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☆ Boeing whistleblower: ‘They are putting out defective airplanes’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Chris Isidore | Gregory Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington DC CNN —Boeing’s already battered reputation took another hit at two Senate committee hearings Wednesday on Capitol Hill, with witnesses questioning how the company builds airplanes and the safety of those planes. Boeing did not have any witnesses at either hearing Wednesday, but at a briefing earlier this week it defended the standards used to build planes. Boeing recently said it has searched for records but believes its employees did not document the work. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/SipaHe said that since the hearing was announced, his committee has heard from other whistleblowers inside of Boeing. “What I don’t want this committee to do is to scare the you-know-what out of the American public,” he said.

Persons: Washington DC CNN — Boeing’s, Sam Salehpour, he’s, ”, Salehpour, “, don’t, …, Ed Pierson, Max, Democratic Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Bill Clark, ” Blumenthal, Republican Sen, Ron Johnson Organizations: Washington DC CNN, Capitol, Boeing, The Foundation for Aviation Safety, National Transportation Safety, Alaska Airlines, Alaska Air, Democratic, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Senate Homeland Security, Governmental, Republican Locations: Richard Blumenthal of, Dirksen, nonunion South Carolina, Alaska, Wisconsin

☆ Schumer leads congressional delegation to Ukraine to mark 2-year anniversary of Russian invasion
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Colin Mccullough | Shania Shelton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is in Ukraine to reiterate US support for the country and ratchet up pressure on House Republicans back home to pass a foreign aid bill that includes further assistance for Ukraine and Israel. The visit comes as House Republicans are holding still a foreign aid package that would send further aid to Ukraine and Israel. Schumer told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Friday that during his visit, Zelensky told him that Ukraine will win its war against Russia if Congress passes further aid to the country. If Ukraine loses, Schumer warned, “Our allies will think we will not stick with them anymore. “We must show Putin that he can pay a price, an economic price as well as a political price and a military price.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Jack Reed, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Richard Blumenthal of, Maggie Hassan, Schumer, Volodymyr Zelensky, Mike Johnson, CNN’s Wolf, Zelensky, “ Schumer, “, ” Schumer, Johnson, ”, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Putin, ” Biden, Biden, Alexey Navalny Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Democratic, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Republican Conference, Congress, New York Democrat, NATO, “ Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Russia, Europe

☆ Democratic senators want to keep Trump on the ballot in 2024, even as he faces potential disqualification under the 14th amendment
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe Supreme Court could soon rule on whether former President Donald Trump can be disqualified from appearing on 2024 ballots under the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. That's the answer to me, period," said Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Many of his potential voters are likely sympathetic to the arguments made by the former president and his allies — that disqualifying Trump via the 14th amendment is itself undemocratic. "So I hope the Supreme Court does an honorable, non-political job of evaluating the situation." "The [Supreme Court] will decide the legal issue of whether the 14th amendment applies."

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Democratic Sen, Sherrod Brown, Trump, disqualifying Trump, Sen, Elizabeth Warren of, Joe Biden, Shana Bellows, Bellows, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Tim Kaine, Jamie Raskin, Maryland, Jeff Merkley, who's, Bernie Sanders of, Richard Blumenthal, Fetterman, That's Organizations: Service, Trump, Democratic, Business, Colorado Supreme, United States Supreme, Capitol, Committee, Daily Locations: Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Colorado, Maine, New Mexico, Virginia, Oregon, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut

☆ Meta's top AI scientist reportedly warned Mark Zuckerberg that Facebook and Instagram could go extinct if they didn't catch up with ChatGPT
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Meta's top AI scientist urged Mark Zuckerberg to make a ChatGPT rival, the New York Times reports. Yann LeCun warned that Facebook and Instagram could potentially go extinct if Meta didn't act. If Meta didn't buckle down on its AI efforts, Facebook and Instagram could go extinct, LeCun warned, according to the report. "I have been thinking about what you said," the CEO told LeCun during a dinner that evening, a person familiar told the Times. Meta didn't immediately reply to Business Insider's request for comment from Zuckerberg or LeCun.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Yann LeCun, Meta, —, OpenAI, Zuckerberg, Instagram, LeCun, Meta didn't, Josh Hawley of, Richard Blumenthal, Meta wasn't, OpenAI —, didn't, Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg Organizations: New York Times, Facebook, Meta, Service, Times, 4chan, Tech, Google, Microsoft, Paris Locations: Menlo Park , California, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Connecticut

Senate Democrats are discussing the possibility of attaching conditions to future Israel military aid amid humanitarian concerns in Gaza resulting from the country’s aggressive prosecution of its war against Hamas. “I do think that Israel needs to be more careful in the way it is conducting these operations,” Murphy added. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania told reporters he doesn’t support restrictions, saying that Hamas has to be “eliminated,” necessitating that there be no conditions on military aid to Israel. Senate Republicans were likewise largely opposed to conditions on aid to Israel, like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who called the idea “ridiculous.”“Our relationship with Israel is the closest national security relationship we have with any country in the world,” McConnell said. “We all support Israel.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Chuck Schumer, ”, Sen, Chris Coons, Bernie Sanders, Netanyahu’s, ” Sanders, Chris Murphy, ” Murphy, Joe Biden, Richard Blumenthal, who’s, ” Blumenthal, John Fetterman of, “, ” Fetterman, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, Israel –, “ We’ve, ” Sen, Peter Welch, we’re Organizations: CNN, Senate Republicans, Vermont Democrat, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, Chris Coons of Delaware, Vermont, Connecticut, U.S, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania

☆ Trump heads to the witness stand as new polls show him leaping past Biden in key swing states
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Biden, meanwhile, is absorbing brutal new polls showing him losing to GOP front-runner Trump in multiple key swing states. If the New York Times/Siena College survey is borne out in 2024, there would be no electoral path to victory for Biden. Biden supporters argue that his critics and media narratives set by the president’s low polls badly miss the most salient point that will define the 2024 election. Because this is a civil trial, Trump has no criminal liability. But the judge has already ruled that Trump, his adult sons and the Trump Organization committed “persistent and repeated” fraud.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Biden, ”, “, ” Democratic Sen, Richard Blumenthal, CNN’s Dana, “ It’s, ” David Axelrod, Barack Obama, Axelrod, Vladimir Putin, Trump’s, Letitia James, James, Temidayo Aganga, Williams, “ We’ve, we’ve, ” Aganga, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Jack Smith, ” Biden, Spencer Weiss, scoffed, “ MAGA Republicans ’, Blumenthal, Pramila Jayapal, Jen Psaki Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, New York Times, ” Democratic, Connecticut, Trump, Twitter, Biden, Trump Organization, New York, Democrats, The New York Times, Siena College, Democratic, The Times, “ MAGA Republicans, Sunday, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Israel, MSNBC Locations: New York, Siena, “ State, Ukraine, Russian, Washington, Fulton County , Georgia, Florida, America, Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, In Michigan, Pennsylvania, Gaza, Arab

Leading Senate Democrats are teasing a new path forward to bypass one senator’s blockade of military promotions, leaning on GOP frustrations that bubbled to the surface this week and culminated in a dramatic confrontation from members of the senator’s own party. A group of Republican senators took to the Senate floor late Wednesday to attempt to circumvent a dispute in which Sen. Tommy Tuberville has single-handedly held up more than 300 military promotions over a Pentagon abortion travel policy. The stunning scene comes nine months into the blockade and as Democrats – and more recently fellow Republicans – have grown anxious to move the military promotions forward. It would require the support of all Democrats and independents and at least nine Republicans. But they suggested that Tuberville should take his issue to the courts, rather than holding up the chamber and setting a dangerous precedent.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, –, Tuberville, Chuck Schumer, “, ” Schumer, Jack Reed, Kyrsten, Richard Blumenthal, servicewomen, ” Sen, Joni Ernst, I’m, Ernst, ”, Schumer, …, Biden, Mitt, Blumenthal, Joe Manchin, ” Manchin Organizations: Republicans, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Democratic, GOP, Pentagon, Tuberville, United States Senate, DOD, Iowa Republican, Utah Republican Locations: Alabama, Rhode Island, Arizona, Richard Blumenthal of, Israel, Mitt Romney, Utah, West Virginia

☆ Powerful senators fire off letter decrying 'abusive' tactics in Corizon bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Nine US senators including Elizabeth Warren, Dick Durbin, and Bernie Sanders have sent a letter to Corizon leaders demanding answers on its bankruptcy. The letter says Corizon has sought "to manipulate bankruptcy law" and calls the strategy "abusive." Citing Insider's reporting, the senators gave Corizon two weeks to turn over details about its use of the Texas Two-Step to shield assets from creditors. AdvertisementAdvertisementA powerful group of senators have pressed for answers about the bankruptcy of the private prison healthcare provider formerly known as Corizon Health. "The Texas Two-Step is a distorted use of the U.S. bankruptcy system by corporations to evade mass tort liability," the senators write.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Dick Durbin, Bernie Sanders, Corizon, —, Cory Booker, Ron Wyden, Tehum, Jeffrey Sholey, Isaac Lefkowitz, Tehum's, Sholey, Lefkowitz, Sen, Warren, YesCare, Hector Garcia, Adria Malcom, excoriate Corizon, Hector Garcia Jr, David Jones, Jones, Christopher Lopez, Durbin, Johnson, Sanders, Booker, Wyden, Democratic Sens, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch of Organizations: Service, Tehum Care, Finance, Corizon, Detention, Genesis Healthcare, Geneva Consulting, Genesis, Geneva Consulting —, Genesis HealthCare Inc, US, Texas, Committee, Democratic Locations: Texas, Ana, Las Cruces , New Mexico, New Mexico, Alabama, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Hawaii, Oregon, Peter Welch of Vermont

Underwood Archives/Getty Images Feinstein gets her makeup touched up for a photo shoot in San Francisco in 1955. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Feinstein attends a campaign event for her mayoral run in San Francisco in 1971. Clem Albers/San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images Feinstein attends a memorial service for assassinated Supervisor Harvey Milk in San Francisco in 1978. Roger Ressmeyer/CORBIS/VCG/Getty Images Feinstein speaks at the signing of an anti-gun bill at San Francisco City Hall in 1982. Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images Feinstein greets first lady Hillary Clinton at the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.

Persons: Washington CNN — Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, NBC’s “, ”, Feinstein’s, Ramsay Hunt, I’m, “, ” Feinstein, Lindsey Graham, Amy Coney Barrett, Leah Millis, Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Sen, Dick Durbin, Kevin McCarthy, Chuck Schumer, “ Dianne Feinstein, ” Schumer, Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Joe Biden, Celeste Sloman, Dianne Emiel Goldman, George Moscone, Harvey Milk, Duke Downey, Clem Albers, Janet Fries, Quentin Kopp, Sal Veder, Richard Blum, Walter Mondale, Georges, Roger Ressmeyer, Steve Ringman, Tony Bennett, Jeff Reinking, Neal Ulevich, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Eric Risberg, Willie Brown, Cecil Williams, Dr, Martin Luther King Jr, Paul Sakuma, Kim Komenich, Mark Reinstein, Barbara Boxer, Alan Greth, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Carol Moseley, Braun, Doug Mills, Charles Tasnadi, Kathleen Brown, Bill Clinton, Dirck Halstead, Lisa Leslie, Gigi Goshko, Douglas Graham, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, Paul J, Richards, Orrin Hatch, Patrick J, Leahy, William H, Pryor Jr, Scott J, Ferrell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Schwarzenegger, Tim Sloan, Rick Friedman, Condoleezza Rice, George W, Bush, Colin Powell, Chuck Kennedy, John Roberts, Mark Wilson, Eileen Mariano, Mariano, interning, Tom Williams, Carson, Jay L, Barack Obama, Ralf, Finn Hestoft, Hina Rabbani Khar, Brendan Smialowski, Jacquelyn Martin, AP Sen, Chuck Grassley, Christine Blasey Ford, Brett M, Kavanaugh, Ford, Donald Trump, Chip Somodevilla, Barrett, Bonnie Cash, Graham, Samuel Corum, Jonathan Ernst, Simone Biles, Larry Nassar, Aly Raisman, Maggie Nichols, McKayla Maroney, Bob Dole, Oliver Contreras, Kent Nishimura, Kevin Dietsch, Dianne Feinstein's, Moscone, Milk, CNN’s Dana Bash, Dan White, ‘ Dan, ’, Harvey, California’s, Bash, Richard Blumenthal, Bill Clark, Annette Bening, Donald Trump’s, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham’s Organizations: Washington CNN, Senate, California Democratic, Democratic, Press, Democrats, Democratic Party, Capitol, Senate Intelligence, California Democrat, Capitol Hill, CNN, Golden State ”, Illinois, Republican, New York Times, Underwood Archives, Getty, San Francisco City Hall, San Francisco, of Supervisors, Bettmann, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Ice Company, White, Steiner, Forbidden, Democratic National Convention, United States Senate, United, United States women's, team, Convention, Washington Post, Circuit, Images California, McClatchy, Tribune, Service, Supreme, California, Rancho, Pakistan's, AP, Committee, White House, Los Angeles Times, Stanford University, San, Supervisors, Administration Committee, federal, Inc, South Carolina Republican, Judiciary, Intelligence, Appropriations Locations: Washington, California, San Francisco, America, ” San Francisco, Washington , DC, DC, Forbidden City, Beijing, China, Feinstein , California, Los Angeles, United States, New York, AFP, Boston, Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, San Francisco , California, Maryland, San Francisco County, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut

☆ 6 cruise passengers have gone overboard in 3 months. Here's why most ships still don't use detection tech for rescues.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

An average of 19 people go overboard on cruise ships every year, industry data has found. Less than two months after Peale fell overboard, 30-year-old Jaylen Hill also went overboard a Carnival cruise ship. In total, at least five passengers have gone overboard cruise ships this summer, including Hill. The incidents occurred on the cruise ships Carnival Elation, Spectrum of the Seas, Emerald Princess, Mariner of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas. A Coast Guard spokesperson said there are no regulations preventing cruise lines from installing MOB detection systems on their vessels.

Persons: Ronnie Peale Jr, Peale, Linda Peale, —, Travis Heggie, Hill, Eric Rodriguez, Princess, Joe Perez, Ross Klein, Paul McConnell, Jamie Barnett, James Michael Grimes, Grimes, CLIA, it's, Mike Collier, MOBtronic, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Collier, Blumenthal, Linda Peale Jennilyn Blosser, Blosser, didn't, Barnett, Jim Walker Organizations: US Coast Guard, Carnival, Coast Guard, Bowling Green State University, Cruise Lines International Association, Jacksonville , Florida . U.S . Coast, Washington Post, Carnival Corporation, U.S . Coast Guard, Getty, Cruise Vessel Security, Safety, Guard, International Cruise Victims Association, Line International Association, USA, Royal Caribbean, International, Organization Locations: Virginia's Shenandoah, Connecticut, Hill, Jacksonville , Florida . U.S, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, MOBtronic

☆ 4 people have gone overboard on cruise ships this summer. Here's why most cruise lines don't use technology that could've helped save them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

An average of 19 people go overboard on cruise ships every year, industry data has found. At 6:36 p.m. — more than 12 hours after Peale fell overboard — Carnival contacted the Coast Guard, according to the agency. Less than two months after Peale fell overboard, 30-year-old Jaylen Hill also went overboard a Carnival cruise ship. Legislation without regulationThe US Coast Guard does not check for man-overboard image capture or detection technology during compliance inspections of cruise ships. A Coast Guard spokesperson said there are no regulations preventing cruise lines from installing MOB detection systems on their vessels.

Persons: Ronnie Peale Jr, Peale, Linda Peale, —, Travis Heggie, Hill, Eric Rodriguez, Joe Perez, Ross Klein, Paul McConnell, Jamie Barnett, James Michael Grimes, Grimes, CLIA, it's, Mike Collier, MOBtronic, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Collier, Blumenthal, Linda Peale Jennilyn Blosser, Blosser, didn't, Barnett, Jim Walker Organizations: US Coast Guard, Carnival, Coast Guard, Bowling Green State University, Cruise Lines International Association, Royal Caribbean's, Princess Cruises, Jacksonville , Florida . U.S . Coast, Washington Post, Carnival Corporation, U.S . Coast Guard, Getty, Cruise Vessel Security, Safety, Guard, International Cruise Victims Association, Line International Association, USA, Royal Caribbean, International, Organization Locations: Virginia's Shenandoah, Connecticut, Jacksonville , Florida . U.S, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, MOBtronic

☆ Opinion: The impact of PGA Tour-LIV Golf deal goes far beyond sports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Aaron David Miller | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Yet, these days, the sad truth is that Saudi Arabia has no need for sportswashing. And in December 2019, Saudi Arabia became president of the G-20, hosting a virtual summit because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The golf deal is a reminder that “money money money” is a formidable diplomatic political tool. A US brokered deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia would be a powerful counterpoint to China’s recently facilitated Iranian-Saudi détente. Of course, one can hardly be shocked to learn that where’s there’s money, golf and Saudi Arabia, there just might be a Trump angle as well.

Persons: Aaron David Miller, ” Miller, LIV Golf, Joe Biden’s, it’s, we’ve, you’re, Jamal Khashoggi, , Cristiano Ronaldo, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Blumenthal, Biden, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, It’s, LIV, can’t, Zelensky, Bashar al, Assad, Mahmoud Abbas, ”, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Trump, Eric Trump, Facebook George Orwell Organizations: Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Democratic, Republican, CNN, PGA, English Premier League soccer, One, LIV, PGA Tour, Washington Post, Saudi Crown, MBS, Arab, US National, Trump, Twitter, Facebook, Saudi Locations: East, Saudi, United States, Saudi Arabia, Washington, Berlin, Sochi, Davos, Connecticut, China, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Israeli, Israel, Iranian, Britain

☆ House Democrats, looking to renew plan to expand Social Security, say debt ceiling fight 'hurts seniors the most'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Social Security already faces funding risksIn order to prevent a Social Security funding shortfall, congressional Democrats and Republicans must agree on a solution. The Social Security 2100 Act that was introduced in the last Congress had broad support among House Democrats. Changes in the Social Security 2100 Actzimmytws | iStock | Getty ImagesThe Social Security 2100 Act aims to extend the program's solvency, though estimates are not yet available for how long it could prolong the program's funding. Social Security 2100 also calls for adding an additional 12.4% net investment income tax for taxpayers making more than $400,000. Max Richtman president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

☆ The Justice Department investigated Jeffrey Epstein's death. Then it went silent.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +25 min

Jeffrey Epstein's death in a federal jail was seen as a shocking Justice Department failure. But more than three years later, the office still hasn't released its report into the circumstances of Epstein's death. "We all took it by surprise," Mark Epstein told Insider. Barr tasked the Justice Department's inspector general, Michael Horowitz, and the FBI with investigating "the circumstances of Mr. Epstein's death." Mark Epstein told Insider that he spoke to his brother about once a month in the years before his death.

☆ Senators push for airline passenger protections after holiday travel meltdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Two Senate Democrats on Tuesday reintroduced legislation to strengthen airline passenger protections following a year of travel disruptions that was capped by chaos that stranded thousands of people over the December holidays. The Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights, which is co-sponsored by Sens. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., is planning to hold a hearing on the latest airline disruptions in the coming weeks. The bills also follow a push by the Biden administration for stricter airline passenger rules, including for traveler refunds. Airlines for America, said its members, the largest U.S. carriers, "abide by — and frequently exceed – all DOT regulations regarding consumer protections."

☆ Sen. Lindsey Graham said he's 'tired of the s*** show' and that the US and Germany should send tanks to Ukraine: 'World order is at stake'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Graham urged the West to send tanks. To achieve that goal, the Ukrainian military needs tanks," Graham said during a press conference after the meeting and on Twitter. "I am tired of the shit show surrounding who is going to send tanks and when are they going to send them. "To the Germans: Send tanks to Ukraine because they need them. It is in your own national interest that Putin loses in Ukraine," Graham said Friday.

☆ Premarket stocks: Wall Street's biggest winners and losers in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The S&P 500 is down nearly 20% and with two trading days left in the year, investors’ hopes of a miraculous recovery have been dashed. The energy sector has so far returned more than 60% this year, significantly outperforming every other S&P 500 sector. Occidental Petroleum has been the biggest gainer of the year in the S&P 500, up 122% year-to-date. The energy sector reported the highest year-over-year earnings growth of all 11 sectors, at 137.3%. Elon Musk’s Tesla (TSLA) is also down about 70%, making the auto tech company the third worst performer this year.

☆ Analysis: Southwest got billions of dollars in taxpayer aid. Why is its service still a mess?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Southwest Airlines received more than $7 billion from that program. However, analysts say, Southwest’s service meltdown is unrelated to the taxpayer assistance the airline received in 2020. Cancelled Southwest Airlines flights are seen on the flight schedules at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, in New York. In April 2020, airline passenger traffic plummeted 96% and stayed 60% below 2019 levels in 2020, according to the US Government Accountability Office. “The problems at Southwest Airlines over the last several days go beyond weather,” she said in a statement.

☆ Live Nation, Ticketmaster may need breakup, some senators say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Taylor Swift poses on the red carpet for the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) at the PSD Bank Dome in Duesseldorf, Germany, November 13, 2022. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Ticketmaster and owner Live Nation Entertainment, the events ticketing giant behind the recently botched sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets, should be broken up by the Department of Justice if any misconduct is found in an ongoing investigation, Democratic senators said Monday. "This may be the only way to truly protect consumers, artists, and venue operators and to restore competition in the ticketing market." Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged in 2010 after a DOJ-brokered settlement that officials said would encourage competition and send ticket prices down. Instead, "across all genres and venues, Ticketmaster prices have more than tripled in the past 20 years," the senators wrote.

☆ Saudis aren’t weaponizing oil like Americans claim, top official says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Experts also fear that continued high oil prices could make it more difficult for the US to tamp down inflation, which has already skyrocketed this year. “Saudi Arabia is taking the side of trying to ensure the stability of the oil markets.”“Saudi Arabia does not politicize oil. Saudi officials have insisted that the production cut is being done to protect the country’s economic interests. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut on Wednesday called for immediate action on his bill that would stop US arm sales to Saudi Arabia. When asked about growing calls in Washington to limit ties with Saudi Arabia, al-Jubeir said he hoped that such talk was motivated by domestic politics ahead of the midterms.

☆ A Democratic senator mistook the slang word 'finsta' for one of Facebook's products in a hearing with the company
▼ + stars: | 2021-09-30 | by ( Palmer Haasch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Senate Commerce Committee held a Thursday hearing about Facebook, Instagram, and mental health. "Finstas," secret accounts some teens make, are not an official Facebook product. Sen. Blumental asked Davis about "finsta towards the end of the hearing (at the 2:44:50 mark in the publicly available webcast). "Finsta" (fake Instagram) is a slang term used to refer to smaller, side accounts that people — frequently teenagers — make on Instagram. "Finsta" is not a Facebook product, nor a clearly demarcated feature on Instagram — it's simply a secondary account that people create, which has become a cultural trend.

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