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Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas arrives for the swearing-in ceremony of Neil Gorsuch as an Associate Supreme Court Justice in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C., April 10, 2017. Two leading Democratic senators are pressing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to say whether he repaid a wealthy friend any of the principal for a $267,230 loan he used to buy a luxury motorhome. The letter to Thomas's lawyer, dated Tuesday, raises questions about potential tax violations by the conservative justice, who is the longest-serving member of the Supreme Court. Democrats point to reports that his wife, Ginni Thomas, took part in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The Supreme Court heard arguments in Trump's immunity appeal on April 25, with Thomas on the bench.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Ron Wyden, Sheldon Whitehouse, Thomas, Anthony Welters, Prevost Le, Wyden, Elliot Berke, Whitehouse, Justice Thomas, Welters, Berke, ProPublica, Harlan Crow, Harlan, Donald Trump, Ginni Thomas Organizations: Justice, White House, D.C, New York Times, Finance Committee Locations: Rose, Washington, Welters

Instead of relying on self-help books or just nonfiction pieces, Elon Musk reads across genres. BI explored Musk's interviews and social media to compile a list of 16 books he recommends. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Elon Musk, —, Tesla, he's, bibliophiles, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Organizations: Service, Business

☆ iPhone grabs top share in China and analyst negativity abates. What's going right at Apple
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

After a rough early start to 2024 and lots of analyst negativity, Apple has turned the corner. The iPhone captured a firm-record 17.3% market share in China last year, according to the International Data Corporation's quarterly phone tracker report . 1 spot in China, Apple made the rare move of offering limited-time iPhone 15 discounts there during this month. Last week, IDC crowned Apple as the biggest smartphone maker in the world , dethroning Samsung for the first time ever. And, just about two weeks ago, we reported that the Street hadn't been this cautious on Apple stock in years.

Persons: Apple, Arthur Guo, Piper Sandler, Apple's, Goldman Sachs, we're, Jim Cramer, Tim Cook, Apple —, Jim, that's, Preorders, Jim Cramer's, Berke Bayur Organizations: Huawei, Vivo, Apple, IDC, Samsung, Barclays, Redburn, Club, Microsoft, Bank of America, Big Tech, CNBC, U.S, Getty Images, Anadolu, Getty Locations: China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, ANKARA, TURKIYE, Ankara, Turkiye, Anadolu

[1/2] U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas poses during a group portrait at the Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., October 7, 2022. Durbin said the "undisclosed, forgiven" loan demonstrates the need for a binding code of conduct for the court. The documents showed that Welters forgave the loan in 2008, according to the findings. The Senate Judiciary Committee in July approved a Democratic-backed bill that would mandate a binding ethics code for the justices. Thomas and Welters did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Evelyn Hockstein, Thomas, Anthony Welters, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Welters, Ron Wyden, Elliot Berke, Berke, Harlan Crow, Steven Lubet, Lubet, Stephen Gillers, Andrew Chung, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Welters, Democratic, hobnobbing, Senate, New York Times, Texas, Crow, Northwestern University, New York University, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, New York, Washington

☆ ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ and TV History
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Annie Berke | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In a scene in the Apple TV+ period drama “Lessons in Chemistry,” Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson) prepares for her new job as host of a local cooking show with scientific rigor. Poised with pad in hand, Elizabeth, a chemist, concentrates keenly on her home television set, as if she were observing a chemical reaction. “How does one study TV?” her neighbor asks playfully. “Turn on Channel 4,” Elizabeth retorts. Based on Bonnie Garmus’s 2022 novel, “Lessons in Chemistry” follows the brilliant but frequently undervalued Elizabeth as she jumps from one chauvinistic 1950s milieu — an elite research institute — to another: local television.

Persons: ” Elizabeth Zott, Brie Larson, Elizabeth, ” Elizabeth, Bonnie Garmus’s Organizations: Apple, Los Angeles TV, Hollywood Locations: ”

CNN —Justice Clarence Thomas disclosed Thursday that Republican megadonor Harlan Crow paid for private jet trips for Thomas in 2022 to attend a speech in Texas and a vacation at Crow’s luxurious New York estate, as ethics questions continue to rock the Supreme Court. Thomas made the disclosures after receiving an extension to file the yearly reports that were originally due in May 2023. In a statement after the ProPublica report, Thomas acknowledged the friendship but stressed that Crow did not have business before the court. In addition, he said that he should have disclosed a 2014 private real estate deal between Crow, Thomas and members of Thomas’ family. According to the disclosure, Thomas flew down to be the keynote speaker of the event in February, but returned via private jet “due to an unexpected ice storm.”The talk was rescheduled in May and Thomas rode round trip on Crow’s plane.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, Thomas, Dobbs, Roe, Wade, “, Crow, Samuel Alito, ProPublica, Thomas ’, ” Thomas, Virginia Thomas, Leola Williams, Williams, VII, –, Elliot S, Berke, Thomas “, ”, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Chip Somodevilla, Elena Kagan, Alito, ” Alito, Gabe Roth, he’s, ” Roth, Rome Alito, Duke Organizations: CNN, Republican, Judicial Conference, Old Parkland Conference, Hoover Institution, Manhattan Institute, American Enterprise Institute, Black Americans, Crow Holdings, Democrats, Supreme, Capitol, Rhode Island, Wall Street, Notre Dame, School’s, Liberty Initiative, Religious Liberty Summit, Regent University School of Law, Duke Law School Locations: Texas, New York, Georgia, Savannah , Georgia, Washington ,, Rome

☆ Clarence Thomas' lawyer says a billionaire bought his mom's house because it was in a blighted neighborhood full of junkies and they wanted her to keep living there
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Taylor Berman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Billionaire Harlan Crow bought Clarence Thomas' mom's house — which the justice partly owned — in 2014. The sale was undisclosed, raising questions about the ethics of billionaires secretly doing business with Supreme Court justices. Despite the obvious ethical concerns of a Supreme Court justice doing business with a billionaire, the sale was never disclosed, and only came to light thanks to ProPublica's reporting. "In 2014, Harlan Crow, a longtime friend of Justice and Mrs. Thomas, visited Savannah with Justice Thomas," the statement from Elliot S. Berke reads. "Mr. Crow indicated he wanted to preserve the home for a possible museum and asked his team to review the idea of doing so.

Persons: Harlan Crow, Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Crow, Justice Thomas, Elliot S, Berke, Mr, he'd, Williams, ProPublica, Berke didn't Organizations: Service, Supreme Locations: Wall, Silicon, Savannah

☆ Lionel Messi lifts MLS to new heights, but the league needs more than 'the GOAT' to grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Marco Bello | ReutersSince joining, Inter Miami rose to the highest-selling MLS team for tickets from the 13th spot on StubHub. The average ticket price for Inter Miami on StubHub is $161, nearly 64% higher than the league average. The overall average MLS ticket price is up to $98, while the average ticket price for the Leagues Cup overall was $152. Yes, what we're seeing in pricing for the MLS for Messi games is unprecedented. "Those average ticket prices were still three times what we're seeing for Messi games so far this year," Budelli said.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Logan Riely, Messi, it's, Camilo Durana, Lee Berke, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Germain, –, Leo Messi, Marco Bello, he's, Durana, Marc de Grandpré, that's, Adam Budelli, Tom Brady –, StubHub, Lebron James, Budelli, Berke, Tom Brady, Adam Glanzman Organizations: FC Dallas, Toyota, Major League Soccer's Inter Miami CF, MLS, NFL, NBA, Public Investment Fund, French, Paris Saint, FC Barcelona, Inter Miami, Reuters, Messi, Apple, North, Liga MX, U.S, Leagues, Saturday, Red Bulls, New York Red Bulls, NFL Sunday, Tampa Bay, Disney, ESPN, ABC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, Gillette, Getty Locations: Frisco , Texas, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Argentine, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Harrison , New Jersey, Manhattan, StubHub, Foxborough , Massachusetts

In this article SBGINXSTGTNSSP Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTChristian Petersen | Getty Images Sport | Getty ImagesTensions are building among broadcast station owners and pay TV providers as the local rights to air NBA, NHL and MLB games go up for grabs. Pay-TV providers are also exploring alternatives to keep local games in the bundle. The NBA's Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz recently reached deals to be be aired on local broadcast networks run by Gray and Sinclair, respectively. "The reality is that the issue people keep talking about is the rights fees. But the rights fees aren't necessarily the question," said Berke.

Persons: Christian Petersen, Sinclair, Diamond, Bill Morrow, RSNs, George Kubas, Lee Berke, There's, Gray, Brian Lawlor, Lawlor, Jeff Speer, —, Ion, Berke, David Peralta, Kole Calhoun, Starling Marte Organizations: Getty, NBA, NHL, MLB, Scripps Co, Gray Television, Nexstar Media Group, Diamond Sports Group, Warner Bros, Broadcasters, Comcast, Charter, DirecTV, Gray, Nexstar, Communications, Ohio, Bally Sports, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Progressive, Diamond Sports, Diamond, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Clipper, Las Vegas Golden Knights, NHL Stanley, Scripps, Scripps Sports, Knights, Warnes Bros, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, Mobile, — ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW Network, Nexstar's CW Network, ACC, Nascar, Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics, Chase Field, The Diamondbacks Locations: Cleveland, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Las Vegas , Nevada, Phoenix , Arizona

☆ Florida State University taps JPMorgan to help find potential investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Florida State University has been working with JPMorgan as it explores options to bring in funding from institutional investors, according to a person familiar with the matter. The discussions have been ongoing in recent months, and Sixth Street Partners has expressed interest as an investor, the person said. The discussions with potential equity investors are not tied to FSU's potential push to leave the conference, according to the person familiar with the matter. Sportico earlier reported that FSU was working with JPMorgan and that Sixth Street was part of the discussions. "That effort fell apart, mainly because it was a challenge to mesh private investors with the potential media rights for public schools," said sports media consultant Lee Berke.

Persons: Lee Berke, we're, Berke Organizations: Florida State University, JPMorgan, Sixth Street Partners, Atlantic Coast Conference, NCAA, FSU, Sixth, ACC, Southeastern Conference, ESPN, Media

[1/2] Rob Olan (C), employee of the healthcare investment fund Deerfield Management, departs Federal Court in Manhattan in New York, U.S., May 24, 2017. FollowNEW YORK, Aug 1 (Reuters) - A long-running federal insider trading case based on leaks about planned changes to Medicare reimbursement rates will likely end with no convictions, after the remaining defendants agreed to enter deferred prosecution agreements. In the healthcare case, the Manhattan appeals court said the leaked CMS information did not support fraud and theft charges against Huber, Olan and Blaszczak, though prosecutors could retry them on one or two counts each. In their deferred prosecution agreements, Huber and Olan acknowledged trading on and Blaszczak acknowledged passing advance information about a proposed CMS rule change. The case is U.S. v. Blaszczak et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Rob Olan, Lucas Jackson, Theodore Huber, Robert Olan, David Blaszczak, Prosecutors, Huber, Olan, George Washington, Chris Christie's, Christopher Worrall, Blaszczak, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Blaszczak's, David Patton, Barry Berke, Dani James, Damian Williams, Jonathan Stempel, Conor Humphries, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Deerfield Management, REUTERS, Aetna Inc, Centers, Medicare, Services, Democratic, New, New Jersey Republican, District, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York, U.S, Deerfield, New Jersey, Southern District, Southern District of New York

☆ 100 days captive: Journalist Evan Gershkovich is one of my closest friends. Here's what the world needs to know about him.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The journalist Evan Gershkovich has been in captivity in Moscow for 100 days on espionage charges. My friend Evan Gershkovich, many of you now know, was captured by the Russian government on March 29. Evan loves his friends. Evan loves the Mets, and he loves Arsenal, and he especially loves sharing those teams with people who aren't already under the spell. Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty ImagesLet's bring Evan homeFor everyone who is friends with Evan, for everyone in his orbit, he's the center of their world.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, He's, extrovert who'd, Jeremy Berke, Evan, he'd, Gershkovich, It's, —, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Berke, He'll, we'd, Natalia Kolesnikova, — who've, Let's, we've, We've, he's, I'm, Jeremy Organizations: Moscow, Morning, CNN, Wall Street, Bowdoin College —, New York Times, Russia's, Muscovites, West, Arsenal, Mets, Court, Getty, Columbia Business School Locations: Moscow, Russian, New York, Soviet Union, New Jersey, Russia, Ukraine, Brooklyn, AFP

☆ I know Evan Gershkovich, who has now been imprisoned in Russia for 100 days. Here's what I want you to know about one of my closest friends.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

☆ UFC merger beefs up WWE's leverage in media rights negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Networks and streaming services need to get ready for a media rights smackdown. UFC should also benefit ahead of 2025, when its U.S. media rights deals come up, including with Disney's ESPN. "I think everything is up for grabs with these media rights deals. During his time with CAA, he had formed a relationship with McMahon during a recent round of TV rights negotiations for WWE. It will also work for UFC negotiations, he noted.

☆ Cannabis giant Curaleaf cut about 220 jobs, then sent the workers it laid off a survey asking why they left
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Curaleaf cut about 220 staff members in November. The company sent laid-off employees an exit survey asking why they left. Curaleaf's cuts come as the cannabis industry falls on hard times. Here's what the email looks like:A screenshot of Curaleaf's exit survey sent to Insider. Jeremy Berke/ ScreenshotAnd here's the question:Curaleaf exit survey.

☆ Cannabis-tech firm Weedmaps is cutting up to 25% of its employees as the industry's downturn continues
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Cannabis tech firm Weedmaps is cutting up to 25% of employees, according to a filing. The company told Insider that the majority of the cuts were made last week. Weedmaps CEO Chris Beals stepped down on November 7 and Doug Francis, a Weedmaps cofounder, is running the company on an interim basis. Weedmaps lists cannabis shops on its site, allowing consumers to browse dispensaries and see reviews of marijuana products. Weedmaps is far from the only cannabis company to lay off employees in recent months.

☆ Some charges dismissed against ex-N.Y. lieutenant governor arrested in campaign finance fraud investigation
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Bribery and fraud charges against former New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin were tossed out Monday by a federal judge, leaving Benjamin to face only records falsification charges and prompting his lawyers to say it was tragic that the case was ever brought. Benjamin, a Democrat, resigned after his arrest last April. During a state Legislature career that began in May 2017, he emphasized criminal justice reform and affordable housing. The charges that were left intact allege that Benjamin knowingly made a false entry in a record with the intent to impede an investigation.

☆ Cannabis giant Curaleaf just laid off over 200 employees as the industry's downturn deepens
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Curaleaf laid off staff in November, Insider has learned. In a statement to Insider, Curaleaf said the cuts were "a part of an effort to control costs and drive efficiencies in the face of economic uncertainties ahead." Darin, who took over the top job in May, said Curaleaf was in discussions with unionized employees at affected Curaleaf locations. From public giants to small startups, cannabis companies are falling on hard times. Like other industries, cannabis companies have been contending with broader trends like rising inflation.

☆ The world's largest cannabis companies are gobbling up beer brands and striking deals with top athletes to hawk energy drinks because they're struggling to profit off pot
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

It's hard to make money in cannabis, so the world's largest cannabis companies are pivoting. The Canadian cannabis company Tilray in early November acquired Montauk Brewing Company, a New York craft-beer brewer. In a November 11 note, analysts at the investment bank Jefferies called Canopy's core Canadian cannabis business "a sideshow." Tilray's cannabis business slumps, while beer boomsLike Canopy, Tilray's core cannabis business is also declining while its beverage unit and other businesses are growing. Beyond cutting costs, it was, therefore, only a matter of time before the world's largest cannabis companies, with investors and shareholders breathing down their necks, looked elsewhere to boost their margins.

☆ See the first 36 groups that won coveted licenses to sell recreational cannabis in New York, including Housing Works and The Doe Fund
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

New York regulators announced the first 36 groups who'll be able to sell cannabis in the state. The 36 licensees include 28 groups of "justice-involved" individuals, who have been convicted of prior cannabis-related offenses in New York state and also have experience running profitable businesses. Wright has repeatedly said that cannabis sales would begin in New York before the end of the year. That means companies are unable to own both a cultivation facility and a retail store, unlike in some other states with legal cannabis markets. The regulations also outline different license types to be awarded in the future, including supply-side licenses, microbusinesses, and retail stores.

☆ We just learned the limits of marijuana legalization in the US
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Marijuana legalization was on the ballot in five states and only passed in Maryland and Missouri. Legalization failed in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Arkansas. Deep-red Arkansas, as well as both North Dakota and South Dakota, defeated legalization measures. A recent poll show that most Americans, both Republican and Democrat, support legalization. For its part, South Dakota passed legalization in 2020, but the law was struck down in court after Republican Gov.

☆ Cannabis giant Canopy Growth crafted a complex plan to get into the US and reverse a stock slump. But some analysts say it could backfire.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It's another consequence of the quasi-legality of the cannabis industry in the US. The Canadian cannabis giant Canopy Growth has long searched for a way to give its stock a much-needed boost. "We continue to have open conversations with the exchanges," Klein said. He added that Canopy's deal could provide a model for other Canadian cannabis companies that want to do business in the US. Jefferies said Nasdaq's objection to Canopy's plan was a key risk and that the rest of the cannabis industry should pay close attention.

☆ New York's top cannabis regulator says most of the state's pot shops won't open until next year — but illegal sellers are already filling the gap
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

New York state will have at least one legal cannabis shop open in 2022, but the bulk of stores won't open until at least the middle of 2023, the state's top cannabis regulator said. Wright added that most legal shops probably wouldn't open until 2023 — about two years after the state legalized cannabis. AP Photo/Steven SenneBoth Krueger and Peoples-Stokes laid some blame for New York's cannabis stumbles at the feet of former Gov. Over half of cannabis sales in California are estimated to stem from the illegal market, though the state opened cannabis shops in 2018. New York's testing requirements pose a challengeNew York's legal cannabis market could face other hurdles.

☆ Legal cannabis isn't beating the illicit market. The economist who wrote the book on legalization says there are 3 key ways to change that.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Cannabis legalization is failing to live up to key promises, the economist Robin Goldstein said. While federal cannabis legalization is one of the few US policy questions where there's widespread polling consensus, the industry is struggling. The Blunt Realities of Cannabis Economics," Goldstein and Sumner take a microscope to cannabis policy and the broader industry to answer key questions about the drug's future. "If you want smaller businesses to thrive, just break down barriers to entry because those barriers are best met by the biggest companies," Goldstein said. High prices for legal cannabis often push customers to illicit sellers.

☆ Biden's surprise move to reclassify cannabis could supercharge legal weed — but it also carries big risks for companies and investors
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He announced pardons for federal cannabis possession and ordered a review of how cannabis is scheduled. While Biden's announcement stopped far short of decriminalization, he outlined three key steps:He's pardoning people federally convicted of simple cannabis possession. Biden's announcement signals that his administration — quiet on cannabis until now — will finally push for federal cannabis reform. Stifel analyst Andrew Partheniou called Biden's announcement "the most important development in US cannabis history," in a Friday morning note. If the government decides to regulate cannabis like a pharmaceutical, that could undermine the recreational cannabis industry as it currently stands.

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