Por KONSTANTIN TOROPIN, LISA MASCARO y SUSAN HAIGH

WASHINGTON (AP) — La Guardia Costera de Estados Unidos hizo pública una nueva política más clara acerca de la exhibición de símbolos de odio como esvásticas y sogas, solo unas horas después de que se revelara que planeaba describirlos como “potencialmente divisivos”, un término que causó indignación entre legisladores y activistas.

“Se prohíben los símbolos y banderas divisivos o de odio”, indicó la última política de la Guardia Costera, publicada el jueves por la noche, que añadió que la categoría incluye “una soga, una esvástica y cualquier símbolo o bandera cooptada o adoptada por grupos basados en el odio”.

“No se trata de una política actualizada, sino que es una nueva política para combatir cualquier desinformación y reafirmar que la Guardia Costera de Estados Unidos prohíbe estos símbolos”, afirmó la agencia en un comunicado adjunto.

El cambio anunciado a última hora de la noche se produjo el mismo día en que medios de comunicación, encabezados por The Washington Post, descubrieron que la Guardia Costera había redactado a principios de este mes una política que calificaba esos mismos símbolos como “potencialmente divisivos”. Esa calificación suponía un cambio respecto a la política implantada en 2019 que señalaba que símbolos como esvásticas y sogas estaban “ampliamente identificados con la opresión o el odio” y calificaba su exhibición como “un posible incidente de odio”.

La última norma también prohíbe de forma clara mostrar cualquier símbolo divisivo o de odio en todos los emplazamientos de la Guardia Costera. En la versión anterior no vetaba esa simbología, sino que apuntaba que los comandantes podían emprender medidas para retirarlos de la vista pública y que la regla no se aplicaba a espacios privados fuera del alcance del público, como las viviendas para familias.

Ambas políticas conservaban la prohibición de larga data de mostrar públicamente la bandera confederada, salvo en un puñado de situaciones, como entornos educativos o históricos.

Al parecer, las nuevas directrices entraron en vigor de inmediato.

Cuando se hizo público el cambio inicial, la senadora demócrata por Nevada Jacky Rosen señaló que la decisión “revierte protecciones importantes contra la intolerancia y podría permitir que se exhiban de forma inexplicable horribles símbolos de odio como esvásticas y sogas”.

“En un momento en que el antisemitismo va en aumento en Estados Unidos y en todo el mundo, relajar las políticas destinadas a combatir los crímenes de odio no solo envía el mensaje equivocado a los hombres y mujeres de nuestra Guardia Costera, sino que pone en riesgo su seguridad”, agregó.

En un comunicado emitido antes el jueves, el almirante Kevin Lunday, comandante en funciones de la Guardia Costera, dijo que la iniciativa no revocaba ninguna prohibición y calificó como “categóricamente falso” afirmar lo contrario.

“Estos símbolos han estado y siguen estando prohibidos en la Guardia Costera según la política”, explicó Lunday en la nota, agregando que “cualquier exhibición, uso o promoción de tales símbolos, como siempre, será investigada a fondo y severamente castigada”.

La predecesora de Lunday, la almirante Linda Fagan, fue cesada el primer día del segundo mandato del presidente Donald Trump. Funcionarios del equipo del mandatario señalaron más tarde que su despido se debió en parte a un “enfoque excesivo” en los esfuerzos de diversidad e inclusión que desviaban “recursos y atención de las necesidades operativas”.

La norma anterior, que se implementó a principios de noviembre, también decía explícitamente que “la terminología ‘incidente de odio’ ya no está presente en la política” y que la conducta que antes se habría gestionado como un posible incidente de odio pasaría a tratarse ahora como “un reporte de acoso en casos con un individuo agraviado identificado”.

De acuerdo con ese texto, los comandantes, en consulta con abogados, podían ordenar o dirigir la retirada de símbolos o banderas “potencialmente divisivos” si se considera que afectaban a la moral o la disciplina de la unidad.

La nueva política no se pronuncia acerca de si el personal de la Guardia Costera podrá alegar que fue víctima de incidentes de odio.

La Guardia Costera depende del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional aunque todavía se considera parte de las fuerzas armadas, y la nueva política se actualizó en parte para que fuese coherente con directivas similares del Pentágono, según el comunicado de la agencia en el que se anunciaron los cambios.

Además, históricamente ha modelado muchas de sus políticas de recursos humanos en base a las de otros servicios militares.

El cambio se produjo menos de dos meses después de que el secretario de Defensa, Pete Hegseth, ordenó la revisión de todas las definiciones de acoso, intimidación y hostigamiento en el ejército, alegando que esas directrices eran “demasiado amplias” y “ponen en peligro la preparación para el combate, el cumplimiento de la misión y la confianza en la organización”.

El Pentágono no ofreció detalles sobre qué se estaba revisando en concreto, si podría realizar cambios similares a los de la política de la Guardia Costera o cuándo completaría la revisión.

Menachem Rosensaft, profesor de Derecho en la Universidad de Cornell y líder de la comunidad judía, dijo en un comunicado que “la esvástica es el símbolo definitivo del odio y la intolerancia virulenta, e incluso el hecho de que la Guardia Costera considere no clasificarla ya como tal sería equivalente a considerar las cruces en llamas y las capuchas del Ku Klux Klan como meramente ‘potencialmente divisivas’”.

El líder demócrata del Senado, Chuck Schumer, calificó la medida de “repugnante, y un nuevo apoyo de los republicanos al extremismo”.

___

Haigh informó desde Norwich, Connecticut.

___

Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/guardia-costera-revierte-poltica-de-calificar-esvsticas-y-sogas-como-potencialmente-divisivas/ 

You’ll score great deals at these popular retailers

With can’t-miss sales on everything from socks to smart TVs, Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. It falls on Nov. 28 this year, offering exciting deals from nearly every retailer under the sun. However, not all Black Friday sales are created equal. To score the best deals, there are definitely some retailers you’ll want to keep an eye on.

Check out some of our favorite retailers with Black Friday sales — and some early deals you can take advantage of right now.

Best Amazon early Black Friday deals

It’s no surprise that Amazon, one of the largest and most popular online retailers, offers such excellent Black Friday deals. Whether you’re shopping for holiday gifts for your little ones or kitchen appliances to make cooking easier, Amazon has got you covered.

Apple Air Tag 4-Pack 34% OFF

Forget about losing your keys or bag ever again with these easy-to-use smart tags. They are easy to set up with your iPhone or iPad and feature a built-in speaker that plays a chime when you need to locate the item. You can share a tag with up to five people, so the entire family can find shared items.

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer 30% OFF

Power through all your holiday baking with this premium stand mixer. It features durable metal construction and 10 speeds that can handle nearly any kitchen task. Its 5-quart stainless steel bowl is also large enough to mix dough for up to nine dozen cookies at a time.

Melissa & Doug Wooden Scoop & Serve Ice Cream Counter 49% OFF

This fun 28-piece wooden set lets kids pretend to serve up their favorite ice cream treats. It includes a countertop that doubles as a storage box, an ice cream scooper, scoops, cones, toppings, utensils and more. It can inspire hours of imaginative play for kids ages 3 and up, providing the perfect break from screen time.

Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser 50% OFF

This easy-to-use water flosser has a large water reservoir that provides over 90 seconds of flossing time without refills. It offers 10 settings to help clean and massage your gums, as well as a timer to ensure you floss for as long as you should. It even comes with 10 tips, so the entire family can use it.

Best Walmart early Black Friday deals

Walmart is known for its everyday low prices, but it raises that bar for Black Friday. You can score great discounts on toys, TVs, vacuums and more.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum 45% OFF

This cordless vacuum provides up to 30% more power, so it rivals corded models. Its battery also provides up to 60 minutes of cleaning time, and the power button means there’s no trigger you need to hold down during vacuuming. It also features a special light to reveal hidden dirt and dust, ensuring your floors are as clean as possible.

Qunler Nugger Ice Maker 68% OFF

You won’t need to head to the drive-thru for chewable nugget ice with this convenient countertop ice maker. It can make ice in as little as 10 minutes and produce up to 44 pounds per day. It doesn’t make too much noise either, operating at just 45 decibels.

TCL 98″ Class Q6 4K UHD HDR QLED Smart TV 44% OFF

Enjoy your favorite TV shows and movies in stunning clarity with this 4K smart TV. It features Dolby Atmos Audio and DTS Virtual:X immersive audio, which brings media and video games to life. It also includes a hands-free voice remote that allows you to easily search for movies and TV shows.

Best Target early Black Friday deals

Target is another big box retailer that offers exciting discounts for Black Friday. You’ll find deals on countertop kitchen appliances, toys, holiday decorations and more.

Ninja Flip Toaster Oven & Air Fryer 28% OFF

This versatile air fryer oven frees up space on your counter by flipping up to store against your backsplash. It supports eight cooking functions, including air fry, roast, broil, bake, pizza, toast, bagel and dehydrate, and is large enough to cook for up to four people. Best of all, it cooks 50% faster than a traditional oven.

Barbie Dream House Pool Party Doll House 15% OFF

Any Barbie fan on your holiday shopping list will love unwrapping this 75-piece dollhouse. It can inspire hours of play with 10 different areas for Barbie to play, including a working elevator, a three-story slide and a balcony. There’s enough room to sleep up to four dolls, and it even includes accessories for Barbie’s furry friends, including a pet bed, a doggie door and a pet house.

Wondershop 36″ Christmas Bottle Brush Sculpture 30% OFF

This fun, glittery Christmas tree instantly adds festive cheer to any room. It features an attached base that allows you to set it on a floor, console table, or sideboard. You can choose from four colors, including a classic green and a fun pink.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/bookmark-these-retailers-for-black-friday-sales/ 

Suddenly millions of working Americans can no longer afford “Obamacare” health insurance, as premium subsidies have been removed. But there is one other potential health insurance opportunity that could offer significantly lower premiums — if you act quickly.

It’s called the Small Business Special Enrollment period which runs from November 15 through December 15.

This is a little-understood opportunity for businesses with as few as two employees — and a minimum of only one plan participant — to purchase a top-rated group plan with NO employer contribution required. And the employees can pay the premiums on a pre-tax (salary deduction) basis.

And according to Alan Wishner of Vesta Benefits Group (www.VestaBenefitsGroup.com), millions of small businesses could easily set up these policies — even if the owner is older and on Medicare. As long as there are two employees, only one has to sign on to the health insurance.

So, if you’re a small business owner — with from 2 to 50 employees — who thought offering a health care benefit was too expensive or too complex, read on. (And if you work for a small business that doesn’t offer group health insurance, show this column to the owner!)

The Affordable Care Act mandated that insurers must offer their best group health insurance plans to small businesses during a once-a-year special enrollment period. These plans must offer the same comprehensive coverage as the generous coverage plans negotiated by large businesses in your state. Those plans have large networks of hospitals and physicians.

During this period, all insurance companies that are selling plans in your state agree to accept all small businesses that apply for coverage.

Not surprisingly, few insurance agents are pushing these plans, because they are a nuisance to the insurers and don’t generate big commissions for the agent. So it’s up to you — the small business owner — to research this coverage.

Here’s how this small business insurance deal works:

Dates: Small businesses (2-50 employees) must apply between November 15 and December 15. The plan becomes effective January 1, 2026.

Qualifications: Businesses can set up a plan even if only one full-time employee joins. So, if some employees are covered by a spousal plan or Medicare, and only one person wants this coverage, the plan is qualified. For example, a business owner who is older and covered by Medicare does not have to join the plan — but can offer the insurance to up to 50 employees.

Coverage: The plan must offer equally comprehensive coverage and premiums as group plans for other businesses in the state.

Premiums: The monthly premiums must be comparable to those offered to traditional small group plans.

Costs: The employer is NOT required to contribute on behalf of the employee. And an employee can pay premiums on a pre-tax, salary deduction basis.

Pre-existing conditions: There are no limitations, because of the provisions of the ACA.

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Dependent coverage: Because these are true group insurance plans, dependents such as spouses and minor children under age 26 are also eligible for coverage under the plan.

Obviously, it will be tempting for sole proprietors to create this small business group plan just to get the coverage. However, you must prove that you have had at least two employees or at least two partners that received income from the business.

If you’re a small business that hasn’t provided insurance, you could be a hero to your employees. But you must act quickly to get these benefits for 2026. Ask your insurance agent — or go to the specialists to get guidance, such as: Vesta Benefits Group (www.vestabenefitsgroup.com) for Illinois businesses, and eHealth (www.ehealthinsurance.com), which has small business agents nationally.

Don’t delay. You need to speak with an agent to see if you can qualify and find your premium costs — and to begin the paperwork so applications can be submitted before the December 15 deadline.

I know this is the one deal that sounds too good to be true. But it is true! And that’s the Savage Truth.

(Terry Savage is a registered investment adviser and the author of four best-selling books, including “The Savage Truth on Money.” Terry responds to questions on her blog at TerrySavage.com.)

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/terry-savage-lower-health-care-premiums-with-small-biz-insurance/ 

Netanyahu Visits Israeli Troops Inside Southern Syria In Provocative First

Tyler Durden
Fri, 11/21/2025 – 03:30

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/netanyahu-visits-israeli-troops-inside-southern-syria-provocative-first 

Dear Anna,

I’ve been dating my girlfriend for a little over a year, and for the most part things are great. We’re both pretty sentimental people, but in different ways. I save things — not in a hoarder way, but I’ve kept shoeboxes of old letters, birthday cards and printed photos from past relationships going back to college. I don’t look at them often; maybe once or twice a year I’ll flip through them out of nostalgia, the same way someone might reread an old journal or yearbook. It doesn’t make me miss the people or want anything back. If anything, it reminds me how much I’ve grown and how different my life is now.

My girlfriend recently found one of the boxes while we were reorganizing the closet, and she did not take it well. She asked why I “need” to keep any of this, especially since some of it includes love letters and romantic photos. I told her the truth — that I’m not pining, I’m not comparing, I’m not holding a torch for anyone. It just feels wrong to throw away pieces of my own life. These relationships shaped me, even when they ended badly.

But she insists that keeping this stuff — and especially looking at it — is disrespectful to her. She said it makes her feel like she’s competing with ghosts. I don’t want her to feel insecure, and I’m not trying to hide anything. But I also don’t want to erase my own history to soothe a fear I’m not sure I fully understand. Is it wrong to hold on to memories of past relationships when you’re committed to someone new? Should I get rid of the boxes to make her feel more secure, or should she work through the discomfort on her end? I want to be considerate, but I also don’t want to pretend the life I lived before her never happened. Am I being insensitive, or is she being unfair? — Not Trying to Date My Past

Dear NTDMP,

Let’s start with this: You’re not doing anything strange. Almost everyone keeps artifacts from the life they lived before their current partner — a letter, a playlist, a rock, a yearbook scribble, a photo tucked into a forgotten folder on a hard drive in the garage. Sometimes we don’t even realize we still have these things. When my father died and I was cleaning out his home, I found a birthday card from my orthodontist that I had kept for some reason since I was 12. Why?

Our histories accumulate in drawers and boxes and iClouds the same way our memories accumulate in our bodies. It’s normal to want a record of who you were. It’s normal to revisit it. That doesn’t automatically mean you’re longing for anything (or anyone) you left behind.

But! It’s also normal for your girlfriend to feel a pang when she sees tangible evidence of your old loves. These items aren’t just paper and ink and pixels to her — they’re symbols. Proof that you once felt deeply for other people. Proof that she wasn’t the first, and possibly not the most intense. Many people are fine with their partner’s past in the abstract, but the physical artifacts can feel like emotional clutter encroaching on the present.

So you’re both being human. No villains here.

The real issue is symbolic meaning. For you, these boxes are a museum exhibit. For her, they’re an altar.

That’s why your instinct isn’t to hide them or toss them; you already know they’re inert. But for her, the existence of these objects — and especially the fact that you look at them, regardless of how infrequently — feels alive. Like an open portal to something she can’t see into.

The goal, then, is not to decide whose feelings are “correct,” but whose interpretation needs updating.

Start by explaining in a calm moment (not while either of you is staring at the box): “These things don’t represent desire. They represent memory. They help me remember who I was — not who I want to be with.” You don’t have to use flowery language; just anchor it in emotional reality.

Then ask her two important questions:

“What part of this feels threatening to you?”

Because there are layers here, and she may not even know which one is snagging her heart. It might be comparison — the worry that those letters capture a version of you who felt a kind of intensity she fears she can’t match. It might be disposability — the fear that she could become just another box in your closet someday. Or it might be imagination, the worst culprit of all: When she sees old love notes, she’s not thinking about dusty pages; she’s picturing living, breathing exes with history and inside jokes and moments she was never part of.

Even if you know those relationships are fully dormant, the artifacts are proof they once mattered — and she may not yet know how to hold that truth without shrinking from it.

This is why your tone matters more than your logic.

You’re not trying to win an argument; you’re trying to make room for her feelings without letting them run your life. So when you ask the question, do it gently. Let her talk without immediately reassuring her out of her discomfort. Sometimes people soften the moment they feel allowed to speak the scary thing out loud.

And the second question: “What would help you feel secure, without requiring me to erase my past?” This invites collaboration instead of defensiveness.

You can also offer a boundary that doesn’t require tossing your mementos: “If looking at the boxes bothers you, I’m happy to store them somewhere out of sight. I’m not attached to having them accessible — just to not pretending those years never existed.”

She may surprise you by softening once she feels understood, not overridden.

But here’s the crucial thing: Memory isn’t the enemy of commitment. In fact, people who can reflect on their past tend to be better at choosing present partners with intention. You didn’t hide the box. You didn’t lie about it. You didn’t turn nostalgia into a secret ritual. Those are the behaviors that signal danger — and you’re doing none of them.

If your girlfriend ultimately needs you to destroy these artifacts to feel loved, that’s not about the photos. That’s about a deeper fear that no amount of shredding will fix.

Your past is a map, not a rival. Stay compassionate, stay honest and stay rooted in the present you’re actually building with her.

©2025 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/ask-anna-what-to-do-when-your-partner-feels-insecure-about-your-past/ 

Putin In Military Fatigues Announces Another Key Ukrainian City Captured

Tyler Durden
Fri, 11/21/2025 – 02:45

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/putin-military-fatigues-announces-another-key-ukrainian-city-captured 

Por FATIMA HUSSEIN y GISELA SALOMON

WASHINGTON (AP) — El Departamento del Tesoro de Estados Unidos dijo el jueves que planea reclasificar ciertos créditos fiscales reembolsables como “prestaciones públicas federales”, lo que impedirá que algunos contribuyentes inmigrantes los reciban, incluso si presentan y pagan impuestos y, de otro modo, cumplirían los requisitos.

Los expertos fiscales señalan que quienes fueron llevados a Estados Unidos de forma ilegal por sus padres cuando eran menores —conocidos como beneficiarios de DACA, o Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia— y los migrantes con estatus de protección temporal son los más susceptibles de verse afectados por la propuesta. La situación de los trabajadores extranjeros y los titulares de visas de estudiante, así como de algunas familias cuyos hijos tienen la nacionalidad estadounidense, dependería de la redacción de la norma, afirman.

El anuncio del Departamento del Tesoro fue el último indicio de cómo la administración del presidente Donald Trump ha adoptado un enfoque “integral de gobierno” en lo relativo a la aplicación de la ley migratoria y busca en todos los departamentos federales, no solo en Seguridad Nacional, formas de ayudar a cumplir la agenda migratoria del mandatario.

El Tesoro indicó en su anuncio que planea elaborar nuevas normas que afecten las partes reembolsadas de ciertos créditos fiscales sobre la renta de las personas físicas, incluidos beneficios relacionados con el trabajo, los hijos o el ahorro.

La nueva normativa redefiniría los créditos fiscales como “prestaciones públicas federales” en el contexto de la Ley de Reconciliación de la Responsabilidad Personal y la Oportunidad de Trabajo de 1996. Como resultado, muchos migrantes con permiso de trabajo en el país ya no podrán acogerse a esos beneficios.

Según el Instituto de Tributación y Política Económica, los migrantes que no cuentan con la documentación reglamentaria y pagan impuestos no suelen poder optar a los mismos beneficios fiscales que los ciudadanos estadounidenses, a pesar de que este grupo aportó casi 100.000 millones de dólares en impuestos federales, estatales y locales en 2022.

Por ejemplo, las personas en situación irregular no tienen derecho a las prestaciones de jubilación del Seguro Social o al seguro de salud de Medicare, a pesar de que contribuyen con miles de millones de dólares a los impuestos federales sobre los salarios que financian esos beneficios.

Los críticos señalaron que el cambio es una forma de atacar a los migrantes dentro de las políticas de Trump.

“Es una idea terrible e injusta negar beneficios fiscales a personas que han pagado impuestos y son elegibles para ellos debido a su estatus migratorio”, dijo Daniel Costa, director de Investigación de Leyes y Políticas de Inmigración en el Instituto de Política Económica.

“La aplicación (de la medida) requerirá determinar quién tiene estatus y quién no, lo cual es otra forma en que el gobierno de Trump ampliará su red de deportaciones”, agregó.

Se espera que la regulación definitiva se aplique a partir del año fiscal 2026. El secretario del Tesoro, Scott Bessent, afirmó en un comunicado que “estamos haciendo cumplir la ley y evitando que los extranjeros en situación irregular reclamen beneficios fiscales destinados a ciudadanos estadounidenses”. El Tesoro pidió al Departamento de Justicia una reinterpretación de la normativa para elaborar la nueva ley, indicó la agencia.

Carl Davis, director de investigación del Instituto de Tributación y Política Económica, apuntó que dado que quienes no cuentan con un permiso de trabajo ya no califican para estos beneficios, “las personas que realmente se verán afectadas son aquellas que realmente están tratando de hacer lo correcto, las personas autorizadas a trabajar y que pagan sus impuestos”.

Según Davis, la Casa Blanca estaría tratando de dificultar la vida de los migrantes que cumplen con sus obligaciones fiscales.

Brandon DeBot, director de política del Centro de Derecho Tributario de NYU, explicó en un comunicado que la reinterpretación de la ley por parte del Tesoro para elaborar una nueva normativa para los créditos fiscales “anula disposiciones muy claras del código tributario”.

«Denegar los créditos fiscales a las familias migrantes requiere que el Congreso actúe de forma explícita», afirmó DeBot.

Davis dijo que probablemente la normativa no tendría un respaldo mayoritario en el Congreso, lo que habría podido llevar al gobierno a actuar unilateralmente en el tema.

“En general, la población estadounidense simpatiza con los dreamers y los beneficiarios de DACA. Atacarlos de esta forma indirecta no es un cambio de política que hubiera tenido apoyo mayoritario en el Congreso”, afirmó.

___

Salomon informó desde Miami.

___

Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/eeuu-planea-cambiar-requisitos-para-beneficios-fiscales-lo-que-afectar-a-migrantes-contribuyentes/