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Democratic strategist James Carville acknowledged in a New York Times op-ed that he was wrong to believe that Vice President Kamala Harris would prevail in the 2024 presidential election.

However, Carville also said that he had hope that his party could make a comeback in the near future simply due to what he says will be the unpopularity of the GOP's economic agenda.

"There will be plenty to oppose," argued Carville. "Our central message must revolve around opposing Republicans’ tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. It is deeply unpopular, and we know they want to do it again."

He then outlined some more of the ways that the GOP agenda will harm American workers.

"We know Republicans will most likely skyrocket everyday costs with slapstick tariffs; they will almost certainly attempt to slash the Affordable Care Act, raising premiums on the working class; and they will probably do next to nothing to curb the cost of prescription drugs," he wrote. "In a truly stunning display of inhumanity, the speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, has already lacerated health care funding for Sept. 11 emergency workers and survivors. There will be much, much worse to come."

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Carville also said that Democrats can't just oppose Republicans' economic plans but must pitch some of their own to give voters something to support.

"Let’s start by forcing them to oppose a raise in the minimum wage to $15 an hour," he argued. "Let’s make Roe v. Wade an economic messaging issue and force them to block our attempts to codify it into law. And let’s take back the immigration issue by making it an economic issue and force the G.O.P. to deny bipartisan reform that expedites entry for high-performing talent and for those who will bring business into our nation. This year the Democratic Party leadership must convene and publish a creative, popular and bold economic agenda and proactively take back our economic turf."

Carville concluded by emphasizing the stakes for Democrats in the coming months.

"The path forward could not be more certain: We live or die by winning public perception of the economy," he wrote.

The high price of eggs has been in the news since bird flu spread across the U.S. However, a new report alleges the potato industry has a stranglehold on the high price of groceries.

Investigative news outlet The Lever discussed a new antitrust battle against the frozen potato market in November.

“The potato cartel moves prices skyward in lockstep — harming all purchasers of potatoes in the process,” attorneys wrote in the court filing.

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Restaurants, grocery stores, and food distributors are reportedly involved in more than a dozen coordinated lawsuits nationwide, claiming that price-fixing by four French fry companies has been harming their profits.

"Around 40 percent of all potatoes grown in the United States are sold to frozen potato companies — 17 billion pounds annually," the lawsuit said. Four firms then buy the potatoes, prepare and freeze them before packaging them.

While there were over a dozen companies 20 years ago, that number has slowly shrunk to just four. They're named: Lamb Weston, Canada-based company McCain Foods, the J.R. Simplot Company, and Cavendish Farms. The first two control about 70% of the market, while J.R. Simplot manages about 20%, the report says.

They've all told restaurants and bars that they'll increase prices by $0.12 per pound in April.

“It was just the most obvious example of collusion I’ve seen in a long time,” said Washington, D.C., bar owner Josh Saltzman. “All of them were raising their prices by virtually the exact same amount within a week of each other.”

“I was just like, ‘Oh, I’m going to fire off a tweet about Big Potato,’” he continued. “Then it somehow took on a life of its own.”

He had no idea how right he was to believe that the companies were operating like a “cartel." The report went on to say that the potato industry isn't unique: "Consolidation has crept into every corner of the food industry."

The spokesperson for Lamb Weston Holdings told The Lever, “We believe the claims are without merit and intend to vigorously defend our position.”

There's already an antitrust suit from the Federal Trade Commission on Kroger grocery store, alleging that it raised its egg and milk prices far above inflation rates. Economists weren't shocked as they've been sounding the alarm in recent years.

Read the full report here.

In the grand scheme of things, 45 years is not a long time. Back in 1980, it would take me three weeks to run a computer program, written in the programming language Cobol, that worked using punched cards. Each card represented one line of code and it required multiple re-punches to correct errors. Eventually, I would have a working program that did something useful.

How times have quickly changed in technology – now, my mobile phone has vast processing capability compared to the machine that processed that Cobol program. With the help of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, that same phone is able to instantly translate between languages on a live call, among many other features.

With eye-catching announcements being made all the time, what can we expect in 2025 from the world of technology? Here are seven developments to look out for.

1. AI agents come into their own

Unsurprisingly, we’re likely to see further important developments in AI. One area that’s likely to take off is the use of AI agents. These are intelligent programs that are given objectives by humans and work out the best ways to achieve those objectives. Agents can write computer code, which could have a big impact on the way that tech companies work and could allow people without advanced coding skills to develop programs, apps or games.

You could also see car plants with no people, running with robots operated by AI agents. In theory, mortgage applications could be assessed and approved by agent technology. Individual apps on a smartphone could be replaced by an agent interface that performs multiple tasks for the user.

A combination of agent technology with robotics could be revolutionary. We are reaching a point where robots don’t just emulate the tasks of humans, but are reasoning and answering to us directly.

One candidate for hosting AI agent technology is Optimus, a humanoid robot built by Tesla. Elon Musk has said that the electric car maker will start using Optimus for tasks within the company from 2025. He added that the automaton could be ready for sale to other businesses by 2026.

Agents are tailor-made for industry tasks such as project management. The consulting firm Gartner suggests that by 2030, some 80% of project management tasks will be run by AI.

2. Customization, with help from AI

In education, the focus has traditionally been on linear programs of study, with pre-determined entry and exit points lasting a number of years. Imagine a course of study that is uniquely tailored to individual students based on their experience, skills and abilities. Bespoke degree programmes centered around the student are already being explored in the US with AI.

These are not just bespoke with regard to the content and curriculum, but also in recognizing the special needs of the student or indeed how the learner may feel at any one time. This can include AI that adjusts the learning activity and study based on how much sleep you had last night, which is linked to smartwatch data.

Education isn’t the only area where AI could help with customization. The management consultancy Accenture suggests that private companies will be able to train their own, custom large language models, the technology behind AI chatbots such as ChatGPT. These could be trained with data specific to particular business areas, making them more effective for those firms. But these companies would have to use billions of pieces of data. We’ll see progress towards this objective in 2025.

Small language models (SLMs) are being developed to perform precise tasks more efficiently. They don’t need to be trained on as much data and require less computing power. This means they can be used more easily on so-called “edge devices” – smartphones, tablets and laptops – without relying on computing resources hosted in the cloud.

3. Towards practical quantum computers

Developments in quantum computing could lead to machines that can solve complex tasks that are beyond the capability of most classical computers. Researchers have moved away from trying to break records for the number of basic processing units, called qubits, and towards correcting the errors that quantum computers are currently prone to. This is a step towards practical quantum computers that have some useful advantage over classical machines.

Small language models allow AI to be more easily used on edge devices like smartphones. Raman Shaunia / Shutterstock

4. Blending physical and virtual worlds

Augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality could be used more widely. Virtual reality immerses users in a computer-generated world. Augmented reality superimposes computer-generated elements onto the real world, while the latter remains visible. Mixed reality, refers to a set of immersive technologies including augmented reality, that provide different “blends” of physical and virtual worlds.

There are already a number of head-mounted devices (HMDs) that can support these technologies. These include Apple’s Vision Pro and Meta’s Quest headset. In 2025, we’re likely to see new products and refinements from the likes of Meta, Apple and others.

5. Benefits of blockchain

Blockchain technology, which allows records to be stored across a network of computers, is set to affect supply chains and different sectors from healthcare to finance. Blockchain increases transparency and traceability, allowing for the tracking of products from origin to consumer, it also offers enhanced security and improved efficiency with automated processes.

Patient data in healthcare could be made more secure with blockchain technology. The exchange of data could become seamless and medical supplies could be tracked. Financial transactions could be made more robust, faster and cheaper and there would be a greater degree of financial inclusion. This would provide access to a wider group who may not have had banking or lending services before.

6. The dawn of 6G communications

We will enjoy faster connectivity, with the introduction of 6G wireless communication networks. The process of standardizing 6G technology will begin in 2025. Clear 6G global standards and compatibility between networks is vital for the technology’s success.

7. More advanced self-driving technology

Self-driving vehicles are also set to see a number of advancements going forward. Self-driving cars are classified into six levels, according to their autonomy – from 0 (fully manual) to 5 (fully autonomous). Current self-driving taxis deployed in US cities such as San Francisco are at level 4 (high driving automation).

They can handle most driving tasks without human input but with some restrictions. In 2025, we’re likely to see progress towards level 5. This is classified as full autonomy, and describes vehicles that operate without any human intervention. Mercedes will increase the speed of its Drive Pilot self-driving system in 2025 and Tesla is developing its own Robotaxi, which should be available “before 2027”, according to Elon Musk.

We can expect technology to be able to achieve tasks that used to be the exclusive domain of humans. It will be able to complete work tasks and report back. This will lead to efficiencies and big changes to work. We’ll also see technology that enhances our leisure time and quality of life.

Lewis Endlar, Programme Director MSc Project Management and Lecturer in Business, Keele Business School, Keele University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Americans must respond to the suspected terrorist attack in New Orleans by "defiantly proceeding with their lives," national security expert Juliette Kayyem wrote for The Atlantic.

Authorities have identified the man who killed 10 during New Year's festivities in a vehicle-ramming attack as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old military veteran born in Texas. He reportedly had an ISIS flag on the truck used in the attack — and officials are treating the matter as terrorism, postponing the Sugar Bowl college game.

But that is a mistake, Kayyem warned — it doesn't make security sense, and it further gives terrorists what they wanted in the first place.

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"The decision should be based less on emotion and more on the level of ongoing risk, and the available security, for those who are asked to continue with their lives," she wrote. "First, can the situation legitimately be described as no longer posing a continuing danger? In 2015 in Paris, a wave of terror attacks over one long night resulted in 130 dead. The entire country was placed under what amounted to a 3-month lockdown, with most public events cancelled. That made some sense, given the sophistication and planning behind that attack, and the fact that a concert hall and sporting venue were targeted. As of this writing, though, New Orleans and federal officials have been insistent that they believe the immediate threat has passed."

Furthermore, it doesn't make sense to shut things down when there isn't a clear metric for when would be safe enough to reopen, Kayyem continued.

"This was the dilemma after the Boston Marathon bombings on a Monday in 2013, when the two terrorists initially evaded law enforcement ... European cities such as Brussels have faced the same issue after major attacks. It is easy to close down but harder to have metrics for what is perfectly safe, since that is an impossible standard."

And then there's the question of whether the required security to keep things open would be too stifling for the city's economic activity, which doesn't appear to be the case here either.

With all that to consider, Kayyem believes New Orleans should go about its business as usual — and do so with a mind for lifting and comforting one another.

"After the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush tried to calm a grieving nation by telling citizens to still 'go shopping for their families,'" she noted.

While this quote received a lot of criticism at the time, "the for is often forgotten in the retelling. No matter how terrible an attack, we still need to be there for one another — whether gathering or grieving or just watching a football game."

President-elect Donald Trump slammed "criminals coming in" from other countries after a driver plowed into dozens of people in New Orleans, killing 10 and wounding dozens of others. But Trump's statement, issued Wednesday morning, appeared to have been made before authorities identified the suspect as a 42-year-old Texas military veteran — a fact not lost on even the right-wing Fox News network.

Around 3 a.m. Wednesday, a pickup truck intentionally mowed down a crowd of New Year's revelers on Bourbon Street in the city's French Quarter. The suspect, identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar, drove a Ford F-150 Lightning truck in the attack that was apparently rented via the Turo app, the owner of the truck told ABC7.

Hours after the attack on Wednesday morning, Trump echoed his campaign rhetoric in blaming criminals from other countries.

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"When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true. The crime rate in our country is at a level that nobody has ever seen before. Our hearts are with all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department. The Trump Administration will fully support the City of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil!" he exclaimed.

A Fox News reporter read the statement on air Wednesday afternoon after federal officials identified the suspect, and fact-checked the president-elect.

"Now the former president said criminals coming in in a statement, meaning into our country, but to be clear Molly [Line] and Brian [Llenas] the suspect was born in the United States, he served in the United States Army, he was a veteran, the FBI is the lead agency in this investigation going through the social media and any other accounts associated with the suspect," said Justice Correspondent David Spunt.

Watch the clip below or at this link.

A Tesla Cybertruck pulled up to the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas and exploded on New Year's Day, killing one person inside the vehicle, and authorities now say they're investigating the blast as a possible act of terror.

Video of the Cybertruck exploding into flames in the valet area quickly spread on the internet. The footage was captured both from guests checking into the lobby and at least one person who saw smoke from the window of a nearby hotel.

The driver of the vehicle died in the blast, which happened around 8:40 a.m., CNN reported. Seven bystanders suffered minor injuries, authorities said. The cause of the blast wasn't immediately known.

An official briefed on the probe told ABC News that fireworks-style mortars were in the truck. Police were reportedly treating the blast as a possible crime and act of terror.

"We believe everything is safe now," Sheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters.

The incident immediately prompted a reaction from commenters online — many of whom noted the intense symbolism given that President-elect Donald Trump, whose company owns the Vegas hotel, relied heavily on Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, both for campaign backing and now for advice as part of a high-profile task force to cut government spending.

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Eric Trump confirmed the incident on X.

"Earlier today, a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas. The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism," he said.

The hotel issued essentially the same statement.

"Earlier today a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas," the hotel wrote. "The safety & well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. We extend our gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response."

Others highlighted the unusual circumstances given the tires to Musk and Trump.

"If you were going to choose a metaphor for our current state of politics, a Tesla Cybertruck exploding and burning in front of a Trump Tower in a city where millions of Americans go each year to lose their money, is pretty spot on," wrote New York Health Campaign executive director Melanie D'Arrigo.

"A Tesla Cybertruck on fire outside of Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas? This has to be staged," wrote Huffington Post commentator Yashar Ali.

"A Tesla Cybertruck is on fire and exploding outside of a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas," wrote left-leaning political YouTuber Jack Cocchiarella. "If you’re looking for a more perfect metaphor for the state of America right now you won’t find it."

"If a Tesla Cybertruck exploding at the entrance of trump International Hotel in Las Vegas this morning isn’t some sort of sign or foreshadowing of what we can expect in the near future, I don’t know what is," said singer-songwriter Ricky Davila.

"A Cybertruck exploding outside of Trump Tower is a bit too on the nose for my taste," said conservative talk radio host Joe Cunningham.