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☆ Too busy for hush money? Trump debuts longshot 'multi-tasking' defense during testimony by longtime assistant Rhona Graff
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The now-retired assistant, Rhona Graff, told jurors that Trump was prone to "multi-tasking" and sometimes would be on the phone at the same time he signed checks. The testimony was elicited during Graff's cross-examination by Trump attorney Susan Necheles. Related storiesThe nine checks are the only records bearing Trump's signature out of 34 checks, invoices, and business-ledger records he allegedly falsified. After Trump signed each check, it would be FedExed back to the Trump Organization's Trump Tower headquarters, scanned into the company records, and then cut and mailed to Cohen. — respectful boss to me," Graff told jurors of working alongside Trump in the Trump Organization headquarters on the 25th-floor of Trump Tower.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Rhona Graff, Trump, Trump's, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Susan Necheles, Necheles, Graff, Susan Hoffinger, Juan Merchan, Cohen, Alvin Bragg, Bragg, Daniels, Karen McDougal, McDougal, Playboy Bunny Organizations: Service, Business, GOP, Manhattan, Trump, Court, Trump Organization, White, Prosecutors, Trump Tower Locations: New York, Trump

☆ Paramount CEO Bob Bakish could be out as soon as Monday as Skydance merger talks continue
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Paramount Global's board is preparing to fire Chief Executive Officer Bob Bakish as soon as Monday morning, according to people familiar with the matter. Paramount Global reports its quarterly earnings Monday. Bakish has lost the trust of Paramount Global controlling shareholder Shari Redstone, according to people familiar with her thinking. Paramount and Skydance have been making headway on a final deal, under which Bakish would leave Paramount, CNBC reported Thursday. Skydance intends to name its CEO David Ellison to helm Paramount, according to people familiar with the matter.

Persons: Bob Bakish, Bakish, Shari, Skydance, David Ellison Organizations: Viacom Inc, Mobile, Paramount, Paramount Global, Skydance Media, Charter Communications, Skydance, CNBC Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S

CNN —A Russian court has placed Forbes journalist Sergey Mingazov under house arrest after he was detained for allegedly spreading fake news about the Russian armed forces, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti has reported. Forbes Russia says its journalist will be under house arrest for at least two months as he awaits trial after being detained on Friday. Bubon said that Mingazov is accused of spreading “knowingly false information” about the Russian armed forces “under the guise” of reliable reporting. Internet ban imposedBubon told Forbes Russia that Mingazov’s house arrest was enforced as a “preventative measure.” In Russia, preventative measures take place pre-trial and include being remanded in custody, released on bail, or placed under house arrest. “It contained, under the guise of being reliable, deliberately false information about… the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” it continued.

Persons: Sergey Mingazov, Forbes, “ Forbes, Mingazov, ”, Mingazov’s, Konstantin Bubon, Bubon, “, general’s, Alsu Kurmasheva, Evan Gershkovich, Alexander Nevzorov, Dmitry Gordon, Marina Ovsyannikova Organizations: CNN, Novosti, Forbes Russia, Russian Armed Forces, Mingazov’s, Kremlin, Khabarovsk territory’s, Armed Forces, Russian Federation, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Wall Street Locations: Russian, Bucha, Ukraine, ”, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Russia, Khabarovsk, Radio Free Europe

☆ I got offers from Microsoft, Meta, and Google. Here's why I chose Google.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A recent tech grad received offers from Google, Meta, and Microsoft. Meta initially offered $210,700 in total compensation, but Google offered other appealing benefits. Right as I was about to accept my offer from Meta, Google let me know that they found a match for me. I would have chosen Google either wayIf Google didn't increase its total compensation offer, I would've had a really tough decision to make. Before college and working in tech, Google was a name that stood out to me.

Persons: —, FANG, Meta, would've Organizations: Google, Microsoft, Meta, Service, Facebook, Netflix

☆ A Delta Boeing 767 made an emergency landing after its exit slide fell off midair
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Delta flight from NYC to LA had to turn back after its emergency exit slide detached. AdvertisementA Boeing plane was forced to make an emergency landing on Friday after an emergency slide fell off the aircraft. The Delta spokesperson said the airline was "fully supporting retrieval efforts and will fully cooperate in investigations." In a second statement, Delta said that the incident set off an emergency alarm. AdvertisementDelta Airlines 767-332ER makes emergency return to John F. Kennedy International Airport after losing its right-hand side emergency slide.

Persons: —, Delta, John F, Flexport, Max Organizations: Boeing, Service, Delta Air Lines, New York's JFK, Delta, Kennedy, Airport, Breaking Aviation, JFK, Business, Federal Aviation Administration, Air Lines, Kennedy International, FAA, Alaska Airlines Locations: NYC, LA, JFK, New York's, New York, Portland , Oregon

☆ Old, unused, and 'twisty' — meet the obscure NY election-conspiracy law that just might get Trump convicted
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Attorneys specializing in state election law believe the statute has never been prosecuted. Jeenah Moon-Pool/Getty ImagesTwo highly respected law professors specializing in New York election law said the same. "I think it's very smart of prosecutors to use this state law, whether it's been used before or not," said Jeffrey M. Wice, who teaches state election law at New York Law School. Related storiesThese same three "underlying crimes" — using state election law, federal election law, and state tax law — were again given equal prominence here in a February 15 decision by Merchan. "You're having an underlying crime within an underlying crime to get to that felony," Connor told BI.

Persons: Alvin Bragg's, Trump, —, Donald Trump's, Donald Trump, Law Trump, Stormy Daniels, Joshua Steinglass, Juan Merchan, Steinglass, I've, Sen, Martin Connor, Joseph T, Burns, that's, it's, Jeffrey M, Wice, — Merchan, Alvin K, Trump's, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Michael Cohen, Daniels, Cohen, Connor, Prosecutors, Jerry H, he's, Goldfeder, Cozen O'Connor Organizations: Service, Manhattan, New York, Court, New, Republican, Democratic NY, Erie, Erie County Republican, New York Law School, Attorney, National Enquirer, Trump, Fordham Law, Democracy Locations: Manhattan, New York, Brooklyn, Erie County, Buffalo , New York

☆ Opinion: Trump attorney gives David Pecker an embarrassing courtroom apology
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Indeed, Bove was forced to apologize to Pecker in front of the jury to open the day. Bove got Pecker to concede that the National Enquirer did “catch and kill” stories to bury damaging information about high-profile people all the time. Bove also contrasted Pecker’s testimony with what was in the FBI notes of Pecker’s first 2018 interview with the feds. And Bove intimated that Pecker cannot directly connect Trump to the allegedly illegal payments then-Trump fixer Michael Cohen made to Daniels at a later date. As for Trump’s recognition of yours truly, it happened again as he left the courtroom Friday for the mid-day break.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Trump, Donald Trump, David Pecker, Norm Eisen, Emil Bove, Bove, Stormy Daniels, —, Juan Merchan, Bove’s, Pecker, Daniels, Hope Hicks, Merchan, Trump’s, ” Merchan, blunting, Pecker’s, Michael Cohen Organizations: CNN, Trump, National Enquirer, White House Communications, Twitter Locations: New York, Manhattan, Washington, York, —, Trump

☆ 'Nobody's getting wealthy on Social Security,' lawmaker says. The November election may influence the program's future
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Protect Social Security!" In 1983, when the last major Social Security reforms were enacted, there were no benefit enhancements, Larson argued. Today, annual earnings of up to $168,600 are subject to a 6.2% payroll tax toward Social Security paid by both workers and employers. Larson's plan also calls for closing loopholes that allow wealthy taxpayers to avoid paying Social Security taxes on other income. Larson said the public is well aware that Social Security benefits are theirs and they've paid for them.

Persons: Kean, Dave Kotinsky, Larson, they've, John Larson, Conn, Mark Wilson, Nancy Altman, Drew Ferguson, Ferguson, Jodey Arrington, Charles Blahous, Blahous Organizations: Getty, hasn't, Social Security, Security, Social, Capitol, Democratic, Republican, Republican House, Republicans, George Mason University Locations: Bridgewater , New Jersey, Jan, Georgia, Texas

☆ Republican Party asks Secret Service to keep protesters further away from where convention is set to take place
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Shania Shelton | Daniel Strauss | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Republican National Committee is asking the Secret Service to keep protesters farther back from the July convention in Milwaukee than is currently planned. Alexi Worley, spokesperson for the Secret Service, said in a statement that the agency is “not formally in receipt of the letter” and will “respond through appropriate channels” if it receives one. “The operational security plan for national special security events, to include the 2024 Republican National Convention, is developed and approved through an executive steering committee made up of representatives from the Secret Service, as well as supporting federal, state, and local agencies,” Worley said. The RNC announced in 2022 it would host this year’s convention in Milwaukee, and the city’s Democratic mayor, Cavalier Johnson, dismissed security concerns at the time. “Our police department is well-versed, and I think they are prepared for the convention,” Johnson said in 2022, noting that Milwaukee was supposed to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention before it switched to a virtual format amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Persons: Todd Steggerda, …, Kimberly Cheatle, Alexi Worley, ” Worley, Cavalier Johnson, ” Johnson, Samantha Waldenberg Organizations: CNN, Republican National, Service, Secret, Republican National Convention, RNC, Democratic, Convention Locations: Milwaukee, Milwaukee’s, detainments

☆ The red flags that will tell us when China's actually ready to invade Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"I don't think they lack for anything that they need," Lyle Goldstein, director of Asia engagement at Defense Priorities, said of China's forces. Military forces are being deployed nearer to Taiwan than ever, effectively shortening Taiwan's reaction time. Stockpiling of China's rocket force, too, suggests it would have more than enough missiles and rockets to target Taiwan. One common concern is that as China's military exercises around Taiwan have grown in frequency and size, the line between exercise and potential attack is becoming blurred. Xie Huanchi/Xinhua via Getty ImagesExperts, as well as US and Taiwan lawmakers and military officials, have long debated about the readiness of the People's Liberation Army as China's military is known.

Persons: —, Lyle Goldstein, Stringer China, Xi, Thomas Shugart, who's, Shugart, Goldstein, Mike Studeman, Xi Jinping, Dean Cheng, haven't, Cheng, Xie Huanchi, There's, Kyle Amonson, Dane Egli, Annabelle Chih, Getty Images Goldstein, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Business, Defense, REUTERS, Taiwan's, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense, US Department of Defense, China Economic, Security, PLA, Patriot, US, Center, New, New American Security, Marine Corps, China Coast Guard, Scarborough, ROSA, Military, of Naval Intelligence, Pacific Command, US Institute of Peace, of, People, Getty Images, People's Liberation Army, CCP, Soviet, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Japan, US Coast Guard, Chinese Communist Party, Democratic Progressive Party, Kyodo, Stills Locations: China, Taiwan, Asia, Liaoning, Beijing, New American, AFP, Hong Kong, Xinhua, DoD's China, Cuba, US, Tainan, Japan, Philippines

☆ Fact check: Trump’s false courthouse claims about his trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Here’s a fact check of four of the claims he made about the trial. (For this particular article, we’ll leave aside the false claims he made in the courthouse about a variety of other subjects.) It is an armed camp to keep people away.” And he said in comments inside the courthouse on Thursday: “This courthouse is locked down; there’s not a person within five blocks.”Facts First: Trump’s claims are all false. Facts First: As he has before, Trump made Merchan’s gag order sound far broader than it is. The gag order does not prohibit Trump from declaring the case a sham or from sharing others’ claims that the case is a sham.

Persons: Donald Trump, Here’s, we’ll, Trump, it’s, Michael Cohen’s, Michael Cohen “, ” Cohen, “, ”, Cohen, Trump’s, ” Trump, Judge Juan Merchan’s, Merchan, you’re, “ I’m, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Bragg, Biden, Alvin Bragg’s, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo Organizations: Washington CNN, New York Times, Trump, CNN, Monday, Republican, Intelligence, Manhattan, Attorney, Biden, Justice Department Locations: Lower Manhattan, Moscow, Russia, ”, Manhattan, York’s

☆ Columbia student protestors are demanding ‘divestment.’ Here’s what the university has divested from in the past
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Clare Duffy | Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Columbia University Apartheid Divest submitted a formal proposal to the committee for withdrawing investments related to Israel in December, which has yet to yield success. Students at Columbia College, the university’s undergraduate school, voted to support the divestment proposal last week. Heading a nationwide South Africa divestment movementCurrently, Columbia lists five areas where it refrains from investing: tobacco, private prison operations, thermal coal, Sudan and fossil fuels — all decisions that were made in the past decade. In April 1985, students led a three-week student demonstration against Columbia’s investments in South Africa, the New York Times reported at the time. Pete Seeger, right, speaks to the crowd at Columbia University as hundreds of students continued to protest the school's ties to South Africa, April 8, 1985.

Persons: ” Israel, Catherine Elias, Daniel Armstrong, “, ” Armstrong, Pete Seeger, Frankie Ziths, G4S, Karla Ann Cote, divests, ”, Savannah Pearson, Michael Cusack Organizations: New, New York CNN, Columbia University, Columbia University Apartheid, —, Columbia, Columbia College, CNN, Coalition, New York Times, American Express, Ford, Ivy League, University of California, Johns Hopkins University, University of North, Corrections Corporation of America, Library, “, Columbia’s, Trustees, Columbia’s Teachers College Locations: New York, Gaza, Palestine, Columbia, Vietnam, Upper Manhattan, Israel, South Africa, Sudan, Los Angeles, Chevron, Berkeley, University of North Carolina, Hill, South, United States

Mr. Pecker was also asked whether he believed Mr. Trump was concerned that his wife or family would find out about the affairs. director, and Reince Priebus, who was chairman of the Republican National Committee, Mr. Pecker reassured Mr. Trump that everything was fine. Mr. Trump then told the group that Mr. Pecker probably “knows more than anyone else in this room.”“It was a joke,” Mr. Pecker testified, adding, “They didn’t laugh.”Pecker did a lot for Trump, who could be hard to please. Mr. Pecker variously described Mr. Trump as becoming “very angry” and “very aggravated.”Still, Mr. Pecker said he felt no ill will. Mr. Pecker described a 2002 meeting in which Mr. Schwarzenegger asked Mr. Pecker not to run negative stories about him before his run for governor of California.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump, David Pecker, Pecker, Karen McDougal, Daniels, McDougal, Trump’s, Michael D, Cohen, Marion Curtis, “, Mr, McDougal —, —, ” Mr, ”, Ahmed Gaber, James Comey, Reince Priebus, ” Pecker, Emil Bove, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Schwarzenegger Organizations: National Enquirer, AMI, ., Associated, Prosecutors, Trump, White, The New York Times, Republican National Committee, Mr, Republican Locations: Trump’s, California

☆ CEOs of OpenAI, Google and Microsoft to join other tech leaders on federal AI safety panel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —The US government has asked leading artificial intelligence companies for advice on how to use the technology they are creating to defend airlines, utilities and other critical infrastructure, particularly from AI-powered attacks. The Department of Homeland Security said Friday that the panel it’s creating will include CEOs from some of the world’s largest companies and industries. The list includes Google chief executive Sundar Pichai, Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, but also the head of defense contractors such as Northrop Grumman and air carrier Delta Air Lines. It also includes federal, state and local government officials, as well as leading academics in AI such as Fei-Fei Li, co-director of Stanford University’s Human-centered Artificial Intelligence Institute. The US government already uses machine learning or artificial intelligence for more than 200 distinct purposes, such as monitoring volcano activity, tracking wildfires and identifying wildlife from satellite imagery.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Sam Altman, Northrop Grumman, ”, Alejandro Mayorkas, Fei Li, Joe Biden Organizations: Washington CNN, Department of Homeland Security, Google, Microsoft, Delta Air Lines, DHS, “, Amazon Web Services, IBM, Cisco, ’, Civil, Stanford, Intelligence, Safety, Security

☆ Federal Student Aid head Richard Cordray, tasked with FAFSA rollout, to step down
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Katie Lobosco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —The head of the Federal Student Aid office, which has faced criticism for the botched rollout of this year’s college financial aid form, will be stepping down. The announcement of Cordray’s departure comes as his office has been under fire for problems with a new version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, released late last year. “If there was a financial aid director, or even a college president, that delayed financial aid on their campus for up to six months, the professional price that would be paid for that would be pretty steep,” Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, told lawmakers. Cordray’s tenureAs the head of FSA, Cordray oversaw not only the FAFSA but also the entire $1.6 trillion federal student loan system. It also sued Navient, one of the biggest federal student loan servicers, for allegedly processing payments incorrectly.

Persons: Richard Cordray, Cordray, Justin Draeger, Virginia Foxx, Miguel Cardona, Cordray’s, Rich Cordray’s, ” Cardona, “, Rich, Obama, ” Cordray, Pell, Biden, Trump, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren —, Navient, “ I’m, ” Warren Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal, Aid, CNN, Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, Education, Workforce, National Association of Student Financial, Republican Rep, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Democratic, National College, of Education, Public, Consumer Financial, Massachusetts, Corinthian Colleges Locations: North Carolina, Ohio

☆ Biden says he’s happy to debate Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Kevin Liptak | Betsy Klein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden said he will debate former President Donald Trump ahead of this year’s election, the clearest declaration yet of his willingness to face-off with his Republican rival before voters cast ballots in November. I don’t know when,” Biden said when asked by interviewer Howard Stern whether he planned to debate his predecessor. “I’m happy to debate him.”It’s the first time Biden has said explicitly he would debate Trump in this election cycle. Some of Biden’s aides have questioned whether Trump would abide by established rules in any potential debate, and before Friday his campaign hadn’t set out any specific debate plan. Biden had responded to Trump’s calls for earlier debates in February, telling reporters: “If I were him, I’d want him to debate me, too.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Still, Biden, “, ” Biden, Howard Stern, ”, Trump, Biden’s, hadn’t, I’d, He’s, Trump’s, Chris LaCivita, Stern, Jeff Zients, Karine Jean, Pierre, Ben LaBolt, Stern pontificated, haven’t, Jeb, George W, Bush, Neilia Hunter, –, ‘, ’ ” Stern, you’ve, it’s, Biden misspoke, “ Trump, “ Nixon ”, Sen, Barack Obama, Jill Biden, you’ll, ’, you’re Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican, ABC News, Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, SPAN, Fox News, NBC, Univision, NPR, PBS, USA, Republican National, White, “ Locations: Texas , Virginia, Utah, Nassau, Delaware, Scranton

☆ Final Trades: Netflix, JPMorgan Nasdaq ETF, Delta & Leidos
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFinal Trades: Netflix, JPMorgan Nasdaq ETF, Delta & LeidosThe Investment Committee gives you their top stocks to watch for the second half.

Organizations: Netflix, JPMorgan Nasdaq, Delta, Investment

☆ Andrew Cuomo agrees to testify to Congress on Covid-19 nursing home advisory
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Jake Tapper | Piper Hudspethblackburn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Andrew Cuomo, after being subpoenaed last month, has agreed to testify to Congress about his controversial nursing home advisory from the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rep. Brad Wenstrup told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Friday. Cuomo has insisted that advisory was consistent with guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, his upcoming appearance before lawmakers is a sign of continuing scrutiny over his handling of long-term care facilities during the pandemic. The voluntary agreement means that Cuomo will participate with a transcribed interview rather than a deposition. Wenstrup told Tapper on Friday that the panel will also hear from Cuomo’s former secretary Melissa DeRosa and former commissioner of the New York State Department of Health Dr. Howard Zucker.

Persons: Andrew Cuomo, Brad Wenstrup, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “ Governor Cuomo, ” Wenstrup, “ I’m, Cuomo, Wenstrup, Rich Azzopardi, “, Letitia James, New York State Department of Health undercounted, Thomas DiNapoli, Tapper, CNN’s KFile, Melissa DeRosa, Howard Zucker, James ’, CNN’s Veronica Stracqualursi, Kaanita Iyer Organizations: CNN, Former New York Gov, Ohio Republican, Democratic, Centers, Medicare, Services, Centers for Disease Control, New York, New York State Department of Health Locations: ”

☆ Middle East Crisis Army Begins Work on Floating Pier Meant to Get More Aid to Gaza, U.S. Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Helene Cooper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] More than 200 aid workers have been killed in the war in Gaza, according to the United Nations. Weeks before the World Central Kitchen strike, a logistics coordinator for another American aid group called ANERA returned home after distributing supplies. Mousa Shawa was still wearing his ANERA vest when an Israeli strike hit the house, killing him; his 6-year-old son, Kareem; and several neighbors. “We’ve seen tracers going towards the sea.” At this shelter on January 8, the aid group said a projectile was fired through the building, killing a 5-year-old girl. What went wrong in the deconfliction system is still not clear to the aid group.

Persons: “, misclassification, It’s, ANERA, Shawa, Kareem, Mousa, Dua, they’d, they’ve, —, ” Israel, Israel Organizations: Central Kitchen, Washington , D.C, Israel Defense Forces, United Nations, The Times, Hamas, Times, Munitions, Sky News, International Rescue Committee, Aid, “ Locations: Washington ,, Gaza, Israel, Israeli, ANERA, British, U.S

☆ Committee's standout stocks this week: Vertiv, NXP, Palantir and Matterport
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCommittee's standout stocks this week: Vertiv, NXP, Palantir and MatterportThe Investment Committee discuss some of their standout stocks this week.

Organizations: Investment

☆ IRS free tax filing pilot processed more than 140,000 returns, saved consumers $5.6 million in prep fees
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel testifies during the Senate Finance Committee hearing on the fiscal 2024 IRS budget and the IRS' 2023 filing season, in the Dirksen Building in Washington, D.C., on April 19, 2023. This season, more than 140,000 taxpayers successfully filed returns using IRS Direct File, a free tax filing pilot from the IRS, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS. The program fully opened for certain taxpayers in 12 states in early March and saved filers an estimated $5.6 million in tax preparation fees for federal returns, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told reporters on a press call. Direct File surveyed more than 15,000 users and some 90% rated their experience as "excellent," the agencies reported. The IRS plans to release a more detailed report about the Direct File pilot "in the coming days," he added.

Persons: Danny Werfel, Werfel Organizations: Senate, IRS, Washington , D.C, U.S . Department of, Treasury, Finance Locations: Washington ,

☆ Aya Nakamura: The most streamed female Francophone artist has become a target in France’s culture wars ahead of Paris 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Bea Adeleke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Aya Nakamura was born in the former French colony of Mali, raised in France and is widely considered the most streamed female Francophone artist in the world. However, ahead of Paris 2024, Nakamura finds herself at the center of France’s culture wars. Aya Nakamura attends the Kenzo Menswear Fall-Winter 2023-2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 20, 2023 in Paris, France. “I think that the people who criticize her actually don’t accept that she embodies France,” French activist Rokhaya Diallo told CNN. Politicians such as Le Pen hailed the legislation as an “ideological victory” whilst French health Minister, Aurelien Rousseau resigned in protest.

Persons: Aya Nakamura, Nakamura, Edith Piaf, Piaf, “, ”, I’m, Rachida, Kenzo, Pascal Le Segretain, Marion Maréchal, Marine Le, Rokhaya Diallo, ” Nakamura, ’, le, Geoffroy Van Der, Emanuel Macron, Nakamura “, Le Pen, Vincent Martigny, Thomas Samson, Marion Marechal, Emmanuel Dunand, Martigny, Diallo, Zinedine Zidane, ” Diallo, ‘, Oliver Roy, Reynaud Julien, Macron, Aurelien Rousseau Organizations: CNN, France’s, of Culture, Rally, Blacks, Rassemblement National, Getty, Olympic Aquatics, France Inter, Science, University of Nice, National Assembly, soccer team, Paris Olympic, Le, Palais des Sports, EUI, of Transnational Governance, Twitter, APS, France, BMFTV, RMC Locations: Mali, France, French, Paris, Bamako, Europe, ”, Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt, AFP, Rassemblement, Ukraine, North, Carhaix

☆ Newly minted RNC chair Lara Trump says they've got lawsuits cooking in 81 states. There are 50 states.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Advertisement"We have lawsuits in 81 states right now," Trump told Bolling. "Maybe there are 81 states in the future and she's a time traveler," an X user named Mike Freeman said in a post. AdvertisementLate-night host Jimmy Kimmel couldn't resist mocking Lara Trump either when he referenced the moment in his monologue on Wednesday night. "In 81 states! Last week, she fired back when a viewer questioned her intellect on her podcast, "The Right View with Lara Trump."

Persons: —, Lara Trump, — who's, Donald Trump's, Eric —, we're, Eric Bolling, Jocelyn Benson, Trump, Bolling, 3vZ8mRYvgE —, Mike Freeman, Jimmy Kimmel, they're, Kimmel, Donald Trump, Michael Whatley, Lara, MAGA, hasn't, Lara Trump's Organizations: Service, Republican National, RNC, Business, South Virginia ., North, North Carolina GOP Locations: Tennessee, . West Dakota, South Virginia, South Virginia . Indiana, North Carolina

☆ Columbia’s University Senate Calls for an Investigation Into the Administration
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Stephanie Saul | Anna Betts | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Columbia University’s senate voted on Friday to approve a resolution that called for an investigation into the school’s leadership, accusing the administration of violating established protocols, undermining academic freedom, jeopardizing free inquiry and breaching the due process rights of both students and professors. The university’s president, Nemat Shafik, has been under attack for her decision last week to summon the New York Police Department to campus, resulting in the arrest of more than 100 student protesters, and for her earlier congressional testimony, in which professors accused her of capitulating to the demands of congressional Republicans over free speech and the disciplining of students and professors. The resolution, adopted by a vote of 62-14, with three abstentions, fell short of a proposal earlier in the week to censure Dr. Shafik, which many senators worried could be perceived as yielding to Republican lawmakers who had called for her resignation over her handling of antisemitism claims. The senate resolution was based partly on a damaging report by the senate executive committee, which accused Dr. Shafik’s administration of engaging in “many actions and decisions that have harmed” the institution — including the hiring of an “aggressive” private investigation firm.

Persons: Nemat Shafik, capitulating, Shafik, Shafik’s Organizations: Columbia, New York Police Department, Republicans

☆ Trump's team wants to restructure the Fed and let him have a say on interest rate decisions: WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Some members of Trump's team want to restructure the Federal Reserve, the WSJ reported. That could include allowing the president to have a direct say on interest rate decisions. Trump has previously been critical of Powell's handling of interest rates during the pandemic. To help the Fed achieve its 2% inflation target, the Federal Open Market Committee has hiked interest rates 11 consecutive times since March 2022. Advertisement"I think he's going to do something to probably help the Democrats, I think, if he lowers interest rates," Trump said, adding that "it looks to me like he's trying to lower interest rates for the sake of maybe getting people elected."

Persons: Jerome Powell, —, Donald Trump, Trump, President Trump, Susie Wiles, Chris LaCivita, Powell, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Joe Biden, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Biden Organizations: Federal Reserve, Service, Street, Trump, Management, Federal, Fed, Fox News, Republican, Florida Gov, South Carolina Gov, Biden, GOP Locations: New York

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