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☆ U.S. Seeks to Build World Pressure on Russia Over Space Nuclear Weapon
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | David E. Sanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

American officials are trying to increase international pressure on Russia not to deploy an antisatellite nuclear weapon in space, and have obtained information that undermines Moscow’s explanation that the device it is developing is for peaceful scientific purposes, a senior State Department official said on Friday. Concern over the Russian development of a new generation of space nuclear weapons has been growing in Washington, especially since Moscow’s veto last month of a U.N. measure aimed at keeping space free of such weapons. Some Republicans believe that the Biden administration is not doing enough to deter Russian work on the device, and others are concerned about China’s apparent decision not to pressure Moscow to stop. On Friday, Mallory Stewart, the assistant secretary of state for arms control, said that while the United States had been aware of Russia’s pursuit of such a device for years, “only recently have we been able to make a more precise assessment of their progress.”Ms. Stewart, speaking at the nonpartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the orbit the Russian satellite would occupy is in a high-radiation region not used by other satellites, information that undercuts Russia’s defense that it is not developing a weapon.

Persons: Biden, Mallory Stewart, “, Ms, Stewart Organizations: State Department, Strategic, International Studies Locations: Russia, Washington, Moscow, United States

☆ Fact checking Trump and Johnson’s election integrity announcement
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Facts First: The system, as it is currently set up, is working, and effectively prevents mass voting by non-citizens in US elections. Despite Johnson’s focus on this topic, it is extremely rare, according to decades of voting data and nonpartisan experts. In federal and state elections, where voting by non-citizens is illegal, it occurs on a microscopic level. This system, as shown from decades of data, is very effective at stopping non-citizens from registering and voting in federal elections. Further, from a common-sense perspective, there’s little to gain for an undocumented immigrant who theoretically wants to vote in a presidential election.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, ”, Johnson, ” Johnson, David Becker, Brennan, There’s, they’d, Rick Hasen, you’re, Trump, Hillary Clinton, CNN’s Marshall Cohen, ” Trump, Trump’s, Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Daniel Dale Trump, Biden, Trump baselessly, “, Matthew Colangelo, Alvin Bragg, Bragg, Colangelo, Joe Biden, Gainor Trump, ’, Roe, Wade, Roe V, Wade ”, Read, Daniel Dale Organizations: CNN, Election Innovation, Research, Brennan Center for Justice, UCLA School of Law, Trump, Democratic, Mar, Manhattan District Attorney, Biden, Justice Department, US Customs Locations: United States, Venezuela, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, York, Manhattan, Mar

18-22 View All 11 ImagesMeanwhile, Trump's campaign – and the national Republican Party – are having cash problems of their own. President Joe Biden's campaign raised $21.3 million in February – almost twice the $10.9 million Trump's campaign raised during the same period, according to filing with the Federal Election Commission. The Democratic National Committee also outraised its counterpart, with the Democratic group pulling in $16.6 million in February, compared to the $10.7 million the Republican National Committee raised in the same period. The amounts for both parties and candidates do not include money raised by outside groups or coordinated committees on behalf of each candidate. Big donors might be reluctant to contribute money to a Trump or GOP committee if they think it will go to pay Trump's private legal bills.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, boastful Trump, Letitia James, –, Republican Party –, Joe Biden's, Richard Lau, Lau, Biden, “, I’m, ” Biden, Donald, ’, it's, Sarah Bryner, Bryner, Donald Trump Jr Organizations: Republican National Committee, Republicans, Republican Party, Federal, Commission, Democrat, Trump, Democratic National Committee, Democratic, Save America PAC, RNC, Republican, GOP, Rutgers University, Biden –, Responsive, Trump Media, Acquisition Corporation Locations: New York, Dallas

and long-shot presidential candidate Doug Burgum underscored a harsh political reality Monday as he suspended his campaign for the White House: Money can get you noticed. But as with most other self-funded candidates, his money didn't buy support. A study by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics earlier this year found that few self-funded candidates in the 2022 midterms actually won their elections. But self-funded candidates "were some of the biggest losers" in 2022, with just two of the top 10 self-financing candidates pulling out a win, Open Secrets found. As he departed the race Monday, Burgum said he had changed the debate by getting contenders to talk about energy policy.

Persons: Doug Burgum, Burgum, Joe Biden, he'd, ‘, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Trump, –, Barack Obama, midterms Organizations: North Dakota Gov, White, Republican, Republican National Committee, University of Alabama, GOP, Trafalgar Group, Software, Microsoft, South, Responsive Locations: Tuscaloosa, Burgum, Milwaukee, California, South Carolina, Florida

☆ Hang out with Team USA at the Paris Olympics? For deep-pocketed gifters, this extragant present is up for grabs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

For $195,000, the two-day experience includes premiere seats to a performance at the Metropolitan Opera House.during American Ballet Theatre’s 2024 summer season in New York City. Join Team USA at the Paris Olympics in 2024 Neiman MarcusGet up, close and personal with Team USA at the 2024 summer Olympics in Paris for a hefty $210,000. This experience includes three nights in Paris, where the recipient will receive official Ralph Lauren Team USA clothing signed by Team USA athletes before attending the Olympic Games opening ceremony. It also include exclusive access to Team USA House to dine, celebrate, watch live broadcasts of the games and meet athletes. You’ll be taken through the design process with the Cadillac team and observe it in action at the Cadillac House and Artisan Center.

Persons: Neiman Marcus, Neiman Marcus ’, there’s, Rosalie O'Connor, Neiman Marcus Get, Ralph Lauren, Neiman Marcus Here’s, Carmen CELESTIQ, You’ll, Nina Magon, Neiman Marcus Who doesn’t, Maison Baccarat Organizations: New, New York CNN, American Ballet, Metropolitan Opera House, Metropolitan Opera, Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, USA, Paris Olympics, Team USA, Team USA House, Cadillac, Cadillac House, Artisan Center, Michelin, Cannes Film, Film, Ville de, University of Texas, Anderson Cancer Center, Foundation Locations: New York, Cannes, NYC, New York City, Burbank , California, Hollywood, Paris, Detroit, Milan, Indonesia, Bali, France

☆ Trump’s Loss of Loyalty
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Susan Milligan | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

But for Trump, Ellis' plea was especially damaging, since it underscored the steady evaporation of something Trump has demanded from staff and associates since his days as a New York businessman: loyalty. "If I knew then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post-election challenges. The three former Trump lawyers who pleaded guilty in Georgia were facing some serious potential consequences, he noted, including not just time behind bars but the loss of their law licenses – and that may take priority over honoring Trump's demands for loyalty. "This is not about Donald Trump vs. Michael Cohen," Cohen said as he entered the New York courtroom. You saw Donald Trump try to walk away from Sidney Powell – despite documentary evidence that he had called her his lawyer.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jenna Ellis, Ellis, Trump, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, “, ”, Powell, Chesebro, David Becker, Becker, Republicans –, –, Tom Emmer, Joe Biden, Jim Jordan of, Jordan, Emmer, Trump's, Team Trump, Michael Cohen, Cohen, ” “, it’s, ” Trump, Mark Meadows, Meadows, Jack Smith, Smith, Norman Eisen, Sidney Powell –, That’s, Bunny, Amy Lee Copeland, Rouse, Copeland, ” Copeland Organizations: Trump, Donald Trump View, Election Innovation, Research, D.C, Hill, Republicans, Team, New, ABC News, ABC Locations: Georgia, New York, Georgia’s Fulton County, New York City, Washington, Minnesota, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Meadows, Savannah , Georgia

☆ Republicans want to cut food assistance for 5 million low-income babies and parents
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Low-income parents and babies are eligible to receive the benefit, which subsidizes food and care. If the GOP bill were passed, millions would see a benefit cut, especially to fruit and vegetable budgets. In total, according to CBPP's analysis, the $6 billion the GOP bill allocates to WIC would lead to 5.3 million children and pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding parents seeing their food assistance cut, or completely gone. Per the USDA, 6,260,000 people participated in WIC in fiscal year 2022; as of April 2023, there were over 6.6 million Americans participating, including nearly 1.5 million infants and 3.6 million children. The proposed cuts to WIC come after an already-precarious time for low-income Americans receiving food subsidies.

Persons: Catherine Rampell, Tonyia Canales, Canales Organizations: GOP, Service, Women, Budget, WIC, Budget Management, OMB, Washington, Congress Locations: Wall, Silicon, Texas

"I question whether the state party has the necessary expertise to spend the money well," he said. Kristina Karamo, chair of the Michigan state party, didn't respond to a request for comment for this story. The Arizona party, meanwhile, raised roughly $139,000 in the first three months of this year, according to state and federal filings. But the state party's organizational heft will be hard to replicate, said Jeff Timmer, a former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party. "But not having the state party well funded is detrimental to many Republican campaigns next year," he added.

Persons: Ron Weiser, Weiser, Donald Trump, Trump, Seth Masket, Kelli Ward, Joe Biden, It's, Jim Click, Kristina Karamo, Ward, Jeff DeWit, haven't, Karamo, Matt Johnson, Jason Roe, DeWit, Zlaticanin, Jeff Timmer, Timmer, Jonathan Lines, Tim Reid, Nathan Layne, Ross Colvin, Pravin Organizations: Michigan Republican Party, Republicans, White, U.S . Congress, Republican Party, Michigan, University of Denver, Arizona, Justice Department, Trump, Democratic, Reuters, Republican National Committee, Republican, Biden, Thomson Locations: Michigan, Arizona, North Carolina, Detroit, New Arizona

☆ Washington Post publisher, CEO Fred Ryan to depart after overseeing growth under Jeff Bezos
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

From left, Washington Post Publisher Fred Ryan, Executive Editor Marty Baron, and National Security Editor Peter Finn, applaud as investigative reporter Tom Hamburger speaks to the newsroom after The Washington Post wins two pulitzer prizes, Monday, April 16, 2018, in Washington. Washington Post publisher and CEO Fred Ryan announced on Monday that he will step down from the helm of the newspaper in August. In a statement, the Washington Post said that it saw multiple years of profitability and a dramatic jump in digital subscriptions under Ryan. Read Fred Ryan's memo to employees here:Subject: Message for Washington Post ColleaguesDear Washington Post Colleagues,Nine years ago, I was honored to be selected by Jeff Bezos to be Publisher and CEO of The Washington Post. Read Jeff Bezos' memo here:Subject: Message for The Washington Post TeamDear Washington Post Team,I want to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to Fred for his dedicated service to The Washington Post as our Publisher and CEO.

Persons: Fred Ryan, Marty Baron, Peter Finn, Tom Hamburger, Ryan, Jeff Bezos, Ronald Reagan, Jeff, Bezos, Patty Stonesifer, Melinda Gates, Read Fred Ryan's, We've, we've, Fred, Read Jeff Bezos, he's, I'm, She'll, Patty, You'll Organizations: Washington Post, National Security, Washington . Washington Post, Amazon, Foundation, Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft, The Washington Post, Innovative Media, Fast Company, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, The Washington Post Team, Washington Post Team Locations: Washington .

☆ Washington Post publisher Fred Ryan steps down
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Fred Ryan, the publisher and chief executive of The Washington Post who oversaw the newspaper through several tumultuous years, announced on Monday that he will step down from his position after nearly a decade at the helm. “Nine years ago, I was honored to be selected by Jeff Bezos to be Publisher and CEO of The Washington Post,” Ryan wrote in a memo to staff on Monday. Ryan’s handling of the matter angered much of the newsroom and pushed high-profile reporters to join the newspaper’s union, including some who had previously resisted joining the union, known as The Washington Post Newspaper Guild. Ryan said that he will continue in his position as publisher of the newspaper until August 1 to help with the transition. Patty Stonesifer, the founding chief executive of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and an Amazon board member, will serve as interim chief executive of The Post.

Persons: Fred Ryan, Ryan, Ronald Reagan, Jeff Bezos, ” Ryan, Jeff, Donald Trump, “, We’ve, Patty Stonesifer, Melinda Gates, “ I’m, Fred, we’ve, ” Bezos, ” Organizations: CNN, The Washington Post, Foundation, Employees, Washington Post Newspaper, Melinda Gates Foundation, The, Amazon

☆ House Democrats push back against GOP bill to abolish IRS, impose national sales tax
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON — Three Democrats in the U.S. House introduced a measure to push back against a controversial Republican tax proposal that would abolish the IRS, eliminate income taxes and impose a national sales tax. House Republicans introduced the Fair Tax Act in January shortly after Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif, was voted in as speaker. The three Democrats introduced a House resolution opposing a national sales tax on working families and, instead, supporting a tax cut to benefit middle-class families. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., who introduced the Fair Tax Act, said it would simplify the tax code. Pettersen said the sales tax would hurt the most those who are unable to save, such as seniors and low-income families.

☆ Republicans in one Arizona county refuse to certify election results
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Ned Parker | Linda So | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

-Republican officials who have embraced voter fraud theories resisted certifying the midterm election results in one Arizona county on Monday, defying a state deadline and setting the stage for a legal battle. REUTERS/Jim UrquhartoIn Cochise County, a conservative stronghold in southeastern Arizona, the two Republican members of the three-person board of supervisors voted to postpone certifying the county’s election results. On Monday, the Mohave board ultimately certified its election results but also criticized Maricopa’s performance. Arizona law requires counties to certify election results by Nov. 28, ahead of the state’s certification on Dec. 5. “In the last year, it’s become an unprecedented dereliction of duty for county officials to violate their oaths of office and refuse to certify election results, citing ‘gut feelings’ or alleged problems in jurisdictions other than their own,” Becker said.

☆ In Arizona, election deniers refuse to back down
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Ned Parker | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

FILE PHOTO: Supporters of Republican candidate for Arizona Governor Kari Lake and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters protest outside the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center as vote counting continues inside, in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., November 12, 2022. The defeat of Lake and other election deniers was seen as a powerful rebuke of candidates who echoed Trump’s myths of a stolen election. Republican activists urged voters not to use the secure box on Election Day, according to Maricopa County officials. Maricopa County on Sunday released a report detailing voter numbers by location on Election Day and was scheduled to certify election results on Monday. DELAYS IN CERTIFICATIONElsewhere in Arizona, two conservative counties, Mohave and Cochise, do not plan to certify election results until Monday, the final day to formally do so, following pressure by election deniers.

☆ Biden to cast early vote, along with granddaughter, a first-time voter
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WILMINGTON, Del., Oct 29 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will cast an early vote in the crucial Nov 8 midterm elections on Saturday, joined by his granddaughter Natalie, a first-time voter, as Democrats fight for every vote. Polls suggest Democrats could lose control of both houses of Congress, with voter discontent over high inflation spoiling the momentum Democrats had hoped to win from a bitter fight with Repubicans over abortion rights. Voter turnout - usually far lower in midterm elections than in presidential ballot years - will be a critical factor in battleground states, and Democrats are urging voters to cast their ballots early. A total of 19,495,342 early votes have been cast nationwide, according the U.S. The center estimates that 50% of young people aged 18-29 voted in the 2020 presidential election, an 11% jump from 2016, but voter turnout tends to be lower in non-presidential election years.

☆ Biden casts early vote, vows to visit more states in coming days
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] U.S. President Joe Biden arrives to cast his vote during early voting for the 2022 U.S. midterm elections with his granddaughter Natalie, a first-time voter, at a polling station in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. October 29, 2022. REUTERS/Tasos Katopodis/PoolWILMINGTON, Del., Oct 29 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden cast an early vote in the crucial Nov. 8 midterm elections on Saturday, joined by his granddaughter Natalie, a first-time voter, and said he would visit more states in coming days to help Democrats fight for every possible vote. "I'm feeling good," Biden told reporters after voting and speaking briefly with an elderly woman in a wheelchair. It's a choice, a fundamental choice," Biden said. "Millions of Americans are casting their ballots against Biden and Democrats' reckless agenda of crime, rising prices, and open borders," he said.

☆ SCOOP: Sen. Dianne Feinstein fails to disclose husband's stock purchase, says she's willing to pay a fine
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-27 | by ( Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein's husband, investment banker Richard Blum, invested up to $50,000 in polling firm The Generation Lab. But the Democratic lawmaker didn't disclose the purchase until this month, weeks after a federal deadline. Feinstein has not yet been contacted by the Senate Ethics Committee on whether she will face a fine, Mentzer added. Members of Congress are generally allowed to buy and sell individual stocks — to the chagrin of some government reform advocates — so long as they publicly disclose the transactions. Not until May did Feinstein publicly disclose her husband's Facebook stock purchase, investigative journalism outfit Sludge revealed later in 2018.

☆ EXCLUSIVE: Jared Kushner helped create a Trump campaign shell company that secretly paid the president's family members and spent $617 million in reelection cash, a source tells Insider
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-18 | by ( Tom Lobianco | Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

American Made Media Consultants became the source of consternation for President Donald Trump's campaign staff, who were kept in the dark about its operations. Despite its $617 million spending through AMMC, the Trump campaign publicly disclosed little information about the company, including how it used the money. Insider independently verified details of this person's account with other people close to the Trump campaign. The shell company — incorporated as American Made Media Consultants Corp. and American Made Media Consultants LLC — allowed Trump's campaign to skirt federally mandated disclosures. "Nothing was done without Jared's approval," the former Trump campaign advisor said.

☆ A powerful group of lobbyists and donors pushed Mitch McConnell to take a 'hard red line' that delayed a stimulus bill for months
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-16 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

A powerful group of business organizations has pushed for the liability shields and donated generously to McConnell and other Republicans. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty ImagesThe Chamber of Commerce's big giveThe Chamber of Commerce has been among the most vocal proponents of liability protections. Overall, however, Walmart's workers and PAC gave about evenly to Democrats as to Republicans this election. Its PAC gave $9,000 to McConnell's campaign and gave $3,000 to Cornyn. During the past three decades, McConnell has received robust support from some of the industries lobbying hard for liability protections.

☆ Joe Biden owed Philly money after leaving a muddy mess from a campaign event. After a delay, the city says it's now getting paid.
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Philadelphia is demanding that Joe Biden's campaign pay up following a campaign event in November left the city cleaning up a water-logged FDR Park. Liza Acevedo, a spokesperson for the Biden presidential transition committee, confirmed Friday evening that the final payment is on its way. The rainy drive-in campaign event at FDR Park on November 01, 2020 left a water-logged muddy mess that the city had to clean up. Philadelphia City Hall has already raised taxes, cut some services, and laid off hundreds of government workers to balance its books. Philadelphia, meanwhile, is hoping that Biden's team will pay up faster than Democrat Hillary Clinton, who conducted a campaign event near Philadelphia City Hall in 2016.

☆ Twitter terminates its political action committee and donates leftover money to 2 charities that promote diversity and inclusion
▼ + stars: | 2020-10-22 | by ( Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Twitter has closed its political action committee and donated its surplus cash — more than $117,000 — to a pair of charities. Of the charities benefiting from Twitter's money, one focuses on engaging Latinos in the political process, and the other works to "eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice, and improve race relations" in sports. "This funding will be used to further our mission of promoting full, nonpartisan participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service," Vargas said. To better support and defend our users, Twitter has created #PAC." Despite axing its PAC, Twitter still maintains a robust lobbying presence in Washington, DC.

☆ Meet the GOP's biggest Hollywood donors
▼ + stars: | 2020-08-26 | by ( Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

America First Action, the most notable super PAC backing President Donald Trump, has directly criticized Hollywood. Donors from Hollywood-area ZIP codes also rank among the most generous donors to key Republican senators, including Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida. 3 donor ZIP code in the nation, trailing only ZIP codes in Houston and Palm Beach, Florida, which is home to his Mar-a-Lago Club resort. Bill Pugliano/Getty ImagesTrump continues to profit from HollywoodIn messages to supporters this year, Trump has decried "liberal HOLLYWOOD donors" and "MEGA HOLLYWOOD DONORS," while his son Donald Trump Jr. has castigated the "Hollywood Elite." As president, Trump's pension earned him more than $84,000 in 2017, about $91,000 in 2018, and about $78,000 in 2019, his personal financial disclosures showed.

☆ Trump's most important 2016 donor is sitting out 2020
▼ + stars: | 2020-07-24 | by ( Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

Robert and Rebekah Mercer ranked among President Donald Trump's most influential backers in 2016. A representative for Priorities USA Action, a leading pro-Biden super PAC, said the organization wasn't underestimating Trump's reelection forces, Mercers or no Mercers. (Bossie, like former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and many others, has recently found himself back in Trump's favor.) The Cambridge Analytica data that the Trump campaign paid for was "so stupidly wrong" and a "complete joke," Spicer added. But sources familiar with the Mercers' political spending said they have no evidence that the Mercers are doing so.

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