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☆ Senate passes reauthorization of a key U.S. surveillance program after midnight deadline
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

After its midnight deadline, the Senate voted early Saturday to reauthorize a key U.S. surveillance law after divisions over whether the FBI should be restricted from using the program to search for Americans' data nearly forced the statute to lapse. The legislation approved 60-34 with bipartisan support would extend for two years the program known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. "If you miss a key piece of intelligence, you may miss some event overseas or put troops in harm's way," Sen. Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said. One of the major changes detractors had proposed centered around restricting the FBI's access to information about Americans through the program. "I think that is a risk that we cannot afford to take with the vast array of challenges our nation faces around the world," Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Friday.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden's, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Ayman al, Sen, Marco Rubio, shouldn't, General Merrick Garland, Garland, Schumer, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Democratic Sen, Mark Warner Organizations: Homeland, U.S, Capitol, Foreign Intelligence, White House, FISA, Republican, Senate Intelligence, Justice Department, United, Justice, Biden, U.S . Capitol, Democratic Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, harm's, United States

☆ House sends Mayorkas impeachment articles to the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Annie Grayer | Priscilla Alvarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —House Republicans have sent to the Senate two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a step that launches a trial in the Senate as GOP lawmakers seek to highlight President Joe Biden’s handling of immigration policy. House Republicans do not have the votes or concrete evidence to impeach Biden given their razor-thin majority, leaving that separate impeachment inquiry stalled. GOP arguments for impeachment and pushback from constitutional expertsWhen Johnson originally informed Schumer he would be sending the impeachment articles over to the Senate, he laid out why he believed a Mayorkas impeachment was justified. “These articles lay out a clear, compelling, and irrefutable case for Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ impeachment,” Green said in a statement provided to CNN. “I think that what the House Republicans are asserting is that Secretary Mayorkas is guilty of maladministration,” Garber said.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden’s, Mayorkas, Biden, —, impeaching Biden, ”, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Trump, Ian Sams, Johnson, Schumer, Mark Green of, Alejandro Mayorkas ’, ” Green, systemically, Samuel Alito, Ross Garber, ” Garber, “, Michael Chertoff, George W, Bush, Jonathan Turley, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, “ I’m, CNN’s Manu Raju, I’ve, –, John Thune, ” Johnson, Pro Tempore Patty Murray, Michael McCaul of, Andy Biggs of, Clay Higgins, Ben Cline of Virginia, Michael Guest of, Andrew Garbarino, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Pfluger, Harriet Hageman of, Laurel Lee, CNN’s Ted Barrett, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, Homeland, Senate, Democratic, Republicans, Homeland Security, Biden, House Republicans, DHS, ’, Louisiana Republican, Truth, White, CNN, Congress, Tulane University, Republican, Senate Democratic, Mayorkas, Pro Tempore Locations: Louisiana, Mark Green of Tennessee, Washington, Michael McCaul of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Michael Guest of Mississippi, New York, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Texas, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Laurel Lee of Florida

☆ Here's what the Credit Card Competition Act could do to your airline miles and travel rewards
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Major airlines' bottom line depends on credit card companiesThe Credit Card Competition Act , which was introduced to Congress in June 2023 would require major banks to use at least one credit card payment network that isn't Mastercard or Visa — companies that control more than 80% of US credit card transactions — to introduce more competition into the credit card market. AdvertisementSen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, is the lead sponsor of the Credit Card Competition Act. AdvertisementCredit card rewards incentivize travelersBusinesses typically make up for these credit card swipe fees by raising prices for customers. Bohorquez, however, said increased credit card competition is unlikely to lower prices in practice. "I hope that people continue to earn and enjoy their credit card points and take a lot of free trips."

Persons: —, Jess Bohorquez, Bohorquez, she's, Banks, Sen, Dick Durbin, Durbin, I'm Organizations: Service, Sydney Opera House, Business, Federal, Mastercard, Visa, Airlines, United, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, BI, Airlines for America, American Airlines, America, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, House Locations: Illinois, Delta

☆ The Capital One-Discover Deal Won’t Fix Our Broken Credit Card System - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Aaron Klein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

This is a story about you and your favorite credit card, the one that earns you points. So this rewards card, it’s really a screw-over-poor- people card. Why are swipe fees in the U.S. nine times higher than they are in Europe? But these two companies control over 80 percent of the credit card market. Dick Durbin, the senator who helped crack down on swipe fees for debit cards, has authored a bipartisan bill that would use competition to drive down credit card swipe fees.

Persons: Marty, let’s, you’ll, you’re, It’s, MJ, Dick Durbin, you’ve Organizations: Visa, Mastercard, Federal Reserve Locations: Europe, Congress

☆ Democratic senators have privately warned White House that votes aren’t there to confirm Biden’s Muslim judicial nominee
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But some allies of the White House on Capitol Hill have made clear that there is not enough support – including among Democrats – to confirm Mangi in the full Senate, those sources said. The controversy surrounding Mangi’s nomination comes at a moment of heightened political tensions across the country since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. The White House and Democratic lawmakers have pushed back, accusing Republicans of Islamophobic attacks that are based on Mangi’s ethnic background and touting support from Jewish groups. The White House has also called on senators such as Cruz to apologize to Mangi. “Treatment of this highly qualified nominee has sometimes reached an all-time low.”CNN has reached out to Durbin’s office for additional comment.

Persons: Adeel Mangi, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Mangi, –, Texas Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, Rutgers University –, Cruz, ” Cruz, ” Mangi, “, ”, Jeff Zientz, Shuwanza Goff, White, Ed Siskel, Andrew Bates, ’ ” Bates, “ Mr, Dick Durbin, ” Durbin Organizations: Washington CNN —, Democratic, CNN, US, Appeals, White, Capitol, Texas Republican, Center for Security, Rights, Rutgers University, White House, Defamation League, Senate, Committee, House Locations: New York, Israel

☆ I’m addicted to TikTok. What do I do now that the House has effectively voted to ban it?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The bill would prohibit TikTok from US app stores unless the social media platform is quickly spun off from ByteDance. Some TikTok users posted videos ahead of Wednesday’s vote showing them calling their representatives and threatening to vote for alternate candidates if they voted to pass the bill. “This process was secret and the bill was jammed through for one reason: it’s a ban,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement following the Wednesday House vote. That may be even more true after Biden’s likely opponent in November, former President Donald Trump, said he opposed a TikTok ban, a reversal from his stance as president. App stores that violate the legislation could be fined based on the number of users of a banned app.

Persons: …, Princess, Wales, TikTokkers, ByteDance, Chuck Schumer, “, ”, Dick Durbin, Joe Biden, ” Durbin, Donald Trump, TikTok, Dan Ives Organizations: New, New York CNN, Foreign, House Energy, Commerce, Senate, Apple, Google Locations: New York, ByteDance, It’s, Montana, United States

☆ Inside a prison healthcare company's ownership shell game
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has criticized Corizon successor company YesCare for its opaque corporate structure. Yet Geneva's track record is scant; it only incorporated in November 2021, six months before it got the YesCare contract. AdvertisementOnly one agency with a YesCare contract told BI it was aware of the extent to which YesCare had outsourced its operations. AdvertisementAn October 2022 YesCare bid document, submitted to the Alabama Department of Corrections, says PharmaCorr will dispense all prescription medications for YesCare. AdvertisementThe agreement between Geneva and prison healthcare provider YesCare requires YesCare to pay at least $500,000 a month to Geneva.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Corizon, YesCare, —, Dick Durbin, Raphael Prober, Prober's nonanswer, Warren, Christopher M, Lopez, Robert Green, Corizon —, Green, Lori Mayer, Aaron Kaufman, Chris Atkinson, Joel Landau, Tehum, Martin Horn, Alabama Department of Corrections YesCare, Thomas Mailey, Bryan Baker, Isaac Lefkowitz, Perigrove, — Lefkowitz, Lefkowitz, David Gefner, Gefner, Storm Harper, PharmaCorr, Jeff Sholey, Steven Weiss, Atkinson, Sara Tirschwell, Zalman Shapiro, Tirschwell, Michael Farrier, Jeffrey Sholey, Judge Lopez Organizations: Service, Corizon Health, Business, Getty, YesCare Holdings, Justice Department, Tehum Care Services, Geneva Consulting, Genesis Healthcare, BI, Geneva, American Correctional Association, . Maryland Department of Public Safety, Correctional, CHS, PharmaCorr, University of West, of Health, Allure, New York State Department of Health, Public, New York City Department of Correction, Alabama Department of Corrections, Alabama, New York State Department of Corrections, Community Supervision, Doña, Okaloosa, LinkedIn, YesCare, YesCare . Alabama Department of Corrections, Gefner, Court, Western, of, Corizon's, Florida's, Florida's Hillsborough County Sheriff's, Tehum's Locations: Missouri, Houston, Texas, Geneva, Florida, Alabama, New Jersey, YesCare, University of West Florida, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Riker's, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, Okaloosa County , Florida, Wyoming, Maryland, Colorado , Florida, North Carolina, Suffern , New York, YesCare's Alabama, of Missouri, Florida's Hillsborough County

☆ No. 2 Senate Democrat says ‘killing has to stop’ in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Aileen Graef | Michelle Shen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

2 Democrat in the Senate, said Sunday that the killing of innocent people in Gaza “has to stop” and that the United States needs to focus on securing a ceasefire and, eventually, an end to the conflict. “This killing has to stop of the innocent people there. More than 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel’s war with Hamas began in October, according to the health ministry in Gaza. Durbin’s comments came a day after news that Israelis have “basically accepted” a six-week ceasefire proposal in Gaza, according to a senior Biden administration official. People mourn as they receive the bodies of victims of an Israeli strike on March 3, 2024, in Rafah, Gaza.

Persons: CNN — Sen, Dick Durbin of, it’s, ” Durbin, CNN’s Dana, ”, Durbin, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy of, ” Murphy, it’s “, Joe Biden, Benjamin, Durbin’s, “, Israel, “ We’re, ” Biden, Ahmad Hasaballah, Biden, uncommitted ”, Bash, Donald Trump, Jack Smith’s Organizations: CNN, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Union, Hamas, United Nations, Democratic, Washington Post, US Central Command, Biden, White House, Arab, Supreme Locations: Gaza, United States, “ State, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, U.S, Israel, Cairo, Rafah, Michigan

☆ Opinion: Mitch McConnell’s unconditional surrender
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Julian Zelizer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Mitch McConnell has bowed to political reality and announced that he is relinquishing his role as leader of Senate Republicans. (Chao served as transportation secretary under former President Donald Trump, before quitting the post following the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.) The anti-Trump coalition within the Republican Party is small and hanging on by a thread, and there is little chance of that changing in the short term. Now, one of Haley’s most generous benefactors, the conservative political action committee Americans for Prosperity, funded by the Koch network, has withdrawn its funds. And now, like other Trump opponents, Romney finds himself heading for the exit at the end of his current term.

Persons: Julian Zelizer, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Elaine Chao, Chao, Donald Trump, ”, It’s, he’s, invectives, MAGA, Trump, Merrick Garland, Barack Obama’s, — McConnell, SCOTUS, Roe, Wade, Dobbs, Lindsey Graham, Sen, Dick Durbin, —, that’s, Gingrich’s, Nikki Haley, Haley, couldn’t, Koch, Mitt Romney, Romney, convicting Trump, Trump’s, Romney’s Organizations: CNN, Princeton University, The New York Times, America, Republicans, Julian Zelizer CNN, Trump, Ukraine, GOP, Republican Party, Republican, NATO, Tea Party, MAGA, UN, Prosperity, Old Party Locations: Washington, life’s, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Kentucky, South Carolina, Utah

☆ Jamie Dimon on Capital One's $35.3 billion Discover acquisition: 'Let them compete’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Jamie Dimon, President & CEO,Chairman & CEO JPMorgan Chase, speaking on CNBC's Squawk Box at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 17th, 2024. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon isn't worried about the added competition from a bulked-up Capital One if its $35.3 billion takeover of Discover Financial gets approved. Dimon, speaking to CNBC's Leslie Picker from a Miami conference, acknowledged that if regulators approve the Capital One-Discover deal, his bank will be eclipsed as the nation's biggest credit-card lender. The deal has two major components: the credit card business and the payment network, Dimon noted. It's unclear if Capital One can create a true alternative to the dominant card networks in Visa and Mastercard with this deal, Dimon said.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan, JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon isn't, Dimon, CNBC's Leslie Picker, Richard Fairbank, Richard Organizations: JPMorgan Chase, JPMorgan, Discover Financial, Capital, Visa, Mastercard, American Locations: Davos, Switzerland, Miami

☆ Justice Department calls for dismissal of the Corizon bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewIn the latest blowback to the correctional healthcare company formerly known as Corizon Health, the Department of Justice's US Trustee Program — the watchdog of the federal bankruptcy system — called for the dismissal of its contentious bankruptcy. In a mid-January motion, a committee representing prisoners who filed suit against Corizon alleging medical neglect requested that Judge Christopher Lopez dismiss the bankruptcy outright. In that letter, Warren lauded the Trustee for filing its October objection to Corizon's bankruptcy plan. While Corizon recently offered a larger, $54 million settlement proposal, the committee representing the current and former prisoners opposed it. "The federal government's bankruptcy watchdog has taken a strong stand to protect against big corporations' abuse of our bankruptcy system," she said in her statement.

Persons: —, Christopher Lopez, Ha Ngyuen, Andrew Jiménez, Corizon, Elizabeth Warren, Dick Durbin, Bernie Sanders, Warren, Isaac Lefkowitz, Lefkowitz, Nguyen, Jason Brookner Organizations: Service, Department of Justice's, Business, U.S, Department of Justice, Tehum Care Services, M2LoanCo, Geneva Consulting Locations: Texas, Tehum

☆ What Navalny Can Teach Americans About Bravery - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Nicholas Kristof | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Vladimir Putin’s Russia has just become even more bleak and soulless with the reported death in an Arctic prison of Aleksei Navalny, the 47-year-old dissident who showed immense bravery and humor as he tried to bring democracy to his homeland. Navalny’s strength, resilience and courage contrast with the fecklessness of so many Americans dealing with Putin. From Donald Trump to Tucker Carlson, a remarkable number of American leaders and their mouthpieces roll over before the Russian president. “Why do Trump and his congressional enablers want to further appease this Russian tyrant?” Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, asked after the news broke of Navalny’s death. I hope Navalny’s example will fortify Americans and Europeans alike, for despite all our resources we have not shown a sliver of the strength that he did.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Aleksei Navalny, Putin, Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, Trump, Dick Durbin Locations: Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Russian, Illinois

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that the apparent death of Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny brings new urgency to the need for Congress to approve tens of billions of dollars for Ukraine to stave off Moscow's invasion. Speaking at the White House, Biden said that no matter the cause, he holds Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible for Navalny's death. He added, “I hope to God it helps” push U.S. lawmakers to send more aid to Ukraine. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesThe president sharply criticized House Republicans for letting the chamber enter a two-week recess without moving on the Ukraine funding. “President Biden pledged ‘devastating’ consequences should Navalny die in prison; now he must follow through.

Persons: Joe Biden, Alexei Navalny, Biden, Vladimir Putin, hasn't, ” Biden, ”, Mike Johnson, “, Putin, ” Johnson, Donald Trump, Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, ” Jeffries, Vladimir Putin’s, Republican Sen, Tom Cotton of, Trump’s Putin, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, Carolina Sen, Thom Tillis, Navalny, ” Tillis, eyeing, Harry Truman Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, Republicans, Ukraine, GOP House, Democratic, Senate, Republican, America, ” Lawmakers, Trump, NATO Locations: Russian, Ukraine, U.S, United States, Baltic, Russia, Israel, Taiwan, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Illinois, ., Carolina, America

☆ Senators demand Mark Zuckerberg produce details on Instagram's 'warning screens' that allowed users to see potential child sex abuse material
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Emily Wilkins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — The Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and one of its most senior Republicans escalated their demands Monday for information from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about Instagram's now-shuttered "warning screens" for child sexual abuse material, according to a letter first obtained by CNBC. The letter from Durbin and Cruz follows a contentious and emotional Judiciary Committee hearing in January about social media and child sexual abuse material. There, Zuckerberg was repeatedly pushed into the spotlight by Republicans and Democrats alike. The warning screen option was removed in June of last year, but only after The Wall Street Journal reported on it and pressed the company for details about why it permitted the abusive content on the platform in the first place. At the time, Instagram refused to tell the Journal when the warning screen option was first created, or why, or by whom.

Persons: Sen, Ted Cruz, Dick Durbin, Ketanji Brown Jackson, WASHINGTON —, Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram's, Republican Sen, Zuckerberg, Durbin, Cruz, Instagram Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Capitol, WASHINGTON, Democratic, Republicans, CNBC, Republican, Democrats, Street Locations: Ted Cruz of Texas, Illinois, Texas

☆ Loss, pain, harm: Grieving parents set the tone at this week’s tech CEOs hearing. It could change things
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Wednesday’s online youth safety hearing with some of the world’s leading social media CEOs was unlike the many that came before it in recent years. During the hearing, Zuckerberg and Spiegel, along with the CEOs of TikTok, Discord and X, also faced calls to meet with the families affected by their platforms. And Wednesday night, after the event, some parents said the apologies did not go far enough. X CEO Linda Yaccarino thanked the “parents, families, and young people” who attended the hearing in a post on the platform. “We just saw yesterday the extent of the damage that this has done, these platforms have done,” he said.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Evan Spiegel, Zuckerberg, Spiegel, Bridget Norring, “, Joe Benarroch, Linda Yaccarino, ”, ” Clint Smith, ” Snap’s Spiegel, Charlie, Connecticut Democrat Sen, Richard Blumenthal, ” Minnesota Democrat Sen, Amy Klobuchar, they’d, New York Democrat Sen, Chuck Schumer, …, Schumer, ” Sam Chapman, Missouri Republican Sen, Josh Hawley, Dick Durbin, Hawley, we’re, –, Brian Fung, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, ”, Meta, Connecticut Democrat, ” Minnesota Democrat, New York Democrat, Missouri Republican, Democratic Locations: New York, Snapchat, Connecticut, ” Minnesota

☆ Sen. Warren asks Justice Department to consider nixing Corizon's bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewSenator Elizabeth Warren is bringing fresh scrutiny to the controversial bankruptcy of private prison healthcare company Corizon Health. Warren applauded the US Trustee Program, which oversees the federal bankruptcy system, for making a rare decision last year to file an objection in court to Corizon's bankruptcy plan. Corizon's current bankruptcy plan, she wrote, "will deny Corizon's creditors, including incarcerated individuals, adequate restitution for the company's serious harms." This is the second time Warren has weighed in on the Corizon bankruptcy. "Corizon's bankruptcy is premised on the fact that it does not have sufficient resources to pay victims and other creditors," she wrote.

Persons: —, Elizabeth Warren, Warren, Corizon, Jason Brookner, YesCare didn't, Emma Dulaney, Dick Durbin, YesCare, Raphael Prober, Corizon's, plan's Organizations: Service, Corizon Health, Department of Justice's U.S, Business, Tehum Care Services, Department of Justice, US, Corizon, YesCare Holdings Locations: Texas, Tehum, YesCare

☆ FBI: 'Financial sextortion' of teens is a 'rapidly escalating threat.' How parents can protect their kids
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Cavan Images | Cavan | Getty Images"Financial sextortion," a type of cybercrime that targets teens and tweens, is on the rise. "Sextortion is a rapidly escalating threat," FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee in December. Financial sextortion is the fastest-growing crime targeting children in North America and Australia, according to the Network Contagion Research Institute. Wealthy parents are more likely to be lenient about social media use. How to protect your kids from sextortion

Persons: Christopher Wray, Sen, Dick Durbin, Criminals, Tracy Kitten, Kitten, didn't, Oladosu, sextortion Organizations: Getty, FBI, Finance, Network, Research, Yahoo Boys, Meta, Strategy, U.S, YouTube Locations: Cavan, North America, Australia, African, U.S, Nigerian, bitcoin, sextortion

☆ Will Lawmakers Really Act to Protect Children Online? Some Say Yes.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( David Mccabe | Cecilia Kang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the final minutes of a congressional hearing on Wednesday in which tech chief executives were berated for not protecting children online, Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, urged lawmakers to act to safeguard the internet’s youngest users. Lawmakers have long made similar statements about holding tech companies to account — and have little to show for it. Yet for years, that was where it ended: with no new federal regulations for the companies to follow. And already, there are indicators that the topic of online child safety may gain more traction legislatively. The efforts are backed by emotional accounts of children who were victimized online and died by suicide.

Persons: Richard J, Durbin, ” Organizations: Lawmakers, Republicans, Democrats Locations: Illinois

☆ Opinion: Mark Zuckerberg’s extraordinary apology should only be the beginning
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Opinion Kara Alaimo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —On Wednesday, the chief executives of Meta, TikTok, X, Snap and Discord testified before the Senate about what they’re doing to protect kids from harm online. In the leadup to the testimony, tech companies announced new initiatives to protect kids. The Stop CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) Act of 2023 would make it possible to hold tech companies civilly liable for hosting child sexual abuse material. This would be an important way of incentivizing tech companies to do more to protect kids from sextortion and other forms of online exploitation. Tech companies also have a lot more work to do.

Persons: Kara Alaimo, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, TikTok’s Shou Chew, Democratic Sen, Dick Durbin, Snap’s Evan Spiegel, X’s Linda Yaccarino, Discord’s Jason Citron, Kara Alaimo Durbin, “, —, ” South Carolina Republican Sen, Lindsey Graham, Chew, Yaccarino, Spiegel, Zuckerberg, it’s, Taylor Swift Organizations: Fairleigh Dickinson University, Women, Press, Facebook, CNN, Meta, Senate, Democratic, Illinois, ” Senators, ” South Carolina Republican, Tech, Media Locations: ”

☆ Lawmakers to grill CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media firms at hearing on child safety
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Mark Zuckerberg, Linda Yaccarino, Evan Spiegel and other leading social media executives face a grilling on Wednesday from lawmakers concerned about child exploitation and safety on their services. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have blasted the companies for failing to properly address what some have called a "plague of online child sexual exploitation" on social media apps. Wednesday's hearing is focused specifically on issues pertaining to child exploitation and the prevalence of child sexual abuse material on social media. The social media executives are expected to detail their efforts combating child exploitation on their platforms, which include working with law enforcement and tasks like proactively identifying potential predators. Watch: Early Meta platforms investor Brad Gerstner tackles big tech ahead of key earnings week

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Linda Yaccarino, Evan Spiegel, —, Shou Zi Chew, Jason Citron, Sen, Dick Durbin, Lindsey Graham, S.C, Citron, Meta, Brad Gerstner Organizations: Meta, U.S, Senate, Intelligence, Capitol, Washington , D.C, TikTok, Spiegel, Google YouTube, Committee, Lawmakers, Electronic Frontier Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union Locations: Washington ,, Washington, . New

☆ As Biden Judicial Confirmations Slow, Senate Gains Ground on Red-State Judges
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden and Senate Democrats have fallen behind the rapid pace set by Republicans in shaping the federal courts during the Trump era, but they have made fresh headway in advancing judicial nominees in states represented by Republicans. By negotiating with Republicans over judicial picks, Mr. Biden and majority Democrats have been able to exert some influence over the makeup of trial courts in red states and install people of color on the bench for the first time in some regions. “It has worked because I think I have convinced the White House that it is better to get a moderate Republican today than a MAGA Republican tomorrow,” said Senator Richard J. Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who chairs the Judiciary Committee. Still, the Senate would need to confirm at least 63 more judges this year to match or better the record of the Trump years, when Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican who was then the majority leader, pushed through 234 conservative-leaning jurists, including three to the Supreme Court.

Persons: Biden, Trump, ”, Richard J, Durbin, Mitch McConnell Organizations: Senate, Republicans, Republican, MAGA Republican, Illinois Democrat, Kentucky Republican, Supreme Locations: MAGA

☆ Senator Warren, Other Democrats Ask Commerce to Extend Gun Export Pause, Increase Oversight - Letter
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Mike StoneWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, again asked the U.S. Commerce Department to curb assault weapon exports and increase oversight of gun exports after a Trump-era rule change eased firearms export laws, according to a letter sent on Tuesday and seen by Reuters. The Commerce Department began a 90-day pause in an October order to assess the "risk of firearms being diverted to entities or activities that promote regional instability, violate human rights, or fuel criminal activities." The Commerce Department could decide to make the halt on export licenses permanent, return to previous practices, or impose other permanent restrictions. The letter, which was signed by Warren and Senator Richard Durbin as well as U.S. It voiced support for returning export authority oversight to the Department of State from Commerce - something which changed under then-President Donald Trump's tenure.

Persons: Mike Stone WASHINGTON, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Durbin, Representatives Joaquin Castro, Norma Torres, Gina Raimondo, Donald Trump's, Mike Stone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Congressional, U.S . Commerce Department, Reuters, The Commerce Department, Commerce Department, Warren, Representatives, Department of State from, Commerce Locations: Department of State from Commerce, Washington

A core group of negotiators have been laboring for nearly two months over changes to U.S. border and immigration policy and hoped to unveil the legislation later this week. However, the emergency funding package has been delayed months in Congress after Republicans insisted that border policy changes also be included in the package. It remains to be seen whether the border policy changes, which have been negotiated in private with top White House officials, will be enough to satisfy most Republican senators. The group has mostly reached agreements on policy changes, but on Monday was working with Senate appropriators to determine funding levels for the programs. Democrats have bemoaned the Republican decision to tie Ukraine aid with border policy changes.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Mitch McConnell's, ” McConnell, Joe Biden, Biden, Chuck Schumer, “ It's, ”, Sen, Kyrsten Sinema, appropriators, Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, “, you’re, ” Biden, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Schumer, ” Schumer Organizations: WASHINGTON, Ukraine, Republican, Senate, Republicans, “, Democratic, White House, Biden, Democrats Locations: Washington, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois

☆ The Biden administration unveiled its hydrogen tax credit proposal, estimated to deliver $140 billion in revenue and 700,000 jobs by 2030
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-22 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Officials estimate the hydrogen production credits can deliver $140 billion and 700,000 jobs by 2030. Administration officials estimate the hydrogen production credits will deliver $140 billion in revenue and 700,000 jobs by 2030 — and help the US produce 50 million metric tons of hydrogen by 2050. Firms that produce hydrogen using fossil fuels get less. The Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association includes more than 100 members involved in hydrogen production, distribution and use, including vehicle manufacturers, industrial gas companies, renewable developers and nuclear plant operators. Some of the money will flow to regional networks, or "hubs," of hydrogen producers, consumers and infrastructure that the Biden administration is also trying to kickstart with a $7 billion program.

Persons: —, Biden, Jesse Jenkins, David M, Turk, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Flores, Rachel Fakhry, Marty Durbin, Frank Wolak, Wolak, Chuck Schmitt, Jennifer M, Granholm Organizations: Biden, Service, Princeton University, Energy, Cummins, Generation, Star Tribune, Getty, Natural Resources Defense Council, US Chamber, Department of Energy, Fuel Cell, Hydrogen Energy Association, SSAB, AP Locations: Fridley , Minnesota, United States, SSAB Americas, American, Pennsylvania, California

☆ The Senate’s Supreme Court Subpoena Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The House Oversight Committee investigating Biden family business dealings has issued subpoenas to Hunter and James Biden to appear for depositions. Also requested for transcribed interviews are family members and associates including Sara and Hallie Biden. In a rush of rule-breaking at the end of a meeting, Mr. Durbin moved to bluster through subpoenas for two friends of Supreme Court Justices on a partisan vote. This is part of a Democratic political campaign to portray the High Court as a trinket bought by billionaires. “The pair have become genuine friends, according to people who know both men,” as even the left-leaning ProPublica admitted.

Persons: Biden, Hunter, James Biden, Sara, Hallie Biden, Mark Kelly Illinois, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, ProPublica Organizations: Reuters, Democratic

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