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☆ UnitedHealth CEO tells lawmakers the company paid hackers a $22 million ransom
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Change Healthcare provides payment, revenue management and other solutions like e-prescription software. UnitedHealth told CNBC in April that it paid a ransom to try and protect patient data. Its business unit Optum — which provides care to 103 million customers — and Change Healthcare — which touches one in three patient records — merged in 2022. Committee Chairman Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in his opening remarks that the Change Healthcare breach serves as a "dire warning about the consequences of too-big-to-fail mega-corporations." Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., pressed Witty to share how UnitedHealth is working to ensure something like the Change Healthcare breach will not happen again.

Persons: Andrew, UnitedHealth, Sen, Ron Wyden, Wyden, Thom Tillis, they're, Tillis, Blackcat, Michael Bennet Organizations: Senate, Capitol, U.S ., Finance, UnitedHealth, Healthcare, CNBC, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, U.S . Department of Justice Locations: Washington , DC

☆ 'On life support': Senate Republicans are prepared to sink the child tax credit bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Sahil Kapur | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Teddy bears, meant to represent West Virginia children, appear on the National Mall during an event with the Unbearable Campaign to urge Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., a member of the Finance Committee, said he'd be happy to see the entire tax bill fade away. Saying the bill would "create entitlement spending that would generate significantly higher deficits," he called for spending cuts to fund the child tax credit expansion. He said there's "no question" Senate Republicans are trying to sink the bill to deny President Joe Biden an achievement in an election year. "This tax bill looks like, to me, it's in very serious trouble," he said Tuesday.

Persons: Teddy, Jason Smith, Ron Wyden, Sen, Thom Tillis, he'd, Tillis, Mike Crapo of, Mitch McConnell, Crapo, Chuck Grassley, , Grassley, who's, Richard Neal, Joe Biden, Josh Hawley, Wyden, We're, Donald Trump, that's, Chuck Schumer, he'll, we'll, Schumer Organizations: Republicans, House, Senate, Republican, Democrats, Democratic, Finance, Finance Committee, GOP, NBC, Manhattan Project Locations: West Virginia, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Iowa

Speaker Mike Johnson told Republican senators during their closed-door retreat Wednesday that he was committed to finding a path ahead for Ukraine aid in the House of Representatives, a sign GOP senators took to mean that aid to the embattled country isn’t yet dead in Congress. McCaul said Johnson will put such a House foreign aid bill on the floor after the appropriations process is done. McCaul dismissed the concept of sending Ukraine aid through a discharge petition, saying he is “worried” about that approach, highlighting instead the REPO Act and formatting aid as a loan. “You know, it feels like Speaker Johnson makes up his strategy one or two days at a time. “Speaker Johnson doesn’t need to make up a new plan.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Johnson, wouldn’t, Michael McCaul, Ukraine –, Donald Trump, McCaul, ” McCaul, “ I’ve, Republican Sen, Lindsey Graham, ”, Roger Wicker of, “, ” “, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Thom Tillis, we’ve, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, “ We’ve, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, Johnson doesn’t, that’s, CNN’s Morgan Rimmer Organizations: Republican, CNN, Republicans, House Foreign, Texas Republican, GOP, Senate Armed Services Committee, Kentucky Republican, Democratic, “, Senate, ” Republican Locations: Ukraine, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Israel, Taiwan, North Carolina, Russia, Connecticut, Arkansas

☆ These 4 GOP senators voted to rip away millions of dollars in federal funding that they had secured for their home states
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Seventeen GOP senators had secured funding for specific projects in their home states in the bill. Four of them voted to strip all those projects out, and Sen. Tuberville voted against the entire bill. AdvertisementFour GOP senators voted for a provision on Friday that would have ripped away millions of dollars in federal funding that they had worked to secure for their home states. Known colloquially as "earmarks," the CDS process allows lawmakers to request federal funding for individual projects in their home states. Forty House Republicans did the same thing on Wednesday, voting against the government funding bill despite the fact it secured millions in earmarks funding for their districts.

Persons: Sen, Tuberville, —, Joe Biden, Republican Sen, Rick Scott, Scott, Deb Fischer, Nebraska John Thune of, Nebraska John Thune of South Dakota Thom Tillis, North Carolina Tommy Tuberville, Alabama Fischer, Thune, Tillis, nonbinding, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, — Chris Murphy 🟧, ake, hough Organizations: GOP, Service, Republican, CDS, Republicans, Nebraska John Thune of South Dakota, North, Democratic, ust Locations: Florida, Nebraska John Thune of South, North Carolina

☆ Kyrsten Sinema’s exit puts the spotlight on the Senate’s shrinking pool of dealmakers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Lauren Fox | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

For months, the two of them had worked tirelessly alongside Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma to craft a bipartisan deal on immigration. “The base of each party wants individuals who will fight, but not individuals who will reach across the aisle to get things done,” Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah said. “I’ve seen a shift towards basically really not wanting to do anything,” West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said. Last cycle alone saw the retirement of Ohio Republican Sen. Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt, another GOP pragmatist, retired after the 2022 election, replaced by Sen. Eric Schmitt.

Persons: Sen, Kyrsten, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, Republican Sen, James Lankford of, Sinema, Murphy, ” Murphy, “, ” Sinema, Donald Trump, Mitt Romney, Joe Manchin, he’d, Romney, Trump, ” Romney, I’ve, ” West Virginia Republican Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, Ohio Republican Sen, Rob Portman, J.D, Vance, Trump . Missouri Republican Sen, Roy Blunt, GOP pragmatist, Eric Schmitt, appropriator Sen, Richard Shelby of, Richard Burr of, Bob Corker, Marsha Blackburn, Anna Moneymaker, we’ve, Lamar Alexander, ”, Tim Kaine, “ We’re, Kari Lake, –, Mark Kelly, ” Corker, Kaine, Todd Young, Thom Tillis, It’s, Brian Schatz, ” Sen, Mark Warner, Nathan Howard, Manchin, John Cornyn of, John Thune of, isn’t Organizations: Democratic, Connecticut, Republican, CNN, Senate, ” West Virginia Republican, Ohio Republican, GOP, Trump . Missouri Republican, Intelligence, Senate Foreign Relations, 118th, Democrat, North Carolina Republican, Getty, America Locations: Arizona, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, Ohio, Richard Shelby of Alabama, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Tennessee, Indiana, Hawaii, Washington , DC, John Cornyn of Texas, John Thune of South Dakota, America

☆ For Trump and Biden, attention on North Carolina will linger well past Super Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Steve Contorno | Jeff Zeleny | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

North Carolina, which Trump narrowly won in 2020, is emerging as a critical piece of Biden’s reelection strategy. It has been 16 years since Barack Obama delivered a North Carolina surprise in 2008. Former President Donald Trump gestures after speaking at the North Carolina Republican Party convention in Greensboro on June 10, 2023. She isn’t sure how much longer Republicans can hold the line in North Carolina. “Yes, we have had more growth in our urban communities, and it’s going to make North Carolina trend bluer in the future,” Anderson said.

Persons: North Carolina CNN — Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Joe Biden, ”, Paul Shumaker, “ It’s, Haley, Kamala Harris, ” Harris, Barack Obama, Biden, Donald Trump, Chuck Burton, Sarah Reidy, Jones, Charlotte ” –, “, Trump, ” Haley, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins of, Will Trump, Haley’s, Harris, Peter Zay, scoff, Billy Ward, ” Trump, Susie Wiles didn’t, battlegrounds “, ” Wiles, Michael Whatley, Ronna McDaniel, Whatley, MAGA, Thom Tillis, Mark Robinson, Robinson, Roy Cooper, Ben McKeown, Anderson Clayton, ” Clayton, we’ve, ” Anderson, CNN’s Alayna Treene Organizations: North Carolina CNN, Republican, Trump, Democratic, North Carolina Republican Party, GOP, South, Biden, White, College, Duke University, University of North, Getty, Wake County Republican Party, CNN, North, North Carolina GOP, Republican National Committee, Republicans, Gov, state’s Democratic Party, Conservative, “ Locations: Raleigh, North Carolina, Michigan, “ North Carolina, Durham, Wake County, Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, Wake, Mecklenburg, –, Greensboro, Seattle, South Carolina, Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Carolina, University of North Carolina, Durham , North Carolina, Anadolu, GOP’s, Raleigh , North Carolina, Russia, Ukraine, Southern

The GOP has been softening its stance on Russia ever since Trump won the 2016 election following Russian hacking of his Democratic opponents. Now the GOP's ambivalence on Russia has stalled additional aid to Ukraine at a pivotal time in the war. Things are changing just not fast enough.”Those who oppose additional Ukraine aid bristle at charges that they are doing Putin's handiwork. Even before Trump, Republican voters were signaling discontent with overseas conflicts, said Douglas Kriner, a political scientist at Cornell University. Skeptics of Ukraine aid argue the war has already decimated the Russian military and that Putin won't be able to target other European countries.

Persons: Republican Sen, Ron Johnson of, Vladimir Putin, “, Johnson, “ Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Putin, Mike Johnson, ”, “ Putin, ” Republican Sen, Thom Tillis, Mitch McConnell of, Alexei Navalny, Joe Biden, Tillis, ” Johnson, Missouri Sen, Eric Schmitt, ” Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Tucker Carlson’s, Matt Gaetz, Trump, Douglas Kriner, ” Kriner, ” Trump, didn’t, Olga Kamenchuk, ” Kamenchuk, That’s, “ He's, he's, ” Henry Hale, Russell Vought, Sergey Radchenko, Joey Cappelletti, Mary Clare Jalonick, Lisa Mascaro Organizations: Republican, GOP, Trump, Democratic, Republicans, NATO, ” Republican, Republican Party, ”, Cornell University, Northwestern University, Ukraine, Pew Research, George Washington University, Management, Center, Johns Hopkins ’ School, International Studies, Associated Press Locations: Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Europe, U.S, North Carolina, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, America, Missouri, ” Alabama, Waterford Township , Michigan, ” Russia, “, Moscow, Soviet Union, Putin's U.S, Israel, Taiwan, Western Europe, Soviet, Lithuania, Estonia, Washington

☆ Opinion | The Best Case for Ukraine Aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Ross Douthat | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The first year of the war in Ukraine seemed to vindicate Russia hawks. The second year of war has been kinder to realists and doves. Russia, as in many wars before, seems stronger in a grinding conflict than it did in the initial thrusts. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian counteroffensive of spring and summer failed: A year ago there was still hope that a Russian retreat would turn into a rout, but since then stalemate has ruled the front. The changed situation has created a division in the hawkish argument, visible as the U.S. Congress wrangles over further aid to Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Russia’s, Aleksei Navalny, Thom Tillis, he’ll, Mike Turner Organizations: U.S . Congress, Republican, Ukraine, NATO, Capitol, Russian Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Ukrainian, North Carolina, American, Ohio

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that the apparent death of Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny brings new urgency to the need for Congress to approve tens of billions of dollars for Ukraine to stave off Moscow's invasion. Speaking at the White House, Biden said that no matter the cause, he holds Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible for Navalny's death. He added, “I hope to God it helps” push U.S. lawmakers to send more aid to Ukraine. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesThe president sharply criticized House Republicans for letting the chamber enter a two-week recess without moving on the Ukraine funding. “President Biden pledged ‘devastating’ consequences should Navalny die in prison; now he must follow through.

Persons: Joe Biden, Alexei Navalny, Biden, Vladimir Putin, hasn't, ” Biden, ”, Mike Johnson, “, Putin, ” Johnson, Donald Trump, Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, ” Jeffries, Vladimir Putin’s, Republican Sen, Tom Cotton of, Trump’s Putin, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, Carolina Sen, Thom Tillis, Navalny, ” Tillis, eyeing, Harry Truman Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, Republicans, Ukraine, GOP House, Democratic, Senate, Republican, America, ” Lawmakers, Trump, NATO Locations: Russian, Ukraine, U.S, United States, Baltic, Russia, Israel, Taiwan, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Illinois, ., Carolina, America

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and amid growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad. But a bipartisan deal on border security struck by Republican Sen. James Lankford fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. After the border bill collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone — as Democrats had originally intended. In an unusually raw back-and-forth, GOP senators who support the aid challenged some of the opponents directly on the floor. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that “I reiterated America’s commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.”But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, It’s, ”, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch of, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden's, Schumer, McConnell, “, ” McConnell, Republican Sen, James Lankford, J.D, Vance, Russia's Putin, Putin, Kentucky Sen, Rand Paul, Carolina Sen, Thom Tillis, ” Tillis, ” Sen, Jerry Moran, Moran, Trump, Russia “, Mike Turner, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Turner, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, ” Johnson, Abigail Spanberger, Zelenskyy, ” Spanberger, Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republican Party, Ukraine, Republican, Republicans, Sens, Ukraine —, GOP, U.S . Senate, Trump, Ohio Republican, Kentucky, NATO, House Republicans, House Intelligence, Russia, ”, Senate, Virginia Democrat, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, United States, U.S, Oregon, Peter Welch of Vermont, Russia, Kyiv, China, Gaza, Ohio, Carolina, Europe, America, Virginia

☆ Advocates call on Senate to approve amendment giving Afghan evacuees path to legal residency
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

It is based on the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act, which was reintroduced last year. The amendment was introduced Friday with a list of co-sponsors that included Republican Sens. Future conflicts that we go into will look back to how we handled the end of the Afghan war and what we did with our Afghan allies,” VanDiver said. While the amendment has bipartisan backing, at least one Republican is expected to object to it. Cotton supports helping our Afghan allies and partners, but this specific bill did little to address his concerns,” the person said.

Persons: Democratic Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Republican Sen, Jerry Moran, Republican Sens, Roger Wicker, Lindsey Graham, Thom Tillis, Democratic Sens, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Coons, Jeanne Shaheen, Klobuchar, “, ” Klobuchar, ” Shawn VanDiver, —, It’s, ” VanDiver, Sen, Tom Cotton, ”, “ Sen, Cotton, VanDiver, ” Moran, Patrick Murray Organizations: CNN, Senate, Democratic, Republican, intel, Army, Senate Armed Services Committee, Afghan, Veterans ’ Affairs, Veterans, Foreign, VFW Locations: Afghanistan, United States

But Republicans are divided about how to proceed, and GOP leaders were still scrambling to find a plan that their senators could back. It left Senate Republicans fractured and frustrated just as Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is trying to find a way to squeeze the assistance for Ukraine through Congress. Ukraine supporters say the drop-off in U.S. support is already being felt on the battlefield and by civilians. “My priority is border security. It’s always been border security.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell of, Mike Johnson, ”, Sen, Thom Tillis, It’s, Roger Marshall, — Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, GOP, Republicans, Republican, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, United States, Kyiv, Russia

☆ Biden tries to lay to rest age concerns, but may have exacerbated them
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —A probe that spared President Joe Biden from criminal charges paradoxically dealt him a threatening political blow. The president’s defenders often get frustrated when the political conversation is dominated by Biden’s age – rather than Trump’s repeated challenges to the rule of law. In another CNN poll last week, 46% of Democrats were concerned about Biden’s age. Hur’s report rebuked Biden for willfully retaining classified information, including top secret documents after he left the vice presidency. North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis was kinder but his comments over Biden’s age were also cutting.

Persons: Joe Biden, Robert Hur’s, Biden, ” Biden fumed, Donald Trump’s, CNN’s MJ Lee, “, ”, Hur, Beau’s, ” Biden, he’s, Trump, Kamala Harris, —, Nikki Haley, Nancy Pelosi —, he’d, Trump’s, Hur’s, ” Hur, Beau, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, North Carolina Republican Sen, Thom Tillis, I’m, ” Tillis, “ I’m, …, I’ve, Arizona Sen, Mark Kelly Organizations: CNN, White, Trump, Republican, Biden, Republicans, GOP, Twitter, North Carolina Republican Locations: Egypt, Mexico, America, Washington, Ukraine, Gaza, Lago, Afghanistan, Maryland, Florida, Arizona

☆ Special counsel feeds frenzy over Biden’s age
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Zachary Wolf | Analysis Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

An independent special counsel poured kerosene on concerns about Joe Biden’s age with pointed language about the president’s poor memory after concluding Biden had willfully mishandled classified documents – and that his failing memory makes him impossible to convict. ► He appears poised for a win at the Supreme Court. Feeding the frenzy about Biden’s ageIn concluding Biden should not be prosecuted, Special Counsel Robert Hur, a former Trump-appointed US Attorney in Maryland, offered a political indictment of the president’s fitness. Still, larger Trump-related questions loom for the Supreme Court, such as whether Trump enjoys absolute immunity from prosecution. Trump attorney Jonathan Mitchell speaks before the Supreme Court on February 8.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Biden, ” Biden, Trump, Nikki Haley’s, It’s, Robert Hur, Hur, Carolina Sen, Thom Tillis, “, ’, Beau, ”, Richard Sauber, Bob Bauer, Jamie Raskin, ” Raskin, CNN’s Wolf, General Merrick Garland, Biden’s, Lago, Hur’s, Barack Obama, Obama, –, Joe Biden's, Trump’s, Haley, Jonathan Mitchell, Bill Hennessy Trump’s Organizations: CNN, White House, Republican, Supreme, Trump, Oval, ”, Biden, Maryland Democrat, Democratic, House Democrats, National Archives, Mar, Department of Justice, Virgin Islands, South Locations: Nevada, Colorado, Maryland, Carolina, Virginia, Biden’s Delaware, Florida, Afghanistan, Joe Biden's Delaware, Virgin, South Carolina, Washington ,

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan Senate deal intended to curb illegal crossings at the U.S. border with Mexico faced almost certain defeat Tuesday as Senate Republicans signaled their opposition, stranding President Joe Biden with no clear way to advance aid for Ukraine through Congress. He offered to delay a key test vote on the package until Thursday, but dared them to vote against border security — an issue they have long championed. He made no mention of the need for border security — a piece of the supplemental package that he last year insisted on including. The longtime Republican leader has not been able to convince his conference to warm to the compromises on border security after Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, has excoriated it. Even GOP senators who had been supportive of the border policies under discussion came out against the bill on Tuesday.

Persons: Joe Biden, Sen, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, —, Donald Trump —, Schumer, “, Leader McConnell, ” Schumer, Vladimir Putin's, McConnell, Biden, ” McConnell, Mayorkas, Thom Tillis, Mike Johnson, ”, Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar, MAGA Organizations: WASHINGTON, Senate, Republicans, Democratic, Republican, United States Senate, Russia, Kentucky Republican, Trump, North Carolina Republican, House Democratic Locations: U.S, Mexico, Ukraine, Israel, Asia, Gaza, New York, Europe, Russia, Kentucky, East

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers are urging Hungary to immediately ratify Sweden's application to join NATO, saying patience with the Central European country is “wearing thin” as it continues to delay its approval for the Nordic nation. “Despite its numerous prior public commitments, Hungary is the last remaining NATO member to have not ratified Sweden’s bid and both time and patience are wearing thin. Hungary’s inaction risks irrevocably damaging its relationship with the United States and with NATO,” the senators wrote. Orbán, a staunch nationalist that has led Hungary since 2010, has long promised that his country wouldn't be the last NATO member to approve Sweden's application. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesA vote on the protocols for Sweden’s NATO accession hasn’t yet appeared on the Hungarian parliament’s agenda, and the matter is unlikely to go before lawmakers until at least late February when the parliament reconvenes.

Persons: Jeanne Shaheen, Thom Tillis, Viktor Orbán, Orbán, Sen, Ben Cardin, ” Cardin, Biden, Cardin, ”, “ Organizations: NATO, Central, New, New Hampshire Democrat, North Carolina Republican, Hungarian, Maryland Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations, U.S, Visa, Global, European Union Locations: BUDAPEST, Hungary, U.S, Nordic, Budapest, Sens, New Hampshire, United States, Ukraine, Maryland, Washington

Mark Robinson remained the top fundraiser in the GOP primary campaign for North Carolina governor entering 2024, but a recent rival has used his own personal fortune to compete with him monetarily. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesMorgan’s campaign report said it raised $119,300 during the second half of 2023 and had $32,100 in cash entering January. Graham's campaign finance report said it had $161,600 in cash starting the new year. He was sitting on almost $1.3 million in cash entering January, which came in large part from $1 million he loaned his campaign last June. Robinson, in turn, has attacked Graham in speeches about his lawsuits involving hog farm operations in eastern North Carolina.

Persons: Mark Robinson, monetarily, Bill Graham, Graham, Josh Stein’s, Mike Morgan, Roy Cooper, Stein, Josh Stein, Robinson, Donald Trump, Dale Folwell, — Gary Foxx, Marcus Williams, Chrelle Booker —, weren’t, Folwell, Sen, Thom Tillis Organizations: — Republican, Gov, GOP, North Carolina, State Board, Republican, Associated Press, Democratic, Current Democratic, Israel Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, North, Salisbury, North Carolina

☆ Meta, X, TikTok, Snap and Discord face growing appetite in Congress for tighter social media regulation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

(L-R) Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on January 31, 2024 in Washington, DC. Tillis and other lawmakers accused the tech executives of failing to protect children from sexual exploitation on their respective social media platforms. Growing appetite for regulationTo be sure, both Republican and Democratic senators were united in their conviction that social media firms are failing the American public and directly harming young people. Still, it takes time for bills to get passed, and all of these social media firms are still getting slammed for child-safety related issues, which could keep the topic fresh in the minds of politicians. Watch: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologizes to parents at online child safety Senate hearing.

Persons: Shou Zi Chew, Linda Yaccarino, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta, Alex Wong, Sen, Thom Tillis, Tillis, Josh Hawley, Zuckerberg, Tom Cotton, Chew Organizations: Dirksen, Facebook, Republican, Democratic, Meta, New, Apple, Lawmakers, Chinese Communist Party Locations: Washington , DC, Cambridge, China

☆ Inside the right-wing subculture of Zyn-obsessed nicotine fiends
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. After Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for a federal probe into "Zyn" nicotine pouches last week, the GOP backlash was swift. "Unfortunately Chuck Schumer is more focused on Zyn Pouches than he is about Fentanyl pouring over our border," wrote Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee. A 'pro-society' drugA variety of factors drive the proliferation of nicotine among the younger right-wing crowd. Containers of "Zyn" nicotine pouches.

Persons: Tucker Carlson, —, Chuck Schumer, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Schumer, Sen, Thom Tillis, Tim Burchett, Peter Thiel, JD Vance, Ohio, Vance, It's, Michael M, Carlson, Tucker Carlson's, that's, Saagar Enjeti, Greg Price, Andrew Huberman, Peter Attia, they're, There's, Enjeti, Tillis, Gregory Conley, Conley Organizations: Service, GOP, Rep, Fox News, Atlantic, Senate, Republican, State Freedom Caucus Network, Stanford University, Republicans, American Vapor Manufacturers Association, Capitol, Democrats Locations: North Carolina, Tennessee, mainstreaming Zyn, Swedish

☆ Trump poses dilemma for Senate GOP leaders after years of battling with McConnell
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Manu Raju | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Watch CNN’s coverage of Senate GOP leadership and Donald Trump on ‘Inside Politics Sunday with Manu Raju’ at 11 a.m. Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell hasn’t spoken to Trump in more than three years and tries to avoid uttering his name in public. As Trump steamrolls to the nomination, there are ample questions in GOP circles about how – and whether – Trump can rebuild Senate alliances that were critical in his first term but are nonexistent now. But Mullin said that the next Senate GOP leader and Trump need to move past the bad blood if they take back the majority and the White House. Asked last week if he could work with Trump as president, Thune said: “We can work with everybody.”Pressed again if he could do so as GOP leader, Thune said: “Well, that’s a hypothetical.”And the elevator doors closed.

Persons: Donald Trump, Manu Raju ’, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump ., Mitch McConnell hasn’t, John Thune of, hasn’t, Trump, “, ”, Texas Sen, John Cornyn –, McConnell, – Sen, John Barrasso, Kari Lake, Bernie Moreno, – Trump, –, there’s, Sen, J.D, Vance, Mitch McConnell, Chip Somodevilla, Johns, he’s, Rick Scott, Scott, —, Markwayne Mullin, Mullin, ” Mullin, they’re, ” Sen, Marco Rubio, Nikki Haley, Haley, Kevin Cramer, Mitch, Thom Tillis, Tillis, Josh Hawley, ” Hawley, Trump’s, Elaine Chao, ” McConnell, John Thune, John Cornyn, J, Scott Applewhite, Cornyn, Joe Biden, ” Cornyn, Barrasso, Joe Biden …, ” Thune, Thune –, Tim Scott of, Thune, CNN’s Morgan Rimmer, Lauren Fox, Christine Park Organizations: GOP, Trump, Team Trump, Republican, Capitol, Trump -, Republicans, Ohio Republican, CNN, Oklahoma Republican, White, Kentucky Republican, North Dakota Republican, North Carolina Republican, New, New Hampshire, Texas, Wyoming –, Thune Locations: New Hampshire, John Thune of South Dakota, Wyoming, Iowa, Arizona, Ohio, Ukraine, Washington ,, Florida, Oklahoma, Marco Rubio of Florida, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Washington, Tim Scott of South Carolina

☆ How Donald Trump Divided Republicans on Immigration
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Annie Karni | More About Annie Karni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

With more than half of Senate Republicans now officially backing Trump’s candidacy, those entreaties are becoming harder to ignore as mere prattle from Palm Beach. Trump and most House Republicans want to block migrants from living and working temporarily without visas in the United States while they await the outcome of their immigration claims. Speaker Mike Johnson, who talks about immigration regularly with Trump, has said that a Senate deal without those policies would be dead on arrival in the House. The collapse of a dealYesterday, Republican supporters of a border deal were livid at the notion that Trump might tank their work. “We have to have people here who support Trump, who have endorsed President Trump, go to him and tell him what a compelling case this is,” Thom Tillis, a North Carolina senator, said.

Persons: “, ”, Trump, Biden, Mike Johnson, ” Thom Tillis Organizations: Trump, Republicans, Senators, Democrats, Republican Locations: Palm Beach, United States, Mexico, North Carolina

Sen. Todd Young speaks to reporters before a Republican Senate policy luncheon at the US Capitol Building on September 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. Samuel Corum/Getty ImagesStatus of border talks remains unclearFrustration reigned inside the Senate GOP on Thursday amid lingering confusion over the status of a border deal. Pressed on whether it was realistic to pass a border deal with Trump opposing it, Young said: “It may be possible. This is about security for our own country and so let’s keep pushing to get this border deal,” she said. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, one of the Democrats involved in the border talks, expressed frustration about Trump seeking to inject chaos into the situation.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, doesn’t, Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Biden, ”, GOP Sen, Mitt Romney, ’ ”, ’ ” GOP Sen, Todd Young, “, James Lankford, ” Young, Sen, Anna Moneymaker, Underscoring, Thom Tillis, North Carolina –, –, Tillis, ” Tillis, McConnell –, “ We’re, ” McConnell, ” Sen, John Thune, we’ll, ” Thune, Samuel Corum, Young, you’ve, Ron Johnson of, ” Johnson, “ James Lankford, It’s McConnell, Republican Sen, Lisa Murkowski, “ I’m, Murkowski, Chris Murphy of, Donald Trump –, ” Murphy Organizations: Republicans, Trump, GOP, Capitol, ’ ” GOP, Republican, Building, CNN, Getty Locations: Ukraine, Utah, Indiana, Washington , DC, North Carolina, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, “, Alaska, Chris Murphy of Connecticut

☆ These 20 GOP senators still haven't endorsed Trump — and some of them probably never will
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Yet in the Senate, long a bastion of Republican resistance (or at least hesitancy) to Trump, there are still a number of holdouts. As of January 24, there are still 20 Republican senators — out of 49 total — who have not endorsed Trump's 2024 bid. AdvertisementSome of those senators can be expected to get behind Trump when his nomination becomes official, or at least uncontested. Four current GOP senators — Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah — voted to convict Trump for incitement of an insurrection following January 6. AdvertisementYet GOP lawmakers have faced pressure, both from Trump and their voters, to fall in line.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, Nikki Haley, Haley, Ralph Norman of, Trump's, Trump, Mitch McConnell, Bill Cassidy of, Susan Collins of, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Utah —, it's, Sen, Todd Young, Young, JD Vance, Ohio, I've, haven't, John Boozman, Arkansas Shelly Moore Capito, West Virginia Bill Cassidy, Louisiana Susan Collins, Maine Joni Ernst, Chuck Grassley, Iowa Ron Johnson, Wisconsin John Kennedy of, Wisconsin John Kennedy of Louisiana James Lankford of, Wisconsin John Kennedy of Louisiana James Lankford of Oklahoma Mitch McConnell, Jerry Moran, Kansas Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Rand Paul of Kentucky Pete Ricketts, Nebraska Mitt Romney, Utah Mike Rounds, South Dakota Dan Sullivan, Alaska John Thune of, Alaska John Thune of South Dakota Thom Tillis, North Carolina Todd Young Organizations: Service, Republican, Business, Trump, Republicans, Senate, Todd Young of Indiana, New, Nebraska, South Dakota, Alaska John Thune of South Dakota, North Carolina Locations: Iowa, New Hampshire, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Alaska, Utah, Arkansas, West, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Wisconsin John Kennedy of Louisiana, Wisconsin John Kennedy of Louisiana James Lankford of Oklahoma, Alaska John Thune of South, Indiana

☆ Senate GOP offers cautious embrace of Trump amid fears over his electability
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Manu Raju | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On Tuesday night, the Texas Republican endorsed Trump and called for GOP unity after the New Hampshire primary. “Twenty percent of GOP voters will not vote for him,” the Republican member said. “Independent voters think Biden is weak, but they hate Trump. And that’s exactly what Trump’s going to do,” Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, told CNN. “And I think President Trump, in many people’s minds, is the answer to that status quo,” he said.

Persons: Sen, John Cornyn, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Trump’s electability, ” Cornyn, “, he’s, ”, John Thune, CNN’s, Nikki Haley, Haley, Biden, Republican holdouts, Trump’s, GOP Sen, Deb Fischer, Brandon Williams, Joe Biden, ” Sen, Thom Tillis, They’re, Lindsey Graham of, Mike Rounds, Fischer, President Trump, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, ” McConnell, I’ve, I’ll, Susan Collins of, ” Collins, she’d, Collins, “ I’m, Donald Trump, J.D, Vance of, Haley’s, What’s, ” Vance, Mitt Romney, Markwayne Mullin, CNN’s Ted Barrett, Sam Fossum, Kristin Wilson, Haley Talbot, Lauren Fox Organizations: Texas Republican, New, CNN, Republicans, GOP, Republican, Trump, South Carolina Gov, House Republican, “, Nebraska, North Carolina Republican, South Dakota Republican, Nebraska Republican Locations: New Hampshire, Iowa, New York, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Vance of Ohio, Utah, Washington, ” Washington, Oklahoma

☆ Senators Seek Answers From Pentagon on Troops’ Blast Exposure
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Dave Philipps | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A bipartisan group of senators is demanding to know what steps the military is taking to protect troops from brain injuries caused by the blasts from firing their own weapons. The senators — Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts; Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa; and Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina — made the demand in a detailed letter sent on Thursday to Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III. It was incited by recent research by the Defense Department and reporting by The New York Times showing that repeated blast exposure from weapons like artillery and rocket launchers can cause lasting and profound brain damage, but that the military often fails to protect troops, or even recognize the risks, from the blasts. “Our service members have been suffering the health consequences of blast overexposure for far too long, and they’re still not seeing real action to limit and track these risks,” Ms. Warren said in a statement.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Joni Ernst, Thom Tillis, North Carolina —, Lloyd J, Austin III, they’re, Ms, Warren Organizations: Republican, Defense Department, The New York Times Locations: Massachusetts, Iowa, North Carolina

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