Category: News
Dueño de Yankees, Hal Steinbrenner, evita apoyar un tope salarial pero considera salario mínimo
Por LARRY FLEISHER
NUEVA YORK (AP) — El propietario de los Yankees de Nueva York, Hal Steinbrenner, se negó a decir el lunes si apoya una propuesta de tope salarial en el próximo acuerdo de negociación colectiva, pero reiteró que podría respaldar un piso salarial.
“No siento que esté en posición en este momento, en cuanto a investigación o conocimiento, para responder a esa pregunta”, afirmó Steinbrenner en una videoconferencia desde Tampa. “Siempre estaremos entre los más altos en cuanto a nómina. Siempre lo hemos estado. Siempre lo estaremos”.
En febrero, Steinbrenner dijo que podría apoyar una propuesta de tope salarial siempre que contenga una disposición que exija nóminas mínimas. La MLB ha tenido un impuesto de lujo desde 2003, pero es la única de las cuatro principales ligas profesionales de Estados Unidos sin un tope salarial.
“Algo que sería lo suficientemente razonable como para mejorar significativamente el equilibrio competitivo en el deporte”, comentó Steinbrenner al ser preguntado sobre un posible piso salarial. “Muchos aficionados ya argumentan que no ha sido suficiente. Creo que hemos avanzado en los últimos diez años en algunas de las cosas que hemos hecho, pero como industria probablemente no estamos cerca de donde necesitamos estar, al menos eso es lo que la mayoría de los aficionados creen y hay varias formas de abordarlo”.
Al final de la temporada regular y sin incluir bonificaciones de contrato, los Yankees tenían una nómina de 301 millones y un impuesto de lujo proyectado de 62 millones. Los Yankees tuvieron la nómina más alta de las Grandes Ligas durante 15 años consecutivos hasta 2013, pero no han liderado en nómina desde entonces, aunque han pagado el impuesto de lujo en 21 de 23 temporadas por un total de más de 500 millones.
Los Mets firmaron a Juan Soto con un contrato récord de 765 millones por 15 años después de su única temporada con los Yankees y se perdieron los playoffs con una nómina de 340 millones y un impuesto de lujo de 89 millones.
Los Dodgers ganaron su segunda Serie Mundial consecutiva al vencer a los Azulejos de Toronto en siete juegos y terminaron la temporada regular con una nómina de 341.5 millones y un impuesto de lujo de 168 millones, sin incluir el bono de firma de 6.5 millones para Roki Sasaki en un contrato de ligas menores.
Seis de los 12 equipos de postemporada tienen nóminas de 200 millones o más, con los Medias Rojas de Boston a unos 500,000 del objetivo.
Desde 1995, cuando comenzaron los playoffs ampliados, 22 equipos ganaron una Serie Mundial clasificados entre los diez primeros en nómina del Día Inaugural. Desde que los Yankees ganaron un título por última vez en 2009, solo cuatro equipos ganaron una Serie Mundial clasificados entre los tres primeros en nómina: los Medias Rojas de 2018, y los Dodgers de 2020, 2024 y 2025.
El acuerdo de negociación colectiva del béisbol expira el 1 de diciembre de 2026, y los cierres patronales se han convertido en la norma, lo que traslada el inicio de una interrupción a la temporada baja. Durante las últimas negociaciones, las partes alcanzaron un acuerdo de cinco años el diez de marzo después de un cierre patronal de 99 días, salvando una temporada 2022 de 162 juegos que se retrasó una semana.
Una propuesta de tope salarial de la gerencia podría contener un piso salarial y un porcentaje garantizado de ingresos para los jugadores. Los jugadores de béisbol han soportado nueve paros laborales, incluida una huelga de siete meses y medio en 1994-95 que rechazó una propuesta de tope.
Los Yankees retuvieron a Trent Grisham después de que aceptara la oferta calificada de 22 millones por un año. Grisham fue uno de un récord de cuatro jugadores en aceptar junto con el segunda base de Detroit, Gleyber Torres, el zurdo de los Cachorros de Chicago, Shota Imanaga, y el derecho de Milwaukee, Brandon Woodruff.
Se espera que los Yankees hagan una oferta agresiva para retener a Cody Bellinger, quien recibió 27.5 millones la temporada pasada.
Los Cachorros enviaron 5 millones a los Yankees cuando cambiaron a Bellinger y el versátil jardinero bateó .272 con 29 jonrones y 98 carreras impulsadas bajo la primera de dos opciones de jugador como parte de un contrato de 80 millones por tres años.
“¿Sería ideal si bajara (nuestra nómina)? Por supuesto”, expresó Steinbrenner. “Pero, ¿significa eso que va a suceder? Por supuesto que no. Queremos formar un equipo que creemos que podría ganar un campeonato.
“Simplemente no ha cambiado, por eso las nóminas probablemente han subido cada año. No significa que no bajen ligeramente un año y luego suban el año siguiente. Todo depende de lo que haya disponible y cuáles sean las posibilidades y cuánto sienta que podemos o necesitamos actuar sobre esas posibilidades”.
___
Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Zach Bryan announces 2026 US and international tour dates
Zach Bryan is set to embark on his biggest international tour yet, “With Heaven on Tour,” a U.S. and European run of dates kicking off March 7, 2026 in St. Louis at the Dome at America’s Center.
The tour spans over 40 dates across North America and Europe, including stops in London, Berlin, Oslo, Cork, San Diego, Arlington, TX, and Foxborough, MA before wrapping up October 10 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Alabama.
Bryan is coming off a massive fall run with sold out shows at major college football stadiums in the United States, highlighted by a September concert at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI: the first concert ever held at the largest football stadium in the Northern Hemisphere, which set a record for largest single ticketed concert in U.S. history, with more than 110,000 people.
He recently confirmed the release of his upcoming album “With Heaven on Top,” for January 9, 2026.
With Heaven On Tour 2026 Dates:
March 7, 2026: St. Louis, MO – The Dome at America’s Center
Main: Caamp | Supporting: J.R. Carroll
March 14, 2026: Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium
Main: Caamp | Supporting: J.R. Carroll
March 21, 2026: San Antonio, TX – The Alamodome
Main: Caamp | Supporting: J.R. Carroll
March 28, 2026: Baton Rouge, LA – Tiger Stadium
Main: Caamp | Supporting: J.R. Carroll
April 11, 2026: Louisville, KY – L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium
Main: Kings of Leon | Supporting: J.R. Carroll
April 18, 2026: Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium
Main: Caamp | Supporting: J.R. Carroll
April 25, 2026: Lincoln, NE – Memorial Stadium
Main: Kings of Leon | Supporting: J.R. Carroll
May 2, 2026: Starkville, MS – Davis Wade Stadium
Main: Dijon | Supporting: J.R. Carroll
May 9, 2026: Cleveland, OH – Huntington Bank Field
Main: Dijon | Supporting: J.R. Carroll
May 27, 2026: San Sebastián, Spain – Donostia Arena
Main: Ben Howard | Supporting: Keenan O’Meara
May 31, 2026: Berlin, Germany – Waldbühne
Main: Ben Howard | Supporting: Keenan O’Meara
June 3, 2026: Oslo, Norway – Unity Arena
Main: Ben Howard | Supporting: Keenan O’Meara
June 6, 2026: Copenhagen, Denmark – Parken
Main: Ben Howard | Supporting: Keenan O’Meara
June 9, 2026: Eindhoven, Netherlands – Philips Stadion
Main: Ben Howard | Supporting: Keenan O’Meara
June 12, 2026: Liverpool, UK – Anfield Stadium
Main: Dijon | Supporting: Fey Fili
June 14, 2026: Edinburgh, UK – Scottish Gas Murrayfield
Main: Dijon | Supporting: Fey Fili
June 16, 2026: London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Main: Dijon | Supporting: Fey Fili
June 17, 2026: London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Main: Dijon | Supporting: Fey Fili
June 20, 2026: Cork, Ireland – Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Main: Dijon | Supporting: Fey Fili
June 21, 2026: Cork, Ireland – Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Main: Dijon | Supporting: Fey Fili
June 23, 2026: Belfast, Northern Ireland – Boucher Playing Fields
Main: Dijon | Supporting: Fey Fili
June 24, 2026: Belfast, Northern Ireland – Boucher Playing Fields
Main: Dijon | Supporting: Fey Fili
July 31, 2026: San Diego, CA – Snapdragon Stadium
Main: MJ Lenderman | Supporting: Fey Fili
August 1, 2026: San Diego, CA – Snapdragon Stadium
Main: MJ Lenderman | Supporting: Fey Fili
August 7, 2026: Salt Lake City, UT – Rice-Eccles Stadium
Main: MJ Lenderman | Supporting: Fey Fili
August 13, 2026: Denver, CO – Empower Field at Mile High
Main: MJ Lenderman | Supporting: Fey Fili
August 14, 2026: Denver, CO – Empower Field at Mile High
Main: MJ Lenderman | Supporting: Fey Fili
August 22, 2026: Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium
Main: MJ Lenderman | Supporting: Fey Fili
September 5, 2026: Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium
Main: MJ Lenderman | Supporting: Fey Fili
September 18, 2026: Dover, DE – The Woodlands
Main: Kings of Leon | Supporting: Gabriella Rose, Fey Fili
September 19, 2026: Dover, DE – The Woodlands
Main: Alabama Shakes | Supporting: Fey Fili, Gabriella Rose
October 2, 2026: Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium
Main: Gregory Alan Isakov | Supporting: Gabriella Rose
October 3, 2026: Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium
Main: Gregory Alan Isakov | Supporting: Gabriella Rose
October 10, 2026: Auburn, AL – Jordan-Hare Stadium
Main: Gregory Alan Isakov | Supporting: Gabriella Rose
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/24/zach-bryan-tour-2026/
Outdoors column: Be thankful for fallen leaves
It’s a cold and dreary November day and those flashing insects that lit up my yard in July are long gone. Or are they?
Lightning bugs or fireflies are still alive this time of year, and thanks to fallen leaves they will be flying again next summer.
Now they are spending their time as larvae in leaf litter, underground or in other protected places. Rake or mulch the leaves and the larvae get destroyed, and maybe you’ll see more snails and slugs next spring. That’s because firefly larvae eat those garden pests.
Luna moths are big beautiful green creatures that wow us in summer; now they are living as larvae in leaf litter, too.
That’s why the Xerces Society says, “Leaves are habitat, not trash.”
“A layer of leaves is vital insulation from the cold for the many animals that hide within (or in the soil beneath),” writes Justin Wheeler, Scott Hoffman Black and Deborah Seiler in a Xerces Society article.
Mourning cloak butterfly spends winter as an adult in leaf litter and other protected areas. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
In the past, we’ve been told that leaving the leaves on the turf will smother the lawn. But a thin layer of leaves is actually healthy for grass, according to the Xerces Society. Leaves add nutrition and retain moisture, which is good for the soil.
To be sure, a huge pile of leaves covered by mounds of snow all winter in one spot is not good for the lawn, but that doesn’t mean you need to destroy all the leaves. You can be judicious about where they are and how thick the pile is.
Take a walk in a natural area where no leaves are removed, and you’ll notice that each spring, the native wildflowers emerge as always to brighten the forest floor.
Some people wonder if they should shred their leaves atop the lawn, but that practice may destroy eggs, caterpillars and larvae within the leaves.
My neighborhood is awash with noisy leaf blowers this time of year. Even at the end of November, not all the leaves have fallen from the trees, so there are more waiting to be dealt with. The leaves get blown to the side of the front yard, where they are picked up by a noisy vacuum attached to a truck.
Some neighbors have kept their leaves on the lawn. We’ve done that for years, and though we have a small yard, our lawn is just fine in spring.
Expecting everyone to follow the “leave the leaves” is unrealistic, but if some leaves are still falling or waiting on your yard, perhaps you can decide to let them be.
Max Ferlauto, a Maryland entomologist, recently studied the impacts of leaf removal on insects and soil health. He compared suburban yards with leaves on their lawns in winter with yards where the leaves had been removed. He discovered that the emergence of butterflies and moths in spring was reduced by 45% in the yards that had no leaves.
Perhaps you dislike insects and just don’t want any on your lawn. Well, consider this: No matter what you do, there will still be some sort of insects lingering in various life cycles in your yard. You can’t get rid of all of them, and you wouldn’t want to.
“We actually want these insects … and all the benefits they provide, such as food sources for birds and their role in soil health,” Ferlauto says. Insect populations overall are declining worldwide, and we need them.
On a recent sunny November day, a mourning cloak butterfly flew past me in my neighborhood. This butterfly species actually spends the winter as an adult, either in leaf litter or other protected places. What a joy to see this handsome insect with the hope it found a protected place, perhaps in someone’s leaf litter to spend winter.
I’m thankful for fallen leaves on a dreary November day, because that means I can watch insects come to life in spring to pollinate flowers and vegetable gardens and to feed birds.
Sheryl DeVore has worked as a full-time and freelance reporter, editor and photographer for the Chicago Tribune and its subsidiaries. She’s the author of several books on nature and the environment. Send story ideas and thoughts to sheryldevorewriter@gmail.com.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/24/outdoors-column-fallen-leave/
The Selective Outrage Of Judge James Boasberg
The Selective Outrage Of Judge James Boasberg
Below is my column in The Hill on two controversies involving Chief Judge James Boasberg this week in Washington, D.C. Both involve claims that branches undermined or intruded on the authority of another branch. However, these separation-of-powers conflicts produced strikingly different responses from Judge Boasberg. It seemed that the court’s concerns depended greatly on whose ox was being gored in a tripartite contest.
Here is the column:
For months, District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg has been very much in the news.
This spring, he issued a 46-page decision finding that the Trump administration may be in contempt of court for violating his order to return flights of deportees being sent to El Salvador.
In that ruling, Boasberg insisted that it was essential for him to know the facts on whether “officials of a coordinate branch” had undermined judicial integrity.
After all, nothing short of the separation of powers was at stake. This week, Boasberg announced that he was moving forward without further delay to ferret out who was responsible for the alleged violation.
That message, however, has now been undermined by another Judge James Boasberg, who is in the news this week as part of the controversy over the Justice Department’s acquisition of telephone records of leading Republican members of Congress.
Boasberg had imposed a gag order on telephone companies to prevent them from informing Congress that the executive branch was snooping on who had been in contact with them.
These two James Boasbergs seem as different as the two Jeffrey Epsteins referenced this week by Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) — one a presumably respectable medical doctor, the other a deceased sex offender. However, to use Crockett’s formulation, it was indeed “that James Boasberg” in both cases.
The growing scandal over the seizure of telephone records of Republican members of Congress by former Special Counsel Jack Smith has continued to grow with new disclosures. This includes revelations that Smith obtained of records for former Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and House Judiciary Chair James Jordan (R-Ohio).
It is difficult to overstate the gravity of this intrusion into the legislative branch. These records can reveal whom members spoke with and when such calls took place. It can reveal communications with journalists, whistleblowers, and others speaking confidentially with representatives. It can also reveal embarrassing information about members from their personal numbers.
The gathering of such information without an obvious good cause can potentially deter members in confronting the Justice Department, which is notorious for leaking information against critics and targets.
Ironically, such leaks are at the heart of investigations led by the very targets of these orders, including Jordan and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). It also included McCarthy, the person second in line for the presidency, who could ultimately assume authority over the Justice Department under the Constitution.
The demand under Operation Arctic Frost was unprecedented in scope, with dozens of subpoenas going to such carriers as Verizon and AT&T. Nineteen such orders for these telephone records were accompanied by judicial nondisclosure orders for subpoenas signed by Boasberg. While commonly issued, these nondisclosures have long been controversial. It did not seem to matter that the Justice Department was targeting the very members exercising oversight over investigations into its own previous abusive use of investigatory powers.
It is still not clear for what crimes these members were being investigated. The order on Jordan in 2022 covered two prior years.
Not surprisingly, some Democratic apologists such as Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) immediately dismissed the gravity of such demands by the Justice Department. However, other Democrats have expressed alarm over the intrusion into such communications.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) stated, “On the surface of it, it would strike me as a significant invasion of the right of Senators to conduct their jobs, so this is something that needs urgent follow-up.”
Indeed, the move by Judge Boasberg shattered the very rules of engagement between the coequal and “coordinate branches” that the same Boasberg has repeatedly raised in his investigation of the Trump administration.
Boasberg signed these orders despite a federal law designed to prevent precisely this type of secret investigation of Congress. Federal law requires that “no law, rule, or regulation may be used to prevent a service provider from notifying a Senate office that data or records have been sought through legal process.”
Just in case there was any doubt, the law further states that “any provider for a Senate office … shall not be barred, through operation of any court order or any statutory provision, from notifying the Senate office of any legal process seeking disclosure.”
However, Boasberg signed orders that prevented the phone providers from informing members of Congress — members who were actively investigating abuses by the Justice Department — that they were now being subjected to precisely such investigations.
There is little question how Congress would have responded. You are seeing it unfold this week. However, they were never told even as they objected to open-ended and abusive investigations of thousands of citizens after the January 6 Capitol riot.
Boasberg was fully aware of those abuses, stretching back to the debunked Russiagate investigation, in which false information had been given to courts to carry out surveillance of Trump associates.
Indeed, it was Boasberg again who ordered the resulting investigation into the false information given to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court as part of the Russiagate investigation. He was criticized for appointing an attorney to assist him, David Kris, whom the Washington Post described as “highly controversial” given his past denials of any wrongdoing by the Justice Department.
The wrongdoing was very real. An attorney at the FBI ultimately pleaded guilty to lying to the court in an effort to justify surveillance. Others were fired after Inspector General investigations exposed their abuse of investigatory powers.
Despite that history, Boasberg gagged phone carriers from informing Congress of the seizure of the telephone records of key Republican members overseeing investigations of the Justice Department.
I do not support the calls for Boasberg to be impeached, but his role in this scandal cannot be ignored. He not only enabled this abusive effort but also expressly told these companies not to reveal the demands to anyone.
None of this means that there are no legitimate questions raised about the failure to comply with his orders on the El Salvador flight. But Boasberg’s separation-of-powers concerns seem strangely selective, depending on whose powers are being usurped.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is the author of the bestselling book “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.” He has also represented the House of Representatives in court.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 11/24/2025 – 15:05
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/selective-outrage-judge-james-boasberg
Analyst Warns Of 2032 Demographic “Crossover Point” Poised To Reshape Housing Market
Analyst Warns Of 2032 Demographic “Crossover Point” Poised To Reshape Housing Market
Nick Gerli, CEO and founder of the real estate analytics firm Reventure Consulting, has posted another informative housing-market update on X. This time, he outlines how a major demographic turning point will reshape housing demand and even the size of homes people will want.
By 2032, Gerli pointed out that deaths will exceed births in the U.S., and this crossover point – four decades in the making – will have significant implications on the housing market, including:
structurally lower homebuyer demand, as declining births and family formation lowers the need and urgency for young people to buy houses
more inventory, as incrementally more deaths and the aging out of the Baby Boomer generation increases listings (Freddie Mac estimates 9 million homes by 2035).
The U.S. Housing Market is about to get hit by a big demographic shift.
By 2032, there will be more deaths than births in the U.S.
This crossover point will be the continuation of a long-term trend over the last four decades, and ultimately will have the following impacts:
a)… pic.twitter.com/8cLAUEd4IM
— Nick Gerli (@nickgerli1) November 23, 2025
“This will likely have a disinflationary and/or deflationary impact on home prices over the long-term,” Gerli said.
He noted this trend will ultimately lead to “fewer children will invariably lead to lower homebuyer demand, and more renter demand.”
He said this will ultimately lead to “an increase in the demand for other types of houses to buy — such as smaller ranch-style homes and starter homes,” adding that “McMansion-style neighborhoods probably won’t fare as well based on current demographic trends.”
Gerli hedged his outlook with this…
8) Of course – things could shift. The current trends continuing isn’t a guarantee.
Note that the 1940s and 50s in the U.S., a massive baby boom occured. Where the fertility rate soared by 56% over two decades.
Some of that was a return to normal after the Great Depression.… pic.twitter.com/W7z60pbMx5
— Nick Gerli (@nickgerli1) November 23, 2025
He did not mention the open border invasion of tens of millions of migrants and their impact on the housing market.
Also, we pointed out the other week that multigenerational living has surged to a record high as families increasingly combine households to cope with elevated inflation after the Biden-Harris regime years, effectively pooling more resources under one roof (read the report).
Tyler Durden
Mon, 11/24/2025 – 14:45
Reuters Wrecked Over DOGE Shutdown Story, Top Official Says Outlet “Spliced My Comments”
Reuters Wrecked Over DOGE Shutdown Story, Top Official Says Outlet “Spliced My Comments”
President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has “disbanded” – or at least that’s the narrative Reuters is pushing to start the week, as the globalist left-leaning media outlet tries to rile up the progressive base and claim a victory.
Reuters ran with the headline, “Exclusive: DOGE ‘doesn’t exist’ with eight months left on its charter,” and recently quoted Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor saying, “That doesn’t exist,” when asked about DOGE’s status.
It’s no longer a “centralized entity,” Kupor added, in the first public comments from the Trump administration.
Perhaps there was some misinterpretation, because the report goes on to state that “OPM, the federal government’s human resources office, has since taken over many of DOGE’s functions.”
In fact, Reuters was hit with a Community Note on X, where the top note pointed out:
There is no evidence that DOGE has shutdown. There is no mention of it on the press secretary, Elon, Trump, the WH , DOGE or any other gov official account. Including DOGE official website. As of 9 hours ago DOGE was still posting about the work they are doing.
https://x.com/Sec_Noem/status/1992433682074743257?t=YwneTda8TLPrnMyOY6VO1A&s=19
https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1977928905169269143?t=7xhRsok88w0c2pVZsElwTA&s=19
https://x.com/DOGE/status/1992615954065330507?t=HqjAT2L5MTKGdEd1wy7o0w&s=19
https://x.com/PressSec/status/1991932554908225586?t=LpC36ggtJNJ4S5Zf9Za4nw&s=19
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1992605677144207798?t=B3UBu7_4bcxNn_4vFKNoyA&s=19
Shortly after Reuters ran its DOGE narrative, Kupor combatted the misinformation:
Good editing by @reuters – spliced my full comments across paragraphs 2/3 to create a grabbing headline 🙂 The truth is: DOGE may not have centralized leadership under @USDS . But, the principles of DOGE remain alive and well: de-regulation; eliminating fraud, waste and abuse; re-shaping the federal workforce; making efficiency a first-class citizen; etc. DOGE catalyzed these changes; the agencies along with @USOPM and @WHOMB will institutionalize them!
Good editing by @reuters – spliced my full comments across paragraphs 2/3 to create a grabbing headline 🙂 The truth is: DOGE may not have centralized leadership under @USDS. But, the principles of DOGE remain alive and well: de-regulation; eliminating fraud, waste and abuse;…
— Scott Kupor (@skupor) November 23, 2025
The latest from DOGE, not even one day ago, states:
Contracts Update! Over the last 9 days, agencies terminated and descoped 78 wasteful contracts with a ceiling value of $1.9B and savings of $335M, including an $616k HHS IT services contract for “social media monitoring platform subscription”, an $191k USAGM broadcasting contract for “broadcast operations and maintenance in Ethiopia, Africa”, and a $4.3M IRS IT services contract for “Inflation Reduction Act transformation project management support”.
Contracts Update!
Over the last 9 days, agencies terminated and descoped 78 wasteful contracts with a ceiling value of $1.9B and savings of $335M, including an $616k HHS IT services contract for “social media monitoring platform subscription”, an $191k USAGM broadcasting… pic.twitter.com/83ldxUZ1NY
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) November 23, 2025
The official government website for DOGE shows no indication that the operation to root out significant government waste and fraud has been wound down. In fact, cost savings so far this year total $214 billion – however, far short of Elon Musk’s $1 trillion goal.
This is not the first time for Reuters…
Reuters is lying (again)
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 5, 2024
Hmm, a media outlet based in a foreign country publishing propaganda pieces on US politics?
Can Reuters be trusted? Latest polls show American trust in the mainstream media has collapsed. So the short answer is…
Tyler Durden
Mon, 11/24/2025 – 14:05
Visa finds even $200 billion can’t resolve battle with merchants
Nine years ago, the $5.7 billion sticker price to settle one of the biggest class-action lawsuits ever was rejected. Last year, it climbed to $30 billion, just to be thrown out again. Now, it’s north of $200 billion, and there’s growing doubt even that will be enough to end two decades of fighting.
Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. this month took yet another swing at a deal that seeks to end a battle with thousands of retailers — and reshape the fees underpinning the credit-card industry in the process. Yet opposition is already pouring in from merchants and lawmakers.
Making the call will be U.S. District Court Judge Brian Cogan, who took over the long-running case after Judge Margo Brodie last year struck down the earlier settlement, saying that finance firms could afford to take a bigger hit.
At issue are the fees merchants must pay to accept credit cards from consumers, tiny individual amounts that add up to giant costs each year. Should the settlement survive, consumers will have to be on guard for retailers potentially denying premium cards.
“Merchants across the nation oppose this settlement and did not agree to it,” said Doug Kantor, an executive committee member of the Merchants Payments Coalition, which opposes the fees on behalf of a group of retailers. “A similar bad deal was rejected by the courts just last year and merchants are looking to the court to reject this one too.”
Walmart Inc., the world’s largest retailer, indicated via a filing last week that it will likely take court action against the pact.
“Among other things, Chief Judge Brodie previously denied preliminary approval to an earlier settlement proposed by injunctive relief class counsel and Defendants, in large part for reasons outlined in Walmart’s opposition to that proposed settlement,” the big-box retailer said.
Walmart isn’t alone. Other big retailers, via their National Retail Federation trade group, said after the settlement was announced that the card industry “just doesn’t get it or just doesn’t care.” Another collection of merchant trade groups, including NRF, said in a filing last week that they first learned of the settlement when it was filed and are concerned the agreement may alter “the industry in harmful ways that cannot easily be undone.”
The National Restaurant Association also criticized the proposed settlement.
“Restaurants epitomize small business — they have the lowest profit margin of any business on Main Street and have the least amount of negotiating power when it comes to an entrenched duopoly,” said Sean Kennedy, the group’s executive vice president for public affairs.
Visa and Mastercard declined to comment on the latest opposition, but said at the time the latest settlement was announced that it would “provide meaningful relief” to retailers of all sizes along with “more flexibility and options to control how they accept payments from their customers.”
Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois and longtime critic of Visa and Mastercard, attacked the latest settlement, accusing the firms and the banks they work with of “lining their pockets” with fees while Americans struggle financially. Durbin successfully capped the amount the firms and the banks can charge to accept debit cards in a provision added to the Dodd-Frank Act in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
“Reducing the cost of swipe fees and allowing merchants more choice in which cards they accept should be welcome news,” he said in a statement Monday. “However, I believe this settlement falls short.”
Cogan, a former civil litigator and partner at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, is now the latest federal judge to preside over the suit, first filed in 2005. He took over the case in early September.
One previous high-profile case Cogan presided over was the 2019 trial of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who was convicted of leading the deadly Sinaloa drug cartel. Cogan later sentenced Guzman to life in prison. The judge also oversaw the 2022 trial of Tom Barrack, who was acquitted of charges that he tried to influence the campaign and presidential administration of his longtime friend Donald Trump as an agent of the United Arab Emirates. Barrack later praised the judge, jury and U.S. legal system.
Any hints from Cogan about whether he may accept the latest credit-card settlement are unlikely before the end of the year, with the deadline for objections set for Dec. 12.
Any grievances from large retailers could again thwart the settlement process, said Justin Teresi, antitrust litigation and policy analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.
“Since this relief involves a mandatory class and there aren’t opt-out rights like in a monetary settlement, the court will likely be concerned with whether all merchants’ concerns are adequately addressed,” he said.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/24/visa-mastercard-merchants/
Estudiantes se expone a dura sanción por gesto de rebeldía ante desmanejos del fútbol argentino
BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Estudiantes La Plata se expone a una dura sanción por la inédita decisión de sus futbolistas de ponerse de espaldas en el ingreso de Rosario Central al campo de juego antes del partido por octavos de final del torneo Clausura, en protesta por la controvertida decisión de las autoridades del balompié de otorgarle al “Canalla” un nuevo trofeo creado con la temporada todavía en marcha.
Los jugadores del Pincha debían cumplir con la orden de la Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA) de formar el tradicional pasillo a los campeones cuando ambos equipos ingresaron al estadio “Gigante de Arroyito” de Rosario el domingo para la disputa del duelo. En cambio, los futbolistas visitantes se pusieron de espaldas al flamante campeón, en un gesto que no registra antecedentes en el fútbol argentino.
El Tribunal de Disciplina de AFA informó el lunes que abrió un expediente contra Estudiantes “con motivo del comportamiento asumido por el plantel antes del inicio del encuentro…en relación con el protocolo de homenaje previsto en las resoluciones de la Asociación y que han sido publicadas por Boletín Oficial”.
El club presidido por el exfutbolista Juan Sebastián Verón, un habitual crítico de la conducción de AFA, ganó el partido 1-0 con gol del colombiano Edwin Cetré y se clasificó a los cuartos de final. Pero ahora se expone a sanciones deportivas y económicas por el “espaldarazo” de repudio a Central.
Estudiantes fue el único equipo que alzó la voz para rechazar la controvertida decisión de AFA de declarar el jueves pasado a Central campeón de la Liga 2025, un título ideado recién para reconocer al club que más puntos suma durante el año. En sus redes sociales, denunció que la medida no se sometió a votación, como determinan los reglamentos.
Durante los últimos años, AFA bajo la conducción de Claudio Tapia se ha caracterizado por los cambios constantes en los formatos en los torneos y en la definición de los ascensos y descensos de categoría. Pero nunca había sucedido que se instaurara un nuevo trofeo con la temporada ya iniciada.
El Tribunal de Disciplina le dio un plazo de 48 horas a los jugadores de Estudiantes que no cumplieron con el pasillo a Central para que “ejerzan su derecho de defensa e indiquen si han recibido instrucciones sobre la medida adoptada”, en una referencia indirecta al presidente Verón.
Se espera que esta misma semana se pronuncie el órgano disciplinario.
Acusan a hija de expresidente sudafricano de reclutar hombres para combatir en guerra Rusia-Ucrania
Por MOGOMOTSI MAGOME
JOHANNESBURGO (AP) — La policía sudafricana investiga las acusaciones de que la hija del expresidente Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, atrajo a 17 hombres que ahora están atrapados en Rusia para combatir en la guerra de ese país con Ucrania sin su consentimiento.
Según la portavoz de la policía, Athlenda Mathe, una declaración jurada presentada por la hermana de Zuma-Sambudla, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, alega que Zuma-Sambudla y otras dos personas atrajeron con engaños a los hombres afirmando que recibirían entrenamiento de seguridad en Rusia. Por ahora no hay detalles sobre las otras dos personas.
La declaración jurada alega que fueron entregados a un grupo mercenario ruso y obligados a combatir en la guerra. El documento agrega que ocho de los 17 hombres eran miembros de la familia de las hermanas.
Mathe dijo el domingo que cualquier cargo policial “aún debe determinarse a través de una investigación exhaustiva”.
El ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Sudáfrica, Ronald Lamola, comentó a los periodistas al margen de la cumbre del G20 en Johannesburgo durante el fin de semana que se estaban llevando a cabo esfuerzos diplomáticos con Rusia y Ucrania para repatriar a los hombres.
“La policía debe investigar y quien esté involucrado en esto debe ser arrestado”, afirmó Lamola, que agregó: “No es una situación fácil porque están en las líneas del frente de esta batalla, pero tenemos la esperanza de que habrá avances”.
A principios de este mes, el gobierno de Sudáfrica informó que había recibido llamadas de auxilio de los hombres, de entre 20 y 39 años, quienes dijeron que estaban atrapados en la región oriental de Donbás, devastada por la guerra en Ucrania.
El gobierno detalló que los hombres se habían unido a fuerzas mercenarias bajo el pretexto de contratos de empleo lucrativos.
Rusia ha sido acusada de reclutar hombres de otros países para combatir en la guerra bajo el pretexto de ofrecerles empleos. También se le ha acusado de engañar a mujeres de Sudáfrica y otros países africanos para trabajar en fábricas de drones rusas a través de campañas en redes sociales que les prometían empleos en áreas como los banquetes y la hospitalidad.
Según la ley sudafricana, es ilegal que ciudadanos y entidades ofrezcan o proporcionen asistencia militar a gobiernos de otros países o participen en ejércitos extranjeros a menos que estén autorizados por el gobierno de Sudáfrica.
Zuma-Sambudla es integrante del Parlamento por el Partido MK, que su padre fundó en 2023 luego de ser expulsado del gobernante Congreso Nacional Africano, que lideró de 2007 a 2017.
Actualmente está siendo juzgada por cargos no relacionados con los disturbios mortales en Sudáfrica en 2021. Se le acusa de incitarlos con publicaciones en redes sociales.
Zuma-Sambudla y el Partido MK no respondieron a una solicitud de comentarios.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Paraguay e Israel anuncian memorando de cooperación en seguridad para combatir el crimen organizado
Associated Press
ASUNCIÓN (AP) — Paraguay e Israel anunciaron el lunes la firma de un memorando de entendimiento para fortalecer la cooperación en materia de seguridad, en el marco de la visita que el canciller israelí, Gideon Saar, realiza a Sudamérica esta semana.
El acuerdo, de “implementación inmediata”, prevé la cooperación entre ambos países en diversos frentes, como inteligencia, adquisición de equipamiento y la formación de los efectivos de la fuerza de seguridad de Paraguay, entre ellas las Fuerzas Armadas y la Policía Nacional, explicó en una rueda de prensa el ministro de Exteriores paraguayo, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, en Asunción.
La asociación busca sobre todo mejorar las respuestas de Paraguay, una de las principales rutas del narcotráfico en la región, ante el crimen organizado, en especial en las zonas fronterizas con Argentina, Brasil y Bolivia.
“Ya venimos trabajando en cooperación bilateral y evidentemente esto refuerza el camino de cooperación bilateral para mejorar… nuestras capacidades y nuestro conocimiento de las operaciones que necesitamos frente al crimen transnacional organizado”, agregó Ramírez Lezcano.
Por su parte, el ministro israelí indicó que la firma del memorando de entendimiento es una “clara expresión” de los vínculos estratégicos que unen a las dos naciones.
“Paraguay está desarrollando sus capacidades de defensa y la industria de la defensa israelí tiene experiencia y capacidades que nos gustaría compartir con ustedes”, aclaró.
Los cancilleres no han precisado mayores detalles del acuerdo ni las inversiones realizadas.
Saar igualmente sostuvo el lunes un encuentro con el presidente paraguayo, Santiago Peña, un conservador que desde su llegada al poder en 2023 ha tratado de estrechar lazos con Israel.
Al lado del ultraderechista mandatario argentino Javier Milei, Peña se ha convertido en uno de los principales aliados del primer ministro israelí, Benjamín Netanyahu, en Sudamérica.
Bajo su administración, Paraguay ha respaldado el derecho de Israel “a defenderse” tras el ataque del grupo islamista Hamás en octubre de 2023 y ha avalado la ofensiva israelí en la Franja de Gaza, así como en otros territorios vecinos. Asimismo, trasladó la Embajada de Asunción desde Tel Aviv a Jerusalén en diciembre de 2024.
“Reiteramos nuestro más firme apoyo al derecho de Israel a defender su soberanía y seguridad y la de su población frente a las amenazas y ataques perpetrados por organizaciones terroristas”, reiteró Ramírez Lezcano.
Saar calificó a su vez a Paraguay como “uno de los mayores amigos de Israel” y destacó que es “un país que sabe distinguir entre el bien y el mal”.
Tras reunirse con Peña y su homólogo paraguayo, Saar mantendrá el lunes una serie de encuentros con empresarios locales y también con los presidentes de la Cámara de Diputados y del Senado. Luego de su paso por Paraguay, seguirá su visita diplomática a Argentina, donde será recibido por el presidente Milei.
