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☆ Misinformation has created an alternative world for some Americans
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

O’SULLIVAN: So much of mainstream American politics now is being infected and affected by what is happening on what was once considered the real fringes — fringe platforms, fringe personalities. O’SULLIVAN: A lot of people got kicked off the major social media platforms after January 6. Because major social media platforms like Facebook have these rules. But I think just overall, in 2016, all the guards were down when it came to social media. And then in 2020 there was a big crackdown from the social media platforms, which got a huge amount of blowback from conservatives.

Persons: CNN —, —, CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan, Trump, Anderson Cooper ”, Joe Biden didn’t, They’ve, they’ve, we’ve, Rachel Powell, “, O'Sullivan, It’s, Joe Black, Donald Trump, O’Sullivan, Black, Joe Biden, it’s, You’re, ”, Tim Alberta, Christiane Amanpour, Caleb Campbell, — he’s, You’ve, you’ve, Elon Musk, WOLF, There’s, she’ll, She’s Organizations: CNN, FBI, Pastors, Facebook, Twitter, Elon, Trump Locations: Colorado, Alberta, West Virginia, Trump

☆ Lawmakers Question Bank of America About Leon Black’s Payments to Epstein
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Matthew Goldstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A U.S. Senate committee investigating the tax avoidance work that Jeffrey Epstein, the registered sex offender, did for the private equity mogul Leon Black has questioned Bank of America over Mr. Black’s hefty payments to Mr. Epstein, according to a letter viewed by The New York Times. They included fees paid to Mr. Epstein for advising on a sophisticated trust that saved Mr. Black more than $1 billion in taxes. Mr. Black’s decades-long business dealings and personal relationship with Mr. Epstein have dogged him ever since Mr. Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019. (Mr. Epstein hanged himself in a federal jail a month after his arrest.) Mr. Black, a co-founder of Apollo Global Management, with a net worth of $13 billion, ultimately stepped down from all leadership posts because of the controversy.

Persons: Jeffrey Epstein, Leon Black, Epstein, Ron Wyden, Black, Banks Organizations: U.S, of America, Mr, The New York Times, Senate Finance Committee, Apollo Global Management Locations: Oregon

☆ Jack Black reveals his all-time favorite costar
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Marianne Garvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Jack Black had some kind words to say about one of his former castmates. The “Kung-Fu Panda 4” star told “Entertainment Tonight” that one actress immediately came to mind when he was asked who his favorite costar has been. She was my favorite co-star I’ve ever had because when you look in her eyes, she was like really present. I feel like if you look into my eyes, you just see a shadow of a robot,” Black said. “Kung-Fu Panda 4” hits theaters on March 8.

Persons: Jack Black, “ Kate Winslet, I’ve, ” Black, Matt Winkelmeyer, Henry Nicholls, ”, Iris, Cameron Diaz, Black’s, Miles, endearingly, “, Po, that’s, “ Kung Organizations: CNN, “ Entertainment Locations: Los Angeles

Conservatives have looked to country music over the decades to voice political beliefs and react to social change. Maines called Keith’s song “ignorant,” while Keith began performing in front of a doctored photo of Maines with Saddam Hussein. KEITH WAS A FAN OF THE MILITARY, AND VICE VERSAIn the years following “Courtesy,” Keith participated in 18 USO tours, performing for more than 250,000 service members in his lifetime. Lucas says he and others sent CDs with Keith’s song, “American Soldier,” to the wives of the men serving with his son. Keith “emboldened others in country music to think viewpoints that might be perceived as angry and conservative were okay to express,” Willman says.

Persons: — Toby Keith’s, Keith, We’ll, Jason Aldean, Jason Isbell, ”, Chris Willman, “, Willman, Willie Nelson, Amanda Marie Martinez, Jim Crow America, ” Martinez, Merle Haggard, “ Okie, Haggard, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama’s, “ Let's, George W, Bush, Obama, Donald Trump, it’s, Joseph M, Thompson, Alan Jackson, Jackson, Darryl Worley’s “, Clint Black’s “, Natalie Maines, Maines, Saddam Hussein, KEITH, ” Keith, John A, Lucas, ” Lucas, ’ ” Lucas, Aldean, Oliver Anthony’s “ Rich, Keith “, ” Willman, Pat Finnerty, Toby Keith, Hogan, ” Finnerty, ‘, Finnerty, Jude ’, it’d, Maria Sherman Organizations: Country Music, Variety, Pentagon, Dixie Chicks, U.S . Army, Army, North Locations: NORFOLK, Va, U.S, Afghanistan, Iraq, America, Vietnam, Muskogee, Iran, Clint Black’s “ Iraq, Richmond , Virginia, Tennessee, Richmond, ”, Philadelphia, Los Angeles

☆ Watching Simone Biles this weekend will show how women’s gymnastics has changed
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Elle Reeve | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Simone Biles, photographed practicing this week, is set to compete for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021. Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesAt 26, you might hear commentators call Biles “old” for her sport. “To do gymnastics, you have to have good strength-to-weight ratio,” said Jessica O’Beirne, host of the long-running GymCastic podcast. You can’t do the gymnastics required if you don’t have power.”In the bad old days, the emphasis was on weight. “One of the things that has totally changed is the fact that people understand now how important nutrition is.

Persons: Simone Biles, ”, she’s, Stacy Revere, Biles, Jessica O’Beirne, Bela Karolyi’s, Nadia Comaneci, Comaneci, Frank Barratt, Svetlana Boginskaya, Tatiana Lysenko, Jennifer Sey, Mattie Larson, Nick Laham, “, ” Larson, Podcaster O’Beirne, Ellie Black, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Carey, Chiles, O’Beirne, ” O’Beirne, I’ve Organizations: CNN —, Tokyo, ”, Olympic, CNN, USA

☆ Leon Black agrees to pay $62.5 million to avoid Jeffrey Epstein-related lawsuits in the US Virgin Islands
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Billionaire investor Leon Black struck a multi-million dollar settlement with the government of the US Virgin Islands to avoid any legal claims tied to a Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation. According to a settlement document obtained by CNN, Black agreed in January to pay the Virgin Islands government $62.5 million in cash. In exchange, the Virgin Islands released Black from any current and future legal claims related to Jeffrey Epstein. There is no suggestion in the USVI settlement that Mr. Black was aware of or participated in any misconduct.”Black has faced a number of accusations and lawsuits over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Last month, the Virgin Islands government said it is seeking $190 million in penalties and disgorgement from JPMorgan Chase, alleging that the bank benefited financially from Epstein’s sex trafficking operation.

Persons: Leon Black, Jeffrey Epstein, Black, ” Whit Clay, ” Black, Epstein, Epstein —, —, ”, Clay, “, JPM Organizations: CNN — Billionaire, CNN, Virgin, Virgin Islands, New York Times, ”, Apollo Global Management, Apollo, ” Forbes, Finance, US, US Virgin Islands, JPMorgan Chase, JPMorgan Locations: U.S, US Virgin

☆ Billionaire investor Leon Black is accused of raping teen in Jeffrey Epstein’s NY townhouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —A woman is suing the billionaire investor Leon Black, accusing him of raping her at Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse when she was 16 years old. The lawsuit describes in gruesome detail the woman’s account of a sexual assault that left her bleeding and sobbing. A spokesman for Black, Whit Clay, echoed Estrich’s denial, saying the law firm “has an agenda” and that its credibility has been impugned by the dismissal of the previous suit. An internal Apollo investigation that documented his $158 million payment to Epstein found no wrongdoing. The latest suit is the third to publicly accuse Black of rape.

Persons: New York CNN —, Leon Black, Jeffrey, Jane Doe, ”, Black, Susan Estrich, ” Estrich, Whit Clay, “, Jeanne M, Christensen, ” Black, Epstein, Cheri Pierson, ” Epstein, Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Sen, Ron Wyden, ” Black’s, Doe, — CNN’s Elisabeth Buchwald, Ramishah Maruf Organizations: New, New York CNN, Apollo Global Management, New York Times, Street, CNN, Finance Locations: New York, Manhattan, New York City

☆ Senate Panel Probes Leon Black’s Financial Ties to Epstein, Tax Maneuvers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Richard Rubin | David Benoit | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-panel-probes-leon-blacks-financial-ties-to-epstein-tax-maneuvers-d72c2b84

Persons: Dow Jones, epstein

☆ Billionaire Leon Black made a $158 million payment to Jeffrey Epstein. Senators want to know why
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —The Senate Finance Committee is looking into whether billionaire investor Leon Black’s $158 million payment to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was part of a greater strategy to avoid paying over $1 billion in federal gift and estate taxes. “The payments were inexplicably large; well in excess of what Black paid any other financial advisors and far higher than the median compensation of Fortune 500 CEOs at the time,” Wyden said in a statement released Tuesday. “At every stage of the committee’s investigation, Black has refused to answer questions or provide any documents that could demonstrate how Epstein’s compensation for tax and estate planning services was determined or justified,” Wyden said in the statement. Black has cooperated extensively with the Committee, providing detailed information about the matters under review,” Whit Clay, a spokesman for Black, said in a statement to CNN. An internal Apollo investigation that documented his $158 million payment to Epstein following the New York Times’ reporting, however, found no wrongdoing.

Persons: Leon Black’s, Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein, Ron Wyden, Wyden, Dechert, ” Wyden, “, Black, Mr, Whit Clay, ” Epstein, Dechert didn’t, Joanna Rose, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Finance, Apollo Global Management, Oregon Democrat, Dechert LLP, Apollo, Fortune, CNN, New York Times Locations: New York

☆ Five Stand-Up Specials for the Long Holiday Weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Jason Zinoman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Lewis Black, ‘Tragically, I Need You’(YouTube)If a stand-up can tap into or channel the fury of an audience, he can light up a room. Lewis Black’s great gift is that behind that dyspeptic front, you could detect a thoughtful, introspective side, a little damaged perhaps. He shows us more of that vulnerable side here, in part because the isolation of the pandemic put him in a reflective mood. Along with swinging sharp political elbows, in defense of Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, say, Black beats himself up over past relationships and sings the praises of companionship. He talks about his failed career as a playwright, bringing up theater because “I like to feel the interest of the audience leave the room.”

☆ US airlines about to be hit with ‘tsunami’ of pilot retirements
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Greg Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington DC CNN —The US airline industry is about to be hit with a “tsunami of pilot retirements” that will further the nation’s pilot shortage, limiting flight availability for passengers and putting upward pressure on fares, an industry group told Congress Wednesday. Black’s group represents the regional carriers which provide feeder service for the larger airlines such as American, United (UAL)and Delta (DAL). But the union representing most US airline pilots urged Congress against changing pilot qualification and training standards in an attempt to address the pilot shortage, saying some ideas would compromise safety. The Regional Airline Association, representing carriers that connect major cities to smaller regional airports, noted that the airlines are not the only destination for pilots with that qualification and warned of a significant pilot shortage that will get worse with a “tsunami” of retirements. Senior airline pilots frequently fly international routes, but international rules have an age 65 limit.

A former financier and associate of Jeffrey Epstein was sued Monday on allegations that he raped a woman in Epstein’s New York City mansion in spring 2002, according to court filings. The review, carried out by a New York law firm, declared that Black wasn’t involved in Epstein’s criminal activities. At the time, Epstein didn’t disclose Black’s name to Pierson, and she didn’t ask, according to the suit. Black then said ‘Black, my name is Leo Black,’” according to the filings. Another woman, Guzel Ganieva, sued Black last year, accusing him of rape and defamation, according to court filings.

☆ Lawsuit alleges investor Leon Black raped a woman inside Jeffrey Epstein's home
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN Business —Billionaire investor Leon Black has been sued by a woman alleging he “brutal[ly]” raped her at Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse in spring 2002. Wigdor filed Pierson’s complaint Monday under New York’s Adult Survivors Act. The firm’s Doug Wigdor helped advocate for the new law, which was passed in May and went into effect last week. After that he called again and asked to see her, according to the complaint, but Pierson refused to see him again. In 2008, Epstein pled guilty in Florida to two felony offenses: procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution and solicitation of prostitution.

NewFest, New York’s premier LGBTQ film festival, returns for its 34th annual celebration of queer media. While there are many must-see films at this year’s festival, here are a five to add to your watch list. The film stars Emmy-nominated actor Jeremy Pope (“Hollywood”) as a young gay man who joins the Marines after a decade living on the streets. Previously, Bratton translated his experiences into documentaries about LGBTQ subjects, including 2019’s “Pier Kids,” about queer and transgender youths living at Manhattan’s Christopher Street Pier. The film’s stars include Flaherty, Wyatt Fenner, Joey Taranto and Kiyon Spencer.

☆ Dustin Lance Black says he’s recovering from a ‘serious head injury’
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Megan Thomas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Dustin Lance Black revealed that he is recovering from a “serious head injury” that the Oscar-winning writer experienced about a month ago. In an Instagram post on Monday, Black did not share how he sustained his injury but said it put him “out of commission.”“So I vanished for a while… A month ago I sustained a serious head injury that put me out of commission,” Black wrote. “Showing little improvement, my doctors ordered me to shut off my brain in hopes of it healing. “This week my sweet, over the top husband took us to the Greek Islands to make me shut off,” Black concluded his note. “I can already feel this trip is a step in the right direction, and I finally feel safe sharing a bit again.

☆ 20 best nude beaches around the world
▼ + stars: | 2018-05-24 | by ( Joe Yogerst | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Meanwhile, there are more places than ever to sun, swim or build sandcastles au naturel at clothing-optional beaches on every continent. One of the spin-offs of the socially and sexually liberal 1960s was a “free beach” movement that saw a proliferation of nude beaches around the world. Here are 15 of the best nude beaches around the world:Playa Naturista Chihuahua, UruguayLocated about a 30-minute drive from Punta del Este, Uruguay’s best-known nude beach overlooks Portezuelo Bay on the Atlantic coast. Playa Naturista Chihuahua, Avenida Las Amarras, 20003 Chihuahua, UruguayNida Nude Beach, LithuaniaThe chilly Baltic Sea may not seem like the most obvious place to skinny dip. Platja des Cavallet, 07818, Balearic Islands, SpainLittle Beach, Maui, HawaiiLittle Beach -- a clothing-optional beach in Maui's Makena State Park.

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