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☆ Bank Regulator Overseeing ‘Toxic’ Culture Loses Key Supporter in Senate
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Emily Flitter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

He called for Mr. Biden to nominate a successor and for the Senate to quickly confirm that person, who could then take over for Mr. Gruenberg. “There must be fundamental changes at the F.D.I.C.,” Mr. Brown said. “Those changes begin with new leadership, who must fix the agency’s toxic culture and put the women and men who work there — and their mission — first.”An F.D.I.C. spokesman declined to comment. Since then, Mr. Gruenberg has faced some calls to resign from members of both political parties who said they felt he had played too big a role in shaping the agency’s culture in recent years, including by making the agency’s staff fear communicating with him.

Persons: Sherrod Brown of, Biden, Martin Gruenberg, Brown, Gruenberg, ” Mr, Cleary Gottlieb Organizations: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Banking Committee, Senate, Mr, Street Locations: Sherrod Brown of Ohio

☆ The Mrs. defense: powerful men blaming their wives
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag,” Alito said in a written statement to The New York Times, which first reported the story this week. A Supreme Court justice being unmasked as having a partisan tilt wouldn’t be illegal – just awkward and icky. Shannon Stapleton/ReutersCouples behaving badlyFormer Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, pioneered the Mrs. defense when he and his wife were both accused of funneling campaign funds for private use. A unanimous US Supreme Court, including Alito, later vacated the governor’s conviction and narrowed the scope by which prosecutors can pursue bribery allegations. The Mrs. defense could conceivably be turned on its head and used by a powerful woman to blame her husband.

Persons: Samuel Alito doesn’t, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Alito, “, ” Alito, Ann, Alito won’t, Clarence Thomas ’, Ginni, Thomas, Menendez ‘, Sen, Bob Menendez, Nadine, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Menendez’s, Shannon Stapleton, Duncan Hunter, Margaret, Trump, Henry Cuellar, Imelda, ”, . Cuellar, Jesse Jackson Jr, Sandra, Bob McDonnell, Maureen, Cori Bush, Bush, Kim Taylor, Jeremy Taylor Organizations: CNN, New York Times, House, New, New Jersey Democrat, California Republican, Texas Democrat, Illinois Democrat, Former Virginia Gov, Republican, Missouri Democrat, Supervisors Locations: New Jersey, New York, Manhattan, New York City, California, Texas, Illinois, Missouri, Washington, Iowa, Woodbury County

CNN —Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett criticized Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, calling her “racist,” following a tense House Oversight markup Thursday evening that quickly devolved into personal attacks. Speaking to reporters on Friday about the incident, Crockett said, “That’s all it is, it is racism. After a series of votes in response to Greene’s explosive rhetoric, Crockett made a dig that appeared to be directed at the Republican. Crockett said on Friday that Greene is unserious and does not respect the process. The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Jamie Raskin, said that House Republicans’ behavior “brought disgrace to the whole institution,” criticizing Greene’s conduct in the hearing.

Persons: Jasmine Crockett, Marjorie Taylor Greene, General Merrick Garland, Joe Biden’s, Robert Hur, Greene, ” Greene, Crockett, “, can’t “, Judge Juan Merchan, Donald Trump, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, “ I’m, ” Crockett, doesn’t, we’re, MAGA, ”, I’m, Tim Burchett, butch, ’, Jamie Raskin, Greene’s Organizations: CNN — Democratic, Republican, Georgia Republican, CNN, Republicans, Trump, Democrats, Democratic, New York Democrat, Democrat Locations: Georgia, New York, Texas, Alexandria

☆ House Democrat presses oil CEOs for details of Trump's fundraising dinner at Mar-a-Lago
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Josephine Rozzelle | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) speaks during a House Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on September 28, 2023. The House Oversight Committee's top Democrat asked oil executives to reveal whether former President Donald Trump had proposed a "quid-pro-quo" arrangement to them at a recent Florida fundraising dinner, according to letters released Tuesday by Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md. The letters arose from a Washington Post report that Trump hosted the executives for dinner Apr. "You all are wealthy enough," Trump reportedly told the assembled guests. Raskin asked the executives to provide descriptions of any discussions related to policy proposals or campaign finance they had at the dinner, as well as any efforts by the CEOs' respective companies to support Trump's campaign.

Persons: Jamie Raskin, Donald Trump, Trump, Raskin Organizations: Capitol, Democrat, Washington Post, Mar, Biden Locations: Washington ,, Florida, Gulf of Mexico

☆ From senators to a dog killer: A power ranking of Trump's potential vice presidents
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump is entering the final stretch in his vice presidential selection process. So with that in mind, here's Business Insider's initial vice presidential power rankings. He's a former presidential candidate himself, a fact many recent vice presidential nominees share (though Trump ignored that in 2016). Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy: Ramaswamy staked out the most pro-Trump territory of any GOP presidential hopeful. Having never held elected office, the Roivant Sciences founder would have one of the least conventional resumes of any recent major party vice presidential nominee.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, —, I'm, Sen, Tim Scott of, TIMOTHY A, CLARY, Scott, He's, Larry Ellison, we've, Doug Burgum, North Dakota Ethan Miller, Kevin Cramer, haven't, Pence, Burgum, Dakotan, Marco Rubio, Joe Raedle, Florida Rubio, Rubio, Rubio isn't, Politifact, Elise Stefanik, Chip Somodevilla, New York Stefanik, Stefanik, Liz Cheney, isn't, it's, Biden, Mike Johnson's, JD Vance, Ohio Republican Andrew Harnik, Ohio Vance, Vance, Mike Pence, Byron Donalds of, Donalds, Kevin McCarthy's, Mike Johnson, hasn't, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, Tulsi Gabbard, Gabbard, Jr's, there's, Ben Carson, Carson, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin, Rupert Murdoch, Kristi Noem Organizations: Service, Republican, Time Magazine, Republican Party, Getty, Oracle, CNBC, Black Republican, Reconstruction, Trump, GOP, Gov, North Dakota Burgum's, Democrat, LBJ, Microsoft, Ohio Republican, Roivant Sciences, Democratic, RFK, South Dakota Gov Locations: Milwaukee, Nebraska, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Iowa, North Dakota, Marco Rubio of Florida, New York, Wyoming, Ohio, Byron Donalds of Florida, Trump, Hawaii, Michigan, Virginia

☆ Rep. Henry Cuellar's indictment has the GOP comparing him to George Santos. Here's what to know about the Texas Democrat's bribery scandal.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The growing scandal is drawing some comparisons on the right to George Santos. AdvertisementRep. Henry Cuellar is in the midst of a growing bribery scandal involving Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank. Cuellar is the third sitting lawmaker to be indicted this Congress, following former Republican Rep. George Santos of New York and Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New York. AdvertisementThe George Santos comparisonIt's only been a few days, but so far, Democrats have largely held off on calling for Cuellar to resign. Former Rep. George Santos at the State of the Union in March.

Persons: Henry Cuellar, George Santos, —, Cuellar, Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez, Santos, Cuellar's, Jessica Cisneros, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Bernie Sanders, That's, Hakeem Jeffries, Matt McClain, Getty Images Santos, don't, Donald Trump, Joe Biden Organizations: Democratic, Service, Justice, Texas Democrat, Republican Rep, George Santos of New, New, State Oil Company, Banco Azteca, Democrat, National Rifle Association, Rep, FBI, Republicans, State, Union, Washington, Getty Images, Botox Locations: Henry Cuellar of Texas, Azerbaijan, Mexican, George Santos of, George Santos of New York, New York, Texas, Azerbaijan Republic, Alexandria

☆ The economy needs to take one of these 2 paths before the Fed cuts interest rates, Powell says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The labor market has continued to be strong, dampening any urgency the Fed might have to cut rates. AdvertisementThe Fed's decision to hold rates steady prompted some pushback from Democratic lawmakers who are worried that continued high rates will hurt Americans. "The Fed must remember its dual mandate and avoid keeping these rates too high for too long," Boyle said. And he won't risk easing up on the Fed's restrictive policy too early. Advertisement"We believe it is restrictive, and we believe over time it will be sufficiently restrictive," Powell said.

Persons: —, Jerome Powell, Powell, We've, we're, Julia Pollak, Brendan Boyle, Boyle, he's Organizations: Service, Federal, Market Committee, Business, Fed, Democratic, Rep

☆ How the House GOP’s Biden impeachment effort fell apart
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Annie Grayer | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

“To me, success is impeachment from the House,” GOP Rep. Brian Mast said. Comer’s co-leads, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, are also fully behind the work. I don’t think that’s an impeachable offense,” GOP Rep. Jodey Arrington said. Even GOP Rep. Darrell Issa remarked after the first hour of questioning that Hunter Biden was prepared for the interview. There’s an election in seven months from now,” GOP Rep. Nick LaLota, who represents a New York district Biden won in 2020, told CNN.

Persons: James Comer, Joe Biden, –, Comer, Biden, “ Comer, Jesus, Alejandro Mayorkas, Comer –, “, Anna Paulina Luna –, Hunter Biden, it’s, ” Luna, ”, missteps, Brian Mast, Mike Johnson, Comer’s, Jim Jordan, Jason Smith, ” Johnson, Steve Scalise, Elise Stefanik, Kevin McCarthy, ” Bruce Dubinsky, McCarthy, Samuel Corum, Johnson, Jodey Arrington, Darrell Issa, …, Doug LaMalfa, Mayorkas, Tony Gonzales, Austin Scott, ” Comer, Donald Trump, Jordan, doesn’t, There’s, Nick LaLota, Jamie Raskin, Raskin Organizations: Washington CNN —, Republican, CNN, Kentucky Republican, Homeland, Biden, GOP, Republicans, Getty, White, Democratic, ”, Department of Justice Locations: Kentucky, ”, Washington , DC, –, Texas, New York

I think providing aid to Ukraine right now is critically important,” the speaker added. House TVThe speaker’s embrace of Ukraine aid represents a remarkable evolution for Johnson, who voted against funding for the country as a rank-and-file member. Johnson drags his feetJohnson did not come to his decision on how to handle foreign aid quickly. “Slow,” New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said when asked how Johnson handled Ukraine aid. In recent weeks, allies counseled Johnson to keep the former president in the loop on his potential foreign aid plans.

Persons: Manu Raju ”, Johnson, Mike Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, Jeffries, Taiwan –, Michael McCaul, “, ” Johnson, Derrick Van Orden, Matt Gaetz, ”, Johnson –, Kevin McCarthy, –, Joe Biden, Donald Trump’s, Mike Pompeo, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Bill Burns, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ” Jeffries, Biden, Mitch McConnell, Gregory Meeks, Patrick McHenry of, Trump, Johnson’s, ” Trump, Eli Crane, McCarthy, Bob Good, Johnson “, Greene, Al Green, Van Orden, Gaetz, I’m, ” Van Orden, Chip Roy’s, Bob Good’s, Kent Nishimura, Paul Gosar, Johnson’s speakership, We’re, we’ve, Tom Cole of, ” Cole, “ There’s, Warren Davidson, CNN’s Haley Talbot, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: GOP, CNN, Democratic, Louisiana Republican, Foreign, ”, Florida Republican, Senate, Republican, Ukraine, CIA, Naval Academy, Israel, Internal Revenue Service, New York Rep, House Foreign Affairs, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, Lago, Arizona, Democratic Rep, Navy, Navy Seals, Wisconsin Republican, Capitol, Democrats, Republicans, GOP Rep, ” Veteran GOP Locations: Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Washington, Louisiana, Taiwan, Florida, American, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Patrick McHenry of North, Iranian, Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, House, Arizona, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Ohio

☆ House Democrats keep options open as effort to oust Johnson grows
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Lauren Fox | Kristin Wilson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

He’d let Putin take all of Europe,” Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz said on CNN after Massie announced Tuesday he’d join Greene in her effort to oust Johnson. “Let’s just hope that that does not happen, and that we can do our responsibilities, protect and defend our own democracy as we protect theirs,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “If Speaker Johnson wants to talk to Hakeem Jeffries, I think we’d be open to something like that. If only a handful of Republicans vote to oust Johnson, only a handful of Democrats would be needed to step in and help him keep his job. And that is where Democrats would have to decide if they’d help Johnson.

Persons: Mike Johnson, institutionalists, Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, Kevin McCarthy, Israel, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie, He’d, Putin, Jared Moskowitz, Massie, he’d, Greene, Tom Suozzi, Johnson –, “ Let’s, Nancy Pelosi, “, Johnson’s, Sara Jacobs, ”, Jeffries, hypotheticals, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, –, Chuck Schumer, ’ –, Alejandro Mayorkas –, wouldn’t, Ann Kuster, Mike Gallagher, they’d, ‘, ’ Jeffries, Gerry Connolly, “ It’s, Rosa DeLauro, We’ve, can’t, “ We’ve, Jamie Raskin, Jim Himes, “ Gerry, ” Himes Organizations: CNN — House, Democratic, Union, ”, CNN, New York Democratic, Republicans, California Democratic, Florida Rep, White, Foreign Intelligence, of Homeland, GOP, ” New Hampshire Democratic, Republican Rep, Louisiana Republican, Republican, Maryland Democratic, House Intelligence Locations: Israel, Europe, ” Florida, California, Ukraine, Louisiana, Haiti, Sudan, Gaza, “, Connecticut

☆ House Speaker Mike Johnson says he will push for aid to Israel and Ukraine this week
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, waits to speak during a news conference after a closed-door House Republican caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on February 29, 2024. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday he will try to advance wartime aid for Israel this week as he attempts the difficult task of winning House approval for a national security package that also includes funding for Ukraine and allies in Asia. Johnson told Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures" that he and Republicans "understand the necessity of standing with Israel" and he would try this week to advance the aid. Meanwhile, senior GOP lawmakers who support aid to Ukraine are growing frustrated with the months-long wait to bring it to the House floor. "We pass the Senate bill, it goes straight to the president's desk and you start getting the aid to Ukraine immediately.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Israel, Mike Turner of Ohio, Biden, John Kirby, Kirby, Donald Trump, Trump, he's, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, Turner, Gregory Meeks, Henry Cuellar Organizations: Republican, Capitol, Sunday, Fox, GOP, House Intelligence, Natural Gas, White House, NBC, Ukraine, White, Trump, Republicans, Washington, Senate, Democrats, House Foreign Affairs, Texas Democrat Locations: Louisiana, Washington , DC, Israel, Ukraine, Asia, U.S, Gaza, Taiwan, Iran, Mexico, White, Florida, Georgia, Russia, United States, Texas

☆ CIA refutes whistleblower claim pushed by Republicans leading Biden impeachment inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —House Republicans leading the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden were dealt their latest blow this week when the CIA informed them that an allegation they pushed was false, the latest example of House Republicans citing questionable information to make a serious claim. But the CIA has refuted that claim in a letter obtained first by CNN that was sent to Jordan and Comer. House Republicans are pushing back on the refutation. “I’ve made a document production in conjunction with the grand jury investigation,” Morris testified in his closed-door interview with Republicans conducting the inquiry in January. Republicans have raised questions about why Morris lent the president’s son millions of dollars and have sought to connect him to their impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hunter Biden’s, undercutting, James Comer, Jim Jordan, Hunter Biden, Comer, Congressional Affairs James A, Catella, Russell Dye, Jamie Raskin, ” Raskin, Kevin Morris, Hunter, Morris, “ I’ve, ” Morris, “, ”, Biden, Gary Shapley, CNN’s Paula Reid Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, CIA, Republican, Department of Justice, FBI, IRS, CNN, “, Congressional Affairs, Republicans, Democrat Locations: Jordan, Delaware

WASHINGTON (AP) — For over a month, House Speaker Mike Johnson has sat on a funding package that would send desperately needed ammunition and weaponry to Ukraine, mulling how best to gain a grasp of what is expected to be a difficult lift in the House. The Republican speaker has indicated he will attempt to push for approval of tens of billions in wartime funding for Ukraine, as well as Israel, once the House returns in April. “We'll turn our attention to it and we won't delay on that,” the Louisiana representative said of the Ukraine package at a news conference last week. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right Republican from Georgia, has filed a motion to vacate Johnson as speaker and warned him not to put Ukraine funding on the House floor. Before becoming speaker, Johnson was deeply skeptical of approving funding for Ukraine and voted repeatedly against it.

Persons: Mike Johnson, “, Johnson, Gregory Meeks, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ” Greene, ” Johnson, Ronald Reagan, ”, Michael McCaul, Greene, Don Bacon, Shelby Magid Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Ukraine, NATO, Rep, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Capitol, Senate, Kyiv, Republicans, Democrats, Senior Republicans, House Foreign Relations, CBS, House, Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Louisiana, Russia, Kyiv, Georgia, Gaza, Washington, “, Europe

The rule issued by the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management will tighten limits on gas flaring on federal lands and require that energy companies improve methods to detect methane leaks that add to planet-warming greenhouse gas pollution. It also regulates smaller wells that are now required to find and plug methane leaks. Venting and flaring activity from oil and gas production on public lands has significantly increased in recent decades. Interior had previously announced a rule to restrict methane emissions under former President Barack Obama. The climate law includes $1.5 billion in grants and other spending to improve monitoring and data collection of methane emissions, intending to find and repair natural gas leaks.

Persons: —, Biden, Deb Haaland, ”, Jon Goldstein, Tannis Fox, Holly Hopkins, Raul Grijalva, Grijalva, “ I’m, Barack Obama, Donald Trump Organizations: WASHINGTON, Interior Department's, of Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency, United Arab, Environmental, Environmental Defense Fund, Western Environmental Law Center, American Petroleum Institute, Arizona, Natural Resources Committee, Oil, Trump, Obama, Congress Locations: United Arab Emirates, United States

☆ Lev Parnas invited by House Oversight Democrats as witness for Biden impeachment hearing
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

House Democrats on the Oversight Committee have selected an indicted associate of Rudy Giuliani, who played a role in former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial, to be their witness at the panel’s hearing on Wednesday, a source with Oversight Committee Democrats told CNN. House Republicans had embraced the dirt Parnas was peddling but he has since called it out as nonsense. Hunter Biden declined the invitation from Republicans to appear at this hearing. Last year, Parnas sent House Oversight Chair James Comer a letter discrediting the many theories peddled by Republicans and called on Comer to end his investigation into the Biden family. “There is simply no merit to investigating this matter any further.”Prior to selecting Parnas, Democrats had been considering Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen to be their witness.

Persons: Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s, Lev Parnas, Giuliani, Trump, Joe Biden, Hunter, Parnas, “ Lev Parnas, ”, Jamie Raskin, “, Tony Bobulinski, Biden, Jason Galanis, Hunter Biden, Devon Archer, Joe Biden corruptly, Republican pushback, James Comer, Comer, ” Parnas, Michael Cohen, “ Cohen Organizations: CNN, Republicans, GOP, Maryland, Republican, Biden, FBI Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine

☆ House GOP Biden inquiry stalls as impeachment becomes less likely
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Hunter Biden arrives at the Thomas P. O'Neil Jr. House Office Building for a closed door deposition on February 28, in Washington, DC. Abbe Lowell makes a statement to the press following a closed-door deposition before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and House Judiciary Committee in the O'Neill House Office Building on February 28, in Washington, DC. “He was well-prepared for the kind of questions,” Issa recounted of Hunter Biden. GOP focus shifts away from impeachment probeInvestigating the Biden family and going after President Biden was a top priority for House Republicans when they reclaimed the majority and got control of committees. GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana said the three Republican chairmen leading the impeachment inquiry have the same message: “They say we’re not in a position to go forward on impeachment.”

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Hunter Biden, James Comer, Jim Jordan, Comer, Donald Trump, Thomas P, O'Neil Jr, Countess, Merrick, Justice won’t, ” Comer, Mike Johnson, “, Jordan, Johnson, “ I’m, ” Johnson, Ralph Norman of, Troy Nehls, impeaching Biden, We’ve, Let’s, ”, ” Nehls, Alejandro Mayorkas, I’m, Trump, weaponized, ” Jordan, Vernon, Ed Siskel, ” Siskel, Hunter, Mary, ” Hunter, Abbe Lowell, Samuel Corum, Hunter Biden’s, Darrell Issa, ” Issa, Robert Hur, Garret Graves, Chip Roy, Texas, Lisa McClain, Richard Hudson of, it’s, Nick LaLota, ” Norman, Ryan Zinke Organizations: House Republicans, Department of Justice, CNN, Fox News, Merrick Garland’s Department, Justice, Louisiana Republican, ” Staff, GOP, Caucus, Democratic, Homeland, Senate, Trump, White, Getty, Committee, Republican, of, Hunter Biden, Republicans, Internal Revenue Service, Judiciary, House, House Republican, “ Locations: Washington ,, Merrick Garland’s, Louisiana, House, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Miami, Vernon Hill, Florida, O'Neill, Washington , DC, California, Lisa McClain of Michigan, Richard Hudson of North Carolina, New York, Montana

☆ U.S. spy chief 'cannot rule out' that China would use TikTok to influence U.S. elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China could use social media app TikTok to influence the 2024 U.S. elections, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a House of Representatives intelligence committee hearing on Tuesday. China could use social media app TikTok to influence the 2024 U.S. elections, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a House of Representatives intelligence committee hearing on Tuesday. Asked by Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi if China's ruling Communist Party, or CCP, would use TikTok to influence the elections, Haines said: "We cannot rule out that the CCP would use it." Krishnamoorthi is also the ranking Democrat on the House select committee on China. The House is due to vote on Wednesday under fast-track rules that require two-thirds of members to vote "yes" for the measure to win passage.

Persons: National Intelligence Avril Haines, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Haines, Mike Gallagher, ByteDance, Joe Biden Organizations: National Intelligence, Democratic, Communist Party, CCP, Republican, Senate Locations: China

☆ Takeaways from Robert Hur’s testimony on Biden’s mishandling of classified documents
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Jeremy Herb | Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

which found evidence Biden willfully retained classified materials but that the evidence did not rise to the level of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. And he took on criticism directly over his inclusion of the state of Biden’s memory. On the Republican side, lawmakers pressed Hur on why he didn’t charge Biden despite the evidence of classified documents in Biden’s possession. “In short, to borrow a phrase from the last administration, the Hur report represents the complete and total exoneration of President Biden,” Nadler said. Hur found some evidence that Biden willfully retained classified materials after he left the Obama White House.

Persons: Robert Hur, Joe Biden’s, Hur, Biden, Donald Trump, Jim Jordan’s, Jerry Nadler, Jordan, misremembering, Trump, Viktor Orbán, ” Nadler, Jacquelyn Martin, AP Hur, ” Hur, “, Robert Mueller, Mueller, Eric Swalwell of, ” Swalwell, isn’t, ”, Hank Johnson, Adam Schiff, ” Schiff, didn’t, I’m, ’ ”, Tom McClintock, Joe Biden, Biden “, Obama, “ Joe Biden, he’s, Mr, ” Jordan, Nadler, Biden’s, CNN’s Devan Cole, Hannah Rabinowitz, Holmes Lybrand, Evan Perez Organizations: Committee, Republicans, Biden, Trump, Rep, Department of Justice, Capitol, Democratic, Georgia Democrat, ”, California Democrat, Senate, Republican, California Republican, Democrat, Ohio Republican, Obama Locations: Egypt, Mexico, Hungary, Turkey, Washington ,, Russia, Eric Swalwell of California, Georgia, California, House, Ohio

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is expected to vote to keep money flowing to scores of federal agencies before a midnight Friday shutdown deadline even as many members of the Republican conference are expected to vote against it. A significant number of House Republicans oppose the measure, forcing House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to use an expedited process to bring the bill up for a vote. That process requires two-thirds of the House to vote for the measure for it to pass. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesJohnson countered that House Republicans have just a two-vote majority in the House while Democrats control the Senate and White House. The GOP's effort was unsuccessful for now, but supporters say they'll try again in next year's spending bills.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, “, ” Johnson, staved, they'll, ”, Rosa DeLauro, Gabrielle Giffords, Vanessa N, Gonzalez, Scott Perry, Lisa Mascaro Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Congress, Republicans, Environmental Protection Agency, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, FBI, Caucus, White, WIC, House Republicans, SNAP, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Department, Rep, Giffords, House GOP, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Transportation, Associated Press Locations: China

But the de minimis rule also has powerful defenders. China's exports grew only 0.6% last year, but the bright spot was cross-border e-commerce, which includes but is not limited to the de minimis packages. In a January meeting with Mayorkas, the National Council of Textile Organizations complained about unfair trade practices, including the de minimis rule. It is unclear how much fentanyl and other illicit drugs may be slipping undetected into the country in the small packages. On a recent Friday morning at Chicago's O'Hare airport, small parcels that had arrived by mail from overseas were on conveyor belts going through X-ray machines for inspection.

Persons: Lindsey Puls, Puls, ”, Alexander Mayorkas, Earl Blumenauer of, ” Blumenauer, Sen, John Thune, LaFonda Sutton, Burke, Charles Benoit, Benoit, Mayorkas, Videojournalist Melissa Perez Winder, Haleluya Hadero Organizations: WASHINGTON, Will, Homeland, National Foreign Trade Council, FedEx, UPS, DHL, eBay, South Dakota Republican, Customs, Custom, China’s Communist Party, Coalition for, Prosperous, National Council of Textile Organizations, National Association of Police, Border Protection, Investments Locations: China, U.S, Shiocton , Wisconsin, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, Shein, Singapore, Chicago, United States, Prosperous America, Chicago's, New York

Former President Donald J. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, has repeatedly attacked central elements of the Inflation Reduction Act, including tax credits for purchasing electric vehicles. “Otherwise it’s all going to be on the chopping block.”The Inflation Reduction Act contains various tax credits and other subsidies to incentivize companies to deploy more clean energy projects. It also includes tax breaks for consumers to offset the cost of electric vehicles, heat pumps and other energy-efficient appliances. That could cut the number of eligible vehicles, potentially hindering progress toward the Biden administration’s goal of having electric vehicles make up half of new car sales by 2030. The estimated cost of the Inflation Reduction Act’s energy incentives has effectively doubled since it passed, largely because forecasters believe the legislation will be more popular than they originally expected.

Persons: Biden, Donald J, Trump, “ We’ve, Frank Pallone Jr, Thomas Pyle, ’, Pyle, Kevin Book, Sean Rayford, ” Mr, John Ketchum, Ketchum, “ It’s, Mr, Sasha Mackler, David Carroll, we’ve, Carroll, T.J . Kirkpatrick, ” Michael Kikukawa, Lori Esposito Murray, Ms, Murray, Jeanna Smialek Organizations: Republican, Democratic, Company, Biden, House Energy, Commerce, American Energy Alliance, ClearView Energy Partners, The New York Times, NextEra Energy, Republicans, Center, Engie, White, Economic Development, Conference Board, “ Locations: States, China, New Hampshire, America, Indiana, Texas, Irvine , Calif

☆ House Republicans seek to downplay FBI informant charges that undermine Biden impeachment inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —House Republicans leading the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden tried to downplay the importance of an FBI informant whose claims they once championed after he was charged with fabricating foreign bribery allegations involving the president and his son. Special counsel David Weiss charged the FBI informant, Alexander Smirnov, with lying to the FBI and creating false records. The indictment is just the latest setback to House Republicans who are struggling to build momentum to impeach the president. In the wake of the charges, President Joe Biden called out the informant for lying and said Republicans should end their impeachment inquiry. In the wake of the charges, Republicans have seized on the idea that Smirnov was initially presented as a credible witness.

Persons: Joe Biden, David Weiss, Alexander Smirnov, Smirnov, Biden, Jim Jordan, Jordan, James Comer, Comer, Jason Smith, Joe Biden corruptly, Hunter, Donald Trump’s, Alejandro Mayorkas, ”, Jamie Raskin, “, Johnson, Scott Brady, Brady, ” Brady, Tony Bobulinski, ” Comer, Raskin, Hunter Biden, James, CNN’s Marshall Cohen Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, FBI, Republicans, CNN, Fox, of Homeland, House Republicans, Hunter Biden, CHS, GOP Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian

☆ Former Biden family business associate recycles unproven allegations to House panels
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Annie Grayer | Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A former Biden family business associate levied critical but unproven allegations against President Joe Biden in a closed-door House interview Tuesday, resurrecting claims he has lobbed since 2020. He further said he believed the multi-million-dollar business deals secured by Joe Biden’s son and brother only materialized “because Joe Biden was in high office.” He said, “the Biden family business was Joe Biden, period,” and specifically mentioned Joe Biden’s alleged role in a lucrative proposed deal with a Chinese energy conglomerate. “He had two encounters with President Biden in back-to-back days in May of 2017 that seemed extremely casual,” Raskin said. Despite providing information to the FBI, federal prosecutors haven’t cited his materials in the sweeping tax indictment filed against Hunter Biden. The Justice Department has accused Hunter Biden of tax evasion and other financial crimes over many years.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Tony Bobulinski, Trump, —, “ Joe Biden, ” Bobulinski, Joe Biden’s, ”, “, Bobulinski, Jamie Raskin, ” Raskin, Hunter, Hunter Biden, Rob Walker, Walker, ” Walker, “ You’re, Bobulinski’s, Raskin, pounced, Robert Hur’s, Jasmine Crockett, haven’t, Republicans ’ Organizations: CNN, Street, Maryland, Justice Department, FBI, IRS, Republicans, Fox News, Democratic, Bobulinski, GOP, The Locations: China, Los Angeles, Jasmine Crockett of Texas

☆ Why do people keep uninsured money in banks?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Somehow, the same issue plaguing last year’s failed banks is back in focus at the latest bank in crisis: massive loads of uninsured deposits. To be sure, the risk isn’t anywhere close to that of the banks that failed last year: About 94% of domestic deposits at Silicon Valley Bank were uninsured and 90% of Signature Bank’s deposits were uninsured, according to the Federal Reserve. The money is guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which is funded by fees paid by major US banks. About 40% of all money in the US, or $8 trillion, sitting in banks is uninsured, said Lawrence White, a professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business. “It also risks violating the FDIC’s statutory requirement to resolve failed banks and protect insured depositors in the least expensive way possible.”Sometimes, he said, rescuing those uninsured depositors may be the cheapest way to protect insured depositors at banks.

Persons: NYCB, Brian Snyder, James Lee, David Wessel, Lawrence White, University’s, Banks, Ting Shen, ”, Kori Suzuki, JPMorgan Chase, Michael Ohlrogge, Maxine Waters, Elizabeth Warren, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York Community Bancorp, Investors, Silicon Valley Bank, Federal Reserve, Bank, Xinhua, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, FDIC, Reuters, Brookings Institution, International Monetary Fund, University’s Stern School of Business, US Treasury, Bloomberg, Getty, Securities and Exchange Commission, Valley Bank, Signature Bank, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, First Republic Bank, New York University’s School of Law, Financial Services, Banking Committee, CBS, Bank Coalition of America Locations: New York, Silicon, United States, New, ”, Washington , DC, San Francisco , California, Sen

☆ Janet Yellen: Some banks may be ‘quite stressed’ by empty office building trouble
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“I will never forget it,” Yellen told lawmakers during a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee, referring to the weekend after Silicon Valley Bank failed. Although the bank crisis subsided after federal regulators launched emergency programs, some regional banks have come under renewed pressure in recent days. Yellen said bank regulators are “quite focused” on this problem, including by working with banks to manage risks, build up reserves to cover losses, adjust dividend policies and maintain liquidity. “It’s critically important that the US be on a fiscally sustainable path,” Yellen told lawmakers during the hearing. “We are doing better” than the rest of the world, Yellen told lawmakers Tuesday.

Persons: Janet Yellen, ” Yellen, “, Yellen, Maxine Waters, “ I’m, Larry Kudlow, It’s, Joe Biden, Jerome Powell, “ It’s, ” Powell Organizations: New, New York CNN, Valley Bank, Financial Services, Bank, New York Community Bancorp, Financial, Trump, Federal Locations: New York, Valley, United States, Japan

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