent without modern security protections.

That's not a deviation from the norm for those of us on iOS: If you're used to texting over SMS with Android users, those chats weren't encrypted either. But the promise of RCS on iOS includes encrypted messaging. When you see that RCS tag in your green bubble chat, you should be safe in the knowledge that no one other than the parties involved in the chat can read these messages.

That said, RCS isn't end-to-end encrypted everywhere, either. Google Messages is the biggest platform that supports default end-to-end encryption through RCS. Samsung Messages, for example, does not. Samsung reminds us of that in a recent press release, where it not only emphasizes that RCS requires Google Messages on Android and iOS 18 for iPhones, but also that encryption only works with Android-to-Android communications. Plus, the GSM Association, which develops RCS, says it's working on end-to-end encryption for RCS on iPhone. Soon enough, iPhones may have an RCS feature some Android messaging platforms do not.

However, it doesn't change the fact that some may be using RCS with misunderstood assumptions about their security: Until this future update hits, RCS messages on iPhone are never end-to-end encrypted. If you want all of your conversations with non-iPhone friends to be protected, you'll need to stick to encrypted messaging platforms, like Signal or WhatsApp. Again, iMessage is end-to-end encrypted by default, so no worries there.

Android users: Everyone can see your group chat names

If you're an Android user who is used to how things work on Google Messages, listen up: Group chat names are not private when messaging with iPhones.

On Google Messages, you can rename a group whatever you want, and only you will see it. That's helpful for keeping tabs on specific groups, without worrying that other people in the group will know how you've designated the chat. That's not how things work when iOS is involved, however. iPhones users will know that group chat names are controllable by everyone in the group, and are very much public: When one person changes the group name, it changes for everyone.

If you're new to messaging iPhones on RCS, and you happen to have one in your group chat, don't change the name to anything you wouldn't be happy with everyone in the group seeing as well.

You've definitely used dry-erase markers to mark up a whiteboard in a classroom or at the office—they’re so ubiquitous, they’re even replicated in apps that allow you to keep a whiteboard in your pocket. But have you used them "off label"?

There are some uses for dry-erase markers other than the obvious that are actually pretty clever. Given that they’re super cheap, long-lasting, and can often be revived or refilled after drying out, they may be worth keeping around even if you rarely use a whiteboard.

Take notes on glass, stainless steel, and more

You can use dry-erase markers on a lot more surfaces than just a whiteboard—just about any non-porous surface can be used as a dry-erase board, including glass, stainless steel, and plastic. These markers use a silicone polymer that prevents the ink from penetrating the surface, allowing it to be wiped away, allowing almost any smooth, polished surface to serve as a canvas.

If you’re tired of using paper notes for your to-do lists, shopping lists, and friendly reminders to spouses, children, and roommates, use dry-erase markers instead.

• Use them to write messages on a stainless-steel fridge reminding partners, kids, and roommates of important chores or appointments.

• If you and your housemates are on different schedules, write notes on car windows, or bathroom mirrors to stay in sync (or just say hello).

• Invest in some whiteboard paint in the kitchen or entryway and scribble your reminders there.

Mark your measuring tape

You can use dry-erase markers on most metallic tape measures too. You might wonder why this is useful, since tape measures are already marked up with the relevant information, but it can be very handy in a couple of ways:

• It allows you to mark different lengths on the tape so you can measure once and then make multiple cuts.

• It allows you to have a record of a measurement right on the tape so you can more easily reapply the same measurement in various locations.

• You can make notes about each measurement to remind yourself what each tick means (e.g., “length of shelf” or “stud from corner”) to add context to your measurements.

You can buy tape measures that have a built-in note-taking feature, but they’re slightly less useful because your notes won’t be directly visible by the measurement.

Label your food

When you’re storing food in freezer bags or plastic or glass containers, a dry-erase marker is the perfect way to write down all the relevant information about what you put in there and when. A permanent marker means you can't as easily change out the contents of a container or bag, while a dry-erase marker lets you reuse them over and over without any confusion or mess of strikeouts.

Create wine glass labels

Next time you’re hosting a party, skip the little glass charms that force people to remember which avatar represents them, and just write their names on the outside of the glass with a dry-erase marker. These can also double as place cards at the dining table if you have a specific seating arrangement you want to preserve.

You can buy specific “wine glass markers” to accomplish this, but if you have some dry-erase markers lying around the house, they'll work too.

Amuse your kids with a nifty science experiment

If you’ve got a brood of bored children to keep busy, try this combination science experiment and magic trick, which you've probably seen on Instagram: Give everyone a plate and a set of markers and let them decorate the plate any way they want. Then cover the plate surface with water and wait a few moments—the ink will pull away from the plate and float in the water while retaining its shape. It’s a fun activity for kids that can be repeated as often as necessary for you to enjoy a little peace and quiet.

Remove permanent marker stains

Of course, one infamous use for dry-erase markers is removing marks made with permenant markers. This will work on just about any surface that a dry-erase marker would normally work on—that is, smooth, non-porous surfaces. Permanent marker on different kinds of surfaces (your walls, for example) will likely require a different solution. But if dry-erase marker wipes off the surface, it will probably take permanent marker along with it.

CNN anchor Jim Acosta laughed out loud at ex-Trump aide David Urban as he claimed President-elect Donald Trump has nothing to do with Project 2025.

Trump spent months not just distancing himself from Project 2025, but deriding the notion he would have anything to do with it after the policy document became politically toxic during the presidential election.

But many found those protests at odds with the facts during the campaign, and now that Trump is assembling a cabinet and team of advisers, the plan is in the news again.

On Wednesday’s edition of CNN Newsroom With Jim Acosta, Acosta pointed out that prominent Trump picks Thomas Homan, Brendan Carr, and Russ Vought all helped co-author Project 2025.

When Urban stuck to his guns about Trump not being involved or influenced, Acosta derided him:

JIM ACOSTA: David. That was all B.S., wasn’t it? That I had nothing to do with Project 2025?

DAVID URBAN: I had firsthand discussions with the president, literally asked him about it. I talked to him about it directly. And and he hadn’t read it. He didn’t know about it.

Are there people– it’s a huge document. Are there certain people that worked on it? Yeah, Those people have been in the administration before.

Brendan Carr’s FCC commissioner, Tom Homan, was in the administration. Russ Vought was the administration? They they offered chapters. They offered insight into it and they put things in it. That didn’t mean that Donald Trump had his hand in drafting it all.

JIM ACOSTA: I’m not saying that Donald Trump had a hand. He was sitting there writing it with his Sharpie or whatever. But I mean, he is implementing parts of–.

DAVID URBAN: (CROSSTALK)

JIM ACOSTA: He’s using the people who were writing the chapters on Project 2025. Is it I mean, isn’t it time to admit the jig is up?

DAVID URBAN: No, no! (BUZZER SOUND EFFECT).

JIM ACOSTA: This is going to be a Project 25 administration, right?

DAVID URBAN: And No, no, because a lot of those things are just basic core tenets of the Republican Party, it’s been in the platform for the Republican Party for years. A lot of the project 2025 pieces of it. Right. Getting rid of the part of education, downsizing government, doing certain things. That’s been a part of the Republican Party for a long time.

Just because it happens to be in this document doesn’t mean that now we’re wholesale embracing the document.

JIM ACOSTA: I would encourage our viewers to go. I mean, you can go online and look this up. I mean, it’s if you go through the authors of the various parts of Project 2025, it’s a who’s who. And now he is selecting people from that who’s who to to be in his administration.

DAVID URBAN: It doesn’t mean you’re taking that doesn’t mean you’re taking the document and use it as the blueprint for how the government is going to run. Completely. Two separate things, Jim.

JIM ACOSTA: Probably 2025 talks about tearing down the administrative state. Firing federal employees en masse–

DAVID URBAN: Yeah, exactly. But that’s but those are– Yeah, but those are the things that have been part of the Republican platform for years, not just a part of Project 2025. They just happened to be in this document moving forward.

JIM ACOSTA: So when Trump was out there saying, I have nothing to do with this, I know he he.

DAVID URBAN: He he he didn’t.

JIM ACOSTA: Really?

DAVID URBAN: He didn’t. I’m telling you, I talked to him several times about it.

JIM ACOSTA: It’s a Wednesday. I could use a good laugh and I just got one.

DAVID URBAN: Come on.

Watch above via CNN Newsroom With Jim Acosta.

I never imagined that as I grew older and more mature, I would develop into someone with a "favorite vacuum," but that's where I'm at. I am loyal to Bissell. In a world where vacuums from companies like Dyson and Shark can inexplicably cost over $500, Bissell provides more accessible price points without compromising on quality; every Bissell I've ever had has had intense suction power, innovative features, and a solid user experience. And ahead of Black Friday, a bunch of them are on sale at Amazon. If nothing says "I'm an adult" more than having a vacuum-brand preference, waiting to get a new one until you can save some cash is a close second.

Early Black Friday deals on Bissell vacuums

These are some of the Bissell vacuums you can grab at a steep discount right now.

BISSELL CrossWave OmniFind Cordless Multi-Surface Hard Floor Cleaner Wet Dry Vacuum with FurFinder Headlights

$199.99 at Amazon

$299.99 Save $100.00

Get Deal

Get Deal

$199.99 at Amazon

$299.99 Save $100.00

BISSELL Cleanview Compact Upright Vacuum

$49.99 at Amazon

$59.99 Save $10.00

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$49.99 at Amazon

$59.99 Save $10.00

Bissell Little Green Pro

$119.99 at Amazon

$164.79 Save $44.80

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$119.99 at Amazon

$164.79 Save $44.80

Bissell Little Green Machine

$81.49 at Amazon

$123.59 Save $42.10

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Get Deal

$81.49 at Amazon

$123.59 Save $42.10

BISSELL TurboClean Pet XL Upright Carpet Cleaner, Upholstery Tough Stain Tool & Formula included, 3746

$149.99 at Amazon

$169.99 Save $20.00

Get Deal

Get Deal

$149.99 at Amazon

$169.99 Save $20.00

SEE 2 MORE

CrossWave OmniFind Wet/Dry vacuum

I'm a well-documented fan of the CrossWave OmniForce, but the CrossWave OmniFind is very similar and, ahead of Black Friday, about $30 cheaper than the OmniForce. Right now, it's $199.99 and, like the OmniForce, is a wet/dry machine, meaning that both dry and wet messes are no issue here. This one is more tailored to pet hair and even includes lights designed to identify it so you can suck it up faster.

Cleanview Compact Upright

In my journey to becoming a Bissell loyalist, I learned a lesson: Even the cheapest options are still great vacuums. I'll never forsake my $33 Featherweight, but if you want a little bit more than that, the Cleanview Compact Upright is on sale for just $49.99. It features an extension wand and a brush attachment, has a larger capacity than my beloved Featherweight, and still weighs less than eight pounds. It's a perfect middle-ground machine.

Little Green Pro

The Little Green Pro (which is not always green, for the record, and can also go by the name SpotClean Pro) is a compact, portable machine that is ideal for small messes or detailing, especially in your car. It looks like a tiny shop vac, which makes it great for hauling around, setting down, and using with its extendable hose. It's a pet-focused stain remover that combines scrubbing and suction with a powerful cleaning solution to extract stains and dirt—and right now, it's $119.99.

Little Green Machine

The Little Green Machine is just $81.49 right now, which is good news for anyone who has seen seen it all over social media. This widely loved machine is very small, comes with a crevice tool and other accessories, and also uses powerful cleaning solutions to quickly detail and clean small spaces.

TurboClean Pet XL

Those little machines are great, but if you need a heavier-duty carpet cleaner, the TurboClean Pet XL might be your best option—and at $149.99, it's priced right at the moment. It has a 10-inch cleaning path and a gallon tank, both designed to help you clean more, clean faster, and clean longer. With four rows of brushes, it's helpful for pet owners who need to tackle stains and dander-related allergens, but even if you don't have a dog and just want your carpets cleaned, this is a worthwhile investment.

AP Photo/Alex Brandon File

It is the single greatest tell that a commentator has nothing of value to offer the public.

What is? Any complaint about or advisement against “normalizing” Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States who will soon serve as the 47th.

The Trump era has given way to many tropes, and nearly all of them are boring, useless, misleading, or some combination of the three. How many times have Americans heard that “the walls are closing in” on ole’ Donny Trump? Or that the Russians have kompromat on him? Or heard the preposterous defense that his only vice is his “mean tweets”?

Yet among all of these inanities, it is the pearl-clutching about “normalizing” the president-elect that stands out.

On Monday, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski’s announcement that they had met with Trump over the weekend set off a fresh round of howls.

“Normalizing Trump is a bad idea,” declared the Scarborough and Brzezinski’s MSNBC colleague Katie Phang in a not-so-subtle shot at them.

“Period,” she added in an attempt at a rhetorical flourish.

Former Republican congressman Joe Walsh — who once threatened to grab his “musket” if Trump lost the 2016 election — put on his dunce cap Tuesday morning when he tweeted “Good morning. Do. Not. Normalize. Him. Resist. Have a wonderful day.”

If anyone in your own life talked this way, you’d have them committed.

Donald Trump is one of the most famous people to ever live. Long before he embarked upon his political career, he became one of the most famous people in the world’s most famous city, dominating the tabloids and establishing himself as a symbol of American wealth.

He parlayed that status into a career as the star of one of America’s most famous television shows and then a political platform.

Then he won a presidential election, served as commander-in-chief for four years, narrowly lost his reelection bid, and then won again four years later.

He has a cameo in Home Alone 2.

He’s hosted Saturday Night Live twice.

Almost everyone on Earth has an opinion about him.

So when anyone embarks upon a ham-handed lecture about “normalizing” about the man, the first thing one should do is make sure they’re not suffering from a stroke. But if they’re not, the next most proper course of action is to ruthlessly and relentlessly mock them until they either apologize or go into exile.

If you’re looking for an example of what your rebuke should look like, consider James Downey’s admonition of Adam Sandler’s titular character in Billy Madison: “…what you have just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”

The purpose for such acerbity is not merely to punish the foolish, but to serve as a wake-up call for the ideologically homogenous American press.

Donald Trump has dominated American politics for the better part of a decade in no small part because he has a better idea of what sounds normal to the average voter than the likes of Phang and Walsh.

A border wall is a sensible solution to illegal immigration. Most who do cross illegally should be deported. Biological sex is not a social construct. America should not hamstring its energy industry.

All of these truths that seem self-evident to others, yet vast swathes of the Fourth Estate treat them as not just abnormal, but unthinkable.

Of course, none of this is a defense of Trump’s character. He is self-evidently unfit for office and his occupation of it over the next four years will doubtlessly be the cause of many bad things for the country.

But any and all whining about his being normalized isn’t just silly, it’s so disconnected from reality as to disqualify those responsible for it from being taken seriously.

Spirit Airlines, a business so well-known for being cheap that it's fodder for memes, announced Monday that it's filing for bankruptcy. Spirit plans to operate business as usual as it begins to work on its $3.1 billion in long-term debt, according to previous filings.

But if you having upcoming holiday travel that depends on a Spirit booking, or Spirit points you've been planning to redeem, it's natural to be a little concerned. Here's what you need to know.

Why did Spirit file for bankruptcy?

Chapter 11 bankruptcy is not a death sentence for an airline. Unlike complete liquidation, this type of bankruptcy allows Spirit to:

• Restructure its financial obligations

• Continue operating during the bankruptcy process

• Potentially emerge as a more financially stable company

There's plenty of historical precedent on this. Major airlines that have successfully navigated Chapter 11 bankruptcy include American Airlines in 2011, Delta Air Lines in 2005, and United Airlines in 2002.

What does this mean for you?

The good news is that your current flight plans are likely unaffected. Spirit has explicitly stated that it expects to continue normal operations throughout the bankruptcy process, both honoring existing tickets and allowing customers to continue booking new flights. In the same vein, you can continue to earn and use points as you normally would. “Guests can continue to book and fly without interruption and can use all tickets, credits and loyalty points as normal,” the airline said in a release.

What else you can do

To protect yourself during this uncertain period:

• Monitor your flight itinerary closely.

• Check Spirit's official communications regularly.

• Have a backup travel plan, if possible.

• Consider travel insurance for future bookings.

Remember, many airlines have successfully emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, continuing to serve millions of passengers. While uncertainty exists, there's no immediate need for panic.

Food, clothes, home goods: If you can buy it, chances are there’s a Black Friday deal being advertised for it. But just because you’re snagging something with a so-called Black Friday markdown doesn’t mean you’re actually getting the best deal in the long run. With electronics in particular, that fresh price tag might mean getting tricked into buying a cheaper model of the thing you actually want. Here’s how to avoid misleading Black Friday “deals” and make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.

How to tell if a Black Friday sale is a good deal

When you see a clothing item or kid’s toy with a big ol’ Black Friday tag slapped on it, it makes sense to take advantage of that deal. Chances are it is the same exact product you'd find on other days of the year. The same can’t be said for a TV, though. Stores often take cheaper, shoddier versions of the same electronics and mix them in with the legit offers. You might end up purchasing a Black Friday “deal” that actually has inferior components.

So sure, you can go with the cheaper TV on Black Friday, but think about the value of what you’re buying. As the Motley Fool puts it, “You may be better off spending $1,200 on a TV that lasts for eight years versus an $800 Black Friday special that only lasts half as long.”

In order to avoid a low-key scam, you should do your research. The easiest way to tell that you’re getting the correct product is by checking the model or serial number. And with online shopping, finding and double-checking those numbers is quick and easy.

On that note, when it comes to electronics, you might be better off holding off a bit; according to CBS News, it could pay to wait for the five-day span between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, when electronics could be discounted by as much as 30%. Then again, you risk more “out-of-stock” results if you wait, so the risk is up to you, depending on the popularity of the item you’re eyeing (and how badly you want it).

At the end of the day, retailers are selling items at a price point that still benefits them over you. Don’t fall victim to a falsely-advertised lower-quality product, and make the most of holiday deals by doing a little research ahead of time.

Co-hosts of ABC’s The View carefully navigated their differing opinions on whether Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski’s weekend trip to Mar-a-Lago constituted an olive branch or naked opportunism.

The Morning Joe hosts said on MSNBC Monday that they hoped their visit to President-Elect Donald Trump’s Palm Beach estate would help to “restart communications” between the media and his new administration. It was a far cry from Brzezinski’s tearful pre-election appearance on The View when she warned of the country’s “descent into fascism” if Trump re-took the White House.

On Monday, Ana Navarro declared, “I will never sit with him,” before continuing:

I think there’s a lot of people who are probably looking at what Joe and Mika did and find it opportunistic. There are people who change their stripes, or maybe their spots, I should say, today, depending on who is in power and what benefits them. I don’t know that that’s what they are doing, and to me, it’s a to-be-determined situation, because right now, it’s the transition. We don’t know what he’s going to do as president. We don’t know what they’re going to do if he commits abuses of power as president. So, you know, everybody has to live with their decision. Everybody has to look at themselves in the mirror. I’m good.

Co-hosts Sara Haines and Alyssa Farah Griffin said they believed the Morning Joe hosts “absolutely” made “the right decision” to talk with Trump.

“You have the conversations or nothing happens,” Haines said of opening the dialogue.

Griffin added, “I don’t think this is opportunistic, but I think they recognize that 75 million people voted for this guy. He will be in power, short of something like an impeachment, for the next four years.”

Sunny Hostin remained adamant that Trump can’t be trusted.

“I don’t think you need to sit down for 90 minutes at Mar-a-Lago and kiss his ring to be able to speak truth and to be able to cover a story,” Hostin said. “So maybe they’re not journalists in the true sense. Maybe they’re saying that they’re opinion journalists, but we have to remember that Trump is the guy who ushered in the era of fake news.”

“I’m going to wait and see what I’m dealing with, as I’ve said since the election, because I don’t know,” Whoopi Goldberg declared. “I’m going to wait. I’m going to have some popcorn, and when I have something to say, I will say it.”

Watch the clip above via The View on ABC.

Are you cooking for Thanksgiving? Me neither! The idea of spending a day stuffing your face with friends and family is appealing, but to so many of us, the prospect of having to prepare all that food first is utterly crushing.

We can’t all be kitchen wizards, which is why many restaurants have started selling entire Thanksgiving meals you can bring home and serve like you spent all day in the kitchen. Whether you need the full shebang or a few sides to round out your homemade offerings, here are eight national chains where you can pick up your holiday fare this year. 

If you’re feeding a bunch of people for Thanksgiving 2024

If you need a whole meal, don’t feel overwhelmed. You have options.

• Denny’s is offering a "Turkey Bundle" for 2024. For $54.99, you get enough carved turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce for four people—plus you get to choose an additional side. You can order it between Friday, Nov. 22 and Wednesday, Nov. 27, but you must do so at least 24 hours in advance of when you want to pick it up.

• Cracker Barrel is going all in on heat-and-serve meals for 2024, with varying price levels and offerings for everyone. For $184.99, for instance, you can enough turkey, casserole, pie, and more to feed between eight and 10 people. (Feeding four to six is $119.99.) These choices are available between Nov. 23 and Dec. 1, though there are others available at different intervals throughout the holiday season, so you can make sure your next two months of hosting go smoothly. Check out the site for details on the meals and options available (and don't pass up the hashbrown casserole).

• If you want an Italian twist on your Thanksgiving meal, Buca de Beppo can help. Their Thanksgiving offerings are available both dine-in and take-out, and you get 10% off if you order before Nov. 26. The mashed potatoes have garlic and the stuffing has Italian seasoning, but it's just traditional enough to make even a Thanksgiving purist happy. Use the site to check your local prices.

• Golden Corral has meals to feed six to eight people with turkey, ham, or beef, plus mashed potatoes, stuffing, and sides. Like last year, they have a la carte options to go along with the standard fare, but the prices in 2024 are down significantly: The complete meals start at just $99.99, compared to $109.99 and up from last year. The last day to order for pickup is Nov. 20, though, so get moving.

If you need smaller options for Thanksgiving this year…

Maybe you need a few sides to go with the rest of your home-cooked meal, or you are having a low-key dinner with yourself or one or two other people. You don’t need a giant takeout order for that, but you can try these options (in addition to the a la carte offerings from the restaurants above). 

• Popeye’s is offering a Cajun-style turkey again this year, though it's pricier than it was before. It's $99.99, feeds eight to 12 people, and arrives pre-cooked at your door. Thaw it, heat it, and eat it. Since it's Popeye's we're talking about, don't forget to order some sides to go with it.

• Boston Market, a chain synonymous with Thanksgiving-esque offerings all year round, is serving up buffets and individual plates, making it more customizable for different sized parties. You do have to call to order: (303)317-6900.

• In addition to options for larger parties, Bob Evans is once again offering its Farmhouse Feasts at a variety of sizes. If you want a premium feast to feed eight to 10 people, check out the options at the link, but also be advised that four people can eat a ham meal with dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, and pie for just $84.99.

• You might not think of a grocery store when you're imagining heat-and-eat Thanksgiving meals, but the same place you would go if you wanted to whip up the whole feast yourself can actually be where you pick up the premade version, too. Whole Foods is offering full meals for between $99.99 and $259.99, plus ready-made appetizers, sides, and more a la carte. Order by Nov. 26 and pick up by Nov. 28.

The craziness of the Black Friday shopping season is upon us, with early deals rolling in from many retailers already, including Target's holiday sale. If you're here, you've likely had a hard time trying to get ahold of someone with a conscience on the other line. It's not easy, but here is the best way I found to get a real customer service representative from Target on the phone.

The best phone number for Target's customer service department

If you Google Target's customer service number, the first number you'll see at the top of the search result is 1-800-440-0680. However, it's hard or even impossible to reach a real person using that number. However, in my experience, if you call 1-800-591-3869, you can eventually reach a customer service agent. The pre-recorded message will automatically pull up your last order from Target.com and ask if you need help with it. Regardless of why you're calling, press 1 to confirm you need help with it. You'll be given additional options to narrow down the reason for your call, but if you don't select an option, Target will automatically connect you with a live agent on the phone who can help you with anything related to your account.

Unlike Amazon, there is no call-back service provided by Target, so calling their Contact Us number is the quickest way to get a hold of a real person.

Twitter

TNT will no longer air NBA games in the US after the current season concludes but basketball fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief in knowing Inside the NBA has been saved by Warner Bros. Discovery.

According to multiple reports, the popular, long-running show will air on ABC and ESPN next season after Warner Bros. Discovery brokered a deal to save it from the brink of extinction. ESPN reported:

Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT Sports, sued the NBA in New York state court after the league did not accept the company’s matching offer for one of the packages in its new 11-year media rights deal, which will begin with the 2025-26 season.

The deadline to have the lawsuit dismissed is Tuesday.

Even though “Inside the NBA” will be on ESPN and ABC beginning with the 2025-26 season, TNT Sports will continue to produce the popular studio show, and it will air from Atlanta, except when the show goes on the road.

Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson Jr. will all stay with the show, which first launched in 1989.

Inside the NBA‘s move to ABC/ESPN was first reported by The Atheltic, which noted:

TNT Sports will receive global rights outside of the United States for “Inside the NBA,” House of Highlights and its parent company, Bleacher Report, per the sources. TNT will have a full package of regular-season and playoff games outside of the U.S.

This marks the first time Bleacher Report and House of Highlights have had global rights. TNT Sports can use highlights and develop shows at no additional costs, according to the sources.

It was first reported in July that Inside the NBA would end after the league accepted a media rights offer from Amazon Prime Video that Warner Bros. Discovery failed to match.

At the time, Sports Illustrated referred to the end of the show as a “travesty.”

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Pete Hegseth’s attorney has admitted there was a confidential settlement between President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary and an unidentified woman regarding an October 2017 sexual assault police investigation which did not result in charges.

In a detailed report from The Washington Post on Saturday, Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, told the Post that Hegseth was “visibly intoxicated,”when the alleged incident took place, claimed the accuser, whose identity has been kept confidential, was the “aggressor” and went to police days after the incident happened. Parlatore denied Hegseth was responsible for any wrongdoing in connection with the incident, and elaborated Hegseth paid the accuser an undisclosed sum of money due to the fear of the claim getting back to Fox News, his employer at the time, and “would result in his immediate termination from Fox.”

Mediaite reached out to Parlatore on Friday, following Gabriel Sherman’s Vanity Fair exclusive report that the Trump transition team held an emergency meeting upon learning about the alleged sexual misconduct incident — after Mediaite learned that Hegseth could have paid off the woman in a confidential settlement, according to sources — but did not receive a response.

A former Fox News employee told Mediaite that the former Fox News host is a “national security threat” and should not hold such a powerful post in Trump’s administration.

“Pete Hegseth is a walking national security threat. Pete’s penchant for pretty women and penchant for alcohol makes him primed to be compromised by governments who wish to do us harm,” the former Fox News employee said.

The Washington Post reported that a copy of a memo they obtained written by a friend of the unidentified accuser was sent to the Trump transition team and “alleged he raped the then-30-year-old conservative group staffer in his room after drinking at a hotel bar.”

According to the Post:

“Jane Doe didn’t remember anything until she was in Hegseth’s hotel room and then stumbling to find her hotel room.” The memo said that her memory of six to nine hours “was very hazy,” and that her husband was searching for her and was relieved when she finally showed up. The following day, the woman returned home and “had a moment of hazy memory of being raped the night before, and had a panic attack,” the memo said.

The woman then went to the emergency room, where she received a rape-kit examination that “was positive for semen,” the memo said. The woman gave county authorities a statement about what happened, according to the memo sent to the transition team.”

Early Friday, Mediaite obtained a statement from by the Public Information Officer for the City of Monterey:

The City provides that information, which is set forth below: 1. Date, time, and location of occurrence: Between 10/07/2017 at 2359 hours and 10/08/2017 at 0700 hours, 1 Old Golf Course Road 2. Date/Time of Report: 10/12/2017 at 1223 hours 3. Name/Age of Victim: Confidential 4. Factual circumstances surrounding the incident: The Monterey Police Department investigated an alleged sexual assault at 1 Old Golf Course Road. 5. A general description of any injuries, property, or weapons involved: No weapons or property involved. Contusions to right thigh. The City of Monterey will not be making any other remarks related to this inquiry.

Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, pushed back on the allegations to Vanity Fair. Mediaite has sought comment from Trump’s transition, but has not heard back at the time of this story’s publication. In a statement, a Fox News spokesperson told Mediaite, “Fox News Media was not made aware of the incident or the settlement.”

Joe DePaolo contributed reporting.

MSNBC’s Katie Phang asked whether Americans should be should be “concerned” that President-elect Donald Trump will carry out Adolf Hitler-style revenge plots against his political enemies.

On Saturday’s The Katie Phang Show, Phang reacted to Trump ally Steve Bannon, recently released from prison, on The Sean Spicer Show calling for former Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley to be recalled to “active duty” on day one of Trump’s administration and to face a court martial.

Milley has become a vocal critic of Trump, calling him “fascist to the core.”

“Listen, this is obviously motivated by revenge, but we’ve seen this before, historically. Adolf Hitler purged the Nazi Party of Nazis that he felt had too much power and could become political enemies in the future. Matthew, how concerned should we be about drawing these parallels?” Phang asked after airing the Bannon clip.

MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd said he is not someone who “calls somebody Hitler,” but agreed there are similarities.

Dowd argued:
“I don’t think we should be concerned about drawing parallels because they are very apt to the situation we are in today. I am not one that calls somebody Hitler, but there are Hitler like performances that Donald Trump, and words that he uses quite often. And it seems that there is no problem among the Republican caucus and among Republicans to have some semblance of autocracy in our country over democracy here. And so it’s exceedingly concerning the fact that Steve Bannon has any sway at all after he just stepped out of prison just days ago in the course of this, that he has any sway over this administration is concerning.

Phang later asked whether Trump would also target the media in the styles of countries like North Korea and China.

“Should members of the press, including you, be concerned and the public, frankly, for that matter who is relying on us to continue to provide the truth in the face of something that is antidemocratic?” she asked.

“Yes, I think we all should be concerned, all of us that are in media who have made,” Woke AF Daily podcast host Danielle Moodie said. “I think we all have made our lives and our careers of narrating the American story and the fact is Donald Trump has sued a number of outlets, including this one, before he was president-elect. So the ability to be able to weaponize government against those that he does not like, particularly the press. I mean, that to me is going to be the death blow of democracy.”

Watch above via MSNBC.

AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia’s war on Ukraine will “end sooner” with President-elect Donald Trump back in the White House.

Zelenskyy spoke about the military situation in Ukraine with media outlet Suspilne in an interview released on Saturday where he claimed the conflict needs to end by “next year through diplomatic means.”

Over the last year, the territorial gains for the Ukraine military have stagnated following the failure of it’s 2023 count-offensive against Russia. Meanwhile, Russian forces have become entrenched in positions across the Donbas region while making steady advances.

“It is certain that the war will end sooner with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House. This is their approach, their promise to their citizens,” Zelensky said in the interview, as translated by the BBC.

Zelenskyy noted that he spoke with Trump following his historic victory in the presidential election earlier this month, adding that the conversation was a “constructive exchange.”

“He is on the side of supporting Ukraine, appreciates our strength, integrity and courage,” Zelenskyy said of Trump.

On the campaign trail, Trump has vowed to end the war and claimed the invasion would not have happened if he was occupying the Oval Office. The president-elect has also claimed military aid to Kyiv is a drain on U.S. resources.

Recently, Trump has nominated former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) as his director of national intelligence causing controversy due to her non-interventionist foreign policy views. Gabbard has also claimed the Biden administration caused the Russian invasion of Ukraine by not closing the door on Ukraine becoming apart of NATO.