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☆ Boeing Whistle-Blower Details His Concerns to Congressional Panel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Mark Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A Boeing engineer who went public last week with safety concerns about the company’s 787 Dreamliner told a Senate panel on Wednesday that he was concerned that shortcuts the company was taking would eventually lead to a crash if they continued unchecked. The engineer, Sam Salehpour, testified that in an attempt to address bottlenecks, Boeing introduced production shortcuts with the potential to lead to planes breaking apart during flights. Mr. Salehpour said that the company was knowingly putting out defective planes and that he was punished by his superiors for raising his concerns. “Details that are the size of a human hair can be a matter of life and death,” Mr. Salehpour said. Mr. Salehpour, who has been at Boeing for over a decade, said the problems resulted from changes in how sections of the Dreamliner were fastened together during the manufacturing process.

Persons: Dreamliner, Sam Salehpour, Salehpour, Mr, ” Mr Organizations: Boeing, Senate Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs

☆ Trump and his GOP allies kneecap a border compromise they should have loved
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Bill would mean a huge change in the lawThe border compromise would represent a dramatic change of immigration law on lines many Republicans have long supported. 2 won only GOP support when it passed the House and all those who voted for it knew there was never a chance it could get through a Democratic Senate and White House. “Any national security package has to begin with the security of our own border,” Johnson said in December. “Only a fool, or a Radical Left Democrat, would vote for this horrendous Border Bill,” the ex-president wrote on Truth Social on Monday. “This is the chaos when Donald Trump is back in charge of the Republican Party,” Murphy told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Oklahoma’s James Lankford, ”, Dan Bongino, Mississippi Sen, Roger Wicker, Mitch McConnell’s, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Alejandro Mayorkas, thrall, Kevin McCarthy, “, ” McCarthy, Lankford, McCarthy, CNN’s Manu Raju, Biden, didn’t, Biden’s, he’d, Barack Obama, George W, Bush, ” McConnell, Bill, Tim Burchett, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ” Johnson, he’s, –, it’s, harangue Biden, ” Trump, imperil Biden’s, Trump . Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, Donald Trump, ” Murphy, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Organizations: CNN, Donald Trump’s Republican Party, White, Trump, Republicans, GOP, Republican, Homeland, Border Patrol, Democratic, California Republican, Senate Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, Congress, Customs, Department of Homeland Security, ” Tennessee, Radical Left Democrat, Democrats, Republican Party, Trump . Connecticut Locations: Washington, Mississippi, California, Oklahoma, Mexico, H.R, Ukraine, Trump .

director, said on Wednesday that the bureau had opened a slew of investigations into Hamas as it tries to thwart potential attacks and stymie financial support for the militant group. He added, “We’ve kept our sights on Hamas and have multiple investigations into individuals affiliated with that foreign terrorist organization.”Among those killed on Oct. 7 were about three dozen American citizens, with another 10 unaccounted for. In a heated exchange, Mr. Wray said neither F.B.I. “The answer is, emphatically not,” Mr. Wray said, his temper rising. “Your day is coming, Mr. Wray,” he said.

Persons: Christopher A, Wray, Mr, “ we’ve, “ We’ve, ” Mr, ”, Clay Higgins, peddled, Higgins Organizations: Homeland Security, Hamas, Islamic, Governmental Affairs, Republican, Capitol Locations: United States, Israel, Islamic State, Al Qaeda, Gaza, Louisiana

"The actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven't seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate several years ago," Wray said. The remarks came during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee focused on threats to the United States. The number of attacks on U.S. military bases overseas by Iran-backed militia groups have risen this month, Wray said. Cyber attacks against the U.S. by Iran and non-state actors will likely worsen if the conflict expands, he said. During the hearing, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that hate directed at Jewish students in the U.S. following the start of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza has added to an increase in antisemitism.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Christopher Wray, Christine Abizaid, Wray, General Merrick Garland, Ted Hesson, Doina Chiacu, Andrew Goudsward, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Homeland, FBI, National Counterterrorism, Senate Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, Capitol, ISIS, U.S . Senate Homeland Security, U.S, United Nations, Jewish, White, U.S . Justice Department, Thomson Locations: United States, Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Arab, Iran, Washington

WASHINGTON, July 27 (Reuters) - U.S. senators, alarmed by the malevolent potential of artificial intelligence, will summon developers, executives and experts for hearings later this year on possible legislative safeguards, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Thursday. Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer, the chamber's leading Democrat, said the Senate would convene what he called "the first-ever AI Insight Forums" to hear what experts had to say. Democratic and Republican senators voiced alarm this week about artificial intelligence's potential use to create a biological weapon. Schumer said senators were briefed on AI on Wednesday by experts at the U.S. Energy Department, the National Science Foundation and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, which had laid the groundwork for the internet. Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Howard GollerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Diane Bartz, Howard Goller Organizations: Democratic, U.S . Energy Department, National Science Foundation, Defense, Research Projects Agency, DARPA, Senate Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, Thomson

☆ Rory McIlroy says he’d rather retire ‘if LIV Golf was the last place on Earth to play golf’
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Rory McIlroy said on Thursday that he would rather retire than compete on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour even if it “was the last place on Earth to play golf.”Four-time major winner McIlroy has been a vocal opponent of the breakaway golf tour ever since it came into existence a few years ago, threatening the very foundations of the sport. “If LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on Earth, I would retire. “I’d play the majors, but I’d be pretty comfortable.”CNN has reached out to LIV Golf and the PGA Tour to offer them the right of reply. Earlier this week, witnesses – including PGA Tour Chief Operating Officer Ron Price and Jimmy Dunne, a company board member who helped broker the deal – faced scrutiny from committee members over the deal. “As long as I get to play golf, I’m happy.

Persons: Rory McIlroy, LIV, “, McIlroy, LIV Golf, ”, Tiger Woods, –, Ron Price, Jimmy Dunne, Richard Blumenthal, Price, Dunne, Sen, ” Dunne, ” McIlroy, Gregory Shamus, Randall Stephenson, ” Stephenson, Jamal Khashoggi, Mohammed bin Salman, Khashoggi, Salman, ’ ’ McIlroy, I’ve, there’s Organizations: CNN, LIV, PGA, Scottish, Saudi Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf, US, Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, Connecticut Democrat, RBC Canadian Locations: Saudi, American, Connecticut, Saudi Arabia

☆ Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack preceded by intelligence agency failures - Senate report
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Since then, the U.S. government has won hundreds of convictions against the rioters, with some getting long prison sentences. Trump currently is seen as the leading candidate to win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Intelligence agencies on Jan. 3-4, 2021, knew of multiple postings on social media calling for armed violence and storming the Capitol. The Senate report noted that the Office of Intelligence and Analysis had been criticized then for "over-collecting intelligence on American citizens," resulting "in a 'pendulum swing' after which analysts were then hesitant to report open-source intelligence they were seeing in the lead-up to January 6th." The report concluded there is a "clear need ... for a reevaluation of the federal government’s domestic intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination processes."

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Joe Biden, Jan, Gary Peters, Donald Trump, Trump, Biden, George Floyd, Richard Cowan, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Police, Trump, U.S . Congress, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Senate Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs Committee, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Republicans, Republican, Democrats, Democrat, Intelligence, DHS National Operations Center, DHS, of Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Washington, Minneapolis

☆ OpenAI CEO wows lawmakers at closed dinner: 'Fantastic…forthcoming'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman spoke to an engaged crowd of about 60 lawmakers at a dinner Monday about the advanced artificial technology his company produces and the challenges of regulating it. The wide-ranging discussion that lasted about two hours came ahead of Altman's first time testifying before Congress at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on privacy and technology hearing on Tuesday. The dinner discussion comes at a peak moment for AI, which has thoroughly captured Congress' fascination. "There isn't any question where he pulls back on anything," she said, adding that lawmakers had very thoughtful things to ask. Khanna said the question of openness of the model is something he's discussed with Altman before, though not at Monday's dinner.

☆ U.S. cyber official praises Apple security and suggests Microsoft, Twitter need to step it up
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Jen Easterly, nominee to be the Director of the Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, testifies during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on June 10, 2021 in Washington, DC. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly held up Apple as a positive example of accountability and transparency for its security practices during a speech delivered Monday at Carnegie Mellon University. In doing so, Easterly said, "Apple is taking ownership for the security outcomes of their users." By contrast, Easterly said there are low MFA adoption rates at Microsoft and Twitter. "By providing radical transparency around MFA adoption, these organizations are helping shine a light on the necessity of security by default," Easterly said, per her prepared remarks.

☆ Who is Shou Zi Chew? Mounting scrutiny on TikTok could put new spotlight on its CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Months later, when TikTok was grilled by Congress over privacy and security concerns, Pappas was the TikTok executive in the hot seat fielding questions. But Chew, who took over as TikTok CEO in April 2021, has largely stayed out of the spotlight at a time when the app he leads can’t seem to avoid it. He eventually went on to become the CFO of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi, which he helped take public in 2018. While Chew is not a Chinese national, Quint noted Chinese tech companies and leaders that have drawn too much attention to themselves have faced tough government crackdowns. Ultimately, Quint said, “I don’t think the CEO of TikTok has much relevance at all” for US lawmakers scrutinizing its ties to China.

☆ New bill will force Twitter, TikTok and other social media platforms to increase transparency by sharing internal data
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill on Wednesday aimed at increasing transparency for Twitter , Facebook and other social media companies as lawmakers debate whether to ban TikTok. The Platform Accountability and Transparency Act is intended to make the companies' internal data more accessible to the public by requiring the submission of necessary data to independent researchers. Under the proposal, social media companies would be compelled to provide internal, privacy-protected data to researchers who've been approved by the National Science Foundation, an independent agency. The bill protects researchers from legal liabilities associated with automatic data collection if certain privacy safeguards are followed. Earlier this month, lawmakers floated a bill to ban the popular social media platform TikTok in the U.S. after years of speculation about the Chinese government's influence on ByteDance, the China-based company that owns TikTok.

☆ Kevin McCarthy's oversight agenda will be 'a recurring skit on SNL' if he makes MAGA cheerleaders Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert investigators: GOP strategists
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert want in on the GOP oversight blitz. the Oversight Committee member said of the need to keep congressional probes above board. McCarthy's office has repeatedly told Insider that the House GOP steering committee, which McCarthy leads, will handle assignments for the next Congress "at the appropriate time." Aaron Cutler, a former House GOP leadership aide and now partner at Hogan Lovells, urged House Republicans to avoid "focusing on the wrong things," and to cut bait if needed. Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty ImagesGiven that some sort of spectacle is probably unavoidable at this point, Roe urged House Republicans to tread carefully.

☆ Sen. Sinema's switch to Independent will not impact Democrats' control of the chamber, representatives say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced her decision on Friday to leave the Democrats and register as an independent, but many members of Congress have said the switch likely won't impact the Democrats' narrow control of the U.S. Senate. The pair have been wild cards for Democrats since the party gained narrow control of the Senate from Republicans in 2020. In a tweet Friday, Sinema said her decision to switch parties was a "natural extension" of her service. "I think whether she's a Democrat or a Republican, that really doesn't matter," the Democrat told NBC's "Meet the Press." By keeping her assignments, Sinema signaled she intends to continue to caucus with Democrats as an independent.

☆ Democrats detail effects of early pandemic failures in new Senate report
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Shannon-Pettypiece-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Shannon Pettypiece | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The 242-page report, written by Democrats on the panel, cited long-term weaknesses in the country’s public health infrastructure, from staffing shortages and inadequate disease surveillance to poor testing systems. But the report indicated that the pandemic shortcomings extended beyond the Trump administration. Similarly, a DHS report said 96% of pharmacy owners and managers were already reporting a shortage of surgical masks, according to the report. It issued a variety of recommendations, including increasing funding to improve public health surveillance, data systems, health care surge capacity, domestic manufacturing capabilities and stockpiles of critical supplies. "This is not the first public health crisis that our nation has faced, and sadly, it won't be the last," Peters said.

☆ Here's why the Fed may have won already but is still acting like nothing has improved
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

We can bet that they will be one-upping each other about how high they want to take fed funds, the overnight bank lending rate. They seem to want to ignore anything that's succeeded since the Fed's rate increase cycle began back in March. I think that, again, if the Fed were to wait through Christmas they would see the layoffs and the corporate failures. One thing that's for certain, the buyers of the 2-year may be more sensitive to the data than the Fed. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

WASHINGTON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - The United States is deeply concerned about the Chinese government setting up unauthorized 'police stations' in U.S. cities to possibly pursue influence operations, FBI Director Christopher Wray told lawmakers on Thursday. It also linked them to activities of China's United Front Work Department, a Communist Party body charged with spreading its influence and propaganda overseas. We are aware of the existence of these stations," Wray told a U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, acknowledging but declining to detail the FBI's investigative work on the issue. Wray, asked by Republican Senator Rick Scott if such stations violated U.S. law, said the FBI was "looking into the legal parameters." Wray said the United States had made a number of indictments involving the Chinese government harassing, stalking, surveilling, and blackmailing people in the United States who disagreed with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The report found that the FBI and DHS continue to spend more on international terrorism, despite saying for years that domestic terrorism now poses a greater threat to Americans. The report said a change in how the FBI categorizes domestic terrorism ideologies has been a hindrance to understanding the problem. In 2017, FBI created a new category of domestic terrorism ideology called “Black Identity Extremists,” but then stopped using it. The report also criticized the FBI and DHS as having been conservative in hunting for threat intelligence posted publicly on social media. Research conducted by MIT’s Technology Review found that “users consistently migrate from milder to more extreme content” on YouTube.

Rep. Jared Golden ran against Republican Bruce Poliquin in Maine's 2nd Congressional District for the second time. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democratic incumbent, defeated Republican Bruce Poliquin in Maine's 2nd Congressional District. 2022 General EmbedsMaine's 2nd Congressional District candidatesGolden is the first member of Congress elected by ranked-choice voting. Poliquin, 68, represented Maine's 2nd Congressional District before Golden unseated him in 2018. Voting history for Maine's 2nd Congressional DistrictMaine's sprawling, rural 2nd Congressional District encompasses nearly 80% of the state's physical area, including Augusta, the state capital.

Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire is running for reelection to a second term. 2022 General EmbedsNew Hampshire's Senate race candidatesHassan, a former state lawmaker and two-term governor, is aiming to secure a second term in the Senate. Bolduc — who served in Afghanistan and received two Purple Hearts and five Bronze Stars — is the Republican standard-bearer in this year's Senate race. During the 2020 US Senate election that Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen won, more than 18,400 voters — about 2.3% — cast ballots for Libertarian candidate Justin O'Donnell. What experts sayThe New Hampshire race was rated as "tilt Democratic" by Inside Elections, "lean Democratic" by The Cook Political Report, and "leans Democratic" by Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Wisconsin GOP Sen. Ron Johnson is running for reelection against Democratic Lt. Gov. Senate Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. (1 District) Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. WI-03 House Governor Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Barnes has raised nearly $34.6 million, spent $32 million, and has almost $2.6 million in the bank, as of October 19.

Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire ran for reelection to a second term. 2022 General EmbedsNew Hampshire's Senate race candidatesHassan, a former state lawmaker and two-term governor, secured a second term in the Senate. Bolduc — who served in Afghanistan and received two Purple Hearts and five Bronze Stars — was the Republican standard-bearer in this year's Senate race. During the 2020 US Senate election that Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen won, more than 18,400 voters — about 2.3% — cast ballots for Libertarian candidate Justin O'Donnell. What experts sayThe New Hampshire race was rated as "tilt Democratic" by Inside Elections, "lean Democratic" by The Cook Political Report, and "leans Democratic" by Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

☆ Movement to ban TikTok: What midterms could mean for future of app
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Covers Tech For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

The effort to ban TikTok is back, and it could gain more strength after the midterm elections. Alex Brandon / AP fileExperts said there’s a steep hill to climb for those who want a total TikTok ban, but the midterms could provide a push. The renewed push for a TikTok ban or forced sale is taking place while the company is in negotiations with the Biden administration on a potential written security agreement. TikTok says it believes the agreement would address not only privacy concerns but how the app moderates content. Rubio is co-sponsoring legislation to ban TikTok from all U.S. government devices.

☆ Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan vies against Republican Don Bolduc in the New Hampshire's US Senate race
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire is running for reelection to a second term. New Hampshire's Senate race candidatesHassan, a former state lawmaker and two-term governor, is aiming to secure a second term in the Senate. Bolduc — who served in Afghanistan and received two Purple Hearts and five Bronze Stars — is the Republican standard-bearer in this year's Senate race. Sununu was deeply critical of Bolduc during the GOP primary campaign and eventually endorsed state Sen. Chuck Morse, who narrowly lost to Bolduc in the September contest. During the 2020 US Senate election that Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen won, more than 18,400 voters — about 2.3% — cast ballots for Libertarian candidate Justin O'Donnell.

☆ Rep. Jared Golden, a pro-gun Democrat, faces off against Republican Bruce Poliquin in Maine's 2nd Congressional District
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Hanna Kang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Jared Golden is running against Republican Bruce Poliquin in Maine's 2nd Congressional District for the second time. Maine's 2nd Congressional District candidatesGolden is the first member of Congress elected by ranked-choice voting. Born and raised in Maine's 2nd Congressional District, the now-40-year-old congressman in 2018 also became the first candidate to unseat an incumbent from the district in more than a century. Poliquin, 68, represented Maine's 2nd Congressional District before Golden unseated him in 2018. Voting history for Maine's 2nd Congressional DistrictMaine's 2nd Congressional District encompasses nearly 80% of the state's physical area, including Augusta, the state capital.

☆ Republican Sen. Ron Johnson faces Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes in the Wisconsin Senate race
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Wisconsin GOP Sen. Ron Johnson is running for reelection against Democratic Lt. Gov. Johnson has maintained a conservative voting record during his two terms in the Senate. In the Senate, Johnson serves on the Foreign Relations Committee, the Budget Committee, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Commerce Committee. Barnes, who in 2018 was elected as lieutenant governor on a ticket with Democratic Gov. Barnes has raised nearly $26.1 million, spent $22.7 million, and has $3.5 million in the bank, as of September 30.

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