[Karah]

THE SIZE OF TRUMP’S ELECTION VICTORY.

WAS IT A LANDSLIDE? OR A “MANDATE”?

THE ANSWER – DIFFERS DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GET YOUR NEWS.

NEWS OUTLETS WITH A LEFT-LEANING BIAS –

LIKE THE NEW YORK TIMES – “THE ‘LANDSLIDE’ THAT WASN’T.”

AND MSNBC – “TRUMP WON EVERY BATTLEGROUND STATE AND POPULAR VOTE – BUT **NOT BY A LANDSLIDE.

RIGHT-LEANING OUTLETS –  LIKE THE NATIONAL REVIEW – “LANDSLIDE OR NOT, TRUMP WON A MANDATE”

AND BREITBART “TRUMP’S LANDSLIDE VICTORY MOVED 48 STATES TO THE RIGHT.”

IT’S BEEN OVER TWO WEEKS SINCE ELECTION NIGHT –

BUT THE SIZE OF TRUMP’S VICTORY – IS MAKING HEADLINES –

AS DOZENS OF COUNTIES – MANY FROM CALIFORNIA – HAVE BEEN SLUGGISH TO REPORT RESULTS.

THE UPDATED VOTE TALLY OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS –

HAS SHRUNK TRUMP’S EDGE OVER HARRIS –

BUT HE REMAINS THE WINNER OF THE POPULAR VOTE – THE FIRST REPUBLICAN TO DO SO IN 20 YEARS.

HERE’S HOW NEWS OUTLETS ARE REPORTING ON THE UPDATED NUMBERS THAT HAVE TRICKLED IN IN THE TWO WEEKS SINCE THE ELECTION.

THE NEW YORK TIMES WROTE – “by traditional numeric measures, Mr. Trump’s victory was neither unprecedented nor a landslide. In fact, he prevailed with one of the smallest margins of victory in the popular vote since the 19th century and generated little of the coattails of a true landslide.

IN THE TIMES PIECE – THEY HONE IN ON TRUMP HOVERING AROUND THE 50% MARK – OR THE MAJORITY OF VOTES CAST.

WHILE 99 PERCENT OF VOTES ARE IN – SOME COUNTIES ARE STILL COUNTING.

AS OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON – TRUMP RECEIVED 50% OF THE VOTE COMPARED TO HARRIS’ 48.3 PERCENT OF THE VOTE ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES TALLY.

THAT’S A 1.7 PERCENT MARGIN OF VICTORY.

THE TIMES WROTE –

Real landslides have been unmistakable, including Lyndon B. Johnson’s in 1964 by 22.6 points, Richard M. Nixon’s in 1972 by 23.2 points and Ronald Reagan’s in 1984 by 18.2 points. In the 40 years since that Reagan victory, no president has won the popular vote by double digits.

THE TIMES ALSO OFFERED THIS EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE 2024 ELECTION IS BEING CLASSIFIED AS A LANDSLIDE BY THE RIGHT.

SAYING “The incoming president and his team are trying to cement the impression of a “resounding margin,” as one aide called it, to make Mr. Trump seem more popular than he is and strengthen his hand in forcing through his agenda in the months to come.”

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MEDIA POLITICAL AISLE –

RIGHT-LEANING NEWS OUTLET “THE NATIONAL REVIEW” –

HAS A DIFFERENT TAKE –

CITING OTHER ELECTION NIGHT STATS –

IN RESPONSE TO THE NEW YORK TIMES PIECE.

THEY WRITE “The New York Times is concerned that Donald Trump and certain Republicans are boasting that the 2024 election was a landslide.

At 76.7 million votes and counting, Trump has now won the second most votes of any presidential candidate in history.

What makes this election feel like a landslide is the fact that Trump won all seven key swing states and won six states that he lost four years ago. If a state was considered in play, Trump won it. If you want to dispute that Trump won a mandate on Election Day, you have to accept that Democrats earned an anti-mandate, a rebuke.

IN SOME CATEGORIES –

2024 WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED ELECTION.

SUCH AS TRUMP GARNERING MORE SUPPORT FROM HISPANIC VOTERS THAN ANY OTHER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN HISTORY ACCORDING TO AN AXIOS EXIT POLL.

AND TRUMP HIMSELF –

BEING THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO BE TWICE-IMPEACHED AND CONVICTED OF A FELONY TO WIN AGAIN – SET TO TAKE THE WHITE HOUSE COME JANUARY.

HEY, IF YOU MADE IT TO THE END OF THIS REPORT –

THANKS FOR WATCHING OUR STORY.

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THERE YOU CAN FIND OTHER STORIES LIKE THIS –

COMPARING MEDIA COVERAGE FROM LEFT AND RIGHT LEANING NEWS OUTLETS ON STORIES THAT MATTER TO YOU.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS – I’M KARAH RUCKER.

A WORLD-FIRST IS COMING TO THE LONE STAR STATE.

A CARBON CAPTURE FACILITY – POWERED BY WIND ENERGY. 

THAT’S THE CLAIM BEING MADE BY DEVELOPERS OF PROJECT CONCHO-

A DIRECT AIR CAPTURE PLANT SET TO BE BUILT IN TOM GREEN COUNTY, TEXAS.

THE COMPANIES BEHIND THIS ENDEAVOR SAY THAT AFTER 20-30-

THE FACILITY AIMS TO HELP REMOVE 500,000 TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE ANNUALLY. 

AN EMISSIONS EQUIVALENT OF TAKING  OVER 110,000 GAS-POWERED CARS OFF THE ROAD FOR A YEAR.

MOST CARBON CAPTURE TECH DRAWS THE EMISSIONS AT THEIR SOURCE –
BUT THAT ISN’T A REQUIREMENT FOR DIRECT AIR CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY-

WHICH CAN BE DEPLOYED ANYWHERE AND PULL CARBON DIRECTLY FROM THE ATMOSPHERE.

HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE AIR’S CO2 CONCENTRATION IS MUCH MORE DILUTED WHEN NOT DIRECTLY AT THE SITE WHERE EMISSIONS ARE BEING GENERATED –

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE FACILITIES REQUIRE GREATER AMOUNTS OF POWER THAN WHAT’S TYPICALLY NEEDED BY THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY.

SOME STUDIES ESTIMATE IT CAN BE 2 TO 3 TIMES MORE ENERGY INTENSIVE THAN CONVENTIONAL CARBON CAPTURE METHODS.

HIGHER ELECTRIC USE MEANS MORE EMISSIONS ARE CREATED BY TECH THAT IS INTENDED TO REMOVE THOSE GREENHOUSE GASSES.

SO, THAT’S WHY RENEWABLE WIND ENERGY IS BEING USED TO POWER THIS TEXAS-BASED DIRECT AIR CAPTURE PLANT.

MAKING IT AN EVEN CLEANER WAY TO IMPROVE THE NATION’S AIR QUALITY.

TO GET MORE STORIES ABOUT HOW INNOVATIONS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY LIKE THIS ONE, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME- JACK AYLMER.

[REPORTER]

“Do you have any reaction or apology to the woman at the center of this?” 

[KENNEDY FELTON]

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTER CONOR MCGREGOR HAS BEEN ORDERED TO PAY A WOMAN NEARLY 250-THOUSAND EUROS – OR ABOUT 257-THOUSAND U-S DOLLARS.

THIS FOLLOWS A CIVIL COURT JURY IN DUBLIN, IRELAND FINDING HIM LIABLE FOR ASSAULTING HER IN A HOTEL ROOM BACK IN DECEMBER OF 20-18.

THE WOMAN – WHO REMAINED ANONYMOUS… CLAIMED MCGREGOR RAPED AND BATTERED HER AFTER a night of partying… LEAVING HER WITH SEVERE BRUISING AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

A PARAMEDIC WHO EXAMINED THE WOMAN THE NEXT DAY TESTIFIED SHE HAD NEVER SEEN BRUISING AS INTENSE AS WHAT THE WOMAN HAD.

ACCORDING TO A-P NEWS – AFTER ABOUT SIX HOURS OF DELIBERATION…. THE JURY READ THEIR VERDICT WHILE MCGREGOR SAT AND SHOOK HIS HEAD.

IN HIS TESTIMONY… HE *INSISTED THEIR ENCOUNTER WAS CONSENSUAL… AND THAT THE WOMAN FABRICATED THE STORY AFTER THEY HAD SEX.

IN A STATEMENT OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE FRIDAY… THE WOMAN THANKED HER FAMILY, FRIENDS AND PARTNER… BUT ESPECIALLY, HER DAUGHTER.

[WOMAN INVOLVED IN CASE]

“She has given me so much strength and courage over the last 6 years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice.” 

SHE also EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDING UP FOR ONESELF IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS… ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMETHING HARMFUL HAPPENS.

IN ADDITION TO THE LEGAL CASE… MCGREGOR MADE HEADLINES IN SEPTEMBER WHEN HE ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT OF IRELAND IN 20-25… FURTHER EXPANDING HIS PUBLIC PROFILE.

IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST FOLLOWING THE VERDICT… MCGREGOR said – I will be appealing today’s decision. The judge’s instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages. I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the [Director of Public Prosecutions] reviewed.”

I’M KENNEDY FELTON WITH SAN.

DOWNLOAD OUR APP TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON THE NEWS OF THE DAY.

[Karah Rucker]

A NEW STUDY ON THE EFFECTS THAT COVID-19 COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE ON CANCER TUMORS IS CAUSING A LOT OF BUZZ ONLINE.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT THE VIRUS TRIGGERS IMMUNE CHANGES THAT ONE DAY MAY BE ABLE TO FIGHT CANCER. 

THE RESEARCH STARTED AFTER DOCTORS NOTICED PEOPLE WITH CANCER WHO GOT VERY SICK WITH COVID-19 DURING THE PANDEMIC SAW THEIR TUMORS SHRINK OR GROW AT A SLOWER RATE. 

THE STUDY REVEALED THE SAME CELLS ACTIVATED BY SEVERE CASES OF THE VIRUS COULD BE INDUCED WITH A DRUG TO ATTACK CANCER CELLS. 

RESEARCHERS SPECIFICALLY SAW A RESPONSE WITH MELANOMA, LUNG, BREAST AND COLON CANCER.

WHILE THERE WERE SOME ANECDOTAL STORIES FROM DOCTORS DURING THE PANDEMIC … THE RESEARCHERS ONLY USED HUMAN BLOOD AND TISSUES AND MICE – NO ACTUAL PATIENTS WITH CANCER WERE A PART OF THE STUDY.

HOWEVER, THE RESULTS LED TO DIFFERENT HEADLINES FROM MULTIPLE NEWS OUTLETS RANGING FROM “COVID COULD CURE CANCER – SCIENTISTS DISCOVER” TO “CAN COVID-19 HELP THE BODY FIGHT CANCER? SHOCKING NEW STUDY LINKS VIRUSES TO SHRINKING TUMORS.” 

THE HEADLINES HAVE SOME DOCTORS REACTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA … INCLUDING DOCTOR ALI KHAN WHO SERVED AT THE C-D-C FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS … 

HE COMMENTED ON X … “CLICKBAIT – NOPE. NOT A SINGLE PERSON INVOLVED IN THE STUDY. SOME BLOOD AND HUMAN TISSUE SAMPLES AND MICE. STAY TUNED 20 YEARS.” 

THE STUDY ALSO NOW HAS SOME PEOPLE QUESTIONING THE COVID-19 VACCINE … WITH ONE PERSON ON X SAYING “IF THE COVID-19 NATURAL INFECTION CAN MITIGATE CANCER, COULD THE COVID-19 IMMUNIZATION HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT?”

WHILE THE STUDY DIDN’T INCLUDE DATA ON THE VACCINE… THE RESEARCHERS SAY THE LINK BETWEEN THE COVID-19 VIRUS AND CANCER IS PROMISING … THEY ALSO EMPHASIZE MORE WORK IS NEEDED BEFORE THIS APPROACH CAN ACTUALLY BE USED ON PATIENTS. 

THEY SAY NEXT STEPS WILL INVOLVE CLINICAL TRIALS TO SEE IF THEY CAN SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THEIR FINDINGS ON PEOPLE. 

FOR SAN – I’M KARAH RUCKER.

FOR ALL YOUR LATEST NEWS HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.

[JACK AYLMER]

A MARRIAGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGY COULD BE THE KEY TO ADVANCES IN 

AUTONOMOUS FLIGHT.

RESEARCHERS HAVE DEVELOPED THE SO-CALLED PIGEON-BOT-TWO.

THE BIRD-LIKE ROBOT FEATURES AN ADAPTIVE TAIL AND WINGS CAPABLE OF ADJUSTING TO WIND CONDITIONS AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE– JUST LIKE THE WINGED-FRIENDS YOU SEE EVERYDAY.

PHYSICISTS BELIEVE IT COULD BE THE KEY TO RUDDERLESS FLIGHT FOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT AND FIX STABILITY ISSUES LONG-ASSOCIATED WITH PLANES HIT BY TURBULENCE.

TESTS REVEAL THE BIO-BOT IS CAPABLE OF ADJUSTING ITS TAIL AND WINGS TO ANY GUST OR POWERFUL WIND IT ENCOUNTERS.

THE DESIGN OF THE AERIAL ROBOT IS EXACTLY LIKE IT SOUNDS– INSPIRED BY THE PIGEON– IT’S ACTUALLY ADORNED WITH DOZENS OF REAL PIGEONS FEATHERS.

THE SKELETON OF THE MACHINE IS FLEXIBILE AND ITS TAIL AND WINGS CAN MOVE LIKE A BIRD.

THE ROBOT RUNS WITH THE HELP OF A REFLEXIVE BUILT IN SYSTEM, WHICH USES NINE MOTORS WITH CONTROLS TO MIMIC A PIGEON IN FLIGHT.

RESEARCHERS SAY THEY HOPE THE PIGEON-BOT-TWO WILL LEAD TO MORE RELIABLE AND STABLE FLYING ROBOTS.

IF THE TECHNOLOGY IS EVENTUALLY ADOPTED BY CERTAIN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES– RESEARCHERS SAY THE BIRD-BOTS HAVE A SMALLER RADAR SIGNATURE THAN MOST AIRCRAFT AND BETTER PERFORMANCE.

BEIJING IS ALREADY REPORTEDLY ON BOARD WITH THAT USE OF BIRD-LIKE ROBOTS.

TESTING THE TECHNOLOGY FOR SPYING WITH ITS MILITARY.

OTHER U-S COMPANIES ARE ALSO REPORTEDLY EXPERIMENTING WITH THE CONCEPT.

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M JACK AYLMER.

Simone Del Rosario: For the first time in four years, Republicans are feeling good about the economy. 

And economically speaking, only one thing has changed. 

Donald Trump: Thank you very much, wow. 

Simone Del Rosario: The latest consumer sentiment survey from the University of Michigan out Friday shows Republicans are feeling pretty peachy about economic expectations moving forward. Holwever, Democrats took a dive. It’s a mirror image of what happened after the 2020 Election when President Joe Biden beat out President Donald Trump.

The latest data point confirms other surveys we’ve seen since Trump was declared the winner Nov. 6. 

In this Morning Consult survey, which shows 5-day moving averages, you can see the immediate shift since Trump won the election. Any number below 100 is negative, above 100 is positive. As soon as Trump won, Republicans said they felt good about the economy. 

Consumer sentiment has historically been a key indicator of the health of the economy. Consumer spending makes up two-thirds of the country’s economic growth. People spend money when they’re feeling good about economic conditions, so businesses look at consumer sentiment to see how fast the wheels are turning. 

In recent years, though, this measure has gotten increasingly political, as you’re seeing now. And that may make it a less reliable look at true economic conditions. 

Overall, consumer sentiment measured by the University of Michigan is up slightly in November and up 17% over the past year, but sentiment is still far from its pre-pandemic levels. Expectations for the economy are up more than 35% in the past year, likely driven at least in part by lowering inflation. 

[Ray Bogan]

Sen. Markwayne Mullin is blocking the promotion of a general who oversaw the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. According to The Hill, Lt. General Christopher Donahue was one of nearly 1,000 promotions the Senate Armed Services Committee approved Tuesday, but when the full chamber voted Thursday, his name was not on the list. 

Lt. Gen. Donahue was nominated by President Biden to be the head of the U.S. Army in Europe. Sources told the outlet Mullin objected to his nomination due to his role in Afghanistan. 

Mullin’s office declined to comment.

Pentagon spokesman James Adams told The Hill in a statement “Lt. Gen. Donahue is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and has served his country for more than thirty years. His appointment comes at an extremely critical time in the European region. We urge the Senate to confirm all of our highly qualified nominees. Holds on our nominees undermine our military readiness.”

Donahue is known as the last man out of Afghanistan. At the time, he was commanding officer of the 82nd Airborne division which was in charge of securing Hamid Karzai International Airport while the military evacuated Americans and Afghans after the Taliban took over. 

The Afghanistan withdrawal has been sharply criticized due to the casualties and the $7 billion in military equipment that was left behind. Thirteen servicemembers died in addition to 170 Afghan civilians after a suicide bomber detonated a device at the airport’s gate. NBC News reported the Trump transition team is compiling a list of officers who could be court-martialed for their involvement. To date, no one has been formally punished for their role in the withdrawal.