Auctioneers have listed art, jewellery and clothes once belonging to the alleged scam artist – revealing a lot about her expensive taste.

When Donald Trump first announced he was running for president in 2015, the pundits wrote him off immediately.

And as he bounced from scandal to scandal in the primary, the prevailing wisdom was that Republicans would coalesce around another candidate.

But Trump defied expectations and shocked even himself by winning the White House in 2016.

READ MORE: Six takeaways from Donald Trump's 2024 presidential announcement

So can he do it again in 2024?

The first step is winning the Republican primary, which is not a sure thing.

The case for Trump winning the nomination

Running for president is a humbling experience for politicians not used to being humbled.

The primary process involves going to small towns in Iowa and New Hampshire and convincing voters, often one at a time, that they should be president.

This is not going to be a problem for Donald Trump.

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Trump already has universal name recognition and a devoted fan base. They may not account for more than half of Republican primary voters, but they will show up in enthusiastic force to his rallies.

While his rivals try to shake hands with shoppers outside suburban strip malls, Trump remains a big deal.

Two polls in the past week showed Trump with close to half of Republican primary voters, well ahead of his nearest rival Ron DeSantis.

And while being below 50 per cent could be seen as a sign of weakness, Trump only needs to win over a few more people to win big.

His fan base also gives him a powerful grassroots fundraising base. While his rivals may struggle, Trump could blanket the airwaves with ads.

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But Trump's greatest advantage is the simple fact that he's done it before, and he knows how to do it.

Trump's biggest strength as a politician is his ability to bully people. In 2016, he turned his strongest primary rivals into laughing stocks.

The frontrunner in 2016 was former Florida governor Jeb Bush, whose resume made him one of the best-qualified candidates in recent memory. Trump branded him "low energy Jeb", a nickname both mean and devastatingly accurate. 

Marco Rubio was considered one of the brightest rising stars of the Republican Party, but he never truly recovered from Trump dubbing him "lil Marco".

And Governor Scott Walker, who had become a conservative hero in Wisconsin, struggled to respond when Trump attacked his economic record, and his campaign never got off the ground.

READ MORE: Trump threatens Ted Cruz's wife

The case against Trump winning the primary

In 2020, Republicans did not dare criticise their president, for fear of aggravating his army of devoted supporters.

But two years on, it appears there are a few politicians who aren't afraid of challenging Trump – and some of them are top members of his administration.

That includes former Vice President Mike Pence, who is considering his own bid for the White House.

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Pence has published a memoir and is doing a media tour, the archetypal schedule of someone about to run for president.

Pence has been loath to speak out against Trump in the past, but his new book is not a flattering view of his former boss.

Meanwhile, Trump's ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, has also hinted at her own run.

"A lot of people have asked if I'm going to run for president now that the midterms are over," she said.

"I'll look at it in a serious way and I'll have more to say soon."

READ MORE: Ivanka Trump distances herself from father's presidential bid

And former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has confirmed he is considering a tilt.

"We need more seriousness, we need less noise, we need steady hands, we need leaders that are looking forward, not staring in the rearview mirror claiming victimhood," he said.

But Trump's biggest potential foe is Ron DeSantis, who is just about the only Republican to come out of the midterm elections looking good.

DeSantis is in many ways the perfect Republican foil – young, popular in a crucial state, and in many ways more conservative than Trump.

READ MORE: Who is Ron DeSantis? The Trump acolyte turned rival

If the Republican never-Trumpers coalesce around one candidate, it will probably be DeSantis. 

But DeSantis stands a better chance of the presidency if he waits until 2028.

Because in the words of The Wire's fearsome character Omar, "if you come at the king, you best not miss".

South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas has unveiled a $51.6 million support package as the state braces for its own flood crisis.

Malinauskas said evacuations and power outages were to be expected in the state's Riverlands region.

He warned that river levels would potentially remain high until autumn 2023.

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https://twitter.com/PMalinauskasMP/status/1594878368604106752

"We have got a journey ahead of us," he said.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said grants of up to $50,000 will be available to private operators who want to install their own levees and flood protection.

Households that have to evacuate will be eligible for $1000 per family, with a further $1000 to try to meet the first two weeks of new accommodation.

Those who don't have insurance will get $2000 for single people and $5000 for families, if they have to leave home.

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Sole traders will have access to a $10,000 grant if they are forced to close, while businesses with employees can get up to $20,000.

Households looking to buy a generator to combat power loss could apply for $500, while a business seeking the same is eligible for up to $4000.

Mullighan said there would also be a $3 million fund for primary industries.

Millions are also being spent on the state government's own flood-fighting, including levee construction and sandbags.

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Malinauskas warned there will be "thousands" of people who lose power in the state's burgeoning flood emergency.

He said parts of the power network would be disconnected in advance of the rising water levels for safety reasons.

He said there was still a lot of work to be done to minimise the impact, including ensuring businesses had adequate advance warning.

"Safety has to be the paramount consideration," he said.

In their quest to uncover the origins of the Milky Way, a team of astrophysicists has made a morbid discovery.

They say our nearest galactic neighbour, the Andromeda galaxy, grew by feeding on other smaller galaxies billions of years ago.

The international team, led by a University of Sydney astrophysicist, uncovered evidence the Andromeda galaxy is a cannibal growing through "colossal intermittent feasts".

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The team had suspicions for years that the Andromeda galaxy had formed by absorbing other small galaxies.

"A few years ago, we discovered that in the far outskirts of Andromeda, there was a sign in the objects orbiting it that the galaxy hadn't been grazing, but it had eaten large quantities in two distinct epochs," said lead author Professor Geraint Lewis from the University of Sydney.

"What this new result does is provide a clearer picture of how our local universe has come together – it is telling us that at least in one of the large galaxies, that there has been this sporadic feeding of small galaxies."

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"We've come to realise over the last few decades that galaxies grow by eating smaller systems – so little galaxies fall in, they get eaten – it's galactic cannibalism."

The findings are based on the discovery of a structure of stars, known as globular clusters, in Andromeda that originated outside the galaxy.

Professor Lewis named this the Dulais Structure, drawn from the Welsh for black stream.

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The research was made public last week, and may help to answer questions about how our own galaxy was formed.

"What we want to know is, has the Milky Way done the same, or is it different? Both of those have interesting consequences for the overall picture of how galaxies form," Professor Lewis said.

The lead astrophysicist also gave credit to two university students who were working on the project, who, to Professor Lewis' surprise, stumbled upon evidence of leftovers in the galaxy's spiral.

"We got a hint that something was going on from their honours work," he said. "You almost know what's going to come out at the end of it, but when they come to you and say, 'I keep getting this signal, and it's a bit weird,' – that's when it gets very exciting."

"It's opened a new door in terms of our understanding."

A class action against car company Mercedes-Benz is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages over the alleged use of "cheat devices" to manipulate diesel emissions.

The action, filed in the Victorian Supreme Court on Tuesday, covers thousands of vehicles sold in Australia over a 10-year period.

Compensation law firm Gerard Malouf and Partners (GMP) will argue the devices manipulated diesel engine emission levels of harmful gases, including nitrogen oxide, to pass regulatory testing.

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The company says past or present owners of affected Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicles, either new or second-hand, manufactured between January 2008 and December 2018 may be entitled to significant damages which could include a portion of the purchase price.

It has entered into an information-sharing arrangement with US class action law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro after it recently settled a similar action against Mercedes-Benz there for about $1.3 billion.

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"This information-sharing arrangement is a great step forward towards achieving just compensation for those consumers in Australia which have been affected," GMP chairman Gerard Malouf said in a statement.

"Based upon the findings from the numerous international court proceedings as well as government investigations, we strongly believe Mercedes has been a serious case to answer.

"We intend to stand up for the rights of all consumers to protect their health, financial interests and the environment."

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The class action will seek compensation for the loss of value of the affected vehicles along with punitive damages.

Mercedes-Benz has been contacted for comment.

Christmas cards might be a dying tradition, but they can be a simple way to help ease loneliness in the festive season.

Aussies are being urged to join in a special project to deliver festive joy to aged care residents and other vulnerable people around Australia.

All you have to do is write an extra Christmas card.

Former lawyer, Mea Campbell, started ConnectedAu after her late grandfather, Colin was in aged care.

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While the 95-year-old was looked after by family, it made her think about residents who were not as lucky to have that outside connection.

"The last few years of his life his world just became so small," she told nine.com.au.

"I thought of him and there would be so many other people like that that don't have family," she said.

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Her creation, ConnectedAu now has many projects to tackle loneliness.

That includes a penpal service called The Letterbox Project, which pairs up aged care residents and other vulnerable people, with Aussies who would like to write to them.

Over the past two years, 40,000 people have signed up.

Campbell is now gearing up to play Santa by distributing thousands of Christmas cards to aged care homes around the nation as part of a separate project.

People in disability homes, homelessness services and domestic violence services will also be given cards this year too.

And she needs more Aussies to write them.

It's not just nice to receive a letter or card, but it has health benefits too, she said.

Loneliness costs Australia $2.7 billion annually, according to Curtin University.

"It makes a huge difference to them," she said.

"Christmas can be a lonely and isolated time. It just makes them feel seen and feel a bit special on that day.

"It's something surprising and different.

"Everyone understands that aged care staff are limited in time and resources.

"We hear a lot that they try their best to make things lovely and special but most of the time they're run off their feet.

"We've been able to help them take responsibly and just send through gifts and cards to make Christmas special for the residents."

Some writers even send small gifts such as craft projects, puzzle books and photographs, but even just a handwritten card is enough.

READ MORE: Victims remembered as gay bar shooting suspect faces murder, hate crime charges

Campbell, from Dubbo, NSW, said the people who send the cards say they get a feeling of gratitude, too.

She also said it's a great way to teach kids about letter writing, with families getting involved, as well as big corporate firms.

Crucially, ConnectedAu staff in Dubbo act as post masters, with no personal addresses shared between Christmas card writers, or those who join the pen pal scheme.

EXPLAINED: Where have all the Christmas beetles gone?

It's not just for aged care residents either.

Anybody who's feeling disconnected can request a penpal or Christmas greeting, and it's free for concession holders.

For those who can afford to pay, $5 a month covers postage.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClNcxkCveKO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp

But you'll need to be quick to get involved in the Christmas project.

The deadline for Christmas cards being received by the ConnectedAu office is December 4.

Or you can sign up for The Letterbox Project all year round.

If you would like to join either scheme, visit ConnectedAu or call 0481 139 332.

READ MORE: 'Women are forced to suffer in silence and just get on with it'

When army veteran Rich Fierro realised a gunman was spraying bullets inside the club where he had gathered with friends and family, instincts from his military training immediately kicked in.

First he dove to duck any potential incoming fire, and then he moved to try to disarm the shooter.

"It's the reflex. Go! Go to the fire. Stop the action. Stop the activity. Don't let no one get hurt. I tried to bring everybody back," he said on Monday outside his home.

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Fierro is one of two men police are crediting with saving lives by subduing a 22-year-old gunman who went on a shooting rampage on Saturday night at Club Q, a well-known gathering place for the LGBTQ community in Colorado Springs.

Fierro was there with his daughter Kassy, her boyfriend and several other friends to see a drag show and celebrate a birthday.

He said it was one of the group's most enjoyable nights, until the shooting started.

Fierro told reporters that once his instincts kicked in, he and another man approached the shooter.

He grabbed the attacker's body armour and began punching him while the other man, Thomas James, began kicking him.

The suspect reached for a handgun, but Fierro grabbed it from him.

He also told James to kick away the shooter's AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle.

When a performer who was there for the drag show ran by, Fierro told them to kick the gunman.

READ MORE: Mum of missing 20-month-old arrested over his disappearance, death

The performer stuffed a high-heeled shoe in the attacker's face and also tried to subdue him, Fierro said.

"I love them," Fierro said of the city's LGBTQ community. "I have nothing but love."

Fierro and James, about whom little was known as of Monday evening, pinned the shooter down until officers arrived minutes later.

Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez said on Monday that Fierro acted courageously.

"I have never encountered a person who had engaged in such heroic actions who was so humble about it," Vasquez said.

"He simply said to me, 'I was trying to protect my family.'"

The mass shooting left five dead and at least 17 wounded by gunfire.

The suspect, who was said to be carrying multiple guns and additional ammunition magazines, faces murder and hate crime charges.

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Fierro's wife, Jess, said via Facebook that her husband had bruised his right side and injured his hands, knees and ankle.

"He was covered in blood," she wrote on the page of their brewery, Atrevida Beer Co.

Though his actions saved lives, Fierro said the five deaths – including his daughter's boyfriend, Raymond Green Vance – were a tragedy both personal and for the broader community.

"There are five people that I could not help. And one of which was family to me," he said, as his brother put a consoling hand on his shoulder.

Fierro said he doesn't remember if the gunman responded as he yelled and struggled to subdue him, but he has thought about their next interaction.

"I'm gonna see that guy in court," Fierro said.

"And that guy's gonna see who did him."

Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after being convicted earlier this year on charges including bank fraud and tax evasion.

US District Judge Eleanor Ross in Atlanta gave Todd Chrisley 12 years in prison plus 16 months of probation, while Julie Chrisley got seven years behind bars and 16 months of probation, news outlets reported.

The Chrisleys gained fame with their show Chrisley Knows Best, which follows their tight-knit, boisterous family.

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Federal prosecutors said the couple engaged in an extensive bank fraud scheme and then hid their wealth from tax authorities while flaunting their lavish lifestyle.

"The Chrisleys have built an empire based on the lie that their wealth came from dedication and hard work," prosecutors wrote.

"The jury's unanimous verdict sets the record straight: Todd and Julie Chrisley are career swindlers who have made a living by jumping from one fraud scheme to another, lying to banks, stiffing vendors, and evading taxes at every corner."

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Todd Chrisley's attorneys had argued in a court filing that he should not face more than nine years in prison.

Julie Chrisley's lawyers said a reasonable sentence for her would be probation with special conditions and no prison time.

The Chrisleys were convicted in June on charges of bank fraud, tax evasion and conspiring to defraud the IRS.

Julie Chrisley was also convicted of wire fraud and obstruction of justice.

Prosecutors have said the couple submitted fake documents to banks and managed to secure more than $30 million in fraudulent loans.

Once that scheme fell apart, they walked away from their responsibility to repay the loans when Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy.

While in bankruptcy, they started their reality show and "flaunted their wealth and lifestyle to the American public," prosecutors wrote, and then hid the millions they made from the show from the IRS.

EXPLAINED: Where have all the Christmas beetles gone?

The Chrisleys also submitted a false document to a grand jury that was investigating their crimes and then convinced friends and family members to lie under oath during their trial, prosecutors argued.

Neither has shown any remorse and they have, instead, blamed others for their criminal conduct, prosecutors wrote.

"The Chrisleys are unique given the varied and wide-ranging scope of their fraudulent conduct and the extent to which they engaged in fraud and obstructive behavior for a prolonged period of time," prosecutors said.

Todd Chrisley's lawyers said in a filing that the government never produced any evidence that he meant to defraud the banks, and that the loss amount calculated was incorrect.

They also noted that the offences were committed a long time ago and said he has no serious criminal history and has medical conditions that "would make imprisonment disproportionately harsh".

His lawyers had also submitted letters from friends and business associates that show "a history of good deeds and striving to help others".

People who rely on Chrisley, including his mother and the many people employed by his television shows, will be harmed while he's in prison, they argued.

They urged the judge to give him a prison sentence below the guideline range followed by supervised release and restitution.

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Julie Chrisley's lawyers contended that she played a minimal role in the conspiracy and was not involved when the loans discussed in sentencing documents were obtained.

She has no prior convictions, is an asset to her community and has "extraordinary family obligations", her lawyers wrote, as they asked for a sentence of probation, restitution and community service.

The Chrisleys have three children together, including one who is 16, and also full custody of the 10-year-old daughter of Todd Chrisley's son from a prior marriage.

Julie Chrisley is the primary caregiver to her ailing mother-in-law, according to the filing.

Her lawyers also submitted letters from character witnesses describing her as "hard-working, unfailingly selfless, devoted to her family and friend, highly respected by all who know her, and strong of character".

Remains found in a landfill are believed to be those of 20-month-old Quinton Simon, who was reported missing in October from his Savannah home by his mother.

Quinton's mother, Leilani Simon, has been the sole suspect in this case, said Chatham County Police Chief Jeffrey Hadley in a news conference.

She was arrested on Monday and is being held on charges of malice murder, concealing a death, and false reporting/making false statements.

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The remains have been sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, to confirm they are Quinton's, Hadley said.

"This is a heartbreaking development for everyone who loved Quinton. For the many people who came to know him after his disappearance and for our department," he added.

"When we first received the call that Quinton was missing we were hopeful that we would find him alive and unharmed, but as we have been telling you for weeks, all of our evidence pointed to his mother being responsible for his death and disappearance and his remains being found in the landfill."

"She doesn't deserve a Thanksgiving, quite frankly if I can go off script a little bit. Quinton deserves that," Hadley said, speaking of the arrest while holding back tears.

READ MORE: Explained: Where have all the Christmas beetles gone?

Leilani Simon is being held in the Chatham County jail awaiting a bond hearing. It is unknown if she has an attorney.

"Leilani Simon reported her son missing from their home on October 5, 2022," Chatham County Police said in a tweet.

As CNN previously reported, she told authorities she last saw him in his playpen around 6am and reported him missing more than three hours later.

Authorities have not released any additional information on how he died or his mother's actions citing the still active investigation.

It took six years for Jade Beavis to be diagnosed with endometriosis but in that time, she has taken countless days of sick and annual leave due to the pain.

Beavis is one of the 700,000 Aussie women who have a formal diagnosis of endometriosis, however, this number is expected to be much higher due to the difficulty of diagnosis.

This was the case for Beavis who only underwent surgery to check for the condition earlier this year despite years of pain.

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But she was only two months into a new job when she was taken off the public health waiting list for surgery, so she didn't have enough sick leave accrued to take the recommended two weeks off.

"I didn't have enough leave so I only took three days of sick leave and one day of annual leave, then worked the following week from home," she told 9news.com.au.

"I would have had to buy leave otherwise."

Beavis said if menstrual leave had been available to her then she could have taken the full two weeks to recover instead of pushing through the pain.

Beavis added there was even a day she worked through crippling post-surgery complications when the endometriosis began growing again, all because she didn't have enough sick leave.

"Two months after my surgery, I had severe pain in my legs, like shots of glass running down my legs," she said.

"I got to work and was in tears because I was so sore and it turns out it was the endometriosis growing again."

But if she had menstrual leave available, Beavis said she would have been able to take time off.

Beavis' experience comes as Australian unions have called on the government to legislate paid menstrual and menopause leave for Aussie women in the workforce.

Transport Workers' Union's Lana Goodman-Tomsett said too many women, like Beavis, either have to work through the pain or hide it from their employer.

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"In 2022 many women are forced to suffer in silence and just get on with it, compromising their own health and wellbeing just to participate in the workforce, especially in male-dominated industries," she said.

"Women hide their period pain and say they're sick and don't extrapolate any further when suffering.

"Many are afraid to share a diagnosis, or discuss symptoms, including ongoing pain for fear of bosses thinking they will be sick every month."

Australian Workers' Union Queensland State Secretary Stacey Schinnerl said leave entitlements for women need to reflect the reality of their health experiences.

"Some women suffer throughout their entire working life. From the age they begin menstruating, to pregnancy – complications can arise in conceiving, carrying and post-natal issues, then peri-menopause symptoms arrive, followed by menopause," she said.

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Earlier this year, Spain announced plans to legislate five days of menstrual and menopause leave a month.

Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, China and Taiwan also have menstrual leave entitlements for women workers.