DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ US to brief senators on foreign online influence focused on Israel, Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Smoke rises above Gaza, as seen from southern Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's administration is holding a joint classified briefing for members of the U.S. Senate Intelligence and Commerce committees Wednesday on recent foreign online influence focused on Israel/Gaza and the Ukraine conflict. The bill was introduced by Senate Intelligence Committee chair Mark Warner and Republican John Thune and 24 other senators in March called the Restrict Act. Warner said some misinformation social media posts suggest the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas did not happen or were started by Israel. Republican Senator Jerry Moran, who backs the Restrict Act, told Reuters recent online misinformation "will be another impetus" to get Congress to act.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Joe Biden's, Mark Warner, Republican John Thune, Warner, Jerry Moran, Maria Cantwell, TikTok, Josh Hawley, Janet Yellen, Biden, David Shepardson, Diane Craft, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Senate Intelligence, National Intelligence, Biden, Senate Intelligence, Republican, Warner, Reuters, Senate, Guard, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, Congress

☆ US Senate Republicans unveil border plan as House Ukraine bill looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

2 Senate Republican John Thune told reporters that Johnson's plan has "a lot" of support among Republicans in the Senate, adding: "It'd be strong." The Republican-controlled House passed HR-2 in May, but the bill has gone nowhere in the Democratic-led Senate. Among other things, the Senate Republican proposal would resume construction of a border wall -- former President Donald Trump's signature goal -- in addition to deeming large numbers of migrants ineligible for asylum. Republican border provisions face broad opposition from Democrats in Congress and from President Joe Biden. He told reporters that a bill linking Ukraine aid to border security would come soon.

Persons: San Nicolas de los, Daniel Becerril, Mike Johnson, Republican John Thune, Lindsey Graham, Tom Cotton, James Lankford, Donald Trump's, Joe Biden, Johnson, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Senate Republicans, Republican, Republicans, Democratic, Democrats, Internal Revenue Service, Thomson Locations: U.S, Nuevo Leon, San Nicolas, San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico, Ukraine, Republican, Israel

☆ Fact Check-No evidence Sen. John Thune is holding DOJ nominees in response to Trump indictment
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Vance announced a hold of all Department of Justice (DOJ) nominees on June 13. 2 Republican John Thune is holding DOJ appointments in response to federal charges against former President Donald Trump. Republicans have condemned the Justice Department for the charges over Trump’s handling of classified documents, Reuters reported (here), (here). Ryan Wrasse, communications director for Thune, said the claim that Thune is holding DOJ nominees is “completely false.” Wrasse also addressed this in a June 13 tweet (here). There is no public evidence of Thune holding DOJ nominees in response to the Trump indictment, and Thune’s spokesperson has denied the claim.

Persons: J.D, Vance, Republican John Thune, Donald Trump, Trump, General Merrick Garland, Ryan Wrasse, Thune, ” Wrasse, Garland “, Joe Biden’s, ” Vance, “ Donald Trump, Merrick Garland, ” Merrick Garland, Vance’s, Biden’s, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump Jr, Read Organizations: Republican U.S, of Justice, Republican, Republicans, Justice Department, Reuters, Trump, DOJ, Department, Justice, Senate Locations: United States

Biden sat down in the Oval Office with House of Representatives Speaker McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. "We're just getting started," Biden told reporters just after 3 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT), before ushering them out the door so the meeting could begin. Biden is trying to reach a debt ceiling deal by June 1 to lift the threat of economic calamity. The White House announced Biden may be forced to skip a stop in Australia during an Asia trip due to the debt limit drama. "We can raise the debt ceiling if we limit what we're going to spend in the future," McCarthy told reporters.

WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - Democratic President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy are expected to discuss new work requirements for benefits programs for low-income Americans during Tuesday's debt ceiling negotiations, sources familiar with the talks said. Expanding the work requirements has been a key demand of Republicans, who are also pushing for spending cuts in exchange for their votes to raise the debt limit. "We can raise the debt ceiling if we limit what we're going to spend in the future," McCarthy told reporters. The current deadlock has rattled investors, sending the cost of insuring exposure to U.S. government debt to record highs. 2 Senate Republican John Thune told reporters the talks appear to have "too many cooks."

WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - Democratic President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy will sit down on Tuesday to try to make progress on a deal to raise the U.S. government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling and avert an economically catastrophic default. House of Representatives Speaker McCarthy on Tuesday told reporters that his party, which controls the chamber by a 222-213 margin, would only agree to a deal that cuts spending. "We can raise the debt ceiling if we limit what we're going to spend in the future," McCarthy told reporters. Tuesday's White House meeting, which will include Biden, McCarthy, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell and top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, is due to begin at 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT). 2 Senate Republican John Thune told reporters that the talks appear to have "too many cooks."

White House officials have described the talks as constructive, but McCarthy on Monday warned that he believed little progress had been made. Democrats including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is also expected to attend Tuesday's White House meeting, said that talks were proceeding in a "serious way." 'TOO MANY COOKS'Some observers have raised concerns that the five-party talks -- featuring Biden, McCarthy, Schumer, top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell and top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries -- are too unwieldy to make progress. 2 Senate Republican John Thune told reporters that the talks appear to have "too many cooks." "As we've said all along, it is Biden and McCarthy," Thune said.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a letter to Congress that the agency may be unable to meet all of its debt obligations as soon as June 1 if the debt ceiling is not raised, putting new urgency on talks in Congress. Let's get the debt ceiling taken care of, but let's talk about how we can reduce the deficit and common sense ways," Democratic Senator Jon Tester told reporters. "If we don't get the debt ceiling, then we go into a depression." Republican Senator Mitt Romney said. We must change course, cleanly raise the debt ceiling, and avert widespread economic pain and instability while we still can."

☆ US Senate Republican urges Biden, McCarthy to meet on debt ceiling: 'Time is a-wastin'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - No. 2 U.S. Senate Republican John Thune on Monday said the news that the federal government could no longer be able to pay its bills as soon as June 1 was an urgent signal that Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy need to begin talks on raising the debt ceiling. "It reinforces the need for the president to get up here or to get McCarthy down there to meet with him, one way or the other. I mean, time is a-wasting," Thune said. Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Scott MaloneOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Reactions: US Treasury's new June 1 debt ceiling X-date
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

We must change course, cleanly raise the debt ceiling, and avert widespread economic pain and instability while we still can." The clock is ticking - and much faster than many suspected - so House Republicans need to drop their dangerous opposition to paying our nation’s bills." The President must negotiate on raising the debt ceiling." Let's get the debt ceiling taken care of, but let's talk about how we can reduce the deficit and common-sense ways. If we don't get the debt ceiling, then we go into it a depression."

☆ TikTok congressional hearing: CEO Shou Chew grilled by US lawmakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

TikTok, which has more than 150 million American users, was repeatedly hammered in the ongoing hearing where no lawmaker offered any support. PARENTS UNHAPPYRepresentative Diana DeGette, a Democrat, said TikTok's efforts to prevent the spread of misinformation on the platform were not working. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein 1 2 3 4 5"You gave me only generalized statements that you're investing, that you're concerned, that you're doing work. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives on Twitter said, "TikTok CEO testimony so far we would characterize as a 'mini disaster' for this key moment for TikTok. TikTok is now poster child of the US/China tensions and lawmakers have a lot of q’s with not enough concrete answers."

☆ TikTok CEO faces tough questions from Congress about Chinese influence
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

CEO Shou Zi Chew's testimony before Congress capped a week of actions by the Chinese company aimed at convincing Americans and their lawmakers that the app creates economic value and supports free speech. The House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee hearing will be chaired by Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican who said she is unconvinced by TikTok's security commitments. Some political experts say a TikTok ban could be damaging to Democrats who have used the platform to reach younger voters. Three House Democrats rallied with TikTok creators on Capitol Hill on Wednesday in opposition to a ban. TikTok last week said President Joe Biden's administration demanded its Chinese owners divest their stakes or face a potential ban.

☆ TikTok CEO to face tough questions amid calls for U.S. ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee hearing will be chaired by Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican who says she is unconvinced by TikTok's security commitments. "It's clear that TikTok will say anything to ... ensure that it is not banned in the United States," she told Fox News. Some political experts say a TikTok ban could be damaging to Democrats who have used the platform to reach younger voters. Three House Democrats rallied with TikTok creators on Capitol Hill on Wednesday in opposition to a ban. TikTok last week said President Joe Biden's administration demanded its Chinese owners divest their stakes or face a potential ban.

☆ TikTok CEO to face tough questions as support for U.S. ban grows
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee hearing will be chaired by Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican who says she is unconvinced by TikTok's security commitments. Some political experts say a TikTok ban could be damaging to Democrats who have used the platform to reach younger voters. Three House Democrats rallied with TikTok creators on Capitol Hill on Wednesday in opposition to a ban. Last week, TikTok said President Joe Biden's administration demanded its Chinese owners divest their stakes or face a potential ban. Democratic Senator Mark Warner said on Wednesday two additional senators backed his bipartisan legislation with Republican John Thune to give the Biden administration new powers to ban TikTok - raising the total to 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans.

☆ TikTok creators, some U.S. Democratic lawmakers oppose ban on app
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] TikTok creators hold a news conference to speak out against a possible ban of TikTok at the House Triangle at the United States Capitol in Washington, U.S., March 22, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn HocksteinWASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - TikTok creators and three U.S. Democratic Party lawmakers on Wednesday said they opposed any potential ban on the Chinese-owned short video sharing app that is used by more than 150 million Americans. Critics fear that TikTok user data in the United States could be passed on to China's government. Pocan said a "xenophobic witch hunt" is motivating some in Congress to seek a TikTok ban. Democratic Senator Mark Warner said two additional senators backed his bipartisan legislation with Republican John Thune to give the Biden administration new powers to ban TikTok.

The announcement comes after TikTok said this week the Biden administration demand its Chinese owners divest their stake in the company or it could face a potential U.S. ban. Biden's predecessor, Republican Donald Trump, had tried to ban TikTok in 2020 but was blocked by U.S. courts. Separately, a source confirmed to Reuters Friday the Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation after ByteDance said in December some employees improperly accessed U.S. TikTok user data of two journalists. TikTok said content creators will come to Washington next week to make the case why the app should not be banned. "Lawmakers in Washington debating TikTok should hear firsthand from people whose lives would be directly affected by their decisions," TikTok said Friday.

☆ U.S. Republicans seek answers from regulators over SVB's collapse - Thune
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

March 15 (Reuters) - Most Republican members want answers from regulators as to why they were "asleep at the switch" over the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SIVB.O) and it is premature to discuss legislative solutions to banking problems, the U.S. Senate's No. 2 Republican John Thune said on Wednesday. Reporting by Richard Cowan in Washington; writing by Costas PitasOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ NSA chief worries TikTok could censor videos for 'large population of listeners' as part of Chinese influence operations
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

TikTok’s collection of data and its control over the algorithm that serves user content are also concerning, Nakasone said. US officials have for years accused TikTok – and its Chinese parent firm ByteDance – of collecting data that could enable surveillance by the Chinese government. A TikTok spokesperson said that the company has been working with the US government to address national security concerns. We will continue to do our part to deliver a comprehensive national security plan for the American people,” Brooke Oberwetter from TikTok said in statement. “I characterize it much more as a loaded gun.”“I would not expect individualized targeting through [TikTok] to do malicious things,” Joyce said.

☆ AI wrote a bill to regulate AI. Now Rep. Ted Lieu wants Congress to pass it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Kate Santaliz | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Julie-Tsirkin-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — One way to get Congress to support regulating artificial intelligence is by using it to write a resolution calling for just that. Write a comprehensive congressional resolution generally expressing support for Congress to focus on AI.”The resolution doesn’t specify that it was written using artificial intelligence. And as a member of Congress, I am freaked out by A.I., specifically A.I. Lieu isn’t the first member of Congress to bring artificial intelligence to the House chamber. 34-year-old Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., delivered a speech Wednesday on the House floor written by Chat GPT.

REUTERS/Mary F. CalvertPHOENIX, Ariz./BIRMINGHAM, Mich., Nov 8 (Reuters) - Senate incumbents including Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and senior Republican John Thune won re-election in Tuesday's U.S. midterm elections, on a day Republicans were expected to wrest control of Congress away from President Joe Biden's Democrats. Thirty-five Senate seats and all 435 House of Representatives seats are on the ballot. The final outcome, particularly control of the 50-50 Senate, is unlikely to be known any time soon. Democrats currently control that chamber through Vice President Kamala Harris' tie-breaking vote. The Georgia race could end up in a Dec. 6 runoff to determine which party holds the Senate.

Search resuls for: "Republican John Thune"

20 mentions found