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Republican Leadership Emerges |
House Republicans will keep their majority, projections revealed yesterday. The news gives the party command of the House, Senate, and presidency. Democrats secured at least 208 House seats to Republicans' 218 as of this writing; nine races are still uncalled.
The news came as Republicans held secret ballot votes for House and Senate leadership yesterday, with Sen. John Thune (R-SD) tapped to replace retiring Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) in January. House Majority Leader Mike Johnson (R, LA-4) won GOP approval to continue in his role. Republican majorities in both chambers could pave the way for President-elect Donald Trump to enact his legislative agenda, including tax cuts and immigration reform.
Separately, Trump announced Rep. Matt Gaetz (R, FL-1) as his pick for attorney general, pending Senate confirmation. The announcement prompted Gaetz to resign immediately from Congress, effectively ending the ethics probe against him. Gaetz was the subject of a since-dropped Justice Department probe and led the effort to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R, CA-20).
Trump also announced Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) as his pick for secretary of state and ex-Democrat Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. Both roles require Senate confirmation; see the emerging Trump administration here. |
Amazon launched Amazon Haul yesterday, a new low-cost digital storefront for US mobile users. The new feature promises prices below $20 for a variety of household products, with free, roughly two-week shipping on orders over $25 and free returns on items over $3 within 15 days.
The product launch from the US' largest online retailer comes amid growing competition from China-based e-commerce platforms Temu and Shein, whose gamified user interfaces and low-cost products have earned a quick, widespread user base in the US. Retailers use proprietary inventory software to precisely shift orders to sellers based on customer behavior. Estimates peg the companies hold roughly 1% of US e-commerce market share each, compared to Amazon's 40%.
Analysts say Haul's interface resembles the gamified grid of Temu and Shein and that its longer shipping times suggest Haul's products will likely ship from China. A company announcement highlighted sellers would be screened for safety and compliance, a recurring complaint against the Chinese apps. |
Humans' tendency toward long childhoods may have evolved earlier than previously thought, a new study found, potentially even predating our large brain sizes. The study challenges the prevailing hypothesis the two evolved simultaneously.
The study, published yesterday in Nature, centers on the 1.8-million-year-old fossil of a roughly 11-year-old child discovered in Dmanisi, Georgia. Researchers studied X-rays of the child's molar teeth to identify stress lines and nutritional patterns, which they used to create a visual timeline of the child's dental development (see video).
The study suggests the child experienced slow early dental growth, relying on milk teeth for the first five years of life. Because the child belonged to a Homo species with only slightly larger brains than modern chimpanzees, the authors say long childhoods—in which humans rely on parents, grandparents, and other adults for support—may have predated humans' ability to grow larger brains.
Learn about long childhoods and the human brain here (w/video). |
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In partnership with Timeline |
Experts Identify Major Culprit Behind Aging |
It’s well known that as we age, we can expect less energy, more tiredness, and weaker muscles, but did you know the root of this issue lies at the cellular level?
Starting in our 30s, the mitochondria, responsible for 90% of your body’s energy, take on damage with time and our cells slowly lose the ability to repair it. This decline wears down our physical strength and endurance, lowering quality of life over time. But, recent discoveries have revealed a way to restore cellular energy and support healthy aging. Clinically proven Mitopure® is a breakthrough over 15 years in the making that replaces aging mitochondria and helps to rebuild new ones, increasing cellular energy. The results? Studies found participants saw muscle strength and endurance increase without any changes to exercise.
Ready to live better for longer? 1440 readers get early Black Friday access with code 1440BF for 30% off Mitopure, while supplies last. |
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Sports, Entertainment, & Culture |
> Actor and filmmaker John Krasinski named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2024 (More) |
> Timothy West, British stage and screen actor, dies at age 90 (More) | "Full House" actor Dave Coulier reveals stage 3 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer diagnosis (More) |
> Disney settles class-action lawsuit with 9,000 female workers alleging they were paid less than their male counterparts in comparable roles (More) |
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> Researchers use data from millions of smartphones across the globe to map Earth's ionosphere, the layer of charged particles in the upper atmosphere (More) |
> Scientists identify the gene controlling tomato sweetness, genetically modify the plant to control sugar levels without affecting size (More) |
> Well-preserved fossil allows scientists to reconstruct the brain of a bird living 80 million years ago, during the Mesozoic era; discovery sheds light on the evolution of avian intelligence (More) |
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In partnership with Mode Mobile |
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> US stock markets close near flatline (S&P 500 +0.0%, Dow +0.1%, Nasdaq -0.3%) after consumer price index rose 2.6% year-over-year in October, in line with expectations (More) | Netherlands-based Just Eat Takeaway sells Grubhub for $650M four years after buying it for $7.3B (More) |
> Spirit Airlines shares close down 59% on reports company is preparing to file for bankruptcy after failed merger talks with Frontier Airlines (More) | Rivian shares close up nearly 14% after Volkswagen boosts investment in the EV company to $5.8B as part of new joint venture (More) |
> Swedish payments giant Klarna files for US initial public offering, though number of shares and price range of offering are yet to be determined; analysts value Klarna around $15B (More) | Want to learn about IPOs, and tons of other topics? Join 1440 Business & Finance (Sign up here) |
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> CIA official Asif William Rahman is arrested in Cambodia, charged with violating the Espionage Act by leaking top-secret classified documents on Israel's retaliation plans against Iran last month (More) |
> Pakistan reveals plans to add hospital beds to treat the nearly 70,000 people suffering respiratory issues on average each day amid record levels of smog in eastern Punjab province (More) | See photos of smog, visible from space (More) |
> National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration releases US snowfall predictions, expected to be lower this year due to La Niña weather pattern, with some northwestern and Great Lakes states experiencing higher snowfall (More) |
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> Forbidden Photos of Nazi-Occupied Paris
NPR | Eleanor Beardsley, Nick Spicer. In the summer of 2020, a documentary producer discovered hundreds of illegally photographed scenes of Vichy France. So began a yearslong search for the man behind the lens. (Read)
> Inside Luxury Kids’ Parties
Boston Magazine | Kara Baskin. One in five parents spends more than $500 per child's birthday party. See an insider's look at the high-end children's parties driving up average party costs in the US. (Read) |
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In partnership with Timeline |
Keep Muscles Strong As You Age |
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