NEWS AND OPINION:

Though the presidential election has come and gone, press coverage of the momentous event continues. The news media can’t get enough. They continue to offer a spectrum of reactions to Donald Trump’s victory in the national election on Tuesday — a story that continues to evolve. Here are a few headlines from the last 24 hours:

“Trump’s victory: Hollywood elite who vowed to leave U.S. if he won are ’all talk, no walk,’ expert says” (Fox News); “‘We have won’: Russians envision new global system with Trump victory” (The Washington Post); “How Elon Musk stands to cash in on Trump’s presidential victory” (CNBC); “‘Trump’s America’: His comeback victory signals a different kind of country” (The New York Times); “Trump didn’t have to try to steal this election to win” (MSNBC); and “Will Trump victory spark global trade war?” (BBC).

And a few more:

“What betting markets got right and wrong about Trump’s victory” (The Economist); “Palestinians dismayed by Trump’s win, their leaders urge peace” (Reuters); “Gloom, nervousness and joy: What Trump’s victory means for key world regions” (CNN); “After Trump’s victory, there can be no unity without a reckoning” (The Federalist); and “Trump facing fewer DC speed bumps for second term” (Newsmax).

The election also gave networks — radio, cable and TV alike — a sizable boost. Fox News drew a prime-time audience of 13 million viewers on the big night, a number that bested such competition as “ABC, NBC, CBS and all cable news networks for the second election in a row,” the network said in a statement.

IVY-COVERED HALLS

College students of a certain political persuasion were not happy with the outcome of the presidential election, prompting one institution of higher learning to try to comfort those students “devastated” by former President Donald Trump’s victory on Tuesday.

“If you happen to be a student at the University of Washington while suffering this deluded meltdown, there’s help available! Not the help you need, of course - that would require intensive therapy and probably medication. But the school is offering a self-help workshop for anyone ’shook’ by the election results, including a talking session, a relaxation room and a petting zoo. That’s right, a petting zoo,” wrote Brittany M. Hughes, managing editor of MRCTV and MRC Culture — the Media Research Center’s online outreach for television and culture.

“On Wednesday from 1-5 p.m, the university, which supposedly trains young adults to enter the world as solid, capable citizens armed with the tools they’ll need to be skilled workers and leaders, provided small animals for traumatized students to snuggle as they cope with the loss of a presidential candidate who doesn’t know their name,” Ms. Hughes said.

“The event also included a ’craft station’ and a ’gratitude wall,’ where students could make art and write down things they’re still thankful for to remind themselves there’s a reason to get up in the morning,” she said.

WHAT ONE LAWMAKER SAID

A round of applause, please, for Rep. Scott Perry. The Pennsylvania Republican issued the following statement after being declared the winner in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District.

“First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt thanks to God, and my family, friends, and voters who supported me in more ways than I can express. To my staff and the hundreds of volunteers who gave selflessly and tirelessly to fight by my side to protect our precious American values, ‘thank you’ will never be enough. Your breathtaking efforts and tireless commitment gave me the additional lift, fortitude, and inspiration to fight every minute of this battle,” Mr. Perry said.

“I’m excited to help President Trump implement his America First agenda, and I am honored and humbled to serve by your side, and the People of south central Pennsylvania. May God bless you all,” he concluded.

Mr. Perry is a combat veteran who retired from the Army with the rank of brigadier general in 2019 after nearly 40 years in uniform.

THE GIVING SEASON

We’re in a giving mood.

“Consumer spending on the winter holidays is expected to reach a record $902 per person on average across gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items,” according to the National Retail Federation’s newly released consumer survey.

That amount is $25 per person more than last year’s spending figure.

“The winter holidays are a treasured time for Americans, and they are prioritizing spending on family this holiday season,” Katherine Cullen, the organization’s president of industry and consumer insights, said in a statement.

“Despite the shorter window of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, retailers are prepared to meet the needs of consumers by providing holiday shoppers with earlier deals and sales and by ensuring inventory is available for the most in-demand items this year,” she said.

Of the aforementioned $902 shoppers will spend, roughly $641 goes to gifts for family, friends and co-workers. The remaining $261 will be spent on food, candy, decorations, greeting cards and other holiday fare.

WEEKEND REAL ESTATE

For sale: “Sleepy Hollow,” a picturesque and rustic log cabin plus two-story barn built in 1938 on 25 acres in Mocksville, North Carolina. Three bedrooms, one bath, living room with two-story fireplace, knotty pine interior and “log and twig” staircase; $389,000. House spans 1,613 square feet, includes basic kitchen, enclosed porches, nearby pond and creek. Find the cabin on Redfin.com; enter 4195567 in the search function.

POLL DU JOUR

• 10% of U.S. adults would describe themselves as politically very conservative.

• 21% would describe themselves as politically conservative.

• 34% would describe themselves as politically moderate.

• 15% would describe themselves as politically liberal.

• 11% would describe themselves as politically very liberal.

• 10% are not sure what political leanings they have.

SOURCE: An Economist/YouGov poll of 1,587 U.S. adults conducted online Oct. 26-30.

• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse.