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Opinion: Is India a true democracy?It's not unusual for the words of influencers to gain popularity. But the influential philosopher Henry David Thoreau was born more than 200 years ago -- and now a term he's credited with introducing, "brain rot," is the Oxford University Press's word or phrase of 2024. Brain rot was selected by thousands of online voters. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're well-versed in Thoreau's work, particularly his 1854 book Walden, or Life in the Woods , where he wrote about "brain-rot." It was the first recorded use of the term, according to Oxford University Press. Today, brain rot reflects a worry that consuming the internet's endless waves of memes and video clips, especially on social media, might numb one's noggin. In Walden , Thoreau used the term as he railed against oversimplification. He asked , "Why level downward to our dullest perception always, and praise that as common sense?" Thoreau ended that paragraph with another question: "While England endeavors to cure the potato-rot, will not any endeavor to cure the brain-rot, which prevails so much more widely and fatally?" So, is the new rot the same as the old rot? Oxford's language experts say brain rot gained traction on platforms such as TikTok this year, thanks to Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Frequency of the term's use grew by 230% from 2023 to 2024, according to the publisher's monitoring tools. At first glance, the connection to Thoreau may seem odd, but consider this: when Thoreau relocated to his cabin near Walden Pond to get back to basics in 1845, he was 27 years old -- the same age as the oldest Gen Z members. To better get a sense of how Thoreau saw brain rot in the 1800s, NPR contacted Cristin Ellis, an authority on Thoreau who teaches literature at the University of Mississippi. "For Thoreau, 'brain-rot describes what happens to our minds and spirits when we suppress our innate instincts for curiosity and wonder," Ellis says, "and instead resign ourselves to the unreflective habits we observe all around us -- habits of fitting in, getting by, chasing profits, chatting about the latest news." In today's usage, brain rot is seen as a bad thing, sort of a cautionary term for what might happen to us if we get too distracted. "I think the definitions are related but Thoreau's sense of brain rot is way more extreme," Ellis says. "It's not just TikTok dance crazes but virtually our entire 24/7 media culture -- including the "serious" news of newspapers -- that Thoreau would accuse of trivializing our minds," she adds. "Thoreau really values direct experience over our habits of consuming other peoples' ideas at second hand," Ellis says. "He wants us to go outside to feel and think something for ourselves; he wants us to get to know the places where we actually live." Popularity hints at online anxieties Words of the year often mark shifts in thought and concerns about where society is heading -- see "climate emergency" from 2019 and "vax" from 2021. Compared to Oxford's recent words of the year, brain rot suggests a reflective mood, after the more indulgent vibes of " goblin mode " in 2022 and " rizz " in 2023. Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages, said in a news release sent to NPR that he finds it fascinating that "brain rot" is being embraced by younger people. "It feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology," he said. "There's an anxiety coming through about striking the right balance between the online world and losing touch with the real world," Oxford Languages product director Katherine Martin said. "I think it's great that young people also use this term to refer to the type of language used by people who overindulge in online content, which is wonderfully recursive and self-referential." "Brain rot" beat out five other contenders: demure; dynamic pricing; romantasy; slop; and lore. Demure became a sensation -- and is Dictionary.com's word of 2024 -- largely thanks to online content creator Jools Lebron's catchphrase, "very demure, very mindful." Back to Thoreau -- how might he have seen our culture? "I think he might actually see us as in a more or less similar predicament as the society he lived in," Ellis says. "He had no time for the complaint that societies in the past were somehow better, nobler, smarter than the present day." Shortly after Thoreau raises the specter of "brain rot" in Walden , he warns readers against being distracted by questions about the deterioration of society's collective intellect. He also returns to a central theme: people should aim for their own personal achievements. "His point here is that whether or not things are worse now than they were (and in general he's skeptical of that kind of nostalgia), our task at all times is the same: to try our hardest to commit ourselves to the things that matter most in our brief and miraculous lives," Ellis says. "Devote your attention to what you know, in your heart of heart, really matters: meaning, beauty, love, wonder, and gratitude for this earth."NEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. “Brat summer” became a thing, as did “demure, mindful.” And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, a thing of the past — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: Lily Gladstone poses in the press room Jan. 7 with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . But perhaps the most poignant moment comes from neither film: LILY GLADSTONE , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift on Feb. 11 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game in Las Vegas. Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. Ryan Gosling performs the song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" on March 10 during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “What was I made for?” BILLIE EILISH sings at the OSCARS, channeling BARBIE . And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. Beyonce And BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. Taylor Swift performs June 21 at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour. Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT," then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. Ben Affleck, left, and Jennifer Lopez arrive Feb. 13 at the premiere of "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It’s MET GALA time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW" — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” Stephen Nedoroscik is introduced June 29 at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION , perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK , who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Baby pigmy hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper Sept. 19 in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Also capturing hearts: yep, MOO DENG , born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes Aug. 9 during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. This is them ... now: BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON 's “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act — even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani brings his dog Decoy to the mound Aug. 28 before Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles. Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch” in his Major League Baseball debut. Chappell Roan performs "Good Luck, Babe" on Sept. 11 during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. Miles Mitchell, 21, wins of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest Oct. 27 near Washington Square Park in New York. “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when Chalamet himself shows up. He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. New York Liberty Kennedy Burke dances with the mascot, Ellie the Elephant, during an Oct. 24 ceremony after a parade in honor of the Liberty's WNBA basketball championship at City Hall in New York. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? Why it’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, appears Nov. 2 with Maya Rudolph on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in New York. MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . As for MOO DENG , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch . And THAT brings us back to ... Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo pose for photographers Nov. 11 prior to the premiere of "Wicked" at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. “WICKED” ! Director JON M. CHU ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and, in a veritable tidal wave, Disney's “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go. The stories and images that defined 2024. Searching for something? From queries about U.S. politics to cricket in India, Wikipedia has become a source of information for millions of people across the globe. From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp... AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable ... In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag... Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow. See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers. It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year. Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT The woman who is alleged to have murdered her husband and cut up his remains was subjected to years of abuse by him and other family members and reported hearing “angels” amid the mental scars of years of trauma, according to court documents. Nirmeen Noufl, 54, is accused of murdering her husband Mamdouh, butchering his body and then disposing of his remains across southwestern Sydney. The horrifying allegations levelled against Ms Noufl have been revealed in court documents, which also claim she had a tortured upbringing and detail her battle with mental illness. The documents reveal horror claims about the woman’s life, including that she was physically abused from a young age by her father and mother and was forced into an arranged marriage where she again experienced physical abuse. Mr Noufl, who was commonly known as Emad, was last seen in May last year before he was reported missing two months later. His remains have not been found and last month Ms Noufl, who has been charged with his murder, was denied bail by the NSW Supreme Court. 20 TO 30 RUBBISH BAGS The couple, who had eight children together, had been married for over 34 years, during which time they ran small businesses. Up until 2020, Mr Noufl ran a Newtown convenience store and she was a childcare provider and later owned an NDIS business. According to a police fact sheet tendered to the Supreme Court during Ms Noufl’s bail application, Mr Noufl travelled to Egypt in 2022 and became engaged to another woman. Police allege Ms Noufl found out about the other woman that year, causing “tensions” in their marriage. However, that assertion has been denied by her lawyers who said she had for several years been aware of his infidelity. Mr Noufl sent the woman 550,000 Egyptian pounds, or about $15,000, to “assist with setting up a new life together in Egypt”, according to the police. In April 2023, Mr Noufl sold a Condell Park investment property for $1.69m. On May 3 last year, Mr Noufl went to the Egyptian consulate with his wife and signed over power of attorney. That evening, he went to Burwood to go for a walk with an associate and arrived at his Greenacre home about 9pm. It’s alleged that he was killed sometime between arriving home and 2am during a physical altercation with his wife. Police say it’s unknown how Mr Noufl was killed but allege that Ms Noufl had minor facial injuries as a result of the altercation. According to the court documents, it’s alleged Ms Noufl placed plastic sheets on the floor and cut up her husband using kitchen knives and a drop saw before she put his body parts in 20 to 30 plastic rubbish bags. She is accused of cleaning the crime scene using chemicals and bleach over the following days and placing his body parts in residential and industrial bins across Bexley and Chullora. Police further alleged that the flooring in the home’s kitchen, living room and dining room was ripped up and replaced and she disposed of two leather lounges. THE MESSAGES It’s alleged that after his death, Ms Noufl took control of his phone and social media accounts, using them to make out that he was still alive. According to police, his family and friends “received messages from (Mr Noufl’s) mobile phone and social media accounts that were unusual and not typically how (Mr Noufl) communicated”. It’s alleged she also used his social media accounts to demand that his “female companion in Egypt” return money given to her by Mr Noufl. An exchange between Mr Noufl’s “female companion” and Mr Noufl’s Facebook account in Arabic is revealed in court documents. According to the police fact sheet tendered in court, Mr Noufl’s account sent a message saying: “Peace be with you. I urgently need money. Of the money you owe, transfer to me 550,000 (Egyptian pounds).” The account then sent through a bank account number and asked for a picture to confirm the transfer had been sent. The woman replied: “Peace be with you. Please, before I transfer the money, I need you to call me so I can be sure that it is you who is asking for it, and I assure you that I am holding it on trust, and you will take it for sure, but I think I have the right to be sure. “If you cannot call me, you may send a voice recording in which you ask for it. Thank you anyway.” Mr Noufl’s account replied: “You have no shame. You know that this money belongs to my wife Nirmeen.” After further exchanges, the woman sent through proof that the money had been forwarded to the account. Ms Noufl went to Egypt in May 2023 and returned in July with $US200,000 ($A154,000) in her possession, which was believed to be proceeds from the sale of one of Mr Noufl’s Egyptian properties. ‘INHERENT WEAKNESSES’ Ms Noufl is due to appear in Burwood Local Court next week and has yet to enter a plea. Last month, she asked to be released on bail to seek treatment for her mental illnesses, pointed to her strong community ties in Sydney and argued it was estimated that any trial would not take place until 2026. In court documents, her lawyers attacked the strength of the Crown case and described it as having “inherent weaknesses”. Her barristers, Greg James KC and Johnson Jiang, wrote in submissions to the court that there was evidence that Mr Noufl was violent towards Ms Noufl during their marriage, a claim that was supported by police having been called as well as statements made to her doctor. They further argued she had no motive to kill Mr Noufl, saying that she knew about the other woman in Egypt. “Whilst the police describe Mr Noufl to have engaged in an affair with a woman in Egypt and that this caused tension between (Ms Noufl) and Mr Noufl, Mr Noufl’s infidelities are a known quantity to (Ms Noufl) and her family and it would not come as any great shock so as to kill him,” her lawyers wrote. They further argued that she had a clean criminal history, was not known to be a violent person and had no financial motives. Her lawyers also said there was evidence “as to the violent nature of Mr Noufl”. The court has been told that Ms Noufl reported that Mr Noufl was abusive and in 2012 she told a medical practitioner that she was a victim of domestic violence. Police were also called in 2008 and 2009, the court was told, following reports of domestic violence. Police were called to their home in September 2009 after Mr Noufl and his wife argued over her request for a divorce. When police arrived she reported to officers a “long history of physical violence”. It was reported to police that he picked up a knife and told her: “I would rather see you dead than give you a divorce.” And when he put down the knife, she picked it up, but he took it from her grasp during a struggle, the court documents state. ‘SEVERE BEATINGS’ In an affidavit handed up to the court, Ms Noufl’s younger sister Amanda Farien detailed how they were both subjected to domestic violence by their father when they were young. She also said they were beaten by their mother while they lived with her in Syria as young children, describing being forced into servitude. The sister claimed Ms Noufl was “stripped”, beaten “with an electric chord” and was forced to make coffee “as if Nirmeen was a slave”. She described their living arrangements as being like “captivity” and said she continually ran away. “The beatings we experienced in Syria haunt me till today and have affected me forever,” she said. They eventually returned to Australia to live with their father. Ms Farien said Ms Noufl returned to Australia 21⁄2 years after her, and when she landed in Sydney, Ms Noufl looked like a “Holocaust survivor”, her sister said in her affidavit. “Extremely fragile, hardly speaking or eating,” she said of her sister’s appearance upon her return to Australia. “Her teeth were black, and she spent most of her days confined to her bedroom.” She said her father arranged for Ms Noufl, when she was about 18 or 19, to be married to Mr Noufl, who at the time was attempting to immigrate to Australia but repeatedly had his visa application refused. “I believe he sold Nirmeen and it was purely a money deal,” she said, adding that Nirmeen did not meet her husband until the day of their wedding. Ms Farien said during the marriage, Mr Noufl “treated Nirmeen like a slave” and subjected her to physical abuse. “She endured severe beatings simply for wearing a T-shirt in the backyard,” Ms Farien wrote. She also said her sister had “experienced mental breakdowns” and “always suffered from mental health conditions” as a result of their traumatic upbringing and abuse. She detailed how Ms Noufl would say: “I can see and hear the angels talking to me.” Ms Farien said this occurred “frequently” after Ms Noufl was subjected to abuse and it “continued into adulthood”. The court was told last month that Ms Noufl had been diagnosed with a depressive disorder and PTSD, and a forensic psychiatrist had observed she had possible psychotic symptoms. Ms Noufl was arrested in October at Bankstown Hospital, where she had checked herself in as a mental health inpatient. Ms Noufl will appear in court again on December 11. Domestic Violence helplines2024 in pop culture: In a bruising year, we sought out fantasy, escapism — and cute little animals

By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The picture of who will be in charge of executing President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration and border policies has come into sharper focus after he announced his picks to head Customs and Border Protection and also the agency tasked with deporting immigrants in the country illegally. Trump said late Thursday he was tapping Rodney Scott, a former Border Patrol chief who’s been a vocal supporter of tougher enforcement measures, for CBP commissioner. As acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Trump said he’d nominate Caleb Vitello, a career ICE official with more than 23 years in the agency who most recently has been the assistant director for firearms and tactical programs. They will work with an immigration leadership team that includes South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security ; former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement head Tom Homan as border czar ; and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Scott led during Trump’s first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country’s borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he joined the agency, San Diego was by far the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. Traffic plummeted after the government dramatically increased enforcement there, but critics note the effort pushed people to remote parts of California and Arizona. San Diego was also where wall construction began in the 1990s, which shaped Scott’s belief that barriers work. He was named San Diego sector chief in 2017. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump’s policies. “He’s well known. He does know these issues and obviously is trusted by the administration,” said Gil Kerlikowske, the CBP commissioner under the Obama administration. Kerlikowske took issue with some of Scott’s past actions, including his refusal to fall in line with a Biden administration directive to stop using terms like “illegal alien” in favor of descriptions like “migrant,” and his decision as San Diego sector chief to fire tear gas into Mexico to disperse protesters. “You don’t launch projectiles into a foreign country,” Kerlikowske said. At the time Scott defended the agents’ decisions , saying they were being assaulted by “a hail of rocks.” While much of the focus of Trump’s administration may be on illegal immigration and security along the U.S.-Mexico border, Kerlikowske also stressed the importance of other parts of Customs and Border Protection’s mission. The agency is responsible for securing trade and international travel at airports, ports and land crossings around the country. Whoever runs the agency has to make sure that billions of dollars worth of trade and millions of passengers move swiftly and safely into and out of the country. And if Trump makes good on promises to ratchet up tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada, CBP will play an integral role in enforcing them. “There’s a huge amount of other responsibility on trade, on tourism, on cyber that take a significant amount of time and have a huge impact on the economy if it’s not done right,” Kerlikowske said. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda. He has appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He’s also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, he advocated for a return to Trump-era immigration policies and more pressure on Mexico to enforce immigration on its side of the border.

A McAlester resident has been spreading kindness, love and hope on social media platforms for the last few years. Barry “Bear” Mathews is known as @bearthevoice3 on TikTok, where he talks to his followers, or as he calls them his friends, for the last two and a half years, but has been present on the platform for three and a half years in total. Mathews journey into the world of social media started with a conversation and a misunderstanding as he was gathered around a swimming pool with his daughter. “She said, ‘Daddy, you need a TikTok.’ I said, ‘Baby, I got a watch.’ She was like, ‘What? No. It’s an app that goes on your phone.’ I said, ‘Sweetheart, I’ve got a clock app on my phone.’ I’m thinking ‘tic toc’ like a clock. I had never heard of the app,” Mathews said. After his daughter explained and showed Mathews the app, he questioned why he would even need TikTok. His voice was the answer. “She said ‘Daddy, you have the coolest voice on the planet, man. Your voice is just cool. People will watch your TikToks just to hear you talk,’” Mathews said. The now TikTok star was not initially game for making an account, but allowed his daughter to do so anyways, marking the birth of Bear the Voice. Mathews said his content was just like any other found on the app until he made a video talking about how proud he was of his son. “Somebody made a comment that said, ‘I wish I had a dad who would tell me he was proud of me,’” Mathews said. “So I did a video reply to that comment where I just looked at the camera and said ‘Well, I am proud of you. I’m very proud of you.’” The video went viral with many more content to follow suit, as he now has 1.32 million followers and 18.1 million likes. Mathews’ account is a combination of content ranging from life advice to cooking. Mathews said he didn’t have a clue his account would reach the success it has and still finds it mind blowing. “I think the reason my account has grown the way it has is because I’m not going to respond with hatred,” Mathews said. “I’m going to treat people the way that I want people to treat me, and I’m going to be tremendously honest and caring in doing so. I think that is something people look for. We live in a very superficial age, where it’s all about the trend and not about the compassion and honesty with one another.” The TikTok platform has been under fire for the last few years with the social media app having a potential of being banned in the U.S. in January 2025. Mathews has started to move his content to all social media platforms, like Instagram and YouTube, in case this takes place. Some upcoming projects Mathews has included hosting a Meet and Greet and Eat in June. Mathews said there is a community of cooking content creators, such as himself, who will be gathering June 14 at the Lightning C Arena. The event – a third of its kind – will feature foods made by potentially 100 content creators. As his popularity has grown, Mathews has continued to respond to comments from his friends with kindness and has even been given the moniker of “America’s Grandpa.” “I said in a video that I absolutely adore being a grandpa, and someone put a comment on it that said ‘You probably would not want to be a grandpa to a young Black woman.’ And I knew I had to make a video response to that...,” Mathews said. “I called her by name and told her I don’t care if you’re Black or white or red or green. I don’t care what color you are. Human need is human need, and it knows no race, so I would love for you to call me grandpa. Since then I’ve kind of turned into America’s grandpa.” A grandfatherly figure is something Mathews said he believes America needs right now, as a grandfather not only loves their grandkids regardless of anything but will also dole out advice and guide the person through life. Mathews said he doesn’t want to come across as a know-it-all, but that he does know what it’s like to deal with tragedies and how some just need to be told it will be OK. Mathews current job is social media due to his battle with Polycythemia vera – a chronic, rare blood cancer – which has progressed to cause Mathews to not have the ability to do everything he once could. Prior to the age of TikTok, Mathews drove trucks and worked in the oilfield, which is what brought him to McAlester in the first place. Since 2009 Mathews has made McAlester his home, where he tries to give back when he can. From making Angel Tree donations to helping pay for others at Walmart, Mathews has been living out his kind nature past the phone screen and into the real world of McAlester for years. One example is when Mathews recognized the look of panic on a father’s face after his card declined at a register. As the father tried to pull up his online bank account and find out why his deposit wasn’t showing up, Mathews heard the man’s son ask what was happening. Mathews then told the child the card must be broken and paid for the groceries. “I think that’s not an act of charity it’s an act of kindness that if you can afford to do that that is what you should do,” Mathews said. “We all got to eat, and if I have the money in my account, I’m not going to let you or your little boy go hungry.” Mathews said he helps out when he can because he knows what it is like to need someone. From falling on financial hard times to a flooded house to a house fire, Mathews said he knows what it feels like to not have anything with no one to turn to. “A lot of people who I have talked to personally [will say] ‘God has allowed so many tragedies.’ But I don’t believe a person can truly find humility without having been humiliated and I have been,” Mathews said. “So rather than allow that to make me bitter I’ve tried to let it make me grow into a better person. It’s so easy to be bitter, but it’s also easy to be better.” Becoming TikTok famous has been what Mathews referred to as cool with fans coming up to him in stores and telling Mathews how he has impacted them or even saved their life. Mathews said learning how he has made such an impact on people has been a humbling experience. Mathews said he has not always been this way, but after the death of a child, step sister, and both parents he knows what it is like to lose someone. “That’s a feeling that so many people feel, like they’ve lost everything and they feel like their world is hopeless, and if I can give them a little bit of hope, maybe one day God will smile at me face to face,” Mathews said. Something that Mathews ends each video with is a saying he takes to heart and means to every friend who hears it – “I love all of you. I truly do.” “I think love is something that is a rarity in all societies, not just ours, but all societies these days,” Mathews said. “We don’t have to see eye to eye politically or spiritually. I don’t care – like I said to that young lady – I don’t care what color you are. I don’t care if you’re heterosexual or homosexual. I don’t care if you were born Beverly and you want to be called Billy. I don’t care. Love and compassion is what this world needs the most of, so I love all of you. I truly do.” Skyler Hammons writes for the McAlester News-Capital.

Hoda Kotb left her Today co-host Jenna Bush Hager momentarily speechless by recalling an unthinkable exchange from before her time at NBC in which an unnamed boss critiqued her weight. On Monday, December 2, the anchors of Today With Hoda and Jenna discussed how Timothee Chalamet has successfully pivoted to action roles after reportedly losing out on previous jobs because of his body type. “I mean, look, sometimes people will tell you things that you’re not right for,” Kotb said. “I still remember had just started working in a small market,” she continued. “And I played basketball in high school so I always assumed I was in shape even though, literally, after college and stuff I wasn’t.” “I still remember my boss going to me, ‘Hey, Hoda,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah?’ He goes, ‘Hey, I got an idea. Maybe you might wanna try to get on the treadmill,’” Kotb said. The 60-year-old added levity by impersonating her then-boss’s voice and doing a treadmill-running motion. Bush Hager looked shocked and stared directly into the camera, gasping, “No!” Kotb continued, “And I go, ‘What?!’ You know when you have a perception of yourself that is not the perception of the world?” Bush Hager joked, “Yeah, it’s called reverse body dysmorphia. I have it too.” “Yeah, so I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’” Kotb recalled. “But, if you don’t fit, they want you to wear something a certain way, cut your hair a certain way, speak a certain way.” The shocking exchange can be seen around the 5 minute mark of the broadcast shared on YouTube below: Bush Hager related to being told to change oneself, bringing up how she was originally asked to refrain from saying “y’all” on the Today show. She said she dismissed the idea, and that she couldn’t “pretend” to be a “serious news person” and continued saying the slang word. Craig Melvin Named as Hoda Kotb's Replacement on 'Today' “I think you know when you’re pretending deep down and no matter what it is, you start losing who you are,” Kotb concluded, admitting that “sometimes” people have to make small changes to “fit into a work environment.” Kotb made sure not to name names, but since she has worked for NBC for the last 26 years, the unnamed boss may have been from her local news days. Kotb worked at a CBS local station in Greenville, Mississippi after graduating from Virginia Tech in 1986. Today , Weekdays, 7 a.m. ET, NBC More Headlines: Will ‘Yellowstone’ Fulfill ‘1883’ Prophecy & 6 More Burning Questions We Need Answered ‘Today’: Hoda Kotb Reveals Former Boss Told Her to ‘Get on The Treadmill’ (VIDEO) ‘Based on a True Story’s Melissa Fumero on Breaking Bad in Peacock’s Killer Comedy Is ‘SNL’ New This Weekend? Here’s Everything to Know ‘The Price Is Right’ Fans Want Big Change to Game After Contestant’s ‘Depressing’ Disaster

NEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. “Brat summer” became a thing, as did “demure, mindful.” And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, a thing of the past — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: Lily Gladstone poses in the press room Jan. 7 with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . But perhaps the most poignant moment comes from neither film: LILY GLADSTONE , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift on Feb. 11 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game in Las Vegas. Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. Ryan Gosling performs the song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" on March 10 during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “What was I made for?” BILLIE EILISH sings at the OSCARS, channeling BARBIE . And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. Beyonce And BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. Taylor Swift performs June 21 at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour. Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT," then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. Ben Affleck, left, and Jennifer Lopez arrive Feb. 13 at the premiere of "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It’s MET GALA time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW" — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” Stephen Nedoroscik is introduced June 29 at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION , perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK , who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Baby pigmy hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper Sept. 19 in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Also capturing hearts: yep, MOO DENG , born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes Aug. 9 during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. This is them ... now: BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON 's “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act — even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani brings his dog Decoy to the mound Aug. 28 before Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles. Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch” in his Major League Baseball debut. Chappell Roan performs "Good Luck, Babe" on Sept. 11 during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. Miles Mitchell, 21, wins of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest Oct. 27 near Washington Square Park in New York. “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when Chalamet himself shows up. He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. New York Liberty Kennedy Burke dances with the mascot, Ellie the Elephant, during an Oct. 24 ceremony after a parade in honor of the Liberty's WNBA basketball championship at City Hall in New York. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? Why it’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, appears Nov. 2 with Maya Rudolph on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in New York. MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . As for MOO DENG , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch . And THAT brings us back to ... Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo pose for photographers Nov. 11 prior to the premiere of "Wicked" at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. “WICKED” ! Director JON M. CHU ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and, in a veritable tidal wave, Disney's “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go. The stories and images that defined 2024. Searching for something? From queries about U.S. politics to cricket in India, Wikipedia has become a source of information for millions of people across the globe. From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp... AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable ... In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag... Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow. See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers. It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year. Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!A senior White House official claimed on Thursday that Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation, is advancing its long-range ballistic missile program, which could potentially enable it to reach targets beyond South Asia, including the United States. Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer said Islamabad's conduct raised "real questions" about its intentions. "Candidly, it's hard for us to see Pakistan's actions as anything other than an emerging threat to the United States," Finer said in a speech to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Meanwhile, Pakistan denounced the new U.S. sanctions on the country's ballistic missile program as "discriminatory" that put the region's peace and security at risk. Pakistan's foreign ministry warned in a statement that the sanctions "have dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond." It also cast doubt on U.S. allegations that targeted businesses were involved in weapons proliferation because previous sanctions "were based on mere doubts and suspicion without any evidence whatsoever." It also accused the U.S. of "double standards" for waiving licensing requirements for advanced military technology to other countries. The sanctions freeze any U.S. property belonging to the targeted businesses and bar Americans from doing business with them. The U.S. State Department said one such sanctioned entity, the Islamabad-based National Development Complex, worked to acquire items for developing Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile program including the SHAHEEN series of ballistic missiles. The other sanctioned entities are Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, Affiliates International and Rockside Enterprise. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Wednesday on X that the U.S. had "been clear and consistent about our concerns" over such weapons proliferation and that it would "continue to engage constructively with Pakistan on these issues." The sanctions were also opposed by the party of Pakistan's imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Zulfiqar Bukhari, Khan's spokesman, took to the social platform X to criticize the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, saying "We strongly oppose U.S. sanctions on the National Development Complex and three commercial entities." The latest U.S. sanctions came months after similar measures were slapped on other foreign entities, including a Chinese research institute after the U.S. State Department accused them of working for the National Development Complex, which it says was involved in the development and production of Pakistan's long-range ballistic missiles. Analysts say Pakistan's nuclear and missile program is primarily aimed at countering threats from neighboring India. Security expert Syed Muhammad Ali called the sanctions "short-sighted, destabilizing and divorced from South Asian regional strategic realities." Pakistan became a declared nuclear power in 1998, when it conducted underground nuclear tests in response to those carried out by its rival and neighbor India. The two sides regularly test-fired their short, medium and long-range missiles.