X is raising prices for its top-tier subscription service by 37.5%, marking the largest price increase since the platform’s acquisition by Elon Musk in 2022. The Premium+ service will cost $22 monthly in the U.S., up from $16, effective December 21, according to a company statement. Annual subscriptions will increase to $229 from $168. X […]
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In January, Nick Saban sent shock waves through the college football landscape when he announced he would step away from the sidelines. Shortly after the legendary coach retired, Saban officially joined ESPN.
While Saban works primarily as an analyst for the network's long-running and popular pregame program, "College GameDay," he also contributes to NFL Draft coverage and makes appearances on other ESPN shows and platforms. The last segment of an episode of "College GameDay" typically features a celebrity guest who offers their picks for some of the upcoming games.
On Friday, comedian Shane Gillis was tapped as the guest picker. But at one point during his appearance, one of the funnyman's jokes seemed to irritate Saban.
During a discussion about the state of college football, Gillis cited the relatively new "parity" that exists in the sport. But during his remarks, Gillis also seemed to assert that either Saban or perhaps the Alabama football program as a whole orchestrated or turned a blind eye if players received improper payments.
"This feels different, it feels like we can win it," Gillis said. "There’s a parity, now that everybody can pay their players, Notre Dame has a shot. It’s not just the SEC, it’s not Coach Saban." The seven-time national championship winning coach was not present when Gillis made the comments.
However, fellow ESPN college football analyst Pat McAfee eventually reminded Gillis about what he said.
"You called him a cheater earlier," McAfee noted.
While Gillis said he made the comments in jest, Saban appeared to take offense to the suggestion that players were inappropriately compensated under his watch.
"I was just joking around," Gillis said. "I don’t think the SEC paid players. Ever. I’m joking. Is this not a fun show?"
Gillis eventually turned his attention to Saban's attire, particularly the retired coach's hat.
"Ol' Alabama Jones is being serious," Gillis joked in an apparent reference to the hat that has become synonymous with the fictional character Indiana Jones.
Saban then offered a straightforward response to Gillis' joke concerning how he ran the Alabama program during his 17-year run.
"I do believe in integrity. I always tried to run the program that way so players had a better chance to be successful in life," Saban said. "We make more money in the NFL than any other school, 61 players in the league. That was how we cheated. We developed players."
Saban won six national titles during his storied tenure in Tuscaloosa. Before taking the head coaching job at Alabama, Saban led the LSU Tigers to the BCS National Championship Game after the 2003 regular season.
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President-elect Donald Trump unleashed a slew of nominations on Sunday night, naming several new people to serve in his forthcoming administration.
In several Truth Social posts on Sunday, Trump introduced various experts to work in the White House on issues ranging from defense to technology to budgeting. The Republican leader began by naming Stephen Alexander Vaden as his nominee for deputy secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
"In my First Term, Stephen was the General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture, and a Member of the Board of the Commodity Credit Corporation, where he won two cases before the United States Supreme Court, relocated and reorganized the Agencies that comprise the Department to better serve Rural America, and engaged in substantial regulatory reform," Trump wrote in a post.
"Stephen joined the USDA on Day One of my First Term, and left in December 2020 after I nominated him, and the U.S. Senate confirmed him, to continue to serve the American People as an Article III Judge on the Court of International Trade," he added. "Judge Stephen Vaden resides in Union City, Tennessee, where he helps manage his family farm. Congratulations Stephen!"
Trump followed up his first post by naming a "slate of America First Patriots" to work with Pete Hegseth, his nominee for secretary of defense and a former "Fox & Friends Weekend" co-host. Trump nominated Stephen Feinberg as the next deputy secretary of defense, and said Feinberg would "Help Make the Pentagon Great Again."
"An extremely successful businessman, Stephen is a Princeton graduate, who founded his company, Cerberus, in 1992," Trump wrote. "In addition to his leadership at Cerberus, from 2018 to January 2021, Stephen served as Chairman of my Intelligence Advisory Board."
The president-elect went on to name Elbridge "Bridge" Colby as his pick for under secretary of defense for policy.
"A highly respected advocate for our America First foreign and defense policy, Bridge will work closely with my outstanding Secretary of Defense Nominee, Pete Hegseth, to restore our Military power, and achieve my policy of PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH," Trump said, noting that Colby graduated from Harvard University and Yale Law School.
"Bridge served with distinction in the Pentagon in my First Term, leading the effort on my landmark 2018 Defense strategy…and will make an excellent addition to my team, who will, Make America Great Again!"
Trump then named Michael Duffey and Emil Michael as his picks for under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, and undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, respectively.
"Mike will drive change at the Pentagon and, as a staunch proponent of an America First approach to our National Defense, will work to revitalize our Defense Industrial Base, and rebuild our Military," Trump said of Duffey.
Trump added that Emil Michael would "ensure that our Military has the most technologically sophisticated weapons in the World, while saving A LOT of money for our Taxpayers."
"Emil is a graduate of Harvard University, and has a Law degree from Stanford," Trump wrote. "He is a one of the most respected leaders in the Tech business, and will be a champion for the Troops, and our Great Country."
For his next defense-related picks, Trump announced Keith Bass as his nominee for assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, and that Joe Kasper would serve as chief of staff for the secretary of defense. Kasper worked in the first Trump administration in support roles, in addition to Capitol Hill.
Bass, a retired Navy commander, would be "leading the charge to ensure our Troops are healthy, and receiving the best Medical Care possible," Trump said.
Next, Trump announced Scott Kupor as his pick for the director of the Office of Personnel Management. Trump noted that Kupor was the first employee at Andreessen Horowitz, a venture capital firm where he is now a managing partner.
"Scott will bring much needed reform to our federal workforce. Scott graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University, with a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy," Trump wrote. "He also holds a Law degree, with distinction, from Stanford University. Congratulations Scott!"
In his final bundle of nominations, the Republican president-elect announced his picks for tech-related roles. Trump began by naming Michael J.K. Kratsios as his new director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Kratsios, who will also serve as an assistant to the president for science and technology, holds a degree from Princeton University. Trump noted that he previously served as an under secretary of defense for research & engineering at the Pentagon, among other roles.
Trump added that Dr. Lynne Parker will serve as executive director of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, and counselor to the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
"Dr. Parker previously served as Deputy U.S. CTO, and Founding Director of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office," Trump said. "She received her PhD in Computer Science from MIT."
Trump's last two picks were Bo Hines and Sriram Krishnan. Hines will be the executive director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets, which Trump described as a "a new advisory group composed of luminaries from the Crypto industry."
"In his new role, Bo will work with David to foster innovation and growth in the digital assets space, while ensuring industry leaders have the resources they need to succeed," Trump wrote, adding that Krishnan will serve as senior policy advisor for artificial intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
"Working closely with David Sacks, Sriram will focus on ensuring continued American leadership in A.I., and help shape and coordinate A.I. policy across Government, including working with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology," Trump wrote. "Sriram started his career at Microsoft as a founding member of Windows Azure."
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