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☆ Families who sued social media companies years ago are taking matters into their own hands
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Now there are hundreds of such lawsuits against social media platforms, alleging teenagers across the country have been harmed from exposure to social media, according to Matthew Bergman, the founder of the Social Media Victims Law Center, from where many of these lawsuits have been filed. Jaime Puerta said he has met with police departments, government agencies and schools to discuss the dangers of social media platforms. Mayor Eric Adams makes announcement on lawsuit against social media companies at City Hall in New York City. Next, she said she wants to work with lawmakers to help increase the age requirement to access social media sites. Donna and Chris Dawley have attended conferences, events and Congressional hearings to raise awareness about social media addiction.

Persons: Jaime Puerta’s, Daniel, Puerta, Snapchat, Matthew Bergman, Koukichi Takahashi, TikTok, ” Puerta, “, ”, Jaime Puerta, Meta, Gail Flatt, Sarah’s, Sarah, Flatt, Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Sen . Blackburn, Blackburn, Mark Zuckerberg, who’ve, “ I’m, Norma Nazario, Zackery, Eric Adams, Nazario, Lev Radin, Ron DeSantis, Jaime Puerta – Amy Neville, Alexander, –, she’s, Neville, ” Amy Neville, Alexander Neville, Amy Neville, Democratic Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Sen, Klobuchar, Sabine Polak, Polak, Mileva, ” Polak, Repasky, it’s, Cece Nelter, Independence , Kentucky –, Instagram, Cece, Nelter, Donna, Chris Dawley –, CJ, ” Donna Dawley, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Chris Dawley, Donna Dawley “, Donna Dawley, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Befrienders, Social Media, Law, Meta, Adobe, Big Tech, Los Angeles, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Homeland Security, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Drug, Administration, Federal, Facebook, Wall, Northern District of, Republican, Union, New York City, New York, City Hall, Pacific Press, TikTok, Florida Republican, Snapchat, Alexander Neville Foundation, Alexander, Parent, Academy, Democratic, Media, Free Schools Movement Locations: Northern District, Northern District of California, Instagram, Tennessee, Biden’s, New York, New, New York City, Florida, United States, Minnesota, Phoenixville , Pennsylvania, ”, Independence , Kentucky

☆ Florida governor signs law restricting social media access for children
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Shawn Nottingham | Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law banning children under age 14 from having their own social media accounts on Monday, according to a news release from the governor’s office. In addition to restricting social media accounts for children, the legislation also places restrictions on pornographic websites. In February, a federal judge temporarily blocked Ohio’s law over concerns about its breadth and the likelihood that it could infringe on teens’ First Amendment rights to access information online. And last year, another federal judge temporarily blocked Arkansas’ law. DeSantis vetoed a prior version of the Florida law after saying he wanted to ensure that any legislation provides parents with enough of an opportunity to be involved in decisions about their kids’ social media use.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, ’, DeSantis Organizations: CNN, Florida Republican, HB Locations: Florida, States, Arkansas , California , Louisiana , Ohio, Utah, Arkansas

Gavin Newsom and Florida Republican Gov. Newsom, 56, has talked about eventually running for president but is backing President Joe Biden 's reelection in 2024. DeSantis is betting big on Iowa's first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses on Jan. 15 and could still turn things around. Florida is a onetime battleground where fiercely conservative DeSantis easily won reelection last year, while California is the country's largest Democratic state. Last year, amid some unease among Democrats about Biden’s reelection prospects, Newsom’s name was floated as a potential replacement for 2024.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Ron DeSantis, Newsom, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Sean Hannity, it's, Hannity, DeSantis, he's, “, Biden, ”, Andrew Romeo, ” Newsom, Ronald Reagan Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, — California Democratic, Florida Republican Gov, GOP, South Carolina Gov, Trump, Fox News, Fox, Democratic, Republican, Democrat, Ronald Reagan Presidential Locations: — California, DeSantis, Alpharetta , Georgia, Atlanta, Florida, California, Texas, ’, America, Simi Valley , California

☆ Elon Musk’s quest in foreign affairs plagued by his own online behavior
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Washington CNN —Elon Musk is an increasingly important player in global affairs and has been touring the world to meet with political leaders in recent months. “We can observe Elon Musk’s Twitter/X activity that he regularly consumes right-wing content and this increased during COVID-19,” Facciani said in an email. More recently, however, Musk’s ambitions have come a bit closer to earth and become far more concrete. There are many world leaders who hold extreme or far-right views, of course. Musk’s outbursts that contradict widely held international norms and values are meant for a specific internet audience that Musk mistakes for being representative of the wider world.

Persons: Washington CNN — Elon Musk, White supremacists, Musk, Benjamin Netanyahu, It’s, George Soros, Netanyahu, Matthew Facciani, “, Elon, ” Facciani, Vladimir Putin, Rishi Sunak, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he’s, Ron DeSantis ’, Robert Kennedy Jr, ’, ” Musk, ”, reactionism Organizations: Washington CNN, Defamation League, Whites, White, The University of Notre Dame, Twitter, UK, Florida Republican Gov, United States Locations: Israel, Gaza, COVID, Ukraine, Crimea, Washington, United, Russia

☆ Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, the platform and its cultural impact have fundamentally changed
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Brian Fung | Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Here’s a (non-exhaustive) account of how Musk has fundamentally changed Twitter since he made one of the most consequential acquisitions of the social media age. Many of Musk’s content and product decisions have also led to what civil society groups have reported as a troubling spread of hateful speech on the platform. He recommended that X users monitor the Israel-Hamas conflict by following an account known for spreading disinformation, before later deleting his post. And, in an attempt to prove that former Twitter executives deliberately discriminated against conservatives on the platform, Musk provided a handpicked group of journalists with selective access to company records. It is perhaps Musk’s all-consuming presence that has most undermined what users used to love about Twitter.

Persons: New York CNN — It’s, Elon Musk, Linda Yaccarino —, Yaccarino, ” Yaccarino, —, it’s, Here’s, Musk, he’s, Donald Trump, LeBron James, James, ”, X, General Mills, ” Weeks, “ Elon, what’s, “, Paul Pelosi, Dilbert, Scott Adams, George Soros, Joe Biden’s, Ron DeSantis ’, Robert F, Kennedy, Jr, Tucker Carlson, Vivek Ramaswamy, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hunter Biden Organizations: New, New York CNN, Elon, Twitter, US Federal Trade Commission, Securities, Exchange Commission, EU, Premium, Nintendo, NPR, PBS, Volkswagen, —, Center, Defamation League, Wall Street, Florida Republican Gov, Fox, New York, Trump Locations: New York, Israel, United States, breakeven, New

The eight candidates who sparred in the GOP debate still face the tough challenge of chipping away at Trump’s lead in the race. NBC News’ Shaq Brewster watched the debate with a group of two-time Trump voters in Waukesha, Wis.. Asked to raise their hand if the debate made them interested in a candidate other than Trump, all four voters kept their hands down. Still, Benfield plans to support Trump’s campaign next year. Hoosier showdown: GOP Rep. Jim Banks’ Senate run got a boost during the GOP debate, with the conservative group launching an ad on Fox News supporting his bid.

Persons: Trump’s, Shaq Brewster, Scott, Trump, Mike Benfield, Brewster, Ramaswamy, “, ” Benfield, Benfield, ”, Biden, they’re, Peter Alexander, Elyse Perlmutter, Grace Jaworski, Megan Lebowitz, Ron DeSantis, fundraise, Donald Trump, DeSantis, Matt Dixon, David Sachs, Vivek Ramaswamy, Puck, ’ Ryan Reilly, Jim Banks, Banks, John Rust Organizations: GOP, NBC, Trump, New York, Florida Republican Gov, Florida Republicans, Senate, Fox News Locations: Waukesha, Wis, Reno, Nev, Florida, Atlanta, Fulton County

☆ New A.I. working group aims to shape policy for key Democratic bloc
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Emily Wilkins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — Democrats on Capitol Hill are forming a new working group on artificial intelligence and prioritizing how to prevent deepfakes from wreaking havoc on personal lives, national security and the upcoming 2024 elections. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., will chair the new AI working group in the New Democrat Coalition, a 97-member bloc of House members that typically avoid the spotlight but wield significant influence over policy within the caucus. "There's real concern about the potential for AI generated disinformation, real concern about misuse of advanced AI models," Kilmer told CNBC. Another concerning aspect for many lawmakers is what AI generated images could mean in the world of campaign ads. Ron DeSantis recently used AI in an ad to replicate former president Donald Trump's voice "reading" a post that Trump had written on social media.

Persons: Derek Kilmer, Kilmer, Joe Morelle, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump's, Trump, Joe Biden, Democratic Minnesota Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democrats, Capitol, New Democrat Coalition, House, CNBC, Homeland Security Department, New Dems, Florida Republican Gov, Republican National Committee, Senate, Democratic Minnesota, Dems Locations: Taiwan, China

☆ Former Disney, Marvel exec Ike Perlmutter plans major donation to back Trump for president
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US President Donald Trump shakes Ike Perlmutter, CEO of Marvel Entertainment, hand before signing an executive order at the US Department of Veterans Affairs April 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. Ike Perlmutter, the former chairman of Marvel Entertainment at Disney , is planning a key donation to back former President Donald Trump's 2024 run for president, according to his spokesman. His wife gave over $2 million to the same pro-DeSantis PAC, according to the records. Disney doesn't have the right to get involved with politics," Perlmutter reportedly told DeSantis in a phone call. Perlmutter told the publication he doesn't remember such a call taking place.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ike Perlmutter, Donald Trump's, Perlmutter, Trump, Perlmutter's, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ron, DeSantis, Bob Iger, Iger Organizations: Marvel Entertainment, US Department of Veterans, Disney, Trump, PAC, Commission, Department of Veterans Affairs, Marvel, Republican, Florida Republican Gov, DeSantis PAC, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Star Wars Locations: Washington , DC, Florida

☆ With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. interview, Musk again uses Twitter to promote candidates aligned with his views
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

On Monday, Musk is set to share an audio chatroom with Robert Kennedy Jr., the anti-vaccine activist and Democratic candidate for president. Instagram’s parent, Meta, has also banned accounts belonging to Kennedy’s anti-vaccine advocacy group. But by putting Kennedy center stage on Twitter, Musk appears poised to promote these views further to his millions of followers. Ron DeSantis, who announced his White House bid with Musk during a Twitter Spaces event last month plagued by technical glitches. That could be the very thing that drives away more moderate candidates from accepting Musk’s “invitation” to appear alongside him.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Robert Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, Anthony Fauci, Instagram, “, Joe Biden, Williamson, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, Musk’s Organizations: CNN, Twitter, Democratic, ”, Florida Republican Gov Locations: Nazi Germany, Washington, coronavirus

Ambassador and South Carolina Republican Gov. Nikki Haley has walked a long and windy road when it comes to her one-time boss, former President Donald Trump. DeSantis’ announcement nears: NBC News’ Dasha Burns reports that Florida Republican Gov. And the New York Times reports DeSantis has been telling donors that out of the three “credible” candidates for president (Trump, himself and President Biden), only he and Biden can win. Raising eyebrows: Virginia GOP Gov.

☆ Florida Governor DeSantis to enter US presidential race next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, May 17 (Reuters) - Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will officially enter the 2024 U.S. presidential race next week, according to two sources familiar with the decision, immediately becoming Donald Trump's biggest rival for the Republican nomination and shaking up a contest that largely has been one-sided. DeSantis will likely file paperwork declaring his candidacy on May 25 to coincide with a donor meeting in Miami, with a more formal launch the week of May 29, according to a source. Those attacks have taken a toll on DeSantis’ standing in national polls. But DeSantis and his advisers hoped to use the legislature’s session as a springboard to a campaign announcement and have stayed true to their timetable. DeSantis, 44, was re-elected as governor just last year, trouncing his Democratic opponent by nearly 20 percentage points.

☆ DeSantis to enter presidential race next week: sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsDeSantis to enter presidential race next week: sourcesPostedSources say Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will officially join the 2024 U.S. presidential race next week, making him Donald Trump's biggest rival for the Republican nomination. Gabe Singer reports.

Law Firms Boies Schiller Flexner LLP FollowMay 1 (Reuters) - A lawyer in the Florida attorney general's office has left to join U.S. law firm Boies Schiller Flexner, the firm said Monday. Deputy Solicitor General Evan Ezray has rejoined the firm's Fort Lauderdale, Florida office as a partner, the firm said. Ezray previously worked at the law firm co-founded by prominent lawyer David Boies from 2017 to 2020, according to his LinkedIn profile. The solicitor general is the chief appellate attorney for the state of Florida and part of the Florida attorney general's office. Read more:Florida board to countersue DisneyU.S. appeals court upholds Florida voting law that judge found discriminatoryDisney sues Florida's DeSantis for 'weaponizing' governmentFlorida judge blocks Republican-backed voting law as discriminatoryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Rubio warned politicians against going after companies for 'political purposes' after Disney sued DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Marco Rubio said lawmakers should avoid looking like they are going after companies for "political purposes." Disney has sued Florida Republican Gov. Fox host Brian Kilmeade asked Rubio about comments by some Republicans, who criticized DeSantis for targeting the company. Disney sued DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president, on Wednesday, saying that the governor was trying to "weaponize government power" by targeting the company. But when it comes to Disney, Rubio said he doesn't think the company is going to leave Florida.

Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney's virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks attract millions of visitors each year. "Disney now is forced to defend itself against a State weaponizing its power to inflict political punishment," the company said. DeSantis has argued that Disney, which employs roughly 75,000 people in Florida, had been enjoying unfair advantages for decades. Carlos Curbelo, a former U.S. Republican congressman from Miami, said DeSantis' attacks on Disney "made sense for a time." Florida's new oversight body on Wednesday said Disney's plans for potential expansion of Disney World did not comply with state law, and declared that agreement void.

Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney's virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks are located and attract millions of visitors each year. In the action filed in federal court in Tallahassee, Disney said it had no choice but to take legal action. DeSantis has argued that Disney, which employs roughly 75,000 people in the Florida, had been operating with unfair advantages for decades. Carlos Curbelo, a former U.S. Republican congressman from Miami, said DeSantis' attacks on Disney "made sense for a time." Florida's new oversight board on Wednesday said Disney's plans for potential expansion of Disney World did not comply with state law, and declared that agreement void.

April 26 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) sued Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, asking a court to overturn state efforts to control the Walt Disney World theme parks and intensifying a battle between a global entertainment giant and a potential White House contender. A DeSantis spokesman called Disney's action "an unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of Florida voters." Disney also argues it was denied its First Amendment rights to free speech. State Republicans last year targeted Disney after it publicly clashed with DeSantis. But before the takeover by DeSantis' appointees, Disney pushed through changes to the special tax district agreement that limit the board's action for decades.

☆ Explainer: How did the battle between Ron DeSantis and Disney escalate?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 26 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) sued Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, asking a federal court to overturn state efforts to exert greater control over the Walt Disney World theme parks. DeSantis responded by urging the legislature to abolish a special district that gave Disney virtual autonomy over the development of its theme parks in central Florida. The Florida State legislature created the Reedy Creek Improvement District in 1967 to promote the development of Walt Disney World on a 38.5-square miles of land. HOW DO VOTERS FEEL ABOUT THE DESANTIS VS. DISNEY BATTLE? Forty-four percent of Republican respondents in an April Reuters/Ipsos poll said they had a more favorable view of DeSantis because of the fight with Disney.

☆ DeSantis is calling up Republican lawmakers in his state to try to stop them endorsing Trump, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

DeSantis aides have called Florida lawmakers to try stop them endorsing Trump, NBC News reported. They asked lawmakers to delay endorsements, after four state lawmakers backed Trump. Ron DeSantis have been calling other lawmakers in the state to try and stop them endorsing former President Donald Trump for the 2024 presidency, NBC News reported. DeSantis' team have contacted at least six members of Florida's congressional delegation, sources close to four of those members told NBC News. Insider has contacted DeSantis' office for comment.

[1/2] A screen shows the logo and a ticker symbol for The Walt Disney Company on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidLOS ANGELES, April 3 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) Chief Executive Bob Iger fired back at Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday, saying his apparent retaliation against Disney for taking a position on legislation was "anti-business." Soon after, DeSantis and the Florida legislature moved to eliminate the virtual autonomy the company enjoyed in the running of Walt Disney World in Orlando. He also noted that Disney employs 75,000 people in the state and will welcome 50 million visitors to Disney World this year. "These efforts simply to retaliate for a position the company took sounds not just anti-business, but it sounds anti-Florida," Iger said.

☆ Florida is gearing up to pass tons of new laws over the next two months: 'It's the Ron DeSantis show'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Florida lawmakers are meeting over the next 60 days to pass new legislation. "It's the Ron DeSantis show," House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said. Ron DeSantis hasn't formally announced he's running for president — and that's in part because his business in Florida isn't finished yet. "Unfortunately, it's the Ron DeSantis show, we all know this," House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell of Polk County told reporters Monday. Florida Republican Gov.

☆ DeSantis calls for 'crippling the ESG movement' in new book
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Ron DeSantis in a new book calls for politicians to suppress the influence of "woke capital" and activist corporations, in part by "crippling" the socially conscious investing movement known as ESG. DeSantis' book tears into ESG in multiple chapters, while invoking the politically loaded and nebulous term "woke" nearly four dozen times. ESG is one way in which "woke capital exerts a pernicious influence on society," DeSantis argued in the book. DeSantis' book also details his fights with entertainment giant Disney, whose Disney World park in Orlando has long provided an important revenue stream for the state. Whether DeSantis makes ESG a campaign priority or not, the issue will continue to draw controversy on Capitol Hill.

The Democrats’ 2024 Senate map was already going to be tough, and it got a little bit harder now that Michigan Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow announced Thursday she would not run for re-election. Michigan is one of the five states President Biden won in 2020 by less than 4 percentage points where the Democrats currently have a seat up for re-election next year. And there are three more Democratic seats up in 2024 in states that Trump won. In other 2024 news:Gallego makes more moves: Arizona Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego is making high-profile hires as he considers a Senate bid, Politico reports. Chris Sununu told Fox News “a lot of folks” want him to run for president and took a swipe at Florida Republican Gov.

But first: The results from five counties will help tell us if Democrat Raphael Warnock is on track to win tonight’s Senate runoff in Georgia. Warnock got 56.9% of the vote in Cobb when he won the Jan. 2021 runoff, and he got just under that last November (56.8%). And in Gwinnett, Warnock got 60.6% of the vote in the 2021 runoff, compared with 58.9% last month against Walker. In rural Chattooga — one of NBC News’ “County to County” counties — Warnock got just 20.5% when he won the 2021 runoff, and he got less than that in the November general election (19.8%). Data Download: The number of the day is … $7.79 billionThat’s how much money was spent on political television, radio and digital ads this entire cycle (starting the day after the 2021 Georgia Senate runoff through today’s runoff), per AdImpact.

☆ Donald Trump launches his 2024 presidential campaign in a bid to seize early momentum
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Christina Wilkie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he attends a rally in Warren, Michigan, October 1, 2022. created the Donald J. Trump for President 2024, and officially launched the 2024 Republican presidential primary, a contest where the dynamics have shifted dramatically in the past week. The Florida governor has reportedly met with donors and started assembling his own presidential campaign to challenge Trump for the GOP nomination. Biden has yet to formally launch his reelection campaign, but plans for a campaign have reportedly solidified in recent weeks. Federal Election Commission rules prohibit Trump from using the leadership PAC money to directly finance his presidential campaign.

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