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☆ Trump criticizes Fed Chair Powell for considering interest rate cuts this year to 'help the Democrats' win elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

On a Friday morning interview with Fox News, Trump criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's handling of the economy, particularly regarding interest rates. "I think he's going to do something to probably help the Democrats, I think, if he lowers interest rates," Trump said, adding that "it looks to me like he's trying to lower interest rates for the sake of maybe getting people elected." While the committee's Summary of Economic Projections in December penciled in three interest rate cuts for this year, Powell said on Wednesday that it's highly unlikely those cuts will take place at the next meeting in March. The jobs data on Friday will support a decision to delay rate cuts until after March — the US economy beat expectations by adding 353,000 jobs. However, some Democratic lawmakers have been urging Powell to consider cutting interest rates sooner rather than later to give Americans financial relief.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Trump, Jerome Powell's, Powell, reappoint Powell, Elizabeth Warren, John Hickenlooper, Jacky Rosen, Sheldon Whitehouse Organizations: Service, Fox News, Federal

Evidence of a strong economy has so far been lost on a general public that still feels the pinch of inflation and worries about the uncertainty of life in 2024. Signs of a thaw in public opinion, but pessimism still dominatesA new CNN poll shows Biden still has a lot of convincing to do: Perception of the economy remains deep under water. However, if hiring remains strong and inflation keeps falling, it may become easier for Biden to convince voters he’s doing a good job strengthening the economy. CNN’s polling editor Ariel Edwards-Levy notes that about half the country, 48%, thinks the economy remains in a downturn. Their letter is proof that the fact of a strong economy is felt, if at all, in different ways.

Persons: Phil, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Donald Trump, “, Trump, Ariel Edwards, Levy, that’s, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, ” Warren, Democratic Sens, John Hickenlooper, Jacky Rosen, Sheldon Whitehouse Organizations: CNN, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trump, Federal, Fed, Democratic

In a Sunday letter to Fed Chair Powell, shared first with CNN, Warren expressed alarm at how “astronomical” mortgage rates have made a bad situation worse and urged Fed officials to start cutting borrowing costs. “We urge you to consider the effects of your interest rate decisions on the housing market and to reverse the troubling rate hikes that have put affordable housing out of reach for too many,” Warren and fellow Democratic Sens. John Hickenlooper, Jacky Rosen and Sheldon Whitehouse wrote. “Come on, Fed! Turn it around and drop those interest rates,” Warren told CNN’s Kate Bolduan on Monday.

Persons: Sen, Sherrod Brown, Powell, ” Brown, Brown, Elizabeth Warren, Warren, ” Warren, Democratic Sens, John Hickenlooper, Jacky Rosen, Sheldon Whitehouse, “, CNN’s Kate Bolduan, Read Organizations: Banking, Fed, CNN, Democratic

☆ Americans are getting closer to an interest rate cut — but it probably won't happen in the Fed's next big decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThe nation's central bank is gearing up to make its first big decision of 2024 — and while it likely won't be the interest rate cut many Americans are hoping for, it's set to bring them closer to that relief. The Fed hinted at how many interest rate cuts Americans can expect this year in its December Summary of Economic Projections. New labor market data out this Friday will show how employment looked at the start of 2024, and some labor market experts already think 2024 will see a cooler job market . That continuing strength in the labor market does represent a slowdown from the hot post-pandemic recovery in 2022. "The Fed has already signaled its willingness to cut rates, and the market has responded accordingly," the lawmakers wrote.

Persons: —, it's, Jerome Powell, Powell, Nick Bunker, would've, Greg McBride, David Kelly, Kelly, Elizabeth Warren, John Hickenlooper, Jacky Rosen, Sheldon Whitehouse Organizations: Service, Business, Federal, Federal Reserve, Spelman College, Labor Statistics, Fed, North America, Morgan Asset Management, Democratic Locations: Sens

☆ It's time for the Fed to cut interest rates and bring relief to Americans who 'cannot afford to pay rent,' Elizabeth Warren says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Elizabeth Warren joined some of her colleagues in pushing for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. AdvertisementAs Americans grapple with high housing costs, a group of Democratic lawmakers is urging the Federal Reserve to implement relief as soon as possible. While rent costs have decreased slightly over the past few months, "high interest rates mean higher mortgage rates for landlords, who may pass off these costs in the form of rent hikes for their tenants," the Democrats wrote. Powell has previously acknowledged the impact of interest rate increases on housing costs. "The Fed has already signaled its willingness to cut rates, and the market has responded accordingly," the Democrats wrote.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, —, — John Hickenlooper, Jacky Rosen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Jerome Powell, Powell, they'll Organizations: Federal Reserve, Service, Democratic, Harvard's, for Housing Studies Locations: York

☆ Elizabeth Warren rips Fed for fueling affordability crisis in housing, calls for rate cuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —America has a housing affordability crisis and Elizabeth Warren blames Jerome Powell and his colleagues at the Federal Reserve. To fight inflation, the Fed spiked interest rates at the fastest pace since the early 1980s. However, the Fed’s war on inflation set off shockwaves in the housing market. The one-two punch of elevated borrowing costs and record-high home prices has made the housing market historically unaffordable. “High interest rates have aggravated the country’s crisis of housing access and affordability,” the Senate Democrats wrote.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Jerome Powell, Powell, Warren, ” Warren, Democratic Sens, John Hickenlooper, Jacky Rosen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Freddie Mac, “, Tom Barkin didn’t, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, CNN, Democratic, Democrats, Fed, National Association of Home Builders, Mortgage Bankers Association, National Association of Realtors, Richmond Fed Locations: New York, America, White

☆ Senate committee investigating Florida’s state-backed home insurance company as private insurers flee
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The US Senate Budget Committee is launching an investigation into whether Florida’s state-backed home and property insurance company has enough money in the bank to withstand future disasters, as scientists warn warming oceans and sea level rise are making storms more destructive. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation exists as a so-called insurer of last resort - if owners cannot convince a private insurance company to cover their property, Citizens will step in. If that were to happen, the Senate Budget Committee is worried Florida might turn to the federal government looking for a bailout, Whitehouse said. State insurers of last resort were originally intended as a stopgap for consumers, ensuring their coverage wouldn’t be interrupted. Florida isn’t alone; some major private insurers have either pulled out or stopped writing new policies in wildfire-prone California.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, “, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, ” Whitehouse, Michael Peltier, Whitehouse, ”, Benjamin Keys, ” Keys, ’, Keys, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Republican Gov, Citizens, Democrat, ”, Munich Re, Swiss, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Senate, FAIR, Florida’s Citizens, Budget Locations: After Florida, Rhode Island, Florida, Miami, Tampa, “ Florida, Munich, riskiest, California

☆ The Supreme Court’s New Ethics Code
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Photo: kevin wurm/ReutersThe Supreme Court issued a code of conduct for itself on Monday, signed by all nine Justices, and on the merits it reads in large part like a restating of principles. But if Chief Justice John Roberts is hoping to deflect partisan attacks on the Court, it’s likely to be a bad political bet. The critics are already calling the code inadequate and see it as proof that the Justices will bend to political pressure. The code of conduct’s first good deed is putting the Supreme Court in its proper context, which is atop a judiciary that the Constitution makes a coequal branch of government. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and other Democrats want Congress to dictate detailed “ethics” procedures to the High Court.

Persons: kevin wurm, John Roberts, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse Organizations: Supreme, High

☆ Supreme Court adopts ethics code as justices face criticism over financial disclosures
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Supreme Court announced Monday it is adopting a code of ethics, a move that followed waves of criticism over reports about undisclosed gifts and travel received by some members of the high court. The 14-page code of conduct was written to "dispel" the "misunderstanding" that the court's nine justices "regard themselves as unrestricted by any ethics rules," the court said in a statement. It was not immediately clear whether the code would mollify Senate Democrats who had pushed the court for ethics reform and launched an investigation in the wake of the reporting. Spokespeople for Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Senate Budget Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the new code. Republicans in Congress have vehemently objected to any effort to require the court to codify ethics standards for justices.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, ProPublica, Harlan Crow, Crow, Thomas, Samuel Alito, Paul Singer, Leonard Leo, Spokespeople, Dick Durbin, Sheldon Whitehouse, pushback, GOP Sen, Marsha Blackburn Organizations: Supreme, Republican, Congress, GOP, Tennessee Locations: Washington , DC, Georgia

☆ Will Republicans Defend the Supreme Court?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo: Mariam Zuhaib/Associated PressSenate Democrats can’t accept that the Supreme Court no longer does their policy bidding, so they’re trying to discredit it. The latest effort is a subpoena threat against the friends of Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito . Led by Sheldon Whitehouse and his spokesman Dick Durbin , the Judiciary Committee has been threatening subpoenas against Harlan Crow , Leonard Leo and Robin Arkley II . Their supposed crime: bestowing “lavish, undisclosed gifts” on the Justices, enabling “private access to the justices” while “preventing public scrutiny,” and contributing to a Supreme Court “ethical crisis of its own making.”

Persons: Mariam Zuhaib, can’t, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Sheldon Whitehouse, Dick Durbin, Harlan Crow, Leonard Leo, Robin Arkley II, ” Organizations: Associated Press

☆ Senate Democrats Plan to Subpoena Wealthy Figures Who Paid for Thomas’s and Alito’s Luxury Trips
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Jess Bravin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas Alito didn’t disclose the gifts on legally mandated annual financial reports. Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press (2)WASHINGTON—Senate Democrats intensified their investigation into the ethics of Supreme Court justices, announcing plans to subpoena documents from three wealthy figures who helped provide trips to Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito . “The Supreme Court is in an ethical crisis of its own making,” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin of Illinois and Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who heads a courts subcommittee, said in a Monday statement. By accepting “lavish, undisclosed gifts, the justices have enabled their wealthy benefactors and other individuals with business before the court to gain private access to the justices while preventing public scrutiny of this conduct.”

Persons: Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas Alito didn’t, Scott Applewhite, Clarence Thomas, “, Dick Durbin of, Rhode Island Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, ” Organizations: Associated Press, WASHINGTON —, Democrats, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Rhode Locations: Rhode Island

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats said Monday they plan to subpoena Republican megadonor Harlan Crow and conservative activist Leonard Leo for more information about their roles in organizing and paying for luxury travel for Supreme Court justices. The announcement by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee comes as the court is being pressed to adopt an ethics code, a move that has been publicly endorsed by three of the nine justices. Political Cartoons View All 1227 ImagesArkley and Leo have refused to cooperate with the committee's investigation of the justices' largely undisclosed private travel, the committee said. In a statement after Durbin’s announcement, Crow’s office called the subpoena politically motivated and said Crow had offered information to the committee. “It’s clear this is nothing more than a stunt aimed at undermining a sitting Supreme Court Justice for ideological and political purposes,” the statement said.

Persons: Harlan Crow, Leonard Leo, Sen, Dick Durbin, Crow, Leo, Robin Arkley II, Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Donald Trump, Arkley, Samuel Alito, Crow “, ” Durbin, Sheldon Whitehouse, “, Anthony Welters Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Federalist Society, Republicans, Committee, Senate Finance Locations: Georgia, Alaska

☆ US lawmakers question tax prep companies on sharing of taxpayer data with Big Tech platforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Americans should be able to file their taxes without fear that their sensitive data will be shared with Big Tech companies,” said the letters, copies of which were obtained by CNN. The letters — led by Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren — focus on the use of tracking technology developed by tech platforms and embedded within the tax prep companies’ websites that quietly transferred users’ personal information to Meta and Google, allegedly without their consent. Of the five tax prep companies, Intuit was not a major focus of the initial congressional probe because it did not use tracking pixels to the same extent as the others, the investigation found. They also asked the same question of each of the four other tax prep companies, as well as requesting a commitment to abide by the FTC’s warning not to use customer data in ways consumers did not expressly approve. The lawmakers requested that the tax prep firms respond by Nov. 8.

Persons: ”, Massachusetts Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren —, Warren, Meta, — Sens, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Duckworth, Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse, Katie Porter Organizations: CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Big Tech, Massachusetts Democratic, Meta, Google, FTC, Intuit, Ramsey Solutions, Oregon Democrat, Connecticut Democrat, Vermont Independent, Rhode, Rhode Island Democrat, House Democratic Locations: Oregon, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, California

The Hamas terrorist attack on Israel is reprehensible. Israel is under heavy attack right now by Hamas and taking action to defend itself and its people. Israel has every right to defend itself.”Sen. Jon Tester, Montana Democrat“I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks launched by Hamas against our ally Israel. I will continue to closely monitor the situation.”Sen. Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire Democrat“Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel is nothing short of horrifying. Israel has every right to defend itself from this unjust war.”Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat“The terrorist attack on Israel is appalling.

Persons: Hakeem Jeffries, “, Steve Scalise, ” Kevin McCarthy, ” Chuck Schumer, –, Herzog –, ” Mitch McConnell, ” Tom Emmer, ” Katherine Clarke, ” Dick Durbin, ” John Thune, ” Sen, Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Democrat “, Israel, Amy Klobuchar, Mark Warner, Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democrat “, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Cory Booker , New Jersey Democrat “, Joe Manchin, West Virginia Democrat “, Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Democrat “, Gary Peters, Gary Peters , Michigan Democrat “, Catherine Cortez Masto, Brian Schatz, Hawaii Democrat “, Jeff Merkley, Oregon Democrat “, John Barrasso, Joni Ernst, Iowa Republican “, Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia Republican “, Steve Daines, Montana Republican “, Mike Lee, Mike Crapo, Chuck Grassley, Tommy Tuberville, Katie Britt, Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Kyrsten, Mark Kelly, John Boozman, Tom Cotton, Arkansas Republican “, Alex Padilla, Laphonza Butler, California Democrat “, today’s, Michael Bennet, Colorado Democrat “, John Hickenlooper, Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat “, Chris Murphy, Tom Carper, Delaware Democrat “, Chris Coons, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, Jon Ossoff, Georgia Democrat “, Anat Sultan, Raphael Warnock, “ I’m, Mazie, Tammy Duckworth, Todd Young, Mike Braun, Jerry Moran, Kansas Republican “, Hamas’s, Roger Marshall, Netanyahu, Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican “, Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy, Susan Collins, Maine Republican “, Ben Cardin, Maryland Democrat “, Chris Van Hollen, Ed Markey, Tina Smith, Minnesota Democrat “, Roger Wicker ,, Roger Wicker , Mississippi Republican “, Cindy Hyde, Josh Hawley, Eric Schmitt, Jon Tester, Montana Democrat “, Deb Fischer, Nebraska Republican “, Pete Ricketts, Jacky Rosen, Nevada Democrat “, Jeanne Shaheen, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Democrat “, Maggie Hassan, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire Democrat “, Bob Menendez, Bob Menendez , New Jersey Democrat “, Martin Heinrich, New Mexico Democrat “, Biden, Ben Ray Lujan, Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Democrat “ I'm, Thom Tillis, Ted Budd, North Carolina Republican “, John Hoeven, John Hoeven , North Dakota Republican “, Kevin Cramer, Sherrod Brown, Ohio Democrat “, J.D, ”, Vance, James Lankford, Markwayne Mullin, Israel –, Ron Wyden, Bob Casey, John Fetterman, craven, Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican “ I’m, Mike Rounds, South Dakota Republican “ Shocked, Marsha Blackburn, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Republican “ Israel, Bill Haggerty, Tennessee Republican “, John Cornyn, John Cornyn , Texas Republican “, Ted Cruz, Mitt, Vile, Peter Welch, Vermont Democrat “, Tim Kaine, Patty Murray, Washington Democrat “, Maria Cantwell, Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican “ Israel, Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming Republican “, Jim Jordan, Jared Moskowitz, Abigail Spanberger, Elissa Slotkin, Don Bacon, perpetrating, Cori Bush, Missouri Democrat “, Kevin Hern, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma Republican “, ” Rep, Ritchie Torres, Ritchie Torres , New York Democrat “, Michael McCaul, Michael McCaul , Texas Republican “ I, Ilhan Omar Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Biden, House, Michigan Democrat, Minnesota Democrat, Virginia Democrat “, Senate Intelligence, Massachusetts Democrat, Islamic, Cory Booker , New, Cory Booker , New Jersey Democrat, West Virginia Democrat, Wisconsin Democrat, Gary Peters , Michigan Democrat, Nevada Democrat, Hawaii Democrat, State, Oregon Democrat, John Barrasso , Wyoming Republican, Iowa Republican, West Virginia Republican, Montana Republican, Utah Republican, Idaho Republican, Alabama Republican, Alaska Republican, Alaska Republican “, Arizona Democrat, John Boozman , Arkansas Republican “, Jewish, Arkansas Republican, California Democrat, Colorado Democrat, Connecticut Democrat, Delaware Democrat, Israel, Florida Republican, Georgia Democrat, Hawaii Democrat “, Indiana Republican, Indiana Republican “, Kansas Republican, Kentucky Republican, Louisiana Republican, Maine Republican, Maryland Democrat, Roger Wicker , Mississippi Republican, Smith , Mississippi Republican, Josh Hawley , Missouri Republican, Missouri Republican, Montana Democrat, Nebraska Republican, Jeanne Shaheen , New, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Democrat, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire Democrat, Bob Menendez , New, Bob Menendez , New Jersey Democrat, New Mexico Democrat, New, New York Democrat, United, North Carolina Republican, John Hoeven , North Dakota Republican, Kevin Cramer , North Dakota Republican “, Ohio Democrat, Vance , Ohio Republican, James Lankford , Oklahoma Republican, Oklahoma Republican, “ Hamas, Rhode, Lindsey Graham , South Carolina Republican, South Carolina Republican, South Dakota Republican, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Republican, Tennessee Republican, John Cornyn , Texas Republican, Ted Cruz , Texas Republican, Vermont Democrat, Washington Democrat, Wisconsin Republican, Wyoming Republican, ”, Ohio Republican “, Missouri Democrat, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma Republican, Ritchie Torres , New, Ritchie Torres , New York Democrat, Jewish State, Michael McCaul , Texas Republican Locations: Israel, United States, Tehran, The United States, Iran, Michigan, U.S, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Vermont, Cory Booker ,, Cory Booker , New Jersey, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Gary Peters , Michigan, Nevada, Hawaii, Oregon, John Barrasso , Wyoming, America, Iowa, West, Montana, Iranian, Utah, Idaho, Alabama, Alaska, Alaska Republican “ America, @Israel, Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona, John Boozman , Arkansas, Jewish State, Arkansas, Saudi Arabia, California, Gaza, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Mazie Hirono, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Palestine, Roger Wicker , Mississippi, Smith , Mississippi, Josh Hawley , Missouri, Missouri, Nebraska, Jeanne Shaheen ,, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire, Bob Menendez ,, Bob Menendez , New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North, John Hoeven , North, Kevin Cramer , North, Ohio, Vance , Ohio, James Lankford , Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Lindsey Graham , South, South, States, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee, Tennessee, John Cornyn , Texas, Ted Cruz , Texas, Mitt Romney, Virginia, “ Hamas, Washington, Wyoming, Ohio Republican “ America, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma, Ritchie Torres ,, Ritchie Torres , New York, Michael McCaul , Texas

☆ What Wall St, policymakers have to say on potential Exxon-Pioneer deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of Exxon Mobil Corporation is shown on a monitor above the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, December 30, 2015. A deal would be Exxon's biggest acquisition since its $81 billion deal for Mobil in 1998 and could deepen the oil major's position in the country's most lucrative oil patch. Following are the comments on the likely deal. BILL SMEAD, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER OF SMEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT"I can't imagine any deal is going to go for less than $65 billion, considering Pioneer is currently trading around $50 billion . I mean there's no question the position of that magnitude or size would give them considerable leverage in negotiating or contracts with the service providers."

Persons: Lucas Jackson, BILL SMEAD, PETER MCNALLY, Scott Sheffield, SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, BEN COOK, HENNESSY, NEAL DINGMANN, Arunima Kumar, Sourasis Bose, Sabrina Valle, Raphael Satter, Arun Koyyur Organizations: Exxon Mobil Corporation, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Exxon Mobil, Natural Resources, Mobil, RBC, RHODE, Exxon, Thomson Locations: New York, United States, Bengaluru, Houston

☆ Exxon-Pioneer deal talks: What Wall St, policymakers have to say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The logo of Exxon Mobil Corporation is shown on a monitor above the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, December 30, 2015. It would be Exxon's biggest acquisition since its $81 billion deal for Mobil in 1998 and could deepen the oil major's position in the country's most lucrative oil patch. MATTHEW BERNSTEIN, SENIOR SHALE ANALYST, RYSTAD ENERGY"If Exxon Mobil is crowned the undisputed king of the Permian in the coming days, the shale sector will fundamentally become a more mature consolidated business." "A deal the size of Exxon Mobil's potential acquisition of Pioneer, however, could usher in a new 'Shale 4.0' era ... BILL SMEAD, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER OF SMEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT"I can't imagine any deal is going to go for less than $65 billion, considering Pioneer is currently trading around $50 billion .

Persons: Lucas Jackson, MATTHEW BERNSTEIN, MARK VIVIANO, Scott Sheffield, BILL SMEAD, PETER MCNALLY, SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, BEN COOK, HENNESSY, NEAL DINGMANN, Arunima Kumar, Sourasis Bose, Sabrina Valle, Raphael Satter, David French, Sriraj Kalluvila, Arun Koyyur Organizations: Exxon Mobil Corporation, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Exxon Mobil, Natural Resources, Mobil, Exxon, RBC, RHODE, Thomson Locations: New York, United States, Bengaluru, Houston

Deal negotiations between Exxon and Pioneer are advanced but have not yet led to an agreement, Reuters reported on Thursday. These transactions were eventually allowed to be completed, and the regulator has not sued to thwart an oil and gas production deal since 2000. The lawyers and experts interviewed said the FTC would face an uphill struggle in challenging Exxon's attempted acquisition of Pioneer. "The modern U.S. experience is that oil and gas deals of any notable size get a close look. It sued to block the merger and only agreed to drop its objections after BP offered to divest oil production acreage in Alaska.

Persons: Joe Biden, Janet Yellen, Leah Millis, producer's, Lina Khan, Andre Barlow, Doyle, Barlow, Mazard PLLC, Sheldon Whitehouse, William Kovacic, George Washington, consultancies Wood MacKenzie, David Kass, Diane Bartz, David French, Mike Stone, Greg Roumeliotis, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Treasury, White, REUTERS, Exxon Mobil, Natural Resources, Exxon, Pioneer, Reuters, Federal Trade Commission, Democratic, George, Companies, Activision, FTC, Atlantic, BP, RBC Capital Markets, Chevron, PDC Energy, University of Maryland, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Atlantic Richfield, Alaska, West Texas, New Mexico, Rystad, Denver, Julesburg, Washington ,, Atlanta

☆ Medicare funding shortfall may be 'life and death' for millions of Americans, lawmaker says. Here's why taxes are a sticking point
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Retirees who rely on Medicare for health-care coverage may see those benefits diminish in as soon as eight years. The program's hospital insurance trust fund, which pays for Medicare Part A benefits including inpatient hospital care, may only pay 100% of benefits through 2031, according to projections from Medicare's trustees. When it comes to repairing the programs' funds, Congressional lawmakers generally have two choices: raise taxes, cut benefits or a combination of both. "It's simple arithmetic: raise revenue or cut benefits," Whitehouse said of preserving Medicare. "If we abide by what seemed like a bipartisan commitment not to cut benefits," said Whitehouse, referring the State of the Union earlier this year, "we must safeguard Medicare by raising revenue."

Persons: Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Whitehouse, Joe Biden Organizations: Medicare, Finance, Social Security, Security

☆ Republicans sure don't sound like they're about to block Democrats from filling Dianne Feinstein's Judiciary Committee seat
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Dianne Feinstein's seat on the Judiciary committee is now empty in the wake of her death. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the wake of Sen. Dianne Feinstein's death, questions are swirling over how the California Democrat's now-empty seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee will be filled. In order to change the membership of any Senate committee, the chamber has to pass a resolution to make that change official. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer can do so via a simple voice vote if no Republicans object to the change. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio said it was up to Republicans on the Judiciary Committee and that he would "probably support" whatever decision they made.

Persons: Dianne Feinstein's, —, Sen, Joe Biden's, Josh Hawley, Chuck Schumer, Republican Sen, Ron Johnson, Johnson, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Mike Braun, JD Vance, Ohio, Todd Young, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Paul, Ben Cardin, Bob Menendez, Feinstein, Mitch McConnell, Sheldon Whitehouse, Whitehouse, Hawley, I'm, She's Organizations: Service, Republicans, Democratic, GOP, Republican, Indiana, Committee, Senate Foreign Relations, Bob Menendez of New, Judiciary, Twitter, Democrats Locations: California, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Marco Rubio of Florida, Ted Cruz of Texas, Ben Cardin of Maryland, Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Rhode

☆ US senators pressure Treasury to get more aggressive on climate crisis risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A bronze seal for the Department of the Treasury is shown at the U.S. Treasury building in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2023.? REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and four other U.S. senators are pressuring the U.S. Treasury Department to step up oversight and offer more guidance to financial institutions on addressing climate change risks threatening the U.S. financial system. The senators called on Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and newly appointed climate counselor Ethan Zindler, a climate and clean energy research executive, to do more to protect the U.S. economy from what Yellen has described as the "existential threat" posed by climate change. The senators said they were particularly concerned about nonbank financial institutions, which also played a critical role in the 2008 global financial crisis, and said the FSOC should finalize and immediately implement a new analytic risk framework for climate-related financial risks. They also repeated earlier calls for stronger Internal Revenue Service enforcement of rules on political activity by nonprofit organizations, citing efforts by special interests to fuel climate change denial, and investigations into how such funding could be obstructing more action on the climate crisis.

Persons: Kevin Lamarque, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Warren, Martin Heinrich, Edward Markey, Sheldon Whitehouse, Jeffrey Merkley, Sanders, Janet Yellen, Ethan Zindler, Yellen, Andrea Shalal, Deepa Babington Organizations: Department of, U.S . Treasury, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Treasury Department, Treasury, Democratic, Reuters, Internal Revenue Service, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S

☆ House Judiciary Committee threatens to subpoena FBI over Charles McGonigal documents
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

House Judiciary is demanding that the FBI turn over internal records about ex-agent Charles McGonigal. The FBI ignored a letter from the committee sent in February, a committee spokesperson told Insider. Jordan first demanded that the FBI turn over McGonigal-related documents in February, a few days after he was indicted in New York and Washington. The bureau never responded beyond acknowledging receipt of the letter, a spokesperson for the committee told Insider. In a video interview, Buma told Insider that Jordan's committee is cherry-picking its witnesses, a charge that a spokesperson for Jordan has denied.

Persons: Charles McGonigal, McGonigal, Jim Jordan, Christopher Wray, Jordan, McGonigal's, Sheldon Whitehouse, Hillary Clinton, Trump, Johnathan Buma, Buma, Wray Organizations: FBI, Service, Justice Department, Bureau, New, Republicans, Veritas Locations: York, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Ohio, New York, Washington, Russia, New York City

☆ Analysis: Here’s why many Black people despise Clarence Thomas. (It’s not because he’s a conservative.)
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( John Blake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

CNN —Long before he became a Supreme Court justice, Clarence Thomas told a story at a public gathering that still sounds shocking years later. Justice Clarence Thomas jokes with his clerks in his chambers at the Supreme Court building in Washington in 2016. AP“His entire judicial philosophy is at war with his own biography,” Michael Fletcher, co-author of “Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas,”. “He’s arguably benefited from affirmative action every step of the way.”Thomas has admitted that he was accepted at Yale Law School under an affirmative action policy. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas looks at the displays inside the Pin Point Heritage Museum.

Persons: CNN — Long, Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Ronald Reagan, ” Thomas, Diana Walker, Thomas ’, Emma Mae Martin, he’s, Harlan Crow, Crow, ”, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Chip Somodevilla, “ fawning, Reagan, John L, Nikki Merritt, Merritt, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Roe, Wade, ” Sen, Alyssa Pointer, Anita Hill’s, Uncle Tom, Thomas “, Juan Williams, “, Armstrong Williams, ” Williams, Amul Thapar, Jonathan Ernst, ” Thomas ’, Thomas doesn’t, they’ve, Thurgood Marshall, ” Michael Fletcher, “ He’s, I’d, Critics, White, Malcolm X, Richard Burkhard, you’ve, pounced, “ Clarence Thomas, Black, ” Tori Otten, ” Otten, ” Juan Williams, Virginia “ Ginni ” Thomas, Trump’s, John Duricka, Williams, — Trump, Booker T, Washington, Marcus Garvey, Obama, ” “ We’ve, –, “ It’s, “ Thomas, Steven Ferdman, Jim Crow, Frederick Douglass, ” Clarence Thomas, nodded, ” Merritt Organizations: CNN, White House, Commission, Texas Republican, Republican, National Bar Association, Democrat, Georgia Senate, Georgia State Capitol, NAACP, Supreme, National Museum of, Thomas Others, Reuters, Yale Law School, Catholic, College of, Cross, AP, Yale, Heritage Museum, Savannah Morning, USA, The, New, Morehouse College, Fox News Channel Studios, Reagan Administration, Bettmann Locations: Storm, Texas, New York, Washington, Memphis, Georgia, handouts, Atlanta, American, America, Cincinnati, Pin, Savannah , Georgia, New Republic, Wisconsin, Arizona, Virginia, Black, China, India, Brazil, New York City

☆ I watched the newly-public security camera footage from January 6. I saw things I hadn't seen before — including eerie scenes of lawmakers fleeing for their safety on one of the darkest days in Americ
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

House Republicans have begun to make January 6 security camera footage publicly available. I watched as lawmakers fled for safety — and banded together — while rioters besieged the Capitol. AdvertisementAdvertisementRoger Stone in front of the O’Neill House Office Building, where the January 6 security camera footage can be viewed, in December 2021. Upstairs, I focused on a lone security camera in front of the House chamber. On another security camera in Longworth House Office Building, I watched lawmakers of both parties gathering near the secure location where they sheltered for the duration of the riot.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Tucker Carlson, Roger Stone, Anna Moneymaker, I'd, —, Cori Bush, Bush, Steny Hoyer —, Madison Cawthorn, Eric Swalwell, Mike Pence —, Pence, Republican Sen, John Boozman, Democratic Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Kevin Cramer, Sen, Jim Inhofe, Sheldon Whitehouse, Ashli Babbitt, there's, Barry Loudermilk Organizations: Republicans, Capitol, Service, House Republicans, Fox News, Administration, O'Neill, US Capitol Police, United States Capitol Police, Cannon House, Democratic, Rayburn House, Lawmakers, Republican, Democrat, Capitol Police, Republican Rep Locations: Wall, Silicon, O’Neill, Hart, Hart , Alaska Sens

The decision by EPA Administrator Michael Regan means that one of the agency's most important air quality regulations will not be updated until well after the 2024 presidential election. Political Cartoons View All 1145 ImagesThe delay marks the second time in 12 years that a Democratic administration has put off a new ozone standard prior to an election year. Former President Barack Obama shut down plans to tighten ozone standards in 2011, leading to four-year delay before the standards were updated in 2015. "Unfortunately we’ve seen the process for updating the ozone standards repeatedly swept up in political games that risk lives,'' the lawmakers said in an Aug. 7 letter to EPA. Lianne Sheppard, a University of Washington biostatistics professor who chairs the scientific advisory panel, said Regan's decision was “his alone” to make.

Persons: Michael Regan, “, Regan, ”, Barack Obama, Paul Billings, Raul Garcia, ” Garcia, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, we’ve, Conor Bernstein, EPA’s, Donald Trump, Bernstein, Andrea Woods, —, Lianne Sheppard, Richard Moore, Peggy Shepard, Moore, Sheppard, Tomas Carbonell, Carbonell Organizations: WASHINGTON, Environmental Protection Agency, Republicans, Democratic, American Lung Association, National Mining Association, American Petroleum Institute, Scientific Advisory, White, Environmental, EPA, University of Washington, E, White House, Los Jardines Institute, WE ACT, Environmental Justice, Air Locations: Billings, Albuquerque , New Mexico, New York City

CNN —Justice Clarence Thomas disclosed Thursday that Republican megadonor Harlan Crow paid for private jet trips for Thomas in 2022 to attend a speech in Texas and a vacation at Crow’s luxurious New York estate, as ethics questions continue to rock the Supreme Court. Thomas made the disclosures after receiving an extension to file the yearly reports that were originally due in May 2023. In a statement after the ProPublica report, Thomas acknowledged the friendship but stressed that Crow did not have business before the court. In addition, he said that he should have disclosed a 2014 private real estate deal between Crow, Thomas and members of Thomas’ family. According to the disclosure, Thomas flew down to be the keynote speaker of the event in February, but returned via private jet “due to an unexpected ice storm.”The talk was rescheduled in May and Thomas rode round trip on Crow’s plane.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, Thomas, Dobbs, Roe, Wade, “, Crow, Samuel Alito, ProPublica, Thomas ’, ” Thomas, Virginia Thomas, Leola Williams, Williams, VII, –, Elliot S, Berke, Thomas “, ”, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Chip Somodevilla, Elena Kagan, Alito, ” Alito, Gabe Roth, he’s, ” Roth, Rome Alito, Duke Organizations: CNN, Republican, Judicial Conference, Old Parkland Conference, Hoover Institution, Manhattan Institute, American Enterprise Institute, Black Americans, Crow Holdings, Democrats, Supreme, Capitol, Rhode Island, Wall Street, Notre Dame, School’s, Liberty Initiative, Religious Liberty Summit, Regent University School of Law, Duke Law School Locations: Texas, New York, Georgia, Savannah , Georgia, Washington ,, Rome

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