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☆ Inside the rise of true-crime podcast empire MrBallen, from TikTok and Amazon to live events
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In the four years since he began creating content, MrBallen has become a fixture in the true-crime world and built an empire that spans video content, podcasts, live events, and a talent-management company. "I realized that I had first-mover advantage on TikTok," Allen told Business Insider. "This is a 50-50 partnership through and through, where he has his side of the business, and I have my side of the business," Witters said. "I'll never run out of content," Allen said. Now, Ballen Studios publishes four weekly podcasts, with more shows to be released this year, as well as weekly content across all social platforms.

Persons: Doja Cat, MrBallen, John Allen, Addison Rae, Allen, Nick Witters, Witters, John, Cadence13 Zak Levitt, Joe Rogan's, Nick, we've Organizations: YouTube, Business, Ballen Studios, Amazon Music, Spotify, Ballen

☆ Second Amendment Supreme Court Hearing a Major Case on Gun Rights and Domestic Violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Adam Liptak | Aishvarya Kavi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

The federal law at the heart of a major Supreme Court case that could determine the scope of gun rights in the United States deals with one of the country’s most vexing problems. “We don’t do it for the prosecutions,” said Jennifer Becker, the director of the National Center on Gun Violence in Relationships at the Battered Women’s Justice Project. But the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in June last year vastly expanded a person’s right to carry a gun in public and upended the standard for determining whether gun laws are constitutional. If the court overturns the federal law, the ruling is likely to reverberate across the country, legal experts say. Currently, 32 states and the District of Columbia all have similar laws that prevent people with domestic violence protection orders from having guns, according to Everytown for Gun Safety.

Persons: ”, Jennifer Becker, “, Ms, Becker, Zackey, John Allen Muhammad, Clarence Thomas, Adam Liptak Organizations: National Center, Women’s, New York Times, District of Columbia, Gun Safety, RAND Corporation, Times Locations: United States, Washington, Louisiana, Ohio

To boost his profile, Zuberi also donated to, or hired, several Washington advocacy groups, lobbying shops and public relations firms. Those officials included Olson, former NATO supreme commander Gen. Wesley Clark and former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement John Sandweg. The trio lobbied U.S. officials after returning from their Doha meeting with Qatari officials, the FBI said. He added that one of his greatest regrets was recruiting Allen into the effort because of the subsequent negative publicity. Allen has denied any wrongdoing but stepped down as president of the Brookings Institution, a prestigious Washington think tank, amid the FBI investigation.

Persons: —, Richard G, Olson, Obama, Imaad Zuberi, Judge G, Michael Harvey, Harvey, Prosecutors, Evan Turgeon, Turgeon, Zuberi, Harvey's, “, Joe Biden, Zubari, Wesley Clark, John Sandweg, John Allen, Allen, strategize, ___ Mustian Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, State, Prosecutors, FBI, Justice Department's, Press, NATO, . Immigration, Allen, Brookings Institution Locations: Persian, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, Zuberi, Washington, Doha, U.S, New York

The sheriff who oversees Bernalillo County and the police chief in Albuquerque said they won’t enforce the governor's order because it violates constitutional rights. Lujan Grisham defended her order as necessary, and rebuffed any calls for impeachment. Some critics have said it’s concerning that only those who want to curb gun rights have the Democratic governor’s ear. Top law enforcement officials and prosecutors have said they weren’t consulted before Lujan Grisham sprung on them an order that even she admits will be ignored by criminals. The Catholic Church was among the few who joined longtime gun-control advocates on Monday in support of the order.

Persons: Mark Abramson's, Abramson, ”, “ It's, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Amber Archuleta, Ray Wilson, Mike Leathers, Lujan Grisham, “, weren’t, Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, ” Allen, Archuleta's, Lujan Grisham's, ” Joshua Archuleta, John C, Terry Tang, Scott Sonner, Morgan Lee Organizations: —, State Police, New, Twitter, Bernalillo County Sheriff, Catholic Church, Associated Press Locations: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M, Albuquerque, Taos County, U.S, Bernalillo County, Albuquerque's Old, Wester, Santa Fe, Phoenix, Reno , Nevada, Santa Fe , New Mexico

☆ New Mexico sheriff refuses to enforce governor's gun ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Andrew Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Governor of New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks at a Democratic Party of New Mexico campaign rally featuring U.S. President Joe Biden at the Gallegos Community Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S., November 3, 2022. Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said he did not want to endanger his deputies by making them enforce the ban. "This order will not do anything to curb gun violence other than punish law-abiding citizens who have a constitutional right to self defense," Allen said at a press briefing. Lujan Grisham last week declared gun violence a public health emergency after an 11-year-old boy was shot dead in Albuquerque, apparently in an act of road rage. New Mexico State Police has not issued any citations, spokesman Ray Wilson said.

Persons: New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham, Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Michelle Lujan Grisham's, Lujan Grisham, Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, Allen, Ted Lieu, Albuquerque, Harold Medina, Ray Wilson, Andrew Hay, Lincoln Organizations: Democratic Party of New, U.S, Gallegos Community Center, REUTERS, New, Bernalillo County Sheriff, Constitution, New Mexico State Police, Thomson Locations: New Mexico, Democratic Party of New Mexico, Albuquerque , New Mexico, U.S, Albuquerque, Bernalillo, United States, Bernalillo County, Ted Lieu of California, Colorado

Michelle Lujan Grisham's emergency order suspending the right to carry firearms in public in and around Albuquerque drew an immediate court challenge from a gun-rights group Saturday, as legal scholars and advocates said they expected. The governor, a Democrat, said the 30-day suspension, enacted as an emergency public health measure, would apply in most public places, from city sidewalks to parks. The top Republican in the New Mexico Senate, Greg Baca of Belen, also denounced Lujan Grisham’s order as an infringement on the gun rights of law-abiding citizens. Levinson said she was not aware of any other governor taking a step as restrictive as Lujan Grisham. “I don’t think it will be a political loss for (Lujan Grisham) to be overturned,” Levinson said.

Persons: Michelle Lujan, Foster Haines, Lujan Grisham, ”, Jessica Levinson, Sam Bregman, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, Harold Medina, Bregman, Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, “, ” Allen, ” Medina, Gilbert Gallegos, Levinson, ” Levinson, Dudley Brown, Greg Baca, Lujan Grisham’s, Dan Lewis, Gavin Newsom, Jacob Charles, ” Charles, ” ___ Ritter, Stern, Sonner, Rio, Morgan Lee, Terry Tang, Felicia Fonseca Organizations: New, New Mexico Gov, National Association for Gun Rights, Loyola Marymount’s Loyola Law School, Democratic, Saturday, Albuquerque Mayor, Police, Bernalillo County Sheriff, U.S . Department of Justice, Press, Republican, New Mexico Senate, Council, of Health, California Gov, Democrat, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, Las Vegas, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: New Mexico, Albuquerque, U.S, Los Angeles, Bernalillo County, Bernalillo, Taos County, “, Colorado, Belen, Las, Reno , Nevada, Las Vegas, Santa Fe, , New Mexico, Phoenix, Flagstaff , Arizona

☆ New Mexico governor takes executive action to curb gun violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Conor Powell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared gun violence and drug abuse a public health emergency after a string of recent deadly shootings, some involving children. Lujan Grisham cited the shooting deaths of three children from July through September, as well as a pair of mass shootings in the state. “The time for standard measures has passed,” said Lujan Grisham, a Democrat. The order also prohibits firearms on state property, including state buildings and schools, as well as parks and other places where children gather. The state has one of the highest rates of gun violence and suicide in the nation.

Persons: Michelle Lujan Grisham, Lujan Grisham, ”, Sam Bregman, Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, Harold Medina, Pete Kassetas Organizations: CNN, New, New Mexico Gov, Democrat, Bernalillo, Bernalillo County Sheriff, Albuquerque Police, State Police Locations: New Mexico, Albuquerque, Bernalillo County

CNN —Pope Francis urged Chinese Catholics to be “good citizens” and “good Christians,” a rare instance of the Holy Father publicly addressing the issue of religion in China. Mongolia is sandwiched between Russia, whose invasion of Ukraine Francis has publicly criticized, and China, an atheist state where religious practice is heavily curtailed by the government. And to the Chinese Catholics, I ask you to be good Christians and good citizens.”Pope Francis leads Mass at the Steppe Arena in Ulaanbaatar on Sunday. Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty ImagesChina may be officially an atheist state, but religious practice is legal in the country – albeit under tight government supervision and surveillance. Francis landed in Mongolia Friday for a trip that has lacked the usual fanfare of a Papal visit.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis ’, Pope, Ukraine Francis, Stephen Chow, Cardinal John Tong, ”, Francis, Hong, “, ” Pope Francis, Mass, Pedro Pardo, Pontiff Organizations: CNN, Hong Kong’s, Getty, Vatican News, Mongolian, Sunday Locations: China, Mongolian, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Vatican, Beijing, AFP, Russian

☆ This New Zealand city is trying to recruit Americans—what it's actually like to move there
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

If you've ever dreamt about moving abroad, the capital city of New Zealand just made it easier. Wellington tends to attract early-career workers and those in search of a better balance, Allen says: "Here, people are more relaxed in their work life. Jon Kroll moved from LA to Wellington, New Zealand, in 2022. New quality of life boost is 'off the charts'Kroll says the cost of living is pretty comparable to life in LA. Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life?

Persons: John Allen, Allen, That's, Wellington Jon Kroll, Jon Kroll, Karen Kroll Kroll, Karen, Kroll, Warren Buffett Organizations: New Zealand, U.S, FIFA, WellingtonNZ, Wellington Locations: New Zealand, Wellington, Australia, LA, Los Angeles, Wellington , New Zealand

CNN —Pope Francis has issued a message for the first time since undergoing abdominal surgery, asking the faithful to “keep me in your prayers.”“I sincerely appreciate the prayers and numerous expressions of closeness and affection received in the past few days,” the Pontiff said in a tweet posted Friday. I ask you to keep me in your prayers,” he added. The pope remains in Rome’s Gemelli hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery on Wednesday. On Friday afternoon, the pope “gathered in prayer and devoted himself to work” and in the evening he received the Eucharist, Bruni said. “Pope Francis is touched by the numerous messages that he continues to receive in these hours; in particular he intends to address his thoughts and his thanks to the children currently hospitalized, for the affection and love received through their drawings and their messages,” Bruni said.

Persons: Pope Francis, ” “, “, ”, Matteo Bruni, ” Bruni, Bruni, “ Pope Francis Organizations: CNN Locations: Rome’s Gemelli

Rome CNN —Pope Francis was recovering well in a Rome hospital on Thursday, the day after the 86-year-old had abdominal surgery that renewed health fears. “This wasn’t an urgent surgery,” Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the surgeon who operated on Pope Francis, said at a press conference. Pope Francis, seated in a wheelchair, attended a weekly general audience at the Vatican on June 7. Pope’s fragile healthThis operation is the latest in a series of health scares surrounding Pope Francis. Medical sources say that the intervention was likely related to the surgery Francis underwent in 2021, which removed half of his colon.

Persons: Rome, Rome CNN — Pope Francis, “, ”, Matteo Bruni, Francis, ” Dr, Sergio Alfieri, Pope Francis, ” Alfieri, Andreas Solaro, Alfieri, he’s “, –, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Bruni, Francis ’, Pope Francis now, Annatuli, Carina, State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Tarcisio Bertone, ’ ”, Pope Benedict XVI, Gregory XII, Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: Rome CNN, Vatican, Gemelli, Reuters, Catholic, Papal, Getty, CNN, Spanish, ABC, State, Catholic Church Locations: Rome, AFP, The Prefecture, Mexico, Myanmar, Iraq, Ukraine

☆ Pope Francis to have abdominal surgery, in latest health concern
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( John Allen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Rome CNN —Pope Francis will have surgery on his abdomen and remain in a Rome hospital for several days, the Vatican said Wednesday, sparking renewed fears over the 86-year-old’s fragile health. The pope was forced to cancel several work commitments in late May after he was debilitated by a fever. According to medical sources, the intervention is likely related to the surgery Francis experienced in 2021 to remove half of his colon. Should Francis be incapacitated for any length of time, the Vatican could find itself facing something of a constitutional crisis. Francis said he wrote the letter several years ago and gave it to then-Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who resigned in 2013.

Persons: Rome, Rome CNN — Pope Francis, Francis, he’s “, Vatican, Matteo Bruni, ” Francis, Pius XI, ”, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Tarcisio Bertone, ’ ”, Francis ’, Pope Benedict XVI, “, Gregory XII Organizations: Rome CNN, Vatican, Rome’s Clinic, Catholic, Spanish, ABC, State Locations: Rome, St

☆ Nestlé says food prices will rise further this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Food, including ice cream, will see significant price increases in 2023, CEO Alan Jope said on the same call. Unilever said price increases caused sales volumes to decline by 2.1% in 2022. Heineken, meanwhile, said it expected to sell less beer in Europe this year because of “steep” price increases related to energy costs. At the time, Tesco (TSCDF) described the company’s price increases as “unjustifiable.” Once the products were restored, prices were unchanged on Heinz’s most popular lines. Gabby Jones/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesTesco has also “fallen out with other suppliers” over price increases, its chairman John Allen recently told the BBC.

☆ DOJ Closes Investigation Into Former Gen. John Allen Without Bringing Charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Michael R. Gordon | C. Ryan Barber | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Justice Department dropped an investigation into whether retired Marine Gen. John Allen allegedly lobbied for the Qatari government, with federal prosecutors declining to bring criminal charges, Gen. Allen’s defense lawyer said. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment but a person familiar with the matter confirmed that federal prosecutors have closed the investigation.

☆ Gen. Mark Milley said there were talks about court-martialing former military officers who wrote 'very critical' op-eds of Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gen. Mark Milley said there were talks of retaliating against retired officers critical of Trump. Several former military officers wrote up-eds criticizing Trump during his presidency. Milley said he was concerned about politicization of the military in his testimony before the January 6 committee. Milley responded by saying he was concerned about the politicization of the military, and that the issue had come up during the Trump administration after op-eds written by retired military officers were "very critical of then President Trump." Milley did not specify which retired military officers were considered for court-martialing, but several wrote critical op-eds of Trump during his time in office.

☆ Former Pope Benedict was first pontiff to resign in 600 years
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +14 min

[1/3] Pope Benedict XVI blesses a baby as he rides around St Peter's Square to hold his last general audience at the Vatican February 27, 2013. REUTERS/Max Rossi/File PhotoVATICAN CITY, Dec 31 - Former Pope Benedict, who died on Saturday aged 95, was the first pontiff in 600 years to resign, leaving behind a Catholic Church battered by sexual abuse scandals, mired in mismanagement and polarised between conservatives and progressives. Benedict, the first German pope in 1,000 years, had good relations with his successor, Pope Francis, but his continued presence inside the Vatican after he stepped down in 2013 further polarised the Church ideologically. Although he said he would remain "hidden from the world", Benedict did not live up to that promise and in retirement sometimes caused controversy and confusion through his writings. Ganswein's role as a middleman between Benedict and the cardinal was unclear, with many believing he had misled Benedict, the cardinal, or both.

☆ Major gun safety group turns its attention to sheriff races with new ads
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Alex-Seitz-Wald-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Alex Seitz-Wald | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — The country’s largest gun safety group is turning its attention down ballot by pumping money into local sheriff races this election. Everytown for Gun Safety, the massive gun control group founded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, told NBC News on Friday it's “leaving no stone unturned in the fight to end gun violence” and will spend $300,000 on digital ads in two sheriff races this year. County sheriffs, unlike most law enforcement officers, are directly elected by voters in most parts of the country. “Sheriffs are elected to enforce the law, not make them,” said John Feinblatt, head of Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund. The Bernalillo County race in New Mexico race falls along more familiar partisan lines.

☆ The best investing stories of May: Advice from top-tier money managers, tips from Wall Street royalty, and stock picks for a post-coronavirus world
▼ + stars: | 2020-06-02 | by ( Business Insider | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In an exclusive interview, the Gamco chairman shared the investing themes he's tracking, including what he's doing in media, healthcare, and utilities. David Dudding's mutual fund has consistently dominated peers, and it's one of the best global stock funds in 2020. He detailed for us the major themes in his portfolio, what he's done since the pandemic started, and his top picks for the future. Commentary/outlooks from top-tier investors and Wall Street firmsBusiness Insider surveyed 10 fund and portfolio managers on various aspects of their strategies in a post-pandemic world. The attractiveness of US assets relative to the rest of the world is brewing a bubble in the stock market, according to equity-derivatives strategists at Bank of America.

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