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CNN —Judge Juan Merchan handed down his first punishment to Donald Trump for violating the judge’s gag order in the New York hush money trial Tuesday, fining Trump $9,000 for nine violations. Instead, Davidson negotiated a $130,000 hush money deal with Cohen on Daniels’ behalf, and she did not speak out publicly before the 2016 election. In his order, the judge warned Trump that he could be imprisoned if he continues to willfully violate the gag order. “All you have to do is talk to that a**hole Cohen,” Davidson recalled. His son, Eric Trump, attended the trial – the first family member of the former president to appear during the trial.

Persons: Juan Merchan, Donald Trump, fining, Daniels, Karen McDougal, Keith Davidson, Trump’s, Michael Cohen, Davidson, Cohen, Trump, –, Merchan, David Pecker, “, ” Merchan, Stormy’s, McDougal, ’, Dylan Howard –, Gina Rodriguez, “ It’s, ” Davidson, Rodriguez, Peggy Peterson, David Dennison, Joshua Steinglass, Dennison, ” Steinglass, ” Cohen, Gary Farro, Daniels ’, Farro, ” Trump, “ Michael Cohen, He’s, Judge Merchan didn't, Jean Carroll, Prosecutors, Melania Trump, Eric Trump, Susie Wiles, Ken Paxton, David McIntosh, Barron’s Organizations: CNN, fining Trump, Trump, AMI, Prosecutors, American Media Inc, Daniels . Records, Bank, Twitter, Club for Growth, Mar Locations: New York, LA, Texas

☆ How 2 participants in Houston's basic-income program plan to spend the $500 a month: 'When you live paycheck to paycheck, it's horrible'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Allie Kelly | Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

He knows the GBI money will help him breathe a little easier. Uplift Harris' program will begin payments in the meantime, according to the office of Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis. Uplift Harris participants hope the program will make them more financially stableGuaranteed basic income is an increasingly popular solution to combat poverty in US cities. GBI participants have previously told BI that they used the funds to secure housing and food, pay off debt, and afford school supplies for their children. Have you benefited from a guaranteed basic income program?

Persons: —, Delwin Sutton, doesn't, Sutton, Ken Paxton, Harris, Paxton, Rodney Ellis, Sutton doesn't, Dustin Palmer, We've, Palmer, Jay Carter, isn't, Carter, Still, Harris County Attorney Christian D, Menefee Organizations: Service, Business, Harvard, Yale, Texas Attorney, Services, American, Republican, Harris County Attorney, Austin, South Dakota Republicans, doesn't Locations: Houston, Harris, Harris County, GBI, Texas, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso County, The Arizona, South Dakota, Iowa

☆ Someone spiked the chowder with PCP on the set of 'Titanic' in 1996 — and we might finally find out how it happened
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In 1996, 80 "Titanic" cast and crew members unknowingly ate PCP-laced chowder, sparking chaos. AdvertisementOn the last day of shooting in Canada, 80 people from the set of 'Titanic' were hospitalized after ingesting PCPA still from "Titanic." Director James Cameron told Vanity Fair he felt "suddenly and very distinctly woozy" after eating chowder provided by a local caterer — though the exact type of chowder is unknown. Related storiesCameron told Vanity Fair that, in his memory, cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (father of actors Zooey and Emily Deschanel) started a conga line down the hospital hallway. The Halifax Police Department investigated for over two years before closing the case in February 1999 due to a lack of suspects, Vanity Fair reported.

Persons: —, crew's, Tricia Ralph, Ralph, James Cameron, chowder, Cameron, Bill Paxton, Larry King, Paxton, Marilyn McAvoy, Caleb Deschanel, Zooey, Emily Deschanel, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Anthony Wallace, McAvoy, Earle Scott, Scott, We'll Organizations: Nova Scotia, Service, Halifax police, Halifax Police Department, Guardian, Fox, The California, Emergency Medicine, Entertainment, Getty, Quality Foods Ltd, Hollywood, Paramount Locations: Canada, Nova Scotia, Mexico, AFP

☆ AI is threatening Americans’ jobs. Could guaranteed income provide a safety net?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

That idea of guaranteed income is receiving renewed interest as AI becomes an increasing threat to Americans’ livelihoods. As more Americans’ jobs are increasingly at risk due to the threat of AI, Tubbs and other proponents of guaranteed income say this could be one solution to help provide a safety net and cushion the expected blow AI will have on the labor market. “Then, when we have to deal with that job displacement, we’re better positioned to do so.”Silicon Valley’s infatuation with guaranteed incomeThe idea of a guaranteed income is not new. AFP/Getty ImagesDecades after King’s death, the idea of guaranteed income went on to see a resurgence of support emanating out of Silicon Valley. Other tech industry tycoons, including Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, have also thrown immense financial support behind guaranteed income programs.

Persons: CNN — Michael Tubbs, Tubbs, ”, “, ” Michael Tubbs, Nick Otto, ” Tubbs, Nathan Frandino, Let’s, Martin Luther King, Jr, I’m, ” King, King, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman —, Musk, Rishi Sunak, Zuckerberg, ” Altman, Altman, Sam Altman, Justin Sullivan, Elizabeth Rhodes, Jack Dorsey, Dorsey, Ken Paxton, ” Paxton, overreach, ‘ It’s, ’ Tomas Vargas Jr, Vargas, I’ve, that’s, ” Tomas Vargas Jr, Tomas Vargas Jr, ” Vargas Organizations: CNN, Getty, Global, Monetary Fund, Reuters, Stockton, Civil Rights, Washington DC, Elon, “, UK, Harvard, Facebook, YCombinator, Twitter, UPS Locations: Stockton , California, Silicon Valley, Big, America, Stockton, AFP, San Joaquin, U.S, Washington, Alaska, YCombinator, San Francisco , California, United States, Texas, Harris, Harris County

☆ Texas AG sues county over Houston-area guaranteed income program giving participants $500 a month no strings attached
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe Texas Attorney General's office sued Harris County, which contains Houston, over its new guaranteed income pilot that would give nearly 2,000 residents $500 a month for 18 months with no strings attached. The state is seeking to block Harris County from giving its first payments to participants, which are slated to start in April. In response, Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee said that the lawsuit is "nothing more than another attack" on the county government. The Austin Guaranteed Income Pilot has distributed $1,000 a month to 135 low-income families, who reported using their money for housing, food, and other daily costs. Republican lawmakers are trying to ban guaranteed income programs in states such as Arizona, Iowa, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Persons: —, Ken Paxton, Harris, Harris County Attorney Christian D, Menefee, Dustin Palmer, Paxton, Sen, Paul Bettencourt Organizations: Service, Texas, Business, American, Harris County Attorney, Republican, Austin Locations: Harris, Houston, Texas, Harris County, Austin, Arizona , Iowa, South Dakota, Wisconsin

☆ Texas appeals court blocks state from investigating families seeking gender-affirming care for trans youth
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Emma Tucker | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A Texas appeals court upheld two injunctions in a pair of legal cases Friday, in an order blocking the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services from investigating families of transgender youth who are seeking gender-affirming medical care for their children. The court of appeals upheld a trial court decision in the Friday order, ruling in favor of LGBTQ+ advocates and families in two related Texas lawsuits asking a state court to block the agency from investigating parents who provide their children with gender-affirming care. Paxton appealed the district court injunction in March and declared investigations could continue during the appeal process under the law. The court, in its opinion, also affirmed Paxton’s opinion does not alter preexisting law or legal obligations of the department. Abbott’s directive to the agency was seen by many as an attack on transgender children and their families.

Persons: CNN —, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, Abbott, “, ”, Paxton, Bill, Chase Strangio, ” CNN’s Amir Vera, Ashley Killough Organizations: CNN, state’s Department of Family and Protective Services, Texas Gov, Republican, Department of Family and Protective Services, ”, Lambda Legal, ACLU, Texas Supreme, Gov, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, HIV Locations: Texas, State of Texas, Travis County

☆ Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Reaches Deal to Avoid Criminal Trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( J. David Goodman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Nearly nine years after his indictment on charges of felony security fraud, Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, reached a deal with prosecutors on Tuesday to avoid a criminal trial that had been set to begin next month. The deal, announced by the prosecutors and lawyers for Mr. Paxton during a hearing in Houston, does not involve any admission of guilt but requires Mr. Paxton to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution, take legal ethics classes and perform 100 hours of community service. At the hearing, the judge in the case, Andrea Beall, asked questions but observed that the agreement had been made between the parties and the court could not block it. “No judge can force a prosecutor to present evidence or call witnesses,” Judge Beall said. “This court does not have any say in this contract,” she added, before asking Mr. Paxton, who sat silently in the courtroom, if the signature on the document was his.

Persons: Ken Paxton, Paxton, Andrea Beall, “, ” Judge Beall Locations: Texas, Houston

☆ Texas AG Paxton settles felony fraud investigation, avoiding trial and ending yearslong legal saga
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Michael Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Special prosecutor Brian Wice confirmed the case was settled in a phone call with CNN on Tuesday. A grand jury indicted Paxton on two counts of securities fraud and one count of failing to register with state securities regulators in July 2015, months after he was sworn in as attorney general. Wice told reporters after the hearing that the terms of the settlement amounted to a just conclusion to the case. He was impeached and suspended from office on allegations of corruption last May in the Republican-controlled Texas House, though a September trial in the Texas Senate acquitted him. Paxton was one of the highest-profile and last-remaining defenders of Trump’s baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.

Persons: Ken Paxton, Donald Trump, Brian Wice, ” Wice, Dan Cogdell, Paxton, ” Paxton, ”, Wice, I’m, – Paxton, Trump Organizations: CNN, Texas, of, Republican, Texas House Locations: of Texas, Texas

☆ SCOTUS airs grievances about the media during oral arguments on social media censorship case
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

During oral arguments, justices asked questions about what constitutes coercion and in what cases the government can intervene with suggestions for the conduct of social media companies — and also showed off some of their media knowledge. AdvertisementMurthy v. Missouri is one of several cases the high court will hear about social media and the First Amendment this year. However, Roberts agreed with the pair and pointed out that government agencies do not have a "monolithic" point of view on moderation of social media content. An injunction previously handed down by the Fifth Circuit of Appeals on the same case barred a wide-ranging group of government officials from contacting social media companies. However, it is unlikely that the Supreme Court will uphold it, Vox reported.

Persons: —, SCOTUS, Murthy, Moody, Paxton, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, George W, Bush, Elena Kagan, Clinton, Kavanaugh, Justice Kavanaugh, I've, Kagan, John Roberts, Roberts, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Jackson, J, Benjamin Aguiñaga, Aguiñaga, Biden, Vox Organizations: Service, Business, Centers for Disease Control, Department of Homeland Security, Facebook, Washington Post, Fifth Circuit, Supreme, Department of Justice, Louisiana Attorney Locations: . Missouri, Missouri, Louisiana, Washington

☆ Supreme Court blocks Texas from enforcing controversial immigration law for now
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Devan Cole | John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Supreme Court on Monday indefinitely blocked Texas from enforcing an immigration law that would allow state officials to arrest and detain people they suspect of entering the country illegally. The order came from Justice Samuel Alito because he oversees matters arising from the appeals court that is currently weighing the case. Senate Bill 4, signed into law by Texas Republican Gov. And Texas may be deeply concerned about recent immigration,” attorneys for a pair of immigration groups and El Paso County wrote in court papers. But the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals granted a temporary stay of the lower court’s decision and said the law would take effect on March 10 if the Supreme Court didn’t act.

Persons: Biden, Samuel Alito, Bill, Greg Abbott, “, ”, Alito, Ken Paxton Organizations: CNN, Texas Republican Gov, Texas, Republican, Circuit Locations: Texas, United States, El Paso County, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Austin , Texas

☆ Searches for VPNs spike in Texas after Pornhub pulls out of the state
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“The apparent spike in VPN searches in Texas shows that these types of age verification laws aren’t just unconstitutional, they’re also silly and ineffective,” Greer said. “Similar search spikes have been reported after other states passed age verification laws, which EFF opposes,” said Hudson Hongo, a spokesperson for the group. It also highlights the running debate in statehouses nationwide about how and whether governments can require websites to perform age verification. It requires adult websites to implement “reasonable age verification” methods to ensure that pornography is not being distributed to minors. The 5th Circuit court’s latest decision formally lifts the injunction against the Texas law.

Persons: Pornhub, “, VPNs, ”, Evan Greer, they’re, ” Greer, Hudson Hongo, ” Pornhub, David Alan Ezra, Ezra, Ken Paxton Organizations: CNN, Texas, Pornhub’s, Google, Texans, Frontier Foundation, EFF, Court, Western, Western District of, Circuit, “ Locations: Texas, China, Russia, Turkey, Montana , Utah, Virginia, statehouses, Western District, Western District of Texas

☆ Shipping CEO Angela Chao, sister of former Cabinet member Elaine Chao, died after car became submerged in pond, WSJ reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Chris Boyette | Rebekah Riess | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Angela Chao, CEO of shipping company Foremost Group and sister of former US cabinet secretary Elaine Chao, died after her car became submerged in a pond on a Central Texas ranch last month, according to the Wall Street Journal and a report from Blanco County Emergency Services obtained by the Austin American-Statesman. Chao’s Tesla Model X SUV went over an embankment and into a pond when she put the car in reverse instead of drive during a three-point turn shortly before midnight on February 10, the Wall Street Journal reports. According to the Wall Street Journal, a longer cable was eventually garnered, and the car was pulled from the pond. First responders soon retrieved Chao from her vehicle and began resuscitation efforts but were unsuccessful, according to the Wall Street Journal. Neither the Blanco County Emergency Services, Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, nor Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office have responded to CNN’s request for comment and additional information.

Persons: Angela Chao, Elaine Chao, Tesla, Chao, Ken Paxton’s, George W, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell Organizations: CNN, Foremost Group, Wall Street, Blanco County Emergency, Austin American, Statesman, EMS, Emergency Services, Blanco County Sheriff’s, Texas, Blanco County Public, Office Locations: Central Texas, Blanco County, Blanco

☆ SCOTUS is hearing 2 cases about political censorship on social media that could change how the internet works forever
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

It also created mechanisms for average users to sue social media companies if they believed the companies were unfairly applying their content moderation rules based on political leanings. Picture an empty timeline or your social media feed filled only with posts from companies paying to advertise on the platform. If these laws are permitted to stand, that's what the social media landscape could look like, at least until the sites update their business practices. And it might not stop at social media companies, Hurtwitz noted, due to the broad language in the laws. Advertisement"And what is social media?

Persons: SCOTUS, —, Donald Trump, Paxton, Ron DeSantis, Justin, Gus, Hurwitz, Hurtwitz, Uber, there's, Jared Carter, Carter, it's, John Roberts, — you've, Samuel Alito, Hurwiz Organizations: Service, Moody, Republican, GOP Gov, University of Pennsylvania's Center for Technology, Innovation, Competition, Lawyers, Ars Technica, Vermont Law, Graduate School, Cornell Law, CNN Locations: United States, South Carolina, Texas, Florida

☆ Angela Chao may have died after accidentally putting her Tesla in reverse, a mistake she made before, WSJ reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Lloyd Lee | Jack Newsham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Blanco County Sheriffs told Austin American-Statesman that Chao may have "succumbed from being under the water." Advertisement"Does the Blanco County Sheriff have the technical capacity to investigate the Tesla logs to determine if the car was tampered with or even hacked?" A spokesman for the Blanco County sheriffs did not respond to a request for comment sent outside working hours. AdvertisementExperts previously told Business Insider that drivers only have about a minute to get out of a sinking vehicle.

Persons: —, Angela Chao, Elaine Chao, Tesla, Chao, Chao's Tesla, J, Kyle Bass, Bass, Ken Paxton Organizations: Service, Foremost, Street Journal, Business, Blanco County Sheriffs, Austin American, Statesman, Texas, Hayman Capital Management, Blanco County Sheriff, Tesla Locations: Blanco County , Texas, Austin, Blanco County, Texas, Blanco, Chao

☆ In Showdown Over G.O.P. Control in Texas, the Race for House Speaker’s Seat Heads to a Runoff
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( J. David Goodman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Texas House speaker, Dade Phelan, and a local Republican activist backed by former President Donald J. Trump will compete in a runoff in May after neither received enough votes to win on Election Day, according to The Associated Press. The contest was part of a bruising and bitter Republican primary across Texas in which dozens of incumbents faced well-funded opposition, either from supporters of Attorney General Ken Paxton, who had vowed revenge for his impeachment by the Texas House last year, or from Gov. It remained unclear on Tuesday how many of the embattled incumbents, mostly in the Texas House, would survive or would have to continue fighting until the runoff on May 28. Candidates, consultants and voters said they had never before seen a Republican primary as hard-fought, expensive and widespread across so many districts. “The barrage aimed at our campaign over the past year was meant to be my undoing,” Mr. Phelan said in a statement, “and yet here I am.”

Persons: Dade Phelan, Donald J, Ken Paxton, Greg Abbott, Mr, Phelan, ” Organizations: Texas House, Republican, Trump, Associated Press, Gov Locations: Texas

☆ What to watch for on Super Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Gregory Krieg | Eric Bradner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Here are 9 things to watch for:The night the lights go out on HaleyBarring a stunning upset – actually, multiple stunning upsets across the country – Super Tuesday is looking like the end of the road for Haley. While Haley has said she would stay in the race through at least Super Tuesday, she has not hinted at an exit. A North Carolina governor’s race with implications up and down the ballotOn a Super Tuesday with an unusual lack of spice, the North Carolina gubernatorial primary is a rare exception. Mark Robinson and Democratic state Attorney General Josh Stein are expected to coast to their parties’ respective nominations. Down-ballot in Texas, there’s more to watch, starting with the payback campaign of Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, Nikki Haley, Trump’s, Dianne Feinstein, Haley, –, Liz Cheney, she’s, “, specter, MAGA, Barack Obama, Mark Robinson, Josh Stein, Robinson, Stein, Roy Cooper, Beto O’Rourke’s, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, Colin Allred, Cruz, Sen, Roland Gutierrez —, Allred, ’, outraising Cruz, Ken Paxton, Paxton, Dade Phelan, He’s, Dianne Feinstein —, Laphonza Butler, Steve Garvey, Adam Schiff, Schiff, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee, Garvey hasn’t, Garvey, Jerry Carl, Barry Moore, Moore, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Carl, Steve Scalise, It’s, Terri Sewell, David Valadao, Michelle Steel, Young Kim, Ken Calvert’s, Katie Porter’s, Scott Baugh, Josh Harder’s, Mike Levin’s, London Breed, George Gascon, CNN’s Simone Pathe, Fredreka Schouten Organizations: CNN, South Carolina Gov, Trump, California Senate, Democrats, Haley, Trump Republicans, Wyoming, GOP, Democratic, MAGA Republicans, Virginia, North, North Carolina Republicans, Carolina governor’s, North Carolina, Republican, Gov, Texas Democrats, Cruz, NFL, Affordable, Texas Legislature, Senate, Democrat, Alabama, showdowns, 2nd, Caucus, Georgia, Louisiana Rep, Chamber of Commerce, California House, Rep, London, Supervisors, District Locations: Alaska, California, Colorado , Minnesota, North Carolina, Alabama, Gaza, Minnesota, South Carolina, Virginia, Carolina, Texas, San Antonio, Uvalde, Tuesday’s, Florida, Montana , Ohio, West Virginia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Orange County, Francisco, Los Angeles

☆ Trump-allied election groups burned through millions with no evidence of widespread fraud
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Jonathan Ernst | ReutersThe mission of the Election Integrity Alliance, likewise, was ending election fraud. "The Election Integrity Alliance will unite groups and efforts across the nation focused on combating election fraud," the group's now-defunct website trumpeted in 2021. But Trump never publicly designated the Election Integrity Alliance as the standard bearer for the MAGA universe's election integrity efforts. AFPI also launched an election integrity effort, the Center for Election Integrity, and staffed it with former Trump White House press aide Hogan Gidley and conservative author Ken Blackwell. It even launched its own color-coded election integrity scorecard map, which looks strikingly similar to the one that the Election Integrity Alliance had created for its now-deleted website.

Persons: Donald Trump, Shannon Stapleton, Joe Biden, Trump's, Brad Parscale, Parscale, Trump, Jonathan Ernst, Katrina Pierson, Pierson, Drew Angerer, Tim Dunn, Dunn, Jim Renacci, PCG, Jenna Ellis, Ken Paxton, Bernard Kerik, MAGA, Linda McMahon, Larry Kudlow, Brooke Rollins, AFPI, Hogan Gidley, Ken Blackwell, Cleta Mitchell Organizations: Winthrop Coliseum, South Carolina Republican, Reuters, Trump, Republican Party, CNBC, PAC, U.S, Alliance, Jefferson Rising Fund, Republican, Tower, Getty, hasn't, Partners, American, New York Police, Mar, Policy, Small Business, White, West Wing, Center, Trump White House, Heritage Foundation Locations: Rock Hill , South Carolina, U.S, United States, Manchester , New Hampshire, Texas, New York City, American, Ohio, Israel, New York, Trump, Florida, America, Palm Beach

☆ Texas Judge Temporarily Blocks Paxton’s Demand for Transgender Minors’ Records
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Colbi Edmonds | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Texas attorney general from forcing an L.G.B.T.Q. organization to turn over documents on transgender minors and the gender-affirming care they may be receiving. In Texas, medical care for gender transition is prohibited for minors under a law passed last year. The judge added that such an ask would infringe on the group’s constitutional rights and that its members would be subject to “gross invasions” of privacy. In a statement, PFLAG’s lawyers, including the American Civil Liberties Union, said they were “grateful that the court saw the harm the attorney general’s office’s intrusive demands posed.”

Persons: Ken Paxton, Judge Maria Cantú Hexsel, Paxton, PFLAG, general’s, ” Organizations: Court, American Civil Liberties Union Locations: Texas, Travis County

☆ In Texas, a ‘Once-in-a-Generation’ Brawl for Control of the G.O.P.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( J. David Goodman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Rarely have intraparty battles between Republicans in Texas been as bitter, protracted and consequential as the primary contests culminating in Election Day on Tuesday. The fights have primarily focused on members of the Texas House who angered many conservative voters last year by impeaching the Republican attorney general, Ken Paxton, on charges of corruption and abuse of office. Mr. Paxton, who was acquitted in the Texas Senate, vowed revenge, and number one in his sights has been the house speaker, Dade Phelan. Greg Abbott has also been going after a number of Republicans in the Texas House, seeking to unseat those who opposed his plan to use public money to help families pay for private and religious schools. Aggressive campaigning by both statewide leaders is amplifying tensions that have simmered for years between the party’s old guard and a more socially conservative faction aligned with former President Donald J. Trump that sees Tuesday’s vote as a chance to shift the balance of power in the Texas House, which has served as a moderating force in the state’s politics.

Persons: impeaching, Ken Paxton, Paxton, Dade Phelan, Gov, Greg Abbott, Donald J, Trump Organizations: Republicans, Texas House, Republican, Texas Senate Locations: Texas

☆ Authorities have launched a 'criminal investigation' into Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao's death, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Authorities have launched a "criminal investigation" into the death of the Foremost Group CEO. AdvertisementAuthorities in Texas have said they are carrying out a "criminal investigation" into the death of Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao, CNBC reported. In a letter to the attorney general, the sheriff's office also noted that it "was not a typical accident," the report added. Her sister, Elaine Chao, is a former US Secretary of Transportation and the wife of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Business Insider reached out to the Blanco County Sheriff's Office for comment.

Persons: Angela Chao, Elaine Chao, Mitch McConnell, —, Ken Paxton, Jim Breyer, Chao, James S.C Organizations: Foremost, Service, Authorities, CNBC, Blanco County Sheriff's, Texas, Transportation, Business Locations: Texas, Johnson City , Texas, Austin, Blanco County

☆ Death of shipping CEO Angela Chao under 'criminal investigation,' Texas sheriff says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The death earlier this month of Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao, the sister-in-law of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, is currently under "criminal investigation," a Texas sheriff's office said Thursday. "This incident was not a typical accident," the Blanco County Sheriff's Office wrote in a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday. "Releasing the reports, videos and other information prior to the completion of the investigation would interfere with the investigation and possible prosecution of this matter," the sheriff's office wrote. The sheriff's office in that Feb. 16 statement had said, "EMS attempted emergency measures on Ms. Chao but she succumbed from being under the water." Chao was the sister of McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, who has served as secretary of both the U.S. Labor and Transportation departments.

Persons: Angela A, Chao, Angela Chao, Mitch McConnell, Ken Paxton, Jim Breyer, Austin . Chao, Elaine Chao Organizations: New York City Opera, Blanco County Sheriff's, CNBC, U.S . Labor, Transportation Locations: New York City, Texas, Johnson City , Texas, Austin, Blanco County

Supporters of the state laws say they foster free speech, giving the public access to all points of view. One contrarian brief, from liberal professors, urged the justices to uphold the key provision of the Texas law despite the harm they said it would cause. “Social media platforms exercise editorial judgment that is inherently expressive,” Judge Kevin C. Newsom wrote for the panel. To the surprise of many, some prominent liberal professors filed a brief urging the justices to uphold a key provision of the Texas law. In the second case, Miami Herald v. Tornillo, the Supreme Court in 1974 struck down a Florida law that would have allowed politicians a “right to reply” to newspaper articles critical of them.

Persons: Samuel A, Alito Jr, ”, Scott Wilkens, Ron DeSantis, John Tully, Donald J, Trump, Greg Abbott of, —, Ken Paxton, “, Andrew S, Oldham, Kevin C, Newsom, Lawrence Lessig, Tim Wu of, Teachout, Mandel Ngan, Richard L, “ Florida’s, Moody, Paxton, Robins, William H, Rehnquist, Pat L, Tornillo, Warren E, Burger Organizations: Facebook, YouTube, Columbia University, Big Tech, The New York Times, Gov, Republican, Computer & Communications Industry, New York Times, Fox News, U.S ., Appeals, Fifth Circuit, ISIS, Harvard, Tim Wu of Columbia, Zephyr, Fordham, Twitter, Manchester Union, Citizens United, Agence France, University of California, Miami Herald, Florida, Representatives, Constitution Locations: Florida, Texas, Greg Abbott of Texas, Ukraine, Los Angeles, Campbell , Calif

☆ Big Tech’s Latest Power Grab: the Constitution - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Tim Wu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

And some percentage — the numbers are unclear — are taken down for violating the content rules set by the platforms. Texas a few years back wrote its own law to govern big tech companies, barring them from discriminating on the basis of viewpoint when they take posts off their social media platforms. I can’t say I like the law Texas passed — but that isn’t the point, for the cure is worse than the disease. If the justices strike down the Texas law, they would be jeopardizing our ability to control our own future using democratic means. It is important to understand what the tech companies are asking for.

Organizations: Facebook, Google, Twitter Locations: Texas, Paxton

☆ What to Know About the Supreme Court Arguments on Social Media Laws
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( David Mccabe | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Social media companies are bracing for Supreme Court arguments on Monday that could fundamentally alter the way they police their sites. Texas later passed its own law prohibiting platforms from taking down political content. Two tech industry groups, NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, sued to block the laws from taking effect. They argued that the companies have the right to make decisions about their own platforms under the First Amendment, much as a newspaper gets to decide what runs in its pages. The Supreme Court’s decision in those cases — Moody v. NetChoice and NetChoice v. Paxton — is a big test of the power of social media companies, potentially reshaping millions of social media feeds by giving the government influence over how and what stays online.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, — Moody, Paxton — Organizations: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Capitol, Computer & Communications Industry Association Locations: Florida, Texas

☆ US Supreme Court prepares to hear landmark social media cases
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Monday’s Supreme Court showdown in NetChoice v. Paxton and Moody v. NetChoice will determine whether states can forbid social media companies from blocking or removing user content that goes against platform rules. The Florida and Texas laws are broadly written, but officials from both states say the laws will keep social media sites from unfairly silencing conservatives. Social media platforms have insisted for years that they don’t discriminate against right-wing speech. It also allows individual social media users to sue platforms if they believe they have been unfairly censored or “deplatformed.”Florida Gov. The NetChoice cases reflect a deep divide in how many people see social media.

Persons: Paxton, Moody, Ron DeSantis, Florida’s, Carl Juste, Greg Abbott, Donald Trump, Biden, David Paul Morris, “, ”, ” David Greene Organizations: Washington CNN, Facebook, YouTube, Social, Gov, Florida Gov, Miami Herald, Texas ’, Circuit, Republican, Texas, Bloomberg, Getty, Frontier Foundation, EFF, CNN, Freedom, Press Locations: Texas, Florida, . Texas, NetChoice, Miami, Walnut Creek , California

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