QUOTE OF THE DAY

'I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the depths of national ruin.'

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declaring "emergency martial law" earlier today, before promising to rescind the declaration a few hours later. He claims the country's opposition is controlling parliament and sympathizing with North Korea.

THE EXPLAINER

Companies that have rolled back DEI initiatives

Walmart announced last week that it's rolling back a slew of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, becoming the latest company to hop on board a growing list of brands shunning the programs. The behemoth is just one of many that are backing off DEI initiatives due to conservative backlash, wanting to appeal to right-leaning customers.

Boeing
While Boeing continues to deal with operational problems, the aircraft manufacturer has "dismantled" its DEI department as it "oversees a broader revamp of the company's workforce," said Bloomberg. Before this conservative push, Boeing "stepped up its efforts to recruit more Black employees and people from other minority groups under former CEO Dave Calhoun." Hiring on "merit while truly caring for people, regardless of arbitrary one-dimensional identity- or affinity-group labels, is the way to go," a source at Boeing said to City Journal.

Harley-Davidson
The motorcycle manufacturer implemented several DEI policies but announced earlier this year it's changing this amid social media backlash. Harley-Davidson has "not operated a DEI function since April 2024, and we do not have a DEI policy today," the company said in August. Harley-Davidson also announced it would "review all sponsorships and outside organizations the company affiliates with," said CNN, and stated it would end its relationship with the LGTBQ+ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign.

Walmart
The company's changes include the winding down of "programs that provide assistance to suppliers that are 51%-owned by women, minorities, veterans or members of the LGBTQ community," said The Wall Street Journal. The retailer also said it will phase out the initialism "DEI" in its corporate messaging and "no longer give priority treatment to suppliers based on race or gender diversity and will halt sellers from listing some transgender-related or -themed items on the website," said CBS News.

Statistic of the day

113M: The number of Americans who drink water containing the chemical chloronitramide anion, according to a study from the journal Science. The newly identified chemical is a byproduct of water treatment plants. It's not clear yet if it's harmful to people's health, but it reportedly has similar properties to some toxic molecules.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Trump taps celebrity doctor for top health care post

Last month, President-elect Donald Trump named Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service, a large federal agency that oversees health insurance programs for elderly and poor Americans, as well as the Affordable Care Act's insurance exchanges. Best known as a TV personality dispensing medical advice on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and later his own program, Dr. Oz was an accomplished Ivy League-educated heart surgeon before he entered the political arena in 2022.

From surgeon to celebrity
Oz was born to Turkish immigrants in 1960 in Cleveland, Ohio. He "found that he loved being the public face of medical advancement" when he participated in heart surgery for former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre's brother Frank in 1996, said Olivia Nuzzi at New York magazine. In 2004, he appeared for the first time on "Oprah." With his "good looks and requisite regular-guy patter, Oz was a natural addition" to the show as a regular, said Hadley Freeman at The Guardian.

His frequent appearances on Oprah Winfrey's show made him a trusted voice in medicine. He later launched his own program, "The Dr. Oz Show," that drew significant criticism for advancing fringe medical theories into public discourse and hawking dubious products.

Pivot to politics
Oz was appointed by then-President Trump to the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition in 2018, a position he held until he was removed by President Joe Biden in 2022. He announced his candidacy for the open Pennsylvania Senate seat on Nov. 30, 2021, and was hurt by several unforced errors.

The most damaging was a widely mocked campaign video showing Oz shopping for vegetables at a supermarket he mistakenly called Wegner's. This played into the critique of Oz as a carpetbagger who didn't know anything about Pennsylvania from Oz's Democratic opponent in the election, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman.

Oz's recent nomination has been less controversial than some of Trump's other cabinet picks, drawing praise from moderate Republicans in the Senate, including Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). It will be "helpful to have someone who has been a health care provider running that agency," said Collins to Politico.

Good day 🇧🇪

… for Belgian sex workers. Belgium has made history as the first country in the world to allow sex workers to sign formal employment contracts, "granting them access to sick days, maternity pay and pension," said NPR. The new law also guarantees fundamental rights for sex workers, including the "ability to refuse clients, set the conditions of an act and stop an act at any moment."

Bad day 🍯

… for honey. For the first time ever, the World Beekeeping Awards will not award a prize for honey at its annual congress in Denmark next year, due to concerns about supply chain fraud. The "inability to have honey fully tested for adulteration" was behind the decision, said Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations.

Puzzles

Daily crossword

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The Week recommends

Holiday gifts sure to bring joy

The holidays mean finding thoughtful presents that give your family and friends exactly what they need, whether that's an outlet for their creativity or moments of self-care. These items will spark smiles and good cheer into the new year.

The gift of a clean(er) house: Airrobo T20+ robot vacuum and mop
With the Airrobo, you are giving more than the gift of cleanliness — this is also the gift of time. The robot vacuum and mop "excels at picking up pet hair on carpet," said Good Housekeeping, and can run for more than three hours before needing to be charged. ($199, Amazon)

The gift of whimsy: Likha giraffe planter
As cute as it's sustainable, this sturdy handmade giraffe planter brightens any room. Likha products are made of natural materials like straw, coco coir and recycled wood by Filipino artisans, making them the perfect fit for a real or artificial plant. The cheerful giraffe is one of several animal planters, with other options including an adorable dachshund, a spiky hedgehog and a sly fox. ($65, Likha)

The gift of nature: Netvue Birdfy smart bird feeder
A camera inside the feeder captures video of birds as they land for their snack, and the app sends an identification alert to each linked smartphone. (The AI algorithm can detect more than 6,000 different types and species of birds.) When it comes to smart bird feeders, this one is the "cream of the crop," said Country Living. ($170, Amazon)

Poll watch

Americans will be less conservative with their holiday gift-buying this year despite concerns about the economy, according to a survey from Gallup. The poll of 1,001 people found that almost as many say they will spend more money on gifts this year, 19%, as those who say they will spend less, 23%.

INSTANT OPINION

Today's best commentary

'The Syrian rebels' lessons for Washington'
Walter Russell Mead at The Wall Street Journal
There are "important lessons here for policymakers around the world" concerning the Syrian rebels, says Walter Russell Mead. The "rebel victory in Aleppo is a direct consequence of the wars in Ukraine and the Levant," and there are "two other lessons that Washington needs to take in." The "first is that Israel is an excellent ally, and the U.S. benefits when we support it," and the "second lesson is about how to deal with Russia."

'Joe Biden's selfish parting act'
Edward Luce at the Financial Times
The "timing of Biden's blanket act of immunity for his son Hunter was unfortunate," says Edward Luce. It "enabled Trump to distract attention from his nepotism," and the "rule of law in America looks like a game in which the well-connected always seem to have a get-out-of-jail-free card." The "rule of law in America is about to receive the mother of all stress tests," and "if it fails, Biden will have played a role in weakening the guardrails."

'As we support survivors of domestic violence, let's not forget those behind bars'
Norma Cumpian at Newsweek
Domestic violence is a "daunting challenge that demands our attention year-round," says Norma Cumpian. There's a "population whose needs are rarely discussed — those whose domestic abuse drives them to commit crimes." Many women "behind bars are also mothers," and the "need for greater understanding, and support, is tremendous." We "must better acknowledge the role domestic violence plays in leading many women into our justice system and the unique challenges they face when they get there."

WORD OF THE DAY

narco-submarine

A semi-submersible boat used to transport cocaine across oceans that is almost undetectable by radar and can cost up to a million dollars to build. The Colombian navy seized three heading to Australia as part of a "massive bust" that has intercepted more than $8 billion worth of drugs in six weeks, said The Times — a "record haul."

Can Trump run in 2028?