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☆ With Ukraine Funded, New Fight Emerges in Congress Over Pentagon Spending
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Just weeks after Congress settled its long-running fight over military assistance to Ukraine, lawmakers have engaged in a new battle over the level of Pentagon spending for next year. Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and minority leader, is pressing along with other Republicans for a significant increase in money for the military and to break the longstanding Democratic rule that domestic funding must rise equally with Pentagon spending. “This is the most dangerous time in the world since the Berlin Wall came down, and the military spending needs to reflect the needs of our country, which clearly argues against having an arbitrary line that doesn’t spend more on defense than domestic,” Mr. McConnell said. “So I certainly do disagree with that, and we’re going to have a vigorous discussion about it.”Democrats have demanded parity between domestic and military funding in recent years. They argue that social programs are as deserving as defense and should not get shortchanged — or absorb deeper cuts to accommodate more Pentagon spending.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Mr, McConnell Organizations: Kentucky Republican, Democratic, Pentagon Locations: Ukraine

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Persons: —, She's, she'll, You've, they'll, can't, shortchanged, doesn't Organizations: Service

☆ Will Country Welcome Beyoncé? That’s the Wrong Question.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Jon Caramanica | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

With the release of “Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé’s eighth solo album and the one that finds her exploring — and testing — the boundaries of country music, much of the early conversation has centered on whether the country music industry would rally around her. Rather than being feted with a welcome party, Beyoncé has been met largely with shrugs. Beyoncé is Black, and a woman, two groups that contemporary Nashville has consistently marginalized and shortchanged. Contemporary mainstream country music often feels like a closed loop of white male storytelling. Which is why whether or not Beyoncé and Nashville can find common cause is, in every way, a red herring.

Persons: Cowboy Carter, ”, hurrahs, Beyoncé Locations: Texas, Nashville

☆ A fight over sewage is preventing Long Island from solving its crippling housing crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The people of Suffolk County, Long Island, need to start considering it. Like most of the suburbs surrounding New York City, Suffolk County is suffering from a major shortage of homes. In December, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced she'll send $59 million to Long Island to deal with water contamination and sewer upgrades. “The governor has said she wants to see more housing on Long Island. Last year, Long Island public officials led the charge against Gov.

Persons: —, Hunter Gross, “, ” Gross, Long, Suffolk County’s, Ed Romaine, Kathy Hochul, you’ve, ”, Joe, Edmund Smyth, ” Smyth, ” Long, Kathy Hochul’s, who’ve, boomers, can’t, that's, Ian Wilder, Nathan Cummings, ” Cummings, Cummings Organizations: Service, Hamptons, Business, Newsday, Republican, ” Long Islanders, Gov, New, Housing Services, Yale Law Locations: Suffolk County, Long, New York City, Huntington, Suffolk, New York, Huntington , Suffolk County, Levittown, Black, Old Lyme , Connecticut

☆ Dollar General Might Get Shortchanged After CEO Encore
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Spencer Jakab | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/dollar-general-might-be-shortchanged-after-ceo-encore-a093d7eb

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Dollar General Might Be Shortchanged After CEO Encore
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Spencer Jakab | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Supreme Court's Alabama map ruling defied predictions as Roberts and Kavanaugh teamed up to protect Voting Rights Act
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Joan Biskupic | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

Ambivalent during early internal debate, Kavanaugh eventually gave Roberts enough confidence that he could write an opinion for a majority. The state’s approach would have wholly undercut the history and purpose of the landmark Voting Rights Act, passed at the height of the Civil Rights movement to try to end race discrimination. Senior conservative Thomas, who has been unyielding in his rejection of race-based practices, was ready to write a far-reaching opinion against the court’s Voting Rights Act precedent for redistricting. Meanwhile, Kavanaugh and Roberts came together, ensuring the chief a five-justice majority for the robust endorsement of Voting Rights Act remedies when states discriminate in redistricting. The Alabama redistricting case shook out differently as Kavanaugh signed a significant portion of Roberts’ opinion.

Persons: John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, Roberts, Kavanaugh, –, Steve Marshall, Edmund LaCour, ”, Donald Trump, Ramos, Atticus Finch, “, Bill Clinton, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, General LaCour, Holder, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Thomas ’, Barrett, George H.W, Roe, Wade, Dobbs, ” Roberts, General Marshall, LaCour, — Organizations: CNN, Alabama, Republican, Supreme, Blacks, Democratic, Notre Dame, Black, Trump, Black Democrats, ”, Civil, Senior, Jackson, Health Organization, Harvard, University of North Locations: Alabama, Black, Minnesota, . Louisiana, . Mississippi, ” Alabama, Shelby County, Bush, Mississippi, University of North Carolina, ”

☆ Gabon coup: How France's neo-colonial empire in its former territories is disintegrating
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Stephanie Busari | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

A torn campaign billboard shows ousted Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba in Libreville on August 31, 2023. AFP/Getty ImagesPropping up ‘democratic dictators’Whilst the international community has condemned the coup in Gabon, it has not attracted the same vehement criticism that last month’s coup in Niger did. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said France was watching the coup d’etat in Gabon “with the utmost attention.”It presents a challenge to France. Large crowds supporting the coup gathered Sunday near the French military base in Niamey, with demonstrators displaying signs demanding French troops withdraw. “The systems of government that former French colonies have, which were imposed by Paris are no longer fit for purpose.

Persons: Leon, Charles de Gaulle, Gaulle, Bongo, jubilation, General Brice Oligui Nguema –, Bongo’s, Nourredin Bongo Valentin, ”, Ali Bongo Ondimba, ’, Oluwole, Elisabeth Borne, Chris Ogunmodede, that’s, Paul Biya, Ogunmodede, ” Ogunmodede, …, ” Ojewale, “, Ndongo Samba Sylla, Emmanuel Macron, Macron Organizations: CNN, Military, Gabonese, Agence France, Presse, Gabon, Getty, Institute of Security Studies, autocrats, Central African, CFA, Banque de France, “, Macron Locations: Gabon, France, Gabon’s, Libreville, AFP, Niger, Gabonese, West, Central Africa, Mali, Senegal, Dakar, ”, Niamey, Paris, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Switzerland, Africa, Russia, Commonwealth, Togo, Macron France, Nigeria, “ Africa

☆ Opinion | State’s ‘Misguided Takeover’ of Houston Schools
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To the Editor:Re “Anger Rises in Houston Over the State’s Schools Takeover” (news article, Aug. 13):The politically motivated and downright misguided takeover of the Houston Independent School District sets a deplorable example for struggling school districts nationwide. The solution to poorly performing schools should not be to close libraries and force misbehaving students to watch videos in those repurposed spaces. To place them in closed libraries and force them to watch videos of their classes only confirms for those students that they’re troublemakers and that reading lacks value. Superintendent Mike Miles, a former Army ranger “who has no official certification,” is better suited to run an Army base, not schools. His plan to compensate teachers for improved scores on standardized tests is also imprudent, for such tests provide a limited measure of students’ aptitude, are often biased and narrow the scope of classroom instruction.

Persons: they’ve, Mike Miles, “ Organizations: Houston Independent School District, Army Locations: Houston

☆ Divided Over Money and Policy, House G.O.P. Punts on Spending Bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Carl Hulse | More About Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

House Republicans abandoned efforts to pass a spending bill to fund the Agriculture Department and the F.D.A. Caught between hard-right conservatives who wanted tens of billions of dollars cut from the legislation and more mainstream Republicans who oppose abortion-related restrictions that the far right insisted upon adding, G.O.P. The House did manage to approve its first spending bill of the year, to fund veterans programs and military construction projects. Democrats said the bill shortchanged construction by more than $1.5 billion and limited abortion access for women serving in the military. The spending clashes encapsulated the difficulties ahead for Republicans as Speaker Kevin McCarthy tries to mollify conservatives by cutting spending and adding culture-war provisions without losing the support of more mainstream Republicans, particularly those in districts won by President Biden.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Biden Organizations: Republicans, Agriculture Department, Democrats

☆ Read the 17-page pitch deck that helped a former WME agent raise $25 million in VC to capitalize on celebrity-backed brands like Gal Gadot's mac and cheese
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read the deck he's using to raise his first venture round of $50 million. In 2018, he left Roar, the management company he started in 2003, to launch Fourward, a management, production, and investment firm. And Fourward has just announced its first VC fund, Fourward Ventures, an early-stage growth fund focused on investments in health and wellness, sustainability, and consumer packaged goods. Fourward says it's looking to companies that disrupt traditional consumer categories, drive societal change, and have celebrity tie-ins. Check out the pitch deck Fourward used to raise the first $25 million of its planned $50 million fund.

Persons: Will Ward, He's, Adam Sandler, Ryan Reynolds, Chris Hemsworth, Zac Brown, Fourward, Gal Gadot, Jay, Austin Nelson, Ward, Chris Hemsworth's, Mark Bezos, there's, he's Organizations: CAA, Roar, Fourward Ventures, Marcy Venture Partners, Bryn Pharma, Corp, HighPost, Hollywood Locations: Fourward, Hollywood, Nashville, —, Centr

☆ Savers should be cheering higher interest rates. So why are they unhappy?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London CNN —When central banks raise interest rates, mortgage borrowers can expect higher monthly repayments, while savers are supposed to be rewarded with bigger returns on their deposits. In Asia, the picture is less uniform: China cut its benchmark lending rate last month, adding to recent reductions in other interest rates, and Japan has kept its main interest rate negative in a bid to stimulate demand. However, rates on savings accounts there are closer to the central bank’s main rate than in other major economies. “While interest rates were ultra-low, the mortgage market was incredibly competitive, so [banks] were operating on unusually small margins between savings rates and mortgage deals… so they’re busy filling their boots,” she said. The top 100 US money market funds tracked by Crane Data are offering an average annual interest rate of 4.94%.

Persons: Nathan Howard, Jeremy Hunt, Sarah Coles, Hargreaves Lansdown, ”, Christopher Furlong, Crane, Peter Crane, they’ve Organizations: London CNN, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, US Federal Reserve, Bloomberg, Getty, European Central Bank, of, CNN, Getty Images Bank, Finance, Bank of England’s, HSBC, Barclays, Crane Data, Bank of England, “ Locations: Europe, United States, United Kingdom, Asia, China, Japan, South Korea

☆ Social Security, Medicare, federal salaries: What payments may be delayed in debt ceiling standoff
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Among the ramifications of a debt ceiling standoff, any payment issued by the federal government — like Social Security, Medicare, tax refunds, military paychecks and ample others — may be delayed. Alex Wong | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesThe U.S. is in this situation due to a political standoff tied to the debt ceiling, also known as the debt limit. Congress periodically raises or temporarily suspends the debt ceiling to avoid the other scenario: a default on the national debt and other federal payments. Here's the current problem: The country hit the debt ceiling — currently $31.4 trillion — in January. Federal Reserve officials alluded to the likelihood of prioritizing bondholders in a 2011 meeting that followed an earlier debt ceiling episode.

☆ Opinion | Rosalind Franklin and Unsung Women in Science
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To the Editor:Re “Essay Extends Debate Over DNA Discovery” (Science Times, May 2):Determining the role that Rosalind Franklin played in the discovery of the structure of DNA remains a contentious issue. Lamentably, Dr. Franklin is often one of the few female scientists people can name as one who deserved more credit than she received during her lifetime. There are hundreds — if not thousands — of such unsung women throughout history. This has become increasingly evident to us as we work our way through our ever-increasing database of 250 deceased women of science. It might be true that today’s women are less likely to be shortchanged when it comes to receiving credit — and for that we are grateful.

LOS ANGELES, May 3 (Reuters) - Hollywood writers have for decades penned sci-fi scripts featuring machines taking over the world. The Writers Guild of America is seeking to restrict the use of artificial intelligence in writing film and television scripts. A spokesperson for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which is negotiating the contract on behalf of the studios, did not comment. The dispute over AI is one of several issues that led Hollywood’s film and TV writers to strike Monday, marking the first work stoppage in 15 years. Screenwriter John August, a member of the WGA negotiating committee, said writers have two concerns regarding AI.

More than 11,000 film and television writers, who say their compensation doesn't match the revenue generated in the streaming era, are on strike for the first time since 2007-08. Most immediately, this will have a significant impact on late-night shows, where writers are tasked with crafting timely and topical jokes. That's because many shows and films have already wrapped production and will enter the marketplace unaffected by the strike. Instead, they feel they've been shortchanged on compensation as studios, networks and streaming platforms write a new rulebook in real time. Unlike the 2007 strike, writers currently have social media on their side and are rallying on platforms like Twitter, Instagram and TikTok to get their message out.

☆ Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis: rivals set to clash in boxing’s most highly anticipated fight of the year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

But in the case of Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis, they clearly don’t like each other. But Garcia said that a late addition from Davis’ team provided an extra complication to talks; one which he said he was happy to facilitate so the fight could go ahead. “I look at Ryan and I know he’s ready. “‘Tank’ Davis by KO, like I’ve been saying and it might be early,” he said. How to watchBoxing fans across the world will want to tune to watch Garcia and Davis trade blows.

☆ Private school vouchers are shaping up to be huge part of the 2024 election as GOP candidates work to 'one up' each other on the issue
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

The GOP movement toward "school choice" is gaining momentum in many states. GOP presidential candidates have promised to send more public money to private schools. While battles over how classrooms should teach about race and LGBTQ topics have fired up the GOP base, the expansion of school vouchers is taking hold in red states. Spar said vouchers amounted to "using taxpayer money to go to private schools and home schools with practically no accountability." As Congress then turned its attention toward COVID pandemic relief, at least one bill that didn't pass had funding for private schools and homeschooling.

☆ I watched Ben Affleck's new 'Air' movie with 72 Nike veterans. Here's what they said the movie got right and what it got wrong about the race to sign Michael Jordan.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The movie also shows how early Nike employees didn't hesitate to break rules. The scene sums up what's right, and what's wrong, with the movie, according to former and current Nike employees. It shows early Nike employees didn't hesitate to take risks. Nike veterans said the movie captures the company's willingness to take risks, especially early executives like Phil Knight, played by director Ben Affleck. Affleck, who also played Knight in the movie, nailed the story's arc, by all accounts.

☆ I went to see Ben Affleck's new "Air" movie with some Nike veterans. Here's what they said the movie got right and what it got wrong about the race to sign Michael Jordan.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

☆ Biden’s $42.5 Billion Broadband-Expansion Plan Is Challenged by Lawmakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Ryan Tracy | Patience Haggin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The $42.5 billion program is the federal government’s largest-ever one-time allocation to build out broadband service across the country. WASHINGTON–The Biden administration’s $42.5 billion program to expand broadband could hit a speed bump, as some U.S. lawmakers push legislation to ensure rural states aren’t shortchanged. A bipartisan pair of senators Friday announced a bill that would require the Biden administration to perform an additional review before deciding how much funding each state will receive under the program, which is the federal government’s largest-ever one-time allocation to build out broadband to Americans who don’t have it.

[1/2] Visa credit and debit cards are seen in this picture illustration taken August 2, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit TessierMarch 15 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld a $5.6 billion antitrust class-action settlement with more than 12 million retailers that accused Visa Inc (V.N) and MasterCard Inc (MA.N) of improperly fixing credit and debit card fees. The operators and the companies both claimed to have been injured after accepting Visa and MasterCard for gas sales. The settlement resolved claims that Visa and MasterCard overcharged retailers on interchange fees, or swipe fees, when shoppers used credit or debit cards, and barred retailers from directing customers toward cheaper means of payment. Settling retailers would be barred from bringing further claims from within the 15-year class period, and for five more years after the settlement became final, court papers show.

☆ A conservative group blocked student-loan forgiveness because 2 borrowers wanted more relief than they qualified for. Here's why it thinks no one else should get to benefit from Biden's plan.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

One of the cases involves two student-loan borrowers who sued because they didn't qualify for the full $20,000 amount of relief. "Extra breathing room for millions of Americans is on hold because of lawsuits brought by opponents of this Administration's student debt relief plan," the White House wrote on Twitter this week. Here are some standouts from the Job Creators Network's argument on why Biden's student-loan forgiveness should be blocked. The debt-relief plan demonstrates "gross over-inclusiveness"Leading up to the announcement of Biden's debt relief, many advocates and Democratic lawmakers were urging him to make the relief as expansive as possible, without any thresholds. "There was a national emergency that impacted millions of student borrowers," the official said.

☆ Here’s what will happen to the economy as the debt ceiling drama deepens
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Minneapolis CNN —After the United States hit its debt ceiling on Thursday, the Treasury Department is now undertaking “extraordinary measures” to keep paying the government’s bills. And Americans — many people — would lose their jobs and certainly their borrowing costs would rise.”Dire warnings of debt ceiling trouble aren’t new. “2011 was the first time in a long time that we came close to a debt ceiling breach,” he said. “I think you would be hard pressed to say [the debt ceiling debacle] was a positive thing,” he said. Considering the potential consequences in the United States and abroad, Sheiner believes the debt ceiling will be lifted or suspended — eventually.

☆ Foreign workers killed working on U.S. bases likely didn't get compensation required by U.S., report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Andrew W. Lehren | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Courtney-Kube-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Tens of thousands of workers from Nepal, the Philippines and other developing countries took jobs at U.S. military bases in Afghanistan. Called third-country nationals, or TCNs, because they were not from the U.S. or Afghanistan, they worked as cafeteria workers, janitors and often armed guards for the bases. When a car bomb or other Taliban attack occurred, Afghans and TCN contractors “were far more likely to be killed or injured,” said the report. During the interviews, Coburn and Gill found 12 different contract workers injured or killed who did not appear to have received proper compensation. When contractors are found to have violated insurance requirements, there is little punishment, according to the report.

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