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☆ In Maryland’s Democratic Senate primary, a high-stakes clash between a history-making pick and a candidate with deep pockets
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Simone Pathe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Silver Spring, Maryland CNN —The farmers market in this suburb of Washington, DC, was a ripe crowd for Angela Alsobrooks, who’s locked in an increasingly contentious Senate Democratic primary on Tuesday. “I would really like to see a Black woman in the Senate. If elected in November, Alsobrooks, the executive of Prince George’s County, could become only the third Black woman ever elected to the Senate. (The one Black woman currently serving — California’s Laphonza Butler — was appointed and isn’t running to stay beyond this year.) “Electing women is not just good for Maryland,” Alsobrooks told supporters assembled outside her campaign office.

Persons: Angela Alsobrooks, who’s, “, Kathy Pruitt, California’s Laphonza Butler —, Alsobrooks, David Trone, ”, Mileah Kromer, Trone, Larry Hogan, ” Pruitt, Hogan, Brian Snyder, “ I’ve, ” —, it’s, ” Alsobrooks, ” Ellen Malcolm, —, Maryland’s Barbara Mikulski, Wes Moore, Sen, Ben Cardin, Barbara Lee, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Pamela Luckett, “ It’s, that’s, he’ll, Alsobrooks hasn’t, doesn’t, Joanne Benson, Donald Trump, It’s, Prince, Krystal Oriadha, you’re, — who’s, — doesn’t, ” Benson, She’s, Glynda Carr, Black, ” Carr, hasn’t, Pruitt Organizations: Maryland CNN, Democratic, Takoma Park, Prince, Senate, Goucher College Poll, Maryland, House Democratic, GOP Gov, Maryland Gov, Saint Anselm College, Reuters, Bowie, Democrats, PAC, Washington Post, Gov, California Rep, Spring, Republicans, NBC, CNN, Capitol, ”, GOP, AFI, NRA, Higher Locations: Maryland, Washington, Alsobrooks, Prince George’s County, George’s, Manchester , New Hampshire, Black, America, who’s, Delaware, Prince George’s, Higher Heights

Experts say these are just glimpses of what could ensue if campaigns or outside actors decide to use AI deepfakes in more malicious ways. So far, states including California, Minnesota, Texas and Washington have passed laws regulating deepfakes in political advertising. Federal law is limited in its ability to regulate AI at the state and local levels, Benson said in an interview, adding that states also need federal funds to tackle the challenges posed by AI. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, announced earlier this month that it will require political ads running on the platforms to disclose if they were created using AI. Google unveiled a similar AI labeling policy in September for political ads that play on YouTube or other Google platforms.

Persons: Gretchen Whitmer, They're, Joe Biden, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump’s, Deepfakes, Democratic Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Republican Sen, Josh Hawley of, Jocelyn Benson, Benson, ” Benson, ”, ___ Swenson, Christina A, Cassidy Organizations: Federal, Commission, Gov, Republican National Committee, Republican Florida Gov, Public Citizen, Fiscal Agency, Democratic, Republican, Social, Google, YouTube, Associated Press, AP Locations: LANSING, Mich, Michigan, United States, California , Minnesota , Texas, Washington, Illinois , Kentucky , New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Washington ,

☆ Lewis Hamilton hits back at Las Vegas GP critics, saying the race ‘proved them wrong’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —After a bumpy start to the weekend, the Las Vegas Grand Prix eventually lived up to much of the pre-race hype. Max Verstappen was initially critical of the spectacle, but later changed his tune to don an Elvis-themed suit. F1 was returning to Las Vegas for the first time in more than 40 years, with the new street circuit featuring the city’s iconic Strip. Celebrities, including Usain Bolt, were out in force in Las Vegas. Lewis Hamilton said the race proved doubters wrong.

Persons: Max Verstappen, Verstappen, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Jared C, Tilton, ”, ” Verstappen, Elvis Presley’s, Usain Bolt, Angela Weiss, Brad Pitt, Rihanna, David Beckham, Shaquille O’Neal, J Balvin, Kylie Minogue, Tiesto, Andrew Benson, ” Benson, “, Mark Thompson, Tom Cary, Cary, Mike Blake, Stefano Domenicali, Renee Wilm Organizations: CNN, Las Vegas, Getty, Sky Sports, Vegas, Las, Bellagio, Reuters, Las Vegas GP Locations: Baku, Las Vegas, Vegas, 200mph, Paris, Monaco

Cheap, second-hand, and purloined weapons comprised Hamas’ deadly makeshift arsenal that fueled a devastating, multi-pronged attack on Israel over the weekend. CNN analyzed dozens of photos and videos of Hamas militants during the surprise assault to identify the weapons used to kill at least 1,200 people in Israel. In previous battles with Israel, Hamas was known to have fired rockets made of old water pipes, the researcher noted. BulldozersPhoto-illustration: CNN/Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa/ReutersSeveral experts who spoke to CNN emphasized the ad hoc nature of the Hamas attack. In some videos, Hamas militants can be seen driving Israel Defense Forces (IDF) vehicles and using Israeli weapons that were likely taken during the initial fighting.

Persons: presumedly, ”, Mike Lyons, Lyons, “, Oren Ziv, ” Lyons, John Spencer, toted, Stephen Biddle, “ It’s, they’re, Spencer, Saddam Hussein, “ They’re, Din, ” Ali Baraka, Frank McKenzie, Jack Guez, David Benson, ” Benson, Biddle, ” Spencer, Paragliders, Sean Elliott, ” Elliott, –, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, — Organizations: CNN, US State Department, US, Urban Warfare, Modern, Institute, ” AK, toted AK, Columbia University, Hamas ’ Telegram, AK, ” Rockets, Telegram Hamas, Israel’s, ’, Hamas, Hamas National Relations, US Central Command, Nova, Industry & Regulatory, Experimental Aircraft Association, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Israel, Iran, Gaza, Egypt, Soviet, West, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, British, Jihad, Lebanon, Russia, Kalashnikovs, Sderot, Kfar Aza, Beit Lahia, Palestinian, Spain

☆ Air Canada apologizes after passengers told to sit in vomit-covered seats
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Air Canada has issued an apology after two passengers were told to sit in poorly cleaned seats that had been covered in vomit on a previous flight. Air Canada attempted a quick cleanup before boarding but clearly wasn’t able to do a thorough clean,” Benson wrote in a Facebook post published August 29. “I am ashamed to be a Canadian and ashamed of Air Canada,” she wrote. “Shame on you Air Canada! Air France told CNN it “understands and regrets the inconvenience caused by this situation” and that it was in touch with Battah.

Persons: Susan Benson, ” Benson, “, ”, Benson, Habib Battah, Battah Organizations: CNN — Air Canada, Air Canada, Air, CNN, Air France, Staff, Paris Locations: Las Vegas, Montreal, Canadian, Air Canada, Paris, Toronto, Air

Air Canada says it has apologized to two passengers who were escorted off a plane by security after protesting that their seats were smeared in vomit. “Air Canada attempted a quick cleanup before boarding but clearly wasn’t able to do a thorough clean.”Benson said workers sprayed the area with perfume to hide the smell. The passengers assigned to those seats told a flight attendant that the seat and seatbelt were wet and they could still see vomit. Asked if it would dispute any of Benson’s account, Air Canada did not respond. In its statement, Air Canada said it was still reviewing the matter on Tuesday and has contacted the passengers “as our operating procedures were not followed correctly in this instance.

Persons: Susan Benson, ” Benson, Benson, “, ” Organizations: Air, Facebook, “ Air Canada, Air Canada Locations: Las Vegas, Montreal, New Brunswick, Vienna, Air Canada

Those charges center around a voting system breach in Coffee County, Georgia, a rural, Republican district that voted overwhelmingly for Trump in 2020. Willis’ indictment describes the breach, and Powell’s alleged involvement, as central to the broader conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Powell has also been identified by CNN as one of Trump’s un-indicted co-conspirators listed in Smith’s federal election indictment. New details about Smith’s ongoing investigation indicate federal prosecutors are scrutinizing a series of voting breaches following the 2020 election that state investigators have been probing for more than a year. Network of operativesIn addition, special counsel prosecutors have also heard from other witnesses about efforts to breach voting equipment in other states.

Persons: Jack Smith, indicting Donald Trump, Smith, Joe Biden, Sidney Powell, Powell’s, Powell, Fani Willis, Willis ’, Smith’s, Donald Trump, Al Drago, Biden, ”, Hugo Chavez, Bernie Kerik, Kerik, Tim Parlatore, Parlatore, Mike Ryan, Bill Bachenberg, Ryan, Bachenberg, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman –, Jocelyn Benson, Benson, Stefanie Lambert, Nalio Chery, “, ” Benson, Lambert, Trump Organizations: Washington CNN, Trump, CNN, Biden, Republican, Republican National Committee, Bloomberg, Getty, The Coalition, Good Governance, Systems, Network, FBI, Smith’s, Michigan Michigan, Reuters, Pennsylvania, American, Pennsylvania Senate Locations: Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Atlanta, Coffee County , Georgia, Washington , DC, Republic, Coffee, Antrim County , Michigan, Coffee County, Detroit , Michigan, Dieu, Antrim County, Fulton County , Pennsylvania, Fulton County

☆ US officials worry about ‘chilling effect’ on combating election disinformation after order limiting Biden administration contact with social platforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Brian Fung Sean Lyngaas | Brian Fung | Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

The resulting uncertainty, they say, risks slowing the government and social media companies’ ability to respond to election-related disinformation that appears on tech platforms. Last week, the State Department canceled a routine meeting on election security with Facebook, according to a person familiar with the matter. On Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray defended the close contacts between the US government and the social media companies. The injunction does contain some exceptions allowing more limited contact between affected agencies and social media companies. “Well, the government doesn’t necessarily have those capabilities to do that back-end work that the social media companies do.

Persons: Biden, ”, Chris Krebs, Krebs, Katie Harbath, Donald Trump, Christopher Wray, ” Wray, Trump, Harbath, Yoel Roth, Twitter’s, Gowri Ramachandran, “, ” Ramachandran, they’re, Ramachandran, Russia’s, ” Harbath, you’re, ’, Evelyn Douek, Jocelyn Benson, ” Benson, Adam Mosseri, Meta, ’ ”, Nick Clegg, Donie O’Sullivan Organizations: Washington CNN, Infrastructure Security Agency, CNN, State Department, Facebook, Justice Department, FBI, of Homeland Security, Health, Human Services, Twitter, “, Senate Intelligence, Department of Homeland Security, National Intelligence, Big Tech, Brennan Center for Justice, New York University, Stanford Law School, Meta, YouTube, Meta Global Locations: Louisiana, Missouri, State, Michigan

CNN —Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, testified before the grand jury investigating the aftermath of the 2020 election and the actions of the then-president and others, a source familiar with the testimony confirmed to CNN. Former Trump aide Hope Hicks also went before the grand jury, according to two sources familiar, testifying in early June. Some of the questions being asked in the grand jury were about whether Donald Trump was told he had lost the election, according to one of the sources familiar. Kushner’s and Hicks’ appearances before the grand jury are notable because both were members of the former president’s inner circle. Several key Trump White House officials have also testified befoe the grand jury, including Pence, Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows and former White House counsel Pat Cipollone, among others.

Persons: Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s, Hope Hicks, Donald Trump, Kushner’s, Hicks, Mike Pence –, Kushner, Trump, befoe, Pence, Trump’s, Mark Meadows, Pat Cipollone, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Jack Smith’s, Joe Biden’s, Brad Raffensperger, Jocelyn Benson, Rusty Bowers, Benson, ’, –, ” Benson Organizations: CNN, Trump, Capitol, New York Times, Trump White House, White, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona GOP Locations: Arizona

In the 13 races in six battleground states where an election denier was on the ballot for governor, secretary of state or attorney general, 12 lost, according to the latest NBC News projections. Arizona — along with Michigan and Alabama — was one of three states where election deniers advanced to be the GOP nominees for governor, secretary of state and attorney general. In Pennsylvania, meanwhile, Republican Doug Mastriano — who was one of the most high-profile election deniers — lost the race for governor to Democrat Josh Shapiro. “But voters sent a very clear message that Americans deeply care about democracy and don’t want extremists running our nation’s elections.”The defeats of election deniers spanned well beyond swing states. All 14 races where election deniers won were in states that voted to elect Trump in both 2016 and 2020.

PITTSBURGH — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are at the moment their parties’ leading candidates for 2024. But more competitive midterm contests appear poised to inject a host of new prospects into the 2024 conversation for both parties. That governors would already find themselves in the 2024 spotlight comes as little surprise to political observers. “Governors get s--- done, right?” Shapiro said in a recent interview after batting away questions about his own future ambitions. Jared Leopold, a Democratic strategist who formerly worked at the Democratic Governors Association, said Biden is and will remain Democrats’ top choice in 2024.

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