Latest news with #Husted
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vance's and Marco Rubio's Senate successors avoid GOP primary drama
As JD Vance and Marco Rubio shot to the top of Donald Trump's list of possible running mates last year, a mix of joy and dread set in for Republicans in Ohio and Florida. The joy was self-explanatory, springing from the clout that comes with having a favorite son in the White House. The dread was more complicated. Even though either case would see a GOP governor appoint a successor if one of the then-senators resigned to assume the vice presidency, such scenarios can invite messy primaries — in states where the Republican Party does not lack for rivalrous internal factions or ambitious candidates eager to exploit them. In the end, both Vance and Rubio joined the new Trump administration — Vance as vice president, Rubio as secretary of state. And their appointed successors, Jon Husted in Ohio and Ashley Moody in Florida, are facing smoother than expected paths, at least for now. Neither Husted nor Moody has a credible primary opponent at the moment. Husted scored an early Trump endorsement, while Moody has made efforts to get closer to the president's political team. Both also are coming off strong fundraising quarters that could scare away any Republican tempted to challenge them. In the meantime, the political drama in both states has revolved more around how term-limited Govs. Mike DeWine in Ohio and Ron DeSantis in Florida are meddling in the GOP races to succeed them in 2026. 'Costly primaries are a waste of resources when we have the right leader in Jon, who has President Trump's endorsement and a proven record of fighting for Ohioans,' said Mehek Cooke, a conservative consultant in the state. 'I am proud to stand with him and fight for Ohio.' Given recent trends in both states, the Republican nominees will enter their 2026 special elections as favorites in November, too. But Husted would face a much tougher race if former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was unseated last fall by businessman Bernie Moreno, is the Democratic candidate. Brown has acknowledged that he is considering a run for the Senate seat or a bid for governor. In Florida, Democrats have struggled to find a top-tier candidate. Husted's hustle Husted's clear primary field is particularly significant in Ohio, where the two most recent Senate races gave rise to brutal Republican primaries, including the one Vance won in 2022. Trump's endorsement, which came at a much later stage in that primary, propelled his future running mate to victory that year. Trump's support also helped lift Moreno out of a crowded 2024 Senate primary. Already this year, the president's backing helped secure unusually early endorsements for Husted from the Ohio Republican Party and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Brenton Temple, who managed DeWine's 2022 re-election campaign, with Husted as his lieutenant governor, said Husted's long track record in Ohio has also helped his cause. 'Compared to the last two Senate races, there wasn't anybody like Jon Husted in those fields,' Temple said. 'Husted has been around for 25 years. He's got a lot of contacts, both in the donor community and the grassroots community … so he brings all of that to both the office and the campaign. And you combine all of that with the Trump endorsement and you clear the field.' Husted, 57, has held one elected office or another since 2001, including serving as Ohio's state House speaker and secretary of state. On the one hand, that makes him precisely the type of establishment staple that Trump and other MAGA figures like Vance have vanquished in recent years. On the other, it positioned him as one of the best-known politicians in the state. He had been preparing to run for governor next year. But when Trump-aligned Vivek Ramaswamy signaled plans to jump into that race, DeWine appointed Husted to the Senate to avoid a collision course between them. 'He has a two-decades-long conservative record in Ohio that voters know but that also the political establishment and class knows,' said Niraj Antani, a former state senator who is seeking the GOP nomination for state treasurer. Husted's positions on gun rights and school choice issues, Antani added, have earned him goodwill with the party's base. 'These things are hard to run against. His record is a solid record. I think he has the respect and likely admiration of virtually everyone in Ohio Republican politics,' Antani continued. Husted, in an interview with NBC News, described himself as someone who's been able to bridge old Ohio GOP factions with the newer coalition led by Trump. 'We are a state that is conservative, but we also are a state that is working-class,' Husted said. 'I understand what the Republican Party is like in Cleveland versus what it's like in Appalachia versus what it's like in rural western Ohio. I mean, I just reflect the people that I have come to know over the course of the last 20-plus years that I've been doing this.' Husted said he's forged a 'solid' relationship with Trump and noted that the president invited him to the White House when he signed Husted-sponsored legislation rolling back Biden-era energy efficiency standards. He also recalled how Trump called him in April, minutes before posting his 'Complete and Total Endorsement' of Husted on Truth Social. Trump's endorsement, Husted said, 'has proven in a Republican primary in Ohio to be unbeatable.' The $2.6 million his campaign reported having in the bank entering July helps, too. 'I was planning on running for governor. I had 88 counties ready to activate. I had a whole team ready to activate,' Husted said. 'It's not like I just got appointed to the Senate out of nowhere. I'm tested. We're tough. We know what we're doing and we've got a great campaign.' As for the prospect of a clash with Brown, 'I don't bother myself worrying or wasting time about who the Democrats might or might not nominate. We just run our campaign and we'll win.' Moody's muscle Since her appointment to the Senate in January, Moody has enhanced her ties to Trump while also building a significant war chest that should ward off any serious challengers. She ended June with $2.2 million cash on hand, putting her on strong financial footing in a state with 10 expensive media markets. Meanwhile, a Moody-aligned super PAC has raised $7 million. Moody, 50, was already a well-known part of the state's Republican establishment. As the Florida attorney general, she won two statewide races in dominating fashion, facing no primary challenge during her 2022 re-election bid. 'Any primary opponent to Sen. Moody would be running against her backing by a united Republican Party machine and quickly find their candidacy crushed,' said David Johnson, a veteran Florida GOP operative. During her six years as attorney general, Moody was seen as a solid Republican, but generally stuck to state-level issues. But upon moving into federal politics, her ability to get close with the president — a necessary step toward clearing a primary field — had been an open question. Moody's super PAC has since hired Trump world heavyweights Chris LaCivita, who helped run Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, and Florida-based Tony Fabrizio, who has long been one of the president's top pollsters. There was a moment earlier this year where Rep. Cory Mills was considering entering the primary, but momentum has disappeared. Mills is now facing his own brewing scandal related to a lawsuit seeking his eviction over alleged failure to pay thousands of dollars in rent at a property in Washington, D.C. As the 2026 midterms approach, there is not a single indicator pointing to Moody facing a credible primary challenger. Josh Weil, who got national attention earlier this year when he ran closer than expected to Rep. Randy Fine in a congressional special election for an overwhelmingly Republican district, is running for the Democratic nomination. But few believe that Florida Democrats have the resources or statewide infrastructure to win a Senate seat after Republicans have quickly turned the state deep red over the past few election cycles. Trump carried Florida by 13 percentage points in 2024. Johnson said that in order to compete in a contested Florida Senate general election, candidates need to be able to spend upward of $50 or $60 million on TV alone, 'not just raising the amount in gross dollars via small-dollar grifting like Weil did in his special election.' 'Just like Kamala, they won't play here,' Johnson said. This article was originally published on
NBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- NBC News
The Senate successors avoiding GOP primary drama and AI fueled job cuts: Morning Rundown
JD Vance and Marco Rubio's Senate successors are cruising to the primaries. Artificial intelligence is fueling job cuts and anxiety in the tech world. And a new genetic test may predict a child's risk of obesity in adulthood. Here's what to know today. Vance and Rubio's Senate successors avoid GOP primary drama As JD Vance and Marco Rubio shot to the top of Donald Trump's list of possible running mates last year, a hint of dread set in for Republicans in Ohio and Florida. If either of the then-senators were to leave for the White House, their governors would need to appoint a successor — a potentially messy scenario in states where the Republican Party is filled with rivalrous internal factions. In the end, both Vance and Rubio joined the new Trump administration. And their appointed successors, Jon Husted in Ohio and Ashley Moody in Florida, are facing smoother than expected paths, at least for now. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Neither Husted nor Moody has a credible primary opponent at the moment. Husted scored an early Trump endorsement, while Moody has made efforts to get closer to the president's political team. Both are also coming off strong fundraising quarters that could scare away any Republican tempted to challenge them. Given recent trends in both states, Husted and Moody will enter their 2026 special elections as favorites in November, too. The president's backing helped Husted secure early endorsements, and his decades-long record in elected office makes him one of the best-known politicians in the state. Combining these factors helps him 'clear the field,' one campaign manager said. Since her appointment to the Senate in January, Moody has enhanced her ties to Trump while strengthening her financial footing, ending June with $2.2 million cash on hand. Any primary opponent would 'quickly find their candidacy crushed,' a GOP veteran said. More politics news: The last vestige of the decades-old bipartisan funding process is at risk of dying, as the Republican-led Congress shifts to a partisan approach and party-line votes. When it comes to the 'big, beautiful bill,' few places could be impacted more significantly than Nevada — one of the country's most closely divided swing states. Trump wants Washington's football franchise and Cleveland's baseball team to revert to their former names, both of which were changed amid national discussions about dropping logos and names considered racist. AI is fueling job cuts, but is it really more efficient? As news swirls about multibillion-dollar deals for artificial intelligence startups, a small research nonprofit group is turning some heads in the tech world. Its findings were simple but surprising: AI made software engineers slower. 'When developers are allowed to use AI tools, they take 19% longer to complete issues,' the nonprofit group, METR, which specializes in evaluating AI models, said in its report. The results offer a reality check for major companies like Google and Microsoft moving toward AI generated coding. Overall job openings for software developers hit a five-year low earlier this year, and many coders are anxious about AI's responsibility for the slowdown. While it's clear AI can write code, it's far less certain whether the technology is a direct threat to coding jobs in the short term. 'We have tools that are way more powerful than any we've seen before,' one expert said, 'But there's also a long way to go.' Read the full story here. New genetic test could predict adult obesity risk A new genetic test may predict a child's risk of obesity in adulthood, paving the way for early interventions. In a study published in the journal Nature Medicine, scientists examined the genes of more than 5 million people to determine which genetic variants are linked to obesity. Certain variants can affect how a person's body stores fat or make them more prone to overeating. With this information, the researchers were able to create a score that could be used to predict a person's risk of obesity as an adult — before they even turn 5. Identifying a person's genetic risk in childhood and intervening with lifestyle coaching could make a big difference in adult obesity rates, said study co-author Ruth Loos. Loos' test is twice as effective as the method doctors currently use, but was primarily focused on people with European ancestry. Here's what else we know. A Delta regional flight performed a 'go-around' to avoid colliding with a B-52 bomber. An off-duty Customs and Border Patrol agent was shot in a New York City park in an alleged robbery that appeared to be random, police said. Coldplay's Chris Martin gave concertgoers a cheeky heads up about the 'kiss cam' during the band's first performance following the viral moment last week. The nation's largest wildfire this year has burned over 95,740 acres, fire officials in central Oregon said, and could intensify to become a so-called megafire. Alaska Airlines temporarily grounded its planes and those of regional subsidiary Horizon Air amid a computer system outage. Staff Pick: Meet the weather detectives trying to better understand hail Hail is a sneaky threat that costs the U.S. tens of billions of dollars in damage each year. NBC News meteorologist and climate reporter Chase Cain visited Montana to catch up with researchers who drive into storms — come hail or high water — hoping to crack open the science of how hail forms and how to better forecast when big hail will strike. The project, appropriately called ICECHIP, is the first major field campaign studying hail in nearly 50 years. Researchers raced across the plains to capture the inner dynamics of dozens of storms with tools like mobile radar and drones with the goal of testing whether climate change is increasing powerful updrafts inside thunderstorms, which can help form larger hailstones. Think of it like 'Twister' but for hail. — Evan Bush, science reporter NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified What exactly are ampoules? Here's everything to know about the viral Korean beauty treatment. Plus, NBC Select found the best spring and summer dresses from Amazon — and all are under $50.
NBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Vance's and Marco Rubio's Senate successors avoid GOP primary drama
As JD Vance and Marco Rubio shot to the top of Donald Trump's list of possible running mates last year, a mix of joy and dread set in for Republicans in Ohio and Florida. The joy was self-explanatory, springing from the clout that comes with having a favorite son in the White House. The dread was more complicated. Even though either case would see a GOP governor appoint a successor if one of the then-senators resigned to assume the vice presidency, such scenarios can invite messy primaries — in states where the Republican Party does not lack for rivalrous internal factions or ambitious candidates eager to exploit them. In the end, both Vance and Rubio joined the new Trump administration — Vance as vice president, Rubio as secretary of state. And their appointed successors, Jon Husted in Ohio and Ashley Moody in Florida, are facing smoother than expected paths, at least for now. Neither Husted nor Moody has a credible primary opponent at the moment. Husted scored an early Trump endorsement, while Moody has made efforts to get closer to the president's political team. Both also are coming off strong fundraising quarters that could scare away any Republican tempted to challenge them. In the meantime, the political drama in both states has revolved more around how term-limited Govs. Mike DeWine in Ohio and Ron DeSantis in Florida are meddling in the GOP races to succeed them in 2026. 'Costly primaries are a waste of resources when we have the right leader in Jon, who has President Trump's endorsement and a proven record of fighting for Ohioans,' said Mehek Cooke, a conservative consultant in the state. 'I am proud to stand with him and fight for Ohio.' Given recent trends in both states, the Republican nominees will enter their 2026 special elections as favorites in November, too. But Husted would face a much tougher race if former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was unseated last fall by businessman Bernie Moreno, is the Democratic candidate. Brown has acknowledged that he is considering a run for the Senate seat or a bid for governor. In Florida, Democrats have struggled to find a top-tier candidate. Husted's hustle Husted's clear primary field is particularly significant in Ohio, where the two most recent Senate races gave rise to brutal Republican primaries, including the one Vance won in 2022. Trump's endorsement, which came at a much later stage in that primary, propelled his future running mate to victory that year. Trump's support also helped lift Moreno out of a crowded 2024 Senate primary. Already this year, the president's backing helped secure unusually early endorsements for Husted from the Ohio Republican Party and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Brenton Temple, who managed DeWine's 2022 re-election campaign, with Husted as his lieutenant governor, said Husted's long track record in Ohio has also helped his cause. 'Compared to the last two Senate races, there wasn't anybody like Jon Husted in those fields,' Temple said. 'Husted has been around for 25 years. He's got a lot of contacts, both in the donor community and the grassroots community … so he brings all of that to both the office and the campaign. And you combine all of that with the Trump endorsement and you clear the field.' Husted, 57, has held one elected office or another since 2001, including serving as Ohio's state House speaker and secretary of state. On the one hand, that makes him precisely the type of establishment staple that Trump and other MAGA figures like Vance have vanquished in recent years. On the other, it positioned him as one of the best-known politicians in the state. He had been preparing to run for governor next year. But when Trump-aligned Vivek Ramaswamy signaled plans to jump into that race, DeWine appointed Husted to the Senate to avoid a collision course between them. 'He has a two-decades-long conservative record in Ohio that voters know but that also the political establishment and class knows,' said Niraj Antani, a former state senator who is seeking the GOP nomination for state treasurer. Husted's positions on gun rights and school choice issues, Antani added, have earned him goodwill with the party's base. 'These things are hard to run against. His record is a solid record. I think he has the respect and likely admiration of virtually everyone in Ohio Republican politics,' Antani continued. Husted, in an interview with NBC News, described himself as someone who's been able to bridge old Ohio GOP factions with the newer coalition led by Trump. 'We are a state that is conservative, but we also are a state that is working-class,' Husted said. 'I understand what the Republican Party is like in Cleveland versus what it's like in Appalachia versus what it's like in rural western Ohio. I mean, I just reflect the people that I have come to know over the course of the last 20-plus years that I've been doing this.' Husted said he's forged a 'solid' relationship with Trump and noted that the president invited him to the White House when he signed Husted-sponsored legislation rolling back Biden-era energy efficiency standards. He also recalled how Trump called him in April, minutes before posting his 'Complete and Total Endorsement' of Husted on Truth Social. Trump's endorsement, Husted said, 'has proven in a Republican primary in Ohio to be unbeatable.' The $2.6 million his campaign reported having in the bank entering July helps, too. 'I was planning on running for governor. I had 88 counties ready to activate. I had a whole team ready to activate,' Husted said. 'It's not like I just got appointed to the Senate out of nowhere. I'm tested. We're tough. We know what we're doing and we've got a great campaign.' As for the prospect of a clash with Brown, 'I don't bother myself worrying or wasting time about who the Democrats might or might not nominate. We just run our campaign and we'll win.' Moody's muscle Since her appointment to the Senate in January, Moody has enhanced her ties to Trump while also building a significant war chest that should ward off any serious challengers. She ended June with $2.2 million cash on hand, putting her on strong financial footing in a state with 10 expensive media markets. Meanwhile, a Moody-aligned super PAC has raised $7 million. Moody, 50, was already a well-known part of the state's Republican establishment. As the Florida attorney general, she won two statewide races in dominating fashion, facing no primary challenge during her 2022 re-election bid. 'Any primary opponent to Sen. Moody would be running against her backing by a united Republican Party machine and quickly find their candidacy crushed,' said David Johnson, a veteran Florida GOP operative. During her six years as attorney general, Moody was seen as a solid Republican, but generally stuck to state-level issues. But upon moving into federal politics, her ability to get close with the president — a necessary step toward clearing a primary field — had been an open question. Moody's super PAC has since hired Trump world heavyweights Chris LaCivita, who helped run Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, and Florida-based Tony Fabrizio, who has long been one of the president's top pollsters. There was a moment earlier this year where Rep. Cory Mills was considering entering the primary, but momentum has disappeared. Mills is now facing his own brewing scandal related to a lawsuit seeking his eviction over alleged failure to pay thousands of dollars in rent at a property in Washington, D.C. As the 2026 midterms approach, there is not a single indicator pointing to Moody facing a credible primary challenger. Josh Weil, who got national attention earlier this year when he ran closer than expected to Rep. Randy Fine in a congressional special election for an overwhelmingly Republican district, is running for the Democratic nomination. But few believe that Florida Democrats have the resources or statewide infrastructure to win a Senate seat after Republicans have quickly turned the state deep red over the past few election cycles. Trump carried Florida by 13 percentage points in 2024. Johnson said that in order to compete in a contested Florida Senate general election, candidates need to be able to spend upward of $50 or $60 million on TV alone, 'not just raising the amount in gross dollars via small-dollar grifting like Weil did in his special election.' 'Just like Kamala, they won't play here,' Johnson said.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
What is the weakest wind speed for a tornado?
LEWIS COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tornadoes can be extremely destructive and dangerous with winds reaching in excess of 200 miles per hour. However, have you ever wondered what the weakest tornado is? The Enhanced Fujita Scale is used to determine the severity of tornadoes: from an EF-0, the weakest, to an EF-5, the strongest. According to the scale, an EF-0 tornado has winds ranging from 65 to 85 mph. One might think this would answer the question and the weakest possible tornado has minimum wind gusts of 65 mph, but it doesn't. EXPLAINER: How tornadoes get their ratings Recently, the National Weather Service in Nashville confirmed an EF-0 tornado in northern Lewis County with maximum wind gusts of 60 mph. The maximum wind speed of 60 mph was the lowest that any of the News 2 meteorologists have seen within a tornado. So, the Weather Authority team asked about it. According to Ryan Husted, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Nashville, the tornado was caught on camera, so there's no question it occurred. VIDEO: EF-0 tornado confirmed on June 6 in Maury County 'During the event, we were watching a webcam and you could see it there, you could see the little funnel spinning on the ground, and there was a funnel cloud or at least a wall cloud hanging down from that storm,' recalled Husted. 'So obviously there's something there, I just can't find significant damage so I can rate it. So that's why we went with that low wind speed.' Husted added the area in northern Lewis County has very little road access and was mostly private property, so getting to potential damage would have been extremely difficult. He told News 2 he has given a tornado a rating this low once before. ⏩ In fact, there is such a thing as a tornado being rated an EF-U, where the 'U' stands for Unknown. This is commonly given to tornadoes that were caught on video but caused no damage. However, Husted said the National Weather Service office in Nashville doesn't rate tornadoes as EF-Us to keep local records consistent. The definition of a tornado is a violently rotating column of air, and with no exact boundaries, a tornado could be weaker than 65 mph and stronger than 200 mph, according to Husted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Bonnaroo weather safety: What you need to know
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tens of thousands of music fans are expected to descend on Manchester, Tennessee, this week. Bonnaroo begins on Thursday, June 12, and runs through Sunday. Many of the thousands attending the festival will be sleeping outside in tents, and this is why the National Weather Service in Nashville is watching the forecast closely. According to Ryan Husted, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Nashville, they are working with local emergency management offices and giving them forecast briefings with the latest weather information. Local agencies prepared for Bonnaroo traffic ahead of festival Husted said it seems like every year the festival is impacted by the weather. He said in 2024, it was the heat, humidity, and a couple of thunderstorms. With so many people essentially living outside, it doesn't take a powerful storm to cause a lot of problems. 'It wouldn't take wind speeds that high to start causing some sort of damage and potentially striking people. So, the impacts could be high, and it doesn't necessarily have to be a severe thunderstorm or tornado,' Husted told News 2. Husted said he doesn't expect any extreme heat this year, but there could be some thunderstorms, especially on Saturday and Sunday. He said if a thunderstorm is going to impact Manchester, the safest place to go is your car. 'My advice is going to be to get in your vehicle. When there are damaging winds in the area and even lightning, without many substantial shelters around and so many people in the area, my advice is going to be to get in your vehicle,' Said Husted. Bonnaroo co-founder dies days before festival Even though it isn't expected to be that hot, Husted said it's important to stay hydrated and to take breaks in the shade. He said sunburn can be a big problem, and to remember to wear sunscreen and where light colored clothing. The News 2 Weather Authority team is forecasting low rain chances on Thursday and Friday and medium rain chances for the weekend. Temperatures are forecast to be in the mid and upper 80s with elevated humidity. Right now, it doesn't look like there will be any severe weather, but like Husted said, it doesn't take much wind to pick up and blow around tents, chairs, and umbrellas. Don't forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
