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☆ Biden, Seeking to Build on Fruitful Week, Will Announce Billions in Chip Grants
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Madeleine Ngo | Zolan Kanno-Youngs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Micron will use the grants to help construct two leading-edge chip manufacturing plants in New York and another facility in Idaho, Biden administration officials said before the president’s trip to Syracuse, N.Y., for the announcement. The federal government will also provide up to $7.5 billion in loans to Micron. The legislation gave the Commerce Department $39 billion to distribute as grants to incentivize chipmakers to construct and expand manufacturing plants across the United States. On Wednesday, he secured the endorsement of the North America’s Building Trades Unions, largely because of his bipartisan infrastructure package. He also is fresh off signing a $95.3 billion package of aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after months of congressional gridlock, reaffirming a central focus of his foreign policy agenda.

Persons: Biden, incentivize, Chuck Schumer Organizations: Micron Technology, Micron, Commerce Department, Unions Locations: New York, Idaho, Syracuse, N.Y, United States, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

☆ House Speaker Johnson drowned out by booing crowds at Columbia University speech on Gaza protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., struggled to get a word in edgewise Wednesday, battling a chorus of booing crowds during a speech at Columbia University where he condemned the ongoing student protests against Israel's bombardment of Gaza. "Enjoy your free speech," Johnson said tersely, pausing his prepared remarks to wait for the jeering to die down. Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine, a group that helped organize the protests, has said that any hate speech is not coming from its protesters but rather "inflammatory individuals who do not represent us." During Johnson's speech Wednesday, he called on Shafik to resign if she could not get a handle on the protests. After more than a week of bipartisan cooperation with Democrats to pass the aid bill, Johnson's Columbia speech appeared to be an attempt to bolster his conservative bona fides for his hardline GOP colleagues.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, tersely, Nemat, Shafik, Joe Biden, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, fides, Virginia Foxx, Mike Lawler Organizations: U.S . House, Columbia University, Hamas, Israel's, Columbia, New York Police Department, Columbia Students, Justice, National Guard, Biden, GOP, Rep, Education, Workforce Locations: Israel, Palestinian, New York City, U.S, edgewise, Gaza, Columbia's, Palestine, Ukraine, Taiwan, Columbia

☆ ‘A Good Day for World Peace’: Biden Signs Aid Bill for Ukraine and Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Zolan Kanno-Youngs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden signed a $95.3 billion package of aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan on Wednesday, reaffirming U.S. support for Kyiv in the fight against Russia’s military assault after months of congressional gridlock put the centerpiece of the White House’s foreign policy in jeopardy. “It’s a good day for world peace,” Mr. Biden said from the State Dining Room of the White House. “It’s going to make America safer, it’s going to make the world safer, and it continues America’s leadership in the world and everyone knows it.”The Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve the package on Tuesday night, a sign of bipartisan support after increasingly divisive politics raised questions on Capitol Hill and among U.S. allies over whether the United States would continue to back Kyiv. The 79-to-18 vote provided Mr. Biden another legislative accomplishment to point to, even in the face of an obstructionist House. Within minutes of the vote, Mr. Biden said he would sign the bill into law “so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week.”

Persons: Biden, gridlock, “, ” Mr, “ It’s, ” Organizations: Kyiv, White, Capitol Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, America, U.S, United States, Kyiv

☆ New US military aid package to Ukraine expected to be worth around $1 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration is preparing a new aid package for Ukraine that is expected to be worth around $1 billion, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN, and is set to be approved by President Joe Biden after the Senate passes a new foreign aid funding bill as soon as Tuesday afternoon. In briefings to Congress in recent weeks, administration officials have indicated that the US will likely send Ukraine long-range ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile Systems, for the first time as part of the new aid package, three of the sources said. Ukrainian officials have been asking the US both in private and in public for the long-range missile to target deeper behind Russian lines. Broadly, Russia has maintained a “significant quantitative advantage” over Ukraine in terms of munitions, manpower and equipment, a NATO official said earlier this month. The military aid will be sourced from the US’ own stockpiles through a funding mechanism known as presidential drawdown authority, or PDA, and will be the first PDA package for Ukraine since March.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, Bill Burns, Chris Cavoli, Sen, Mark Warner, we’ve, ” Warner, Bradley, ” Celeste Wallander Organizations: CNN, Senate, Army Tactical Missile Systems, US, CIA, NATO, Senate Intelligence, CBS, Pentagon, White, Command Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, Russia

☆ McCaul commends Speaker Johnson’s transformation following foreign aid vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Avery Lotz | Michelle Shen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul applauded House Speaker Mike Johnson Sunday for bringing foreign aid legislation to his chamber’s floor, characterizing the move as “a profile in courage.”“I am so proud of the speaker, Mike Johnson,” the Texas Republican, who has been a staunch supporter of passing additional foreign aid, said on ABC’s “This Week.” “He went through a transformation. At the end of the day, a profile in courage is putting the nation above yourself, and that’s what he did. Asked if he believes Johnson’s job is in jeopardy following the successful vote, McCaul argued “stock in Mike Johnson has gone way up” and that the speaker has “garnered a lot of respect” from both sides of the aisle. But Trump has not commented publicly about the package the House passed on Saturday and has previously expressed support for Johnson’s speakership. “What (Trump) wants is for a lifeline to be given to Ukraine,” McCaul contended, “so that when he gets into office … he can then negotiate and save it.”

Persons: Michael McCaul, Mike Johnson, ”, ‘, ’, Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, —, ” McCaul, “, McCaul, Donald Trump, Trump Organizations: CNN — House Foreign, Texas Republican, Senate, Republicans, firebrand Rep, House, Louisiana Republican, CNN, House Republicans, Russia, NATO, Johnson’s Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Louisiana, United States

☆ How the Israel-Gaza Protests Could Hurt the Democratic Party
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Jeremy W. Peters | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Protests over the Israel-Hamas war could also complicate this year’s convention and the Democratic messaging for President Biden, whom Republicans have eagerly cast as too indulgent of chaos and disorder in American society. Last week, Fox News and other conservative outlets repeatedly showed demonstrations that made the country seem on the edge: Columbia University sending in the police to arrest students on campus; protesters shouting “genocide!” at President Biden at a campaign stop; demonstrators chaining themselves to cars to block traffic, creating gridlock. “The whole Republican message is, ‘The world is out of control and Biden is not in command,’” said David Axelrod, the Democratic strategist and adviser to former President Barack Obama. “They will exploit any images of disorder to abet and support it.”

Persons: Biden, ’ ”, David Axelrod, Barack Obama, “, ” Organizations: Democratic, Republicans, Fox News, Columbia University Locations: Israel

☆ The week that life in Dubai ground to a halt
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Abbas Allawati | Abbas Al Lawati | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is part, saw the heaviest rainfall in at least 75 years, with more than a year’s worth of precipitation in 24 hours. Abandoned vehicles on a flooded highway after a rainstorm in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. People stand as flood water caused by heavy rains covers the stairs of a residential building, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. A man walks in flood water caused by heavy rains, with the Burj Khalifa tower visible in the background, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 17, 2024. Residents move their belongings on a kayak at a flooded residential complex following heavy rainfall, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

Persons: hadn’t, Christopher Pike, ”, Sofie, Sheikh, Avinash Babur, Amr Alfiky, Babur, Amr Alfiky Amr Alfiky, Ali Salem, “, wasn’t Organizations: UAE CNN, United, United Arab Emirates, Bloomberg, Getty, Dubai Marina, CNN, “, Dubai “, REUTERS, Reuters, . Schools Locations: Dubai, UAE, United Arab Emirates, Ras Al, Khaimah, Persian, United Arab, Western, lockdowns, freezers, United States, China, Burj Khalifa, Jumeirah

☆ It pays to leave Congress: Democrat who resigned mid-term is getting a $131,000 pay bump to run a performing arts center
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewAt the beginning of February, Rep. Brian Higgins officially resigned from Congress to take a job as the president of a local performing arts center. It was a curious move for the New York Democrat, who had served in the House for 19 years. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Just weeks later, Higgins was named president and CEO of Shea's Performing Arts Center, which includes a historic theatre first built in 1926. And it makes it more difficult for potential candidates who aren't independently wealthy to run for Congress in the first place.

Persons: —, Brian Higgins, Higgins, Kevin McCarthy's, That's, Daniel Schuman, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez Organizations: Service, New York Democrat, Democrats, Business, Shea's Performing Arts Center, POPVOX Foundation, Democratic, Cortez of New York Locations: Washington, Shea's, Buffalo, Alexandria, Cortez of New

☆ Retired Justice Stephen Breyer's advice to a divided nation: Let everyone speak, disagree respectfully, and then go play cards
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer is worried about a divided America. It concerns many, including retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer. Attentive listening to the opposing view often "increased the chances of agreement or compromise," Breyer wrote. Though he was one of the broadly liberal justices, Breyer described playing games of bridge with right-leaning Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Justice Anthony Kennedy, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and their spouses. "What works for nine people with lifetime appointments won't work for the entire nation, but listening to one another in search of a consensus might help," Breyer wrote.

Persons: Stephen Breyer, Breyer, —, William Rehnquist, Anthony Kennedy, Sandra Day O'Connor, Gen Organizations: New York Times, Service, The New York Times Locations: America, Gaza, Ukraine

☆ ‘Plan Ahead’: Baltimore Traffic Reporter on Congestion After Bridge Collapse
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Adeel Hassan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When the Francis Scott Key Bridge was built in the 1970s, it was intended to relieve congestion from the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Forty-seven years later, some of that traffic will be diverted back to the tunnel after the bridge collapsed last week upon being struck by a giant cargo ship, killing six construction workers. With the rebuilding process expected to take several years, that most likely means years of gridlock for commuters, travelers and truck drivers. The 1.6-mile bridge was the final link on Interstate 695, which loops around the city and is known as the Baltimore Beltway. The crossing’s overall structure, including its connecting approaches, was almost 11 miles long.

Persons: Francis Scott Key Organizations: Baltimore Locations: Baltimore

☆ About half of all senior congressional staffers are mulling an exit: The 'physical and psychological toll of this place cannot be understated.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Congressional Management Foundation said many senior aides are also eyeing the exit. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . But the gridlock and partisanship that has become commonplace among lawmakers has also taken a toll on senior congressional staffers. Nearly half of upper-level aides are now eyeing the exits, according to an investigation conducted by the nonprofit Congressional Management Foundation, which seeks to strengthen trust in Congress. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Congressional Management Foundation, Service, Capitol, Business

☆ This House and Congress in general have been really unproductive, says PIMCO's Libby Cantrill
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThis House and Congress in general have been really unproductive, says PIMCO's Libby CantrillLibby Cantrill, PIMCO head of U.S. public policy, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the $1.2 trillion funding bill to avert a government shutdown, prospect for more legislation getting passed before the election, gridlock in Washington, and more.

Persons: PIMCO's Libby Cantrill Libby Cantrill Locations: gridlock, Washington

☆ ACP, a digital lifeline for millions of Americans, is in jeopardy. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Cynthia George is one of millions of Americans in jeopardy of losing their home internet access. Yet Congress is nowhere close to approving the $6 billion that President Joe Biden says would renew the ACP and avert calamity for tens of millions of Americans. Courtesy Michelle McDonoughLike George, McDonough also expects she’ll have to cut back on groceries if the ACP goes away. The FCC’s Lifeline program, which dates to the Reagan administration, similarly gives low-income households a monthly discount on phone or internet service. “You’re taking ACP away from the farmers that can check the local produce prices and be able to reasonably negotiate their prices with retailers.

Persons: Cynthia George, Cynthia George George, Joe Biden, Pedro Ugarte, ”, Gigi Sohn, “, George, ” George, Michelle McDonough, McDonough, she’ll, doesn’t, “ I’m, ” McDonough, Mandel Ngan, Gary Johnson, Paul, —, Kamesha Scott, Louis, Scott, Megan Janicki, ” Janicki, Reagan, Biden, ” Blair Levin, Bill Clark, Levin, Jonathan Blaine, ” Blaine, Blaine Organizations: Washington CNN, MSN, Federal Communications Commission, Program, Lawmakers, ACP, FCC, Getty, CNN, ”, White, Comcast, George, Congress, Paul Bunyan Communications, American Library Association, Lifeline, House Republicans, New, Research, Republican, ” Lawmakers Locations: Washington ,, AFP, United States, Maine, Washington , DC, Minnesota, St, “, Lake Havasu City, Ariz, Vermont

☆ Retiring GOP Rep. Ken Buck scorches the House of Representatives on his way out the door: 'This place just keeps going downhill'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Retiring Rep. Ken Buck didn't hold back when discussing the House while on Capitol Hill this week. "This place just keeps going downhill, and I don't need to spend my time here," he said, per WaPo. Buck, a conservative who was first elected to the House in 2014, is stepping down later this month. Related stories"This place just keeps going downhill, and I don't need to spend my time here," he told reporters, according to The Washington Post. "I have a passion for that and I'm going to leave, and I'm going to find the right organization to join, and I'm going to start working on that issue."

Persons: Ken Buck didn't, Buck, —, Biden, Kevin McCarthy's, Ken Buck, Alejandro Mayorkas, Buck wasn't, he's, Mike Johnson of, he'd, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, they're, We've Organizations: Service, Republicans, California Rep, Colorado Rep, Homeland, The Washington, CNN, Trump, House Locations: California, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Colorado

☆ Markets don't seem to care about the presidential election, but that could change soon
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

The election is not going to change that much either way," Roberts said. The market's moves through the year, though, could be important as they have often foretold outcomes in presidential races. Biden endorses taxing the rich whereas Trump pushed through corporate tax breaks while in office. Biden endorses taxing the rich whereas Trump pushed through corporate tax breaks while in office. The trend makes the market's moves in the months ahead potentially consequential for determining the election victor.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Doug Roberts, Roberts, there's, Trump, we'll, Joe Salmond, There's, Jerome Powell, Salmond, Jerome Powell's Organizations: Federal Reserve, House, Trump, Democratic, Channel Capital Research, Biden, Fed, Thornburg Investment Management, Global, Chase, White, AFP, Getty Locations: U.S, Washington, East, Russia, Wilmington , Delaware, Washington , DC

☆ Sweeping EU rules for tech giants take effect today. Here’s what’s changing
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The new EU regulations force sweeping changes on some of the world’s most widely used tech products, including Apple’s app store, Google search and messaging platforms, including Meta’s WhatsApp. Its broad obligations affect six of the world’s largest tech companies: Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft and ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. While the law could increase demand for tech companies to extend EU-specific features to other markets, few platforms have shown signs they plan to do so. Tech pushes backBut some tech companies have pushed back on the DMA, warning that it could lead to unintended consequences. “The changes the DMA requires will inevitably cause a gap” between EU users’ security and the security Apple users enjoy outside the EU, it added.

Persons: Meta’s, Apple, Bing, Elon Musk’s, “ Fortnite, ”, Agustin Reyna, “, Apple’s, ” Apple, Reyna, ” BEUC, Tim Sweeney, Meta —, Daniel Friedlaender, CCIA, Friedlaender, Olesya Dmitracova Organizations: Washington CNN, Apple, Google, Union citizens, Big Tech, Spotify, Netflix, Digital Markets, Meta, Microsoft, European Commission, EU, YouTube, Epic, Consumer, Tech, Games, CNN, Computer, Communications Industry Association Locations: United States, Europe

☆ Opinion: In Ukraine’s swelling cemeteries, a lost generation of young men
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Opinion Michael Bociurkiw | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Lviv CNN —Few places ooze the pain Ukrainians have been subjected to over the decades more than Lychakiv Cemetery in the western city of Lviv. These days, Lychakiv has become the burial ground for hundreds of service men and women killed in the most recent wave of Russian aggression. I’ve been coming to Lychakiv since the early weeks of the war to get a better sense of the human cost. “There are such cemeteries as Lychakiv all over Ukraine,” Lviv resident and community activist Lesia Krepyakevych told me. (Under Ukrainian law, men between the ages of 18 to 26 can’t be drafted, though they can volunteer).

Persons: Michael Bociurkiw, Michael Bociurkiw Chrystia, Ivan Franko, Volodymyr Ivasiuk, Lychakiv, I’ve, Pavlo Palamarchuk, Volodymyr Zelensky, Lesia Krepyakevych, it’s, who’ve, can’t, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Johnson, Biden, Putin, Emmanuel Macon didn’t, David, Goliath Organizations: Atlantic Council, Organization for Security, Cooperation, CNN, Lviv CNN, Getty, West, ”, Senate, Republican, Ukraine – Locations: Europe, Lviv, Ukraine, Anadolu, ” Lviv, Red, Iranian, Russia, Kyiv, Washington, America

☆ Opinion: On the border, voters want action, not photo ops
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Opinion Jon Gabriel | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Upholding that proud tradition, President Joe Biden is headed to the border on Thursday — and so is former President Donald Trump. I’m a lifelong resident of Arizona, and border-state voters have heard a lot of talk, but haven’t seen much action. The president’s only other visit to the border was a year ago, briefly stopping in El Paso before racing back home. This would at least mitigate Biden’s polling drop while also giving border states and blue cities a respite from the migrant influx. They’re done with photo-ops next to broken border walls and other campaign stunts.

Persons: Jon Gabriel, CNN — It’s, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Jon Gabriel Unfortunately, Biden, Bob Dole, Bill Clinton, Sen, John McCain, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, I’m, haven’t, Greg Abbott, Eric Adams, JB Pritzker, Abbott, “, Trump, ”, Alejandro Mayorkas, They’re Organizations: The Arizona, Twitter, CNN, Trump, Texas Gov, Texas National Guard, Gallup, Democratic, New York City, Immigration, Customs, Illinois Gov, New York City Police Department, Republicans, U.S . Border Patrol, Senate, GOP, Homeland Locations: The Arizona Republic, Texas, Arizona, Douglas, Yuma, Tucson, El Paso, Brownsville , Texas, Gulf of Mexico, Eagle Pass , Texas, Del Rio, America, New York, Illinois, New, Georgia, Brownsville

☆ A GOP congressman says he has 'zero concerns' about the wave of departures from the House: 'We probably need a few more retirements'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"I think the retirements are a wonderful thing," Good recently told CNN. I blame a lot of the 'crazy eights' led by Gaetz," McCarthy told CNN. However, Good dismissed concerns about congressional turnover, even as Republicans control the House, albeit narrowly. Why don't you survey the country and see if there is any brain to drain in Congress," he told CNN. As of Tuesday, 21 GOP lawmakers have chosen not to run for reelection this year or are running for another public office.

Persons: —, Bob Good, Kevin McCarthy of, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Good, Mike Gallagher of, Mark Green of, Alejandro Mayorkas —, — Green, Gallagher, Tom McClintock of, Ken Buck, Ken Buck of Colorado, Mayorkas, Debbie Lesko of, wouldn't, gridlock, we're Organizations: Service, GOP Rep, Caucus, Business, CNN, Chinese Communist Party, Homeland Security, Homeland, GOP Locations: Virginia, Kevin McCarthy of California, Florida, Congress, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, Mark Green of Tennessee, Tom McClintock of California, Ken Buck of, Debbie Lesko of Arizona

CNN —House Republicans were shocked by some of the recent high-profile retirements announced by their colleagues, which have included powerful committee chairs and rising stars inside the GOP. And on the Energy and Commerce Committee alone – a highly sought-after assignment – there are eight Republicans who are retiring. “So, yeah, I’m very worried about it.”Others, however, said the turnover is completely normal, especially since the House GOP has self-imposed term limits for chairs, which they argued allows them to inject new blood into the ranks. We probably need a few more retirements.”McCarthy – who resigned at the end of last year – suggested that was perhaps the goal of hard-liners like Good and GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida who voted to oust him. It’s just a number of things piling up,” said House Science Committee Chair Frank Lucas, reflecting on the retirements.

Persons: “ They’ve, we’re, ”, Ken Buck, Don Bacon of Nebraska, ” Bacon, Carlos Gimenez, Kevin McCarthy, “, it’s, –, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Mike Gallagher of, Alejandro Mayorkas, Greg Pence, Pfluger, Tom Cole, I’ve, I’m, Bob Good, ” Good, ” McCarthy –, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, ” McCarthy, Frank Lucas, Mark Green of, Debbie Lesko of, McCarthy, ” Lesko, can’t, Brian Fitzpatrick, Steve Womack, Donald, Trump, Kelly Armstrong of, ’, Erin Houchin, Patrick McHenry of, Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, CNN, GOP, Energy, impeaching Homeland, Commerce, Indiana, Republicans, Congress, Capitol, ”, House Homeland Security Committee, Representatives, Financial Locations: Ken Buck of Colorado, Carlos Gimenez of Florida, Washington, China, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, Texas, Congress, Florida, Mark Green of Tennessee, Debbie Lesko of Arizona, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, New York, Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota, Erin Houchin of Indiana, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina

☆ Opinion: Alexey Navalny, one man who stood up to a dictatorship
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. “In his courageous and too short life,” wrote Russia scholar Daniel Treisman, “Navalny became a symbol of hope for the younger generations of his compatriots. “He never gave up on the prospect of what he called ‘the beautiful Russia of the future,’” Treisman noted. “For a ‘beautiful Russia of the future’ to emerge in coming years, Putin must lose the war he started. Navalny understood this.”“Navalny’s death represents the extinguishing of all hope for Russia’s turnaround,” wrote Sasha Vasilyuk.

Persons: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Joseph Stalin “, “, ”, you’ve, Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Putin’s, Navalny, fearlessly, Putin, Daniel Treisman, “ Navalny, Navalny’s, ’ ” Treisman, Sasha Vasilyuk, Alexey Navalny’s, Peter Bergen, Andrei Sakharov, ” Putin, Bergen, Nick Anderson, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, authoritarians, Bill Bramhall, James Mattis, ” Peter Bergen, Frida Ghitis, Fidel Castro’s playbook, Patrick Mahomes, Andy “, Amy Bass, New York Democrat Tom Suozzi, George Santos, ” Suozzi, CNN Suozzi didn’t, Biden, isn’t, Long, Max Burns, ” “, Alejandro Mayorkas, ” “ Suozzi, Burns, Robert Hur’s, Norm Eisen, Richard Painter, Joshua Kolb, Hur, ” Joel Pett, Lawrence C, Levy, Julian Zelizer, Dean Obeidallah, Mark Dent, Dent, Saw, Clay Jones, David Orentlicher, ” Orentlicher, Will Cooper, Fani, Willis, Nathan, Wade, ” “ Willis, Antony Blinken, Batniji, Blinken, Fatah, Hussein, Don’t, David Horsey, Agency Jill Filipovic, Lynda Gorov, Taylor Swift, Jim Parrott, Mark Zandi, Brigid Schulte, Yuliya, Kara Alaimo, Frankie de la, Jackie Robinson’s, Jon Stewart’s, Jon Stewart, Matt Wilson, Jon Stewart skewered Trump, Bill Carter, Stewart, ” “ Stewart Organizations: CNN, IK, Moscow Times, Kremlin, Twitter, Facebook, Soviet, Tribune, Agency, Republican, Senate, Agency Former US Defense, Trump, , Kansas City Chiefs, Chiefs, nab, New, New York Democrat, Democratic, GOP, Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church, Super Bowl, Kansas, West Bank Locations: Soviet, Germany, Ukraine, Russia, New York, Washington, Georgia, ,, York, Glen Cove, Joel Osteen’s, Houston, Kansas City, America, ”, Kansas, Gaza, San Francisco, Israel, Iran

Over the course of several days, The Associated Press interviewed a cross section of voters in Northampton County to ask whether Biden's messaging around the fate of democracy was resonating. These voters represented parts of the very coalition Biden will need to win Pennsylvania again — Black voters, Latinos, independents and moderates from both parties. A Biden campaign spokesperson said the democracy message is central to the campaign but it is not the only one the campaign will use to reach voters. Getting Black voters engaged is going to take more from Biden, she believes, because so far his campaign messages have not resonated. But Lopez thinks messages of fear and Trump imperiling American democracy are essentially meaningless for many of the county's working class voters.

Persons: Raymond Santiago, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Santiago isn't, ”, Trump, ” Biden, Evelyn Fermin, “, Curt Balch, Balch, ’ ” Balch, Christian Miller, That's, Miller, ” Miller, Christopher Borick, Harry Truman, Republican Thomas Dewey, ” Borick, Hillary Clinton, Anna Kodama, Kodama, “ That’s, Esther Lee, Lee, Guillermo Lopez Jr, Lopez Organizations: Bethlehem Steel, Hispanic, GOP, Northampton County, Trump, Independence Hall, Associated Press, Biden, Pennsylvania, —, Lehigh Hispanic, U.S, Capitol, Biden’s, Republican, Republican Party, Institute of Public, Muhlenberg University, Democrats, NAACP, Lehigh, AP Locations: BETHLEHEM, Pa, Lehigh, Northampton County, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Valley Forge , Pennsylvania, America, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Dominican Republic, Hellertown, Nazareth, Northampton, Allentown, Ohio, Europe, Emmaus

☆ AI could disrupt the 2024 US presidential election. What’s Congress doing about it?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But with just nine months until Americans head to the ballot box, there are few signs Congress is ready to pass any meaningful legislation on AI. Alex Wong/Getty ImagesSchumer has previously said that with the election nearing, he may seek to fast-track a bill that focuses specifically on AI and election security. Nothing looks likely to move.”Initial momentum on AI regulationFor months, Congress has focused on getting up to speed on the basics of AI. Still other ideas would require “high-risk” AI models to register for a government license, or create a dedicated new federal agency to oversee AI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies before a Senate Judiciary Privacy, Technology & the Law Subcommittee hearing titled 'Oversight of A.I.

Persons: Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, “, Schumer, Sen, Todd Young, Martin Heinrich, Michael Rounds, Alex Wong, New Mexico Democratic Sen, South Dakota Republican Sen, Mike Rounds, Indiana Republican Sen, didn’t, Paul Gallant, Cowen, ”, Gallant, we’re, Sam Altman, Altman, Heinrich, Rounds, Young, Julia Nikhinson, Sundar Pichai, Jensen Huang, Mike Johnson, Marcus Molinaro, Johnson, Drake, Tom Hanks, Tennessee Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Hakeem Jeffries, Don Beyer, it’ll, Alan Davidson, Biden, Elizabeth Frantz, ” Davidson, —, Sarah Myers West Organizations: Washington CNN, mayoral, U.S, Senate, Capitol, Artificial Intelligence, “, CNN, New, New Mexico Democratic, South Dakota Republican, Indiana Republican, Cowen Inc, United, International Atomic Energy Agency, Intelligence, Reuters, Google, Nvidia, New York Republican, The Washington Post, Commerce, Tennessee Republican, ITI, Virginia Democratic Rep, State of, Republican, House Energy, European Union, EU, Congress, Commerce Department, White House, Privacy, Technology, Democrats, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Washington ,, New Mexico, South, Washington , U.S, Washington

☆ Opinion: Tom Suozzi wins New York election in a vote for normalcy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Opinion Max Burns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Suozzi struck a tough tone on immigration, while Pilip seemed to drag her feet in acknowledging she had voted for Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump. Suozzi continued that theme into his victory speech on Tuesday night, emphasizing that voters want politicians who will fix problems. Progressive Democrats laid the blame for Santos’ election and Republicans’ strong 2022 performance squarely at the feet of New York state Democratic Party chair Jay Jacobs. As a first-time congressional candidate facing a Democratic funding juggernaut, Pilip was outmatched by Suozzi at the debate and in field operations. After an eventful year and a half of Santos, voters were justifiably afraid of gambling on yet another political newcomer.

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Many worry that a second term for Trump would be an earthquake, but tremors already abound — and concerns are rising that the U.S. could grow less dependable regardless of who wins. Photos You Should See View All 21 ImagesBiden, in contrast, has made support for Ukraine a key priority and moral imperative. But many of America's European NATO allies are worried that with or without Trump, the U.S. is becoming less reliable. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was “currently on the phone a lot with my colleagues and asking them to do more” to support Ukraine. Dalton, a former U.K. ambassador to Iran, said prospects for the Middle East would be “slightly worse” under Trump than Biden.

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