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Pritzker trolls Trump by ‘renaming’ Lake Michigan as ‘Lake Illinois,’ joking he’d annex Green Bay

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has taken a satirical jab at President Donald Trump’s effort to rename the Gulf of Mexico and annex Greenland. 

A straight-faced Pritzker released a choreographed video on Friday, with fake camera shutter clicks going off in the background, where he asserts that he is renaming Lake Michigan to ‘Lake Illinois,’ poking fun at Trump’s recent executive order where he changed the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America.

‘The world’s finest geographers, experts who study the Earth’s natural environment, have concluded a decades-long council and determined that a great lake deserves to be named after a great state,’ Pritzker said. 

‘So today, I’m issuing a proclamation declaring that hereinafter, Lake Michigan shall be known as Lake Illinois. The proclamation has been forwarded to Google to ensure the world’s maps reflect this momentous change.’

Trump signed Executive Order 14172 on his first day back in office which changed the name of the ocean basin. The order also renamed the highest peak in North America to ‘Mount McKinley,’ reversing the 2015 decision to call it by its centuries-old name Denali.

Google has said it will make Trump’s changes once the Department of the Interior updates the Geographic Names Information System. As of today, Google Maps still refers to it as the Gulf of Mexico.

In the video, Pritzker then switches his attention to Green Bay, a Wisconsin city near Lake Michigan. And just like how Trump vowed to take over Greenland from Denmark, Pritzker pledged to snap up Green Bay from The Badger State.  

‘In addition, the recent announcement that to protect the homeland, the United States will be purchasing Greenland… Illinois will now be annexing Green Bay to protect itself against enemies, foreign and domestic,’ Pritzker said. 

‘I’ve also instructed my team to work diligently to prepare for an important announcement next week regarding the Mississippi River.’

‘God bless America and bear down,’ Pritzker said, a nod to Wisconsin’s Green Bay Packers, one of Chicago Bears’ biggest rivals.

The video comes on the heels of a Justice Department lawsuit filed against the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago for allegedly interfering with federal immigration enforcement with its sanctuary polices.

The lawsuit claims that several state and local laws are designed to interfere with the federal government’s enforcement of federal immigration law in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution.

Pritzker and Trump have also clashed over Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship, with Pritzker declaring the move unconstitutional. 

Trump’s order, ‘Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,’ asserts that the 14th Amendment of the Constitution does not automatically confer American citizenship to individuals who are born within the United States. 

They also feuded during Trump’s first term in office when Pritzker claimed the state only recovered a quarter of its requested personal protective equipment from the federal government.

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Trump must not repeat his Kim Jong Un mistake with Iran, security expert warns

President Donald Trump’s revelation this week that he wants to negotiate with Iran raised eyebrows in the security sector. A former national security advisor cautioned the president against forming a Kim Jong Un-type relationship with the Ayatollah. 

Trump has described his relations with Kim as a ‘love’ affair, but his first-term efforts at diplomacy with the hermit kingdom failed to prevent North Korea from advancing its nuclear program.

‘On the question of negotiations, we’ll see where this goes,’ said John Hannah, former national security advisor to Dick Cheney and current Randi & Charles Wax senior fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA).

Hannah spoke Thursday evening during a discussion hosted by JINSA in Washington, D.C., on Trump’s new plans to start negotiations with Iran. 

‘Trump and Kim Jong Un — that’s a worst-case [scenario] — he comes out hot and heavy against. He gets engaged and snared in a negotiation. He gets sweet talked to. It’s dragged out for the rest of his presidency,’ Hannah said. ‘And we make absolutely zero progress on dismantling or neutralizing the North Korean nuclear program.

‘That’s the nightmare.’ 

Trump’s decision to pursue negotiations with Iran to dismantle its nuclear program was announced by the president in a post Wednesday night on his Truth Social media platform, when he stated his desire for a ‘Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement.’

‘We should start working on it immediately, and have a big Middle East Celebration when it is signed and completed,’ he wrote. ‘God Bless the Middle East!’ 

His post came one day after Trump signed an executive order directing the Treasury Department to begin a ‘maximum pressure’ campaign on Iran through sanctions targeting the regime’s oil exports in a move to deter Tehran from continuing its nuclear development. 

But, after the order, he told reporters he was ‘torn’ about signing the directive and added he was ‘unhappy to do it.’ 

The Trump administration has not released details on who will lead these negotiations, how they will differ from the negotiations attempted by the Biden administration or what a new deal would include that wasn’t in the international deal reached during the Obama administration under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). That deal was finalized by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — China, France, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S.

The so-called Iran nuclear deal, which Trump pulled out of in 2018, was also signed onto by Germany and the European Union.

Hannah said Trump’s change in tune on securing a nuclear deal with Iran could be a negotiating tactic, though he warned that ’25 years of negotiations with the Iranians on the nuclear program have led nowhere except an Iran right on the cusp of having nuclear weapons.’

The former national security advisor, along with the former special representative for Iran and Venezuela Ambassador Elliott Abrams, together warned that the Trump administration is facing a serious deadline when it comes to taking on negotiations with Iran.

Come October, Russia, a top ally to Iran, will take on the lead role of the United Nations Security Council, filling the presidency for one month, which could pose its own security concerns.   

But there is another October deadline looming over international attempts to block Iran’s nuclear development. The ability for the nations remaining in the JCPOA to apply ‘snapback’ sanctions on Tehran will expire Oct. 18, 2025.

‘There have to be negotiation discussions between Trump and [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu on how long are we going to wait to see this negotiation drag on,’ Abrams said, referring to the years-long talks by the Biden administration that proved fruitless. 

‘I’m sure the Iranians will say if you impose snapback [sanctions] the negotiations are over, and we will leave the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.’

Iran, particularly in recent years, has been found to have repeatedly violated the treaty, though proponents of a nuclear deal argue it is a useful tool to keep Tehran involved in nuclear nonproliferation discussions. 

But Abrams also warned that the U.S. and Israel should engage in military drills to remind Iran of what it is potentially facing should it move forward with nuclear development. 

Retired Israel Defense Forces Major General Yaakov Amidror echoed this sentiment and said he believes it is unlikely that Iran completely ignores the threat of U.S.-Israeli strike force capabilities because it relies on the legitimate aspects of this nuclear program for economic stability.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday rejected the possibility of engaging in any future negotiations with the Trump administration. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Huge healthcare data breach exposes over 1 million Americans’ sensitive information

The healthcare industry has recently been a major target for hackers. You might remember the 2024 Ascension attack, which led to significant disruptions. 

The Change Healthcare breach was also on a massive scale. UnitedHealth initially claimed that 100 million Americans were affected, but later raised that number to 190 million. 

There have been countless other incidents, and now you can add another to the list. Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC), a Connecticut-based federally qualified health center, has disclosed a data breach following a criminal cyberattack on its systems. 

The attack has affected over a million people in the U.S.

What You Need to Know

Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) detected a data breach on Jan. 2 after identifying unusual activity within its computer systems. An investigation confirmed that a skilled hacker had accessed and extracted data but did not delete or lock any information. If CHC’s claims are accurate, this is a positive outcome, as hackers often deploy ransomware, a type of attack in which they lock systems and demand payment before restoring access.

In a regulatory filing with the Maine Attorney General’s Office, CHC said that 1,060,936 people were affected by the data breach. The type of information compromised varies depending on an individual’s relationship with CHC. Patient data that may have been accessed includes names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, diagnoses, treatment details, test results, Social Security numbers and health insurance information.

For individuals who are not regular CHC patients but received COVID-19 services at a CHC clinic, the breached data may include names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, addresses, gender, race, ethnicity and insurance details if provided. Additional information, such as test dates, results and vaccine details, including type, dose and administration date, may also have been affected. In rare cases, Social Security numbers were also included in the breach.

The organization did not disclose how the hackers gained access to the data or whether proper cybersecurity measures were in place at the time of the breach. While CHC has assured that its systems are no longer at risk, the same cannot be said for its patients, who may now be targets of various cyberattacks.

CHC’s response

CHC said the hacker’s access was terminated within hours, and daily operations were not disrupted. To strengthen cybersecurity, CHC claims it has implemented advanced monitoring software and reinforced system protections. The organization said there is no evidence at this time that the compromised data has been misused.

The health center is offering free identity theft protection services for all patients and COVID-19 service recipients whose Social Security numbers were involved in the breach. The organization is also encouraging individuals whose Social Security numbers were not affected to take additional steps to protect their information.

 

6 ways to protect yourself from Change Healthcare data breach

The breach has exposed sensitive personal data, making it essential to reduce your online footprint. While no service can guarantee complete data removal, a reputable data removal service can significantly limit your exposure. These services systematically monitor and erase your personal information from numerous websites and data brokers. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.

With addresses among the compromised data, scammers may exploit this breach to send fraudulent letters. Be aware of mail claiming missed deliveries, account suspensions or security alerts. Always verify the authenticity of such communications before responding or taking action.

Scammers may use your compromised email or phone number to target you with phishing attacks. Be wary of messages asking for personal information or containing suspicious links. To protect yourself, ensure strong antivirus software is installed on all your devices. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

Given the scope of this breach, regular monitoring of your bank accounts, credit card statements and other financial accounts is critical. Look for unauthorized transactions or suspicious activity, and report any issues immediately to your bank or credit card provider.

If your Social Security number is exposed, you could become a target for related scams. Official communication regarding Social Security issues usually comes via mail, not phone calls or emails. Learn more about spotting and reporting scams by visiting the Social Security Administration’s scam information page.

Data breaches happen every day, and most never make the headlines, but with an identity theft protection service, you’ll be notified if and when you are affected. An identity theft protection service can monitor personal information like your Social Security number (SSN), phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. It can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.

One of the best parts of using an identity theft protection service is that it might include identity theft insurance of up to $1 million to cover losses and legal fees and a white glove fraud resolution team where a U.S.-based case manager helps you recover any losses. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft. 

Kurt’s key takeaway

The CHC breach may not be as large as the UnitedHealth attack, but with over a million individuals affected, it’s still a serious incident. Cybercriminals can exploit stolen data in various ways, from identity theft to targeted phishing scams. While CHC has taken steps to secure its systems, those impacted should remain vigilant. Be wary of unexpected emails, calls or messages requesting personal information, and consider monitoring financial and medical accounts for any suspicious activity.

Do you think these companies are doing enough to protect your data, and is the government doing enough to catch those behind cyberattacks? Let us know by writing us at 

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to 

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

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Trump’s cuts to foreign aid could benefit US position in Iran negotiations, expert says

President Donald Trump’s decision to cut foreign aid funding could strengthen the president’s bargaining position as he looks to contain Iran.

‘I look at the USAID cutoff and the praise that the Iranians have given as part of President Trump’s negotiating skills,’ EJ Kimball, director of Policy & Strategic Operations at the U.S. Israel Education Association, told Fox News Digital.

The comments come after Trump’s controversial decision to halt funding for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and send most of the employees of USAID packing, part of the administration’s plan to weed out what it considers wasteful government spending.

Despite the controversy, the decision has received praise from the Iranian regime, who have traditionally viewed U.S. aid to Iran as a threat to the country’s government.

According to a report from The Associated Press on Wednesday, Trump’s move has been ‘lauded’ in Iranian state media, who view the cuts to foreign aid as a blow to pro-democracy activists Iran believes have benefited from U.S. foreign aid.

The favorable perception of Trump’s move by Iran comes at a critical time, with Trump recently renewing the U.S.’s ‘maximum pressure’ campaign on Iran and reaffirming the U.S. position that Iran can never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.

While Trump has used harsh rhetoric on Iran in recent days, including a vow to ‘obliterate’ the country if it successfully carries out an alleged plot to assassinate him, the president has also urged the regime to begin negotiating for a ‘nuclear peace agreement’ with the United States.

‘I want Iran to be a great and successful Country, but one that cannot have a Nuclear Weapon. Reports that the United States, working in conjunction with Israel, is going to blow Iran into smithereens ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED,’ Trump wrote in a post on social media Wednesday.

Kimball believes Trump can use the cuts to foreign aid as a bargaining chip in those potential negotiations, noting the president could change his mind and resume the funding if the Iranians fail to reach an acceptable deal.

‘I would say that he’s teasing the Iranians at the moment, knowing that really at any moment’s notice, he could immediately turn back on the spigot of funding to the opposition groups if he doesn’t feel like they’re acquiescing to his demands or negotiation,’ Kimball said.

‘It seems to me that he’s got a carrot-and-stick approach with the Iranian regime, and pausing funding for regime critics, teasing a deal, but also threatening sanctions, and talking to Israel about a military strike and how Iran will not get nuclear weapons is part of his master negotiating skills to keep his opponents off balance,’ Kimball added.

In the end, Kimball believes Trump’s ultimate goal is to cut a deal that would eliminate Iran’s nuclear program without putting U.S. service members in harm’s way in another overseas conflict.

‘It’s been very clear he does not want to send U.S. troops to war, but he’s also not going to be soft about it and allow the taking of a bad deal to avoid war,’ Kimball said. ‘The end goal for President Trump is a deal that removes the threat that Iran poses to the United States, to Israel, to the region, and really to the entire world, not just in their nuclear program, but in their ballistic missile development and delivery systems to ensure that Iran can be great again.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Politics

Former Hamas hostage released 491 days after he was kidnapped and his family was slaughtered

Eli Sharabi, who was ripped from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri by Hamas terrorists during the Oct. 7 attacks, has returned to Israel after 491 days in captivity. Sharabi’s family watched excitedly as he returned home, but three people were noticeably absent. Sharabi will not be greeted by his wife or daughters because Hamas terrorists murdered them during the 2023 massacre.

Sharabi and his family lived on Kibbutz Be’eri, a border community in southern Israel that was hit particularly hard on Oct. 7, 2023. In January 2024, just months after Hamas’ attacks, Israel confirmed that Sharabi’s brother, Yossi, who was also taken hostage, was killed in captivity.

Kibbutz Be’eri saw 98 men, women and children slaughtered in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks and 30 kidnapped. Among them were Sharabi and Ohad Ben-Ami, who was also released on Feb. 8, 2025. The kidnapped and killed accounted for approximately a tenth of the population of Kibbutz Be’eri, which is less than four miles from the Gaza border.

It is unclear whether Sharabi knows what happened to his wife, Lianne, and daughters, Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13. It is also unknown whether Or Levy, who was taken from the Nova festival and released to Israel on Saturday, is aware that his wife was killed on Oct. 7, 2023.

Sharabi is not the first hostage to be released from captivity to a reality without his wife and children. Yarden Bibas, who was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz, was released from Hamas captivity on Feb. 1, after spending over 480 days as a hostage in Gaza. Yarden’s wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, remain in Hamas captivity.

The image of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas’ kidnapping went viral as the two red-headed boys were seen clinging to their mother. Kfir, who is now two years old, was just nine months old when he was kidnapped, making him the youngest hostage. Ariel and Kfir are the only children taken on Oct. 7 who remain in Gaza. The condition of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir remains unknown.

‘Sadly, my family hasn’t returned to me yet. They are still there. My light is still there, and as long as they’re there, everything here is dark. Thanks to you, I was brought back – help me bring the light back to my life,’ Yarden said in a statement distributed by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. This is his first statement since being freed.

While in captivity, Bibas was forced to make a hostage film in which he was seen breaking down as Hamas claimed his wife and children had been killed. Hamas often uses these types of videos as part of what the IDF calls ‘psychological terror.’ However, the terror organization included Shiri, Kfir and Ariel on the list of 33 hostages set to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire deal.

Yarden referenced the video in his statement and made a plea directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu.

‘Prime Minister Netanyahu, I’m now addressing you with my own words, which no one dictated to me: Bring my family back. Bring my friends back. Bring everyone home.’

The release of Sharabi, Levy and Ben-Ami marks the fifth round of hostage releases. While they too were forced to participate in a ceremony with Hamas prior to leaving Gaza, the images of the three men were strikingly different from many of those who had been freed before them. The three of them looked starved and exhausted, with many on social media comparing them to Holocaust victims.

Israeli President Isaace Herzog said that the ’emaciated and pained’ men were a visual representation of a ‘crime against humanity.’ In response to the images of the men, Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to take action, saying their condition would ‘not be ignored.’

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Ruby and Hagit Chen, whose son Itay Chen remains in Hamas captivity, noted the ‘disturbing images’ and demanded Netanyahu begin ‘intensive negotiations’ to bring the remaining hostages, including their son, home.

There are still 76 hostages in Hamas captivity, many of whom are believed to be alive. So far, as part of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas has released 18 hostages. In exchange for the hostages, Israel has released more than 550 Palestinian prisoners.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Stocks

Week Ahead: NIFTY Stares At Crucial Support; RRG Hints At Defensive & Risk-Off Setups

In what can be called an indecisive week for the markets, the Nifty oscillated back and forth within a given range and ended the week on a flat note. Over the past five sessions, the Nifty largely remained within a defined range. While it continued resisting the crucial levels, it also failed to develop any definite directional bias throughout the week. The Nifty stayed and moved in the 585-point range. The volatility significantly declined. The India VIX came off by 15.77% to 13.69 on a weekly note. While trading below crucial levels, the headline index closed flat with a negligible weekly gain of 51.55 points (+0.22%).

A few important technical points must be noted as we approach the markets over the coming weeks. Both the 50-Day and 50-Week MA are in very close proximity to each other at 23754 and 23767, respectively. The Nifty has resisted to this point, and so long as it stays below this level, it will remain in the secondary corrective trend. For this secondary trend to reverse, the Nifty will have to move past the 23750-24000 zone, one of the critical market resistance areas. Until we trade below this zone, the best technical rebounds will face resistance here, and the markets will remain vulnerable to profit-taking bouts from higher levels. On the lower side, keeping the head above 23500 will be crucial; any breach of this level will make the markets weaker again.

Monday is likely to see a quiet start to the week; the levels of 23700 and 23960 will act as resistance levels. The supports come in at 23350 and 23000 levels.

The weekly RSI stands at 46.20. It remains neutral and does not show any divergence against the price. The weekly MACD is bearish and stays below its signal line. A Spinning Top occurred on the candles, reflecting the market participants’ indecisiveness.

The pattern analysis weekly charts show that after violating the 50-week MA, the Nifty suffered a corrective decline while forming the immediate swing low of 22800. The subsequent rebound has found resistance again at the 50-week MA at 23767, and the Nifty has retraced once again from that level. The zone of 23700-24000 is now the most immediate and major resistance area for the Nifty over the immediate short term.

Unless the Nifty crosses above the 23700-24000 zone, it will remain in a secondary downtrend. On the lower side, keeping head above the 23500 level will be crucial; any violation of this level will take Nifty towards the 23000 mark. The markets may continue to reflect risk-off sentiment overall. Given the current technical setup, remaining highly selective while making fresh purchases would be prudent. All technical rebounds should be used more to protect gains at higher levels. At the same time, staying invested in stocks with strong or at least improving relative strength while keeping overall leveraged exposures at modest levels is important. A cautious and selective approach is advised for the coming week.

Sector Analysis For The Coming Week

In our look at Relative Rotation Graphs®, we compared various sectors against CNX500 (NIFTY 500 Index), which represents over 95% of the free float market cap of all the stocks listed.

Relative Rotation Graphs (RRG) show defensive and risk-off setups building up in the markets. Nifty Bank, Midcap 100, and Realty Indices are inside the leading quadrant. But all these pockets show a sharp loss of relative momentum against the broader markets.

The Nifty Financial Services Index has slipped inside the weakening quadrant. The Nifty Services Sector and IT indices are inside the weakening quadrant. The Pharma Index is also inside this quadrant but is seen as attempting to improve its relative momentum.

The Nifty Media, Energy, and PSE indices are inside the lagging quadrant.

The Nifty FMCG, Consumption, and Commodities groups have rolled inside the improving quadrant, indicating a likely onset of the phase of relative outperformance. The Auto, Infrastructure, Metal, and PSU Bank indices are inside the improving quadrant. Among these groups, the PSU Bank Index is seen rapidly giving up on its relative momentum.

Important Note: RRG™ charts show the relative strength and momentum of a group of stocks. In the above Chart, they show relative performance against NIFTY500 Index (Broader Markets) and should not be used directly as buy or sell signals.  

Milan Vaishnav, CMT, MSTA

Consulting Technical Analyst

www.EquityResearch.asia | www.ChartWizard.ae

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Even at $8M per Super Bowl commercial, ad executives say it’s still bang for your buck

Advertisers shelled out up to $8 million for a spot during Super Bowl 59. Ad industry executives still consider the price tag worth it, and argue it’s even a bang for their buck.

The NFL’s championship game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will air this year on Fox Corp.’s broadcast network, as well as on Fox’s free streamer Tubi. It’ll likely be the biggest audience watching live television at the same time this year.

“The scale and buzz factor still delivers a punch,” said Amy Leifer, DirecTV’s chief advertising sales officer. “Where else can you get 100 million viewers at once, right? Especially in this fragmented landscape … there’s virtually few places you can go to get that type of scale.”

Last year more than 123 million people tuned into the Super Bowl. The 2024 game racked up estimated ad revenue of about $550 million for in-game placements, according to GroupM, WPP’s media investment group.

While advertisers have been spending more on digital, social media and streaming platforms, traditional TV is still considered the most “effective” form of advertising, meaning it has the biggest impact and results for brands due to the large audiences watching at once.

The ad market for traditional TV programming has slowed down as the cable bundle bleeds customers. Still, media companies with rights to live sports — as well as news and other live programming like awards shows — are able to nab a bigger chunk of ad dollars than peers without sports.

While it appears the ad market is stabilizing after a slowdown, networks and streamers with sports are sure to fare better than those without this year.

Sports have taken over the conversation at the advertising industry’s Upfronts presentations each spring, when media companies make their pitch to advertisers. Fox sold most of the ad inventory for this year’s Super Bowl during its Upfront last spring, CNBC previously reported.

The Super Bowl remains about three times as effective as the average primetime programming for advertisers, according to EDO, an advertising data company. The NFL’s big game last year was 224% more effective than average primetime programming, the data firm said.

EDO likened the audience and engagement that comes with a Super Bowl game to an advertiser buying hundreds of spots on primetime. Based on last year’s Super Bowl audience, EDO equated one ad during the big game to roughly 450 spots during primetime programming in terms of viewer engagement.

“It’s a fair and rational price based on our data, which is that this has been one of the most consistent performers over time,” said Kevin Krim, CEO of EDO. “And there’s room for the price to go up based on our data. But the important thing is, it matters a ton how a brand executes on their creative idea.”

For instance, when brands launch a new product during a Super Bowl commercial, consumers continue to engage with the brand via online searches or app visits even after the Super Bowl ad first aired, said Krim. He noted three recent brand launches during Super Bowl commercials — automaker Kia launching the EV6 in 2022, and Reese’s unveiling its Big Caramel Cup and Popeye’s promoting its new wings in 2024 — which led to a lift in engagement for each brand when the ads aired thereafter.

Even localized ads that are sold at a lower cost than national ads and only shown in certain markets experience a Super Bowl lift. Zeam, a hyperlocal streaming platform, aired a spot starring actor John Stamos in select markets last year.

The app had “millions of downloads” following the commercial, said Jack Perry, CEO of Zeam Media.

“It was good enough for us, and it’s not cheap for us to buy those available spots. There’s a very limited number of local spots during the game,” said Perry.

Zeam will run another commercial with Stamos this year.

The placement of a commercial during the game, sometimes as specific as what time during a certain quarter the ad is shown, can make a difference, too, according to Andre Banks, founder and CEO of NewWorld, an ad data firm.

“If a brand wants to drive high-impact results, they must align their spots with when their target audience is most engaged, not the spot that receives higher viewership,” said Banks.

He noted a portion of the Super Bowl audience each year tunes in specifically for the Halftime show, which this year features rapper Kendrick Lamar, and then turns their attentions away once the moment passes.

Banks also noted that social media plays a big role during the Super Bowl, with viewers turning to varying tech platforms during the game. Social media should be key for advertisers during the Super Bowl, too, he said.

“With so many viewers scrolling on social channels during the game, there’s also a massive opportunity for brands to optimize for second-screen engagement,” Banks added.

Ad spending on tech and social media platforms far eclipses traditional TV. GroupM estimates that ad revenue for “pure-play digital,” which excludes digital extensions of media companies like streaming, will grow 10% to $813.3 billion globally in 2025. By comparison, TV ad spend is expected to grow nearly 2% to $169.1 billion. Media companies have even recently come together to launch an ad platform with the aim of taking back share from tech players.

Some say brands’ focus on spending big on the Super Bowl and the idea that traditional TV is the most effective form of advertising may lie in the past.

“I don’t necessarily think when someone says it’s still the most effective, that’s what it is. I think what people are saying is it’s the only place left where there is a really large, captive broadcast audience watching something,” said Shoshana Winter, CEO of Converge, a performance marketing agency. “When it comes to this particular thing, we are holding on hard and fast.”

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
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See how the Chiefs and Eagles can make history in Super Bowl 59

With a win Sunday night, the Kansas City Chiefs will join an exclusive group of franchises with five or more Super Bowl wins.

The Chiefs have won four Super Bowls, including three in the past five years. A win in Super Bowl 59 over the Philadelphia Eagles would tie them with the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys and put them within one championship of the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots.

A victory would also be Patrick Mahomes’ fourth with the Chiefs, tying him with the Steelers’ Terry Bradshaw. Tom Brady, who will be calling the 6:30 ET game for FOX, quarterbacked six for the Patriots and one for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Which teams have won the most Super Bowls

Here’s a look at where the Chiefs and Mahomes stand among the NFL’s football dynasties in the Super Bowl era.

Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them.

Should the Eagles win on Sunday, they’ll make history, too, but for their division. All four NFC East teams will have won at least two Super Bowls. It does help that all four franchise have existed throughout all 59 Super Bowls, and, admittedly, two of the teams haven’t won a Super Bowl this century.

Which were the highest-scoring Super Bowls

Also, of note, the last time these two teams met in Super Bowl 57, they combined for 73 points – the third most points in the championship’s history. If the regular season offer any clues about Sunday, they’re unlikely to crack the top five again. The Eagles scored the fourth most points (27.2 per game) in the NFC, while the Chiefs (22.6 per game) were sixth in the AFC.

Will Saquon Barkley super-size rushing in the game

Passing has a much bigger place in today’s NFL than it did in the 1980s where the running backs of the era hold the top three spots for single-game, rushing yards. But unlike other pass-dominant offenses, the Eagles relied heavily on running back Saquon Barkley this year. He amassed 2005 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season and might have broken the NFL’s single-season, rushing record if he played in the Eagles’ final game of the season.

Super Bowl single-game rushing records

Complete history of Super Bowl winners and their opponents

In the chart below, groupings of red bars stand out for the Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain in the 1970s, 49ers dominance of the ’80s and early ’90s, and the two-decade dynasty in New England led by Brady and Bill Belichick. Conversely, a dozen of the 32 franchises haven’t won a Super Bowl, and four (Lions, Browns, Jaguars and Texans) haven’t appeared in one.

How to watch Super Bowl 2025: Time, TV channel, streaming

Super Bowl 59 will be broadcast nationwide on Fox. Fans looking to stream the game can turn to Fubo, which is offering a free trial for new subscribers, or Tubi.

Date: Sunday, Feb. 9
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Streaming: Fubo, Tubi
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Drivers Carl Edwards, Ricky Rudd inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR’s heroes and legends gathered at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday to formally induct the esteemed class of 2025 – racing greats Ricky Rudd, Carl Edwards and the late Ralph Moody.

They – along one of the sport’s great safety innovators, Dr. Dean Sicking, and one of its most accomplished storytellers, Associated Press reporter Mike Harris – were celebrated for their important contributions to stock car racing.

Hundreds of fans began crowding the lobby of the NASCAR Hall of Fame early in the afternoon, hours before their heroes arrived – their cameras pointed toward the red carpet and applause finally greeting each of the honored guests, from one of the Hall’s original inductees, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Richard Petty to beloved driver Donnie Allison to a pair of the most successful crew chiefs in racing history, Ray Evernham and Chad Knaus.

But the cheers rang loudly and cell phone cameras flashed rapidly filling the room when Rudd and Edwards arrived on the red carpet.

In a 13-year NASCAR Cup Series career, Edwards won 28 races, including the Southern 500 at Darlington and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. He was a two-time NASCAR Cup Series championship runner-up, losing out on the 2011 title in the closest title race in history – a tiebreaker with fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart.

In all, Edwards earned 72 victories in the three national series, including the 2007 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. In 2005, he competed full time in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Xfinity Series.

Nearly two hundred people – Edwards’ family, friends and most ardent career supporters – accompanied the 45-year old Missourian to North Carolina for the career-defining moment on Friday. One of his former car owners, fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs, rented an airplane for Edwards to transport his large group of support from Missouri.

Edwards explained that during his career fans watched him do his signature backflips to celebrate race wins, but that was only a momentary snapshot and that he probably did not allow himself the real time to cherish the victories as he should have.

‘So, I said, we’re going to make sure there is a real celebration,’ Edwards said. ‘For many reasons I’m happy to be able to come back and thank everyone. It’s not reality, not for me yet. … I don’t even know what to say. It feels … very good.’

In speaking to the Hall on stage during his official induction, Edwards called his message one of ‘gratitude’ – thanking his parents, wife, children, longtime fans and Hall of Fame team owners Jack Roush and Gibbs, his competitors and all those that worked on his teams.

‘Thanks for making me part of your family. Thank you NASCAR,’ he said.

It was a similarly moving induction experience for Rudd, known as one of the toughest competitors in the sport’s history. His first NASCAR start of any kind came in the NASCAR Cup Series and he finished 11th in that 1975 debut at Rockingham, N.C. as an 18-year old – earning his first of 374 career top-10s the following week at Bristol, Tenn. In 1983, at the age of 24, he became the youngest pole winner in Daytona 500 history.

Rudd, 68, of Chesapeake, Va., would go on to earn 23 career NASCAR Cup Series victories including the 1997 Brickyard 400 as an owner-driver and the 1992 International Race of Champions (IROC) title in his first year in the series.

He is best-known however for his singular toughness – 16 consecutive years (1983-98) with a victory at the sport’s highest level and his string of 788 straight starts was a record that lasted until 2015. His 905 total starts in a career that spanned four decades is second only to the seven-time NASCAR champion Petty’s 1,185 starts.

‘With the help of a lot of great people I was able to chase a lot of dreams, and with tonight’s induction, that dream is now complete,’ said Rudd, who thanked his family, fans, wife Linda and son Landon, noting that Linda ‘has not only been my wife and best friend for 45 years, she mentally drove every lap with me.’

‘NASCAR allowed me to experience things most people will never do. I got to fly with the Blue Angels. I shook the hands of two presidents, refueled with the Air Force Thunderbirds high above the Nevada desert and play a small role in a movie. … This is truly the honor of a lifetime.’

Moody, who died in 2004, served under Gen. George Patton in World War II before becoming a full-time driver and winning five times in NASCAR’s premier division in 1956-57. But his legacy was only beginning. In 1957, he partnered with John Holman to form the iconic Holman-Moody Racing company – building cars and creating innovations that produced 96 Cup wins from 1957-72 and winning the 1968-69 Cup Series championships with driver David Pearson.

‘If not for Ralph Moody, there probably wouldn’t be a Bobby or Donnie Allison, he’s just a fantastic man,’ Donnie Allison said, bringing Moody’s son and daughter to the stage for the official Hall of Fame ring presentation.

‘It is with great pride and gratitude I stand here tonight to honor my father,’ the younger Ralph Moody told the crowd of his father’s unlikely rise from a Massachusetts farm into NASCAR’s most esteemed hall of honor.

‘For dad it was never just about winning, it was about creating safety not just being faster,’ Moody said, ending the acceptance speech with an emotion-filled thank you to his father.

Dr. Dean Sicking was given the Landmark Award for his Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR that included his work alongside the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in creating of SAFER (Steel And Foam Energy Reduction) barriers that now line the walls at all race tracks hosting one of NASCAR’s three top-level divisions.

Harris was awarded the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence for his four decades work as the lead motorsports writer for the AP before retiring in 2009.

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Vikings receiver would ‘love’ for quarterback to return

NEW ORLEANS — The Minnesota Vikings’ Cinderella season may have come to an abrupt end after a first-round playoff loss, but superstar receiver Justin Jefferson believes quarterback Sam Darnold did enough to warrant his return. 

“I would love to have Sam (Darnold) back and try to do it again,” Jefferson told USA TODAY Sports on Radio Row Friday ahead of Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans. “It would be phenomenal to have him back as the quarterback.”

Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, Minnesota’s best regular-season finish since 1998. They became the first-ever 14-win wild card team in league history, but their expectations of a long playoff run were dashed with a 27-9 wild card playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. It came on the heels of the Vikings’ Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions, which would have given the Vikings the NFC North title and No. 1 overall seed.

But Jefferson said the two-game slide doesn’t negate all the success the team experienced this year.

“Having 14 wins in this league is not easy, and really only losing to two teams throughout the whole entire year — Detroit and Los Angeles,” he said. “To bring us to a playoff game, to win 14 games and only to lose three, that’s something that’s difficult to do. So I wouldn’t mind having him back in that building.”

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Jefferson said Darnold’s season was even more impressive considering the “negativity” directed his way after he signed with the Vikings in March. Many questioned if Darnold could be a starter again after spending the past two seasons as a backup in San Francisco and Carolina, but he proved just that. Darnold completed 361 of 545 passes for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 17 games and earned his first Pro Bowl nod.

“For Sam to go out there and have all of that in the back of his mind and still go out there and play his own ball, being confident and playing free … is a great thing,” Jefferson said. “I’m happy he put out to the world that he is a baller and that he can play this position in the league.”

Darnold is set to enter free agency after playing out his one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings. It’s not clear if he’ll remain with the team, despite Jefferson’s endorsement. The Vikings also have rookie quarterback J. J. McCarthy, who the team drafted with the 10th overall pick in 2024, on the roster.

‘I feel like JJ is still going to have his opportunity and have his chance to see what he’s going to do.’ Jefferson said of McCarthy, whom he described as a ‘sponge.’ Jefferson added, ‘He always wants to learn and is always asking questions to better himself mentally and physically.’

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