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Donald Trump narrowly captured each on his way to collapsing the Democrats’ vaunted “blue wall” in 2016. Wages going up. Wages going up. I talk to my friends, ‘Your wages going up?’ No. The pandemic-era stimulus checks, which Trump made a point of putting his name on, also come up regularly.

Persons: Hurley Coleman III, ’ ”, Phil Kerner’s, us, ” Kerner, ”, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, ” Coleman, Kamala Harris, Hurley Coleman, Coleman, “, ” Hurley Coleman Jr, –, Phil Kerner, hasn’t, Edward, he’s, Kerner, George W, Bush, Guy, “ I’m, CNN –, CNN ‘, Trump ’ Kerner, I’m, “ It’s, Hurley Coleman Jr, Harris, HJ, He’s, Trump, Biden, that’s Organizations: CNN, Trump, General Motors, GM, of God, atrophied, Phil Kerner CNN, Republican, Democratic National Convention Locations: Saginaw , Michigan, Pennsylvania, Erie, Central Michigan, Erie , Pennsylvania, Saginaw

☆ Opinion | Jake Sullivan: You Can Count on a Strong NATO
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Jake Sullivan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

They know that these relationships make us stronger and help us build a world that is free, independent, prosperous and secure. Twenty-three NATO members, out of 32, are expected to meet or exceed that target in 2024, compared with just nine in 2020, and five in 2016. This year alone America’s NATO partners — Canada and 30 European nations — will spend an estimated $506.7 billion on defense. That is an increase of $181 billion from 2020, compared with an increase of $70 billion from 2016 to 2020, during the previous administration. In 2023, defense expenditures of NATO nations in Europe and Canada grew by 8 percent.

Persons: Biden Organizations: NATO, — Canada Locations: Washington, Crimea, Europe, Canada

☆ The IRS has failed to police the huge tax breaks offered by Puerto Rico, whistleblower claims
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewA whistleblower claims that the Internal Revenue Service has not done enough to stop the exploitation of a Puerto Rico tax break, The New York Times reported. According to a letter written by an IRS insider, the agency's three-year campaign to uncover abuse of a tax benefit has failed to make much headway. For instance, the IRS will typically send out "soft letters" to any scrutinized beneficiaries, encouraging them to voluntarily fix any potential issue with their taxes. Yet, the agency hasn't issued any soft letters, the whistleblower said. In an interview with NYT, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel acknowledged that no soft letters were sent, but highlighted the dozens that have been audited.

Persons: —, Gabriel Hernandez, Hernandez, hasn't, Danny Werfel Organizations: Service, Internal Revenue Service, New York Times, IRS, Business, Puerto, Bloomberg Locations: Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican

☆ Germany's refusal to send 'Taurus' missiles to Ukraine is highly contentious — but won't break the government
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

One key concern is that Ukraine may need on-the-ground help from German soldiers to work the Taurus missiles — a red line for Scholz. Since last November, the CDU has repeatedly tabled votes on sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine in Germany's parliament and failed. Annalena Baerbock, Green party foreign secretary, meanwhile, discussed Taurus missiles with U.K. foreign minister David Cameron. Separately, a high-profile Green party MP joined forces with a prominent CDU politician to pen an op-ed advocating for the delivery of Taurus missiles. "Unfortunately the Taurus debate keeps sucking up all the oxygen in the room, repeating itself over and over again.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Macron, Tusk, Christoph Soeder, Scholz, Chancellor Scholz, Frank Sauer, Annalena, David Cameron, Ulrike Franke, MBDA, Matthias Balk, Sauer, Franke Organizations: Polish, Federal, Getty, Taurus, Bundeswehr, Russia, Christian Democrats, Free Democrats, Greens —, Scholz's Social Democrats, CDU, Greens, Social Democrats, University of, Metis Institute for Strategy, Foresight, CNBC, European Council, Foreign Relations Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Russia, Germany's, Taurus, Bundeswehr Munich, Green, Swedish, Berlin

☆ The US Army has its eyes on the Arctic and is readying soldiers for the cold, unforgiving wastes that could be their next battlefield
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

AdvertisementThe two-week JPMRC Alaska training exercise involved over 8,000 troops from the 11th Airborne Division, as well as international allies and partners. Brandon VasquezBack in 2021, the US Army released its new strategy on regaining Arctic dominance, leading to the reorganization of its Alaskan forces and priorities. AdvertisementAll Arctic nations are keeping an eye on what could be seen as increased access to energy, minerals, and resources in the Arctic. AdvertisementU.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 11th Airborne Division patrol on snow machines during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 24-02 exercise at Donnelly Training Area, Alaska, Feb. 17, 2024. For that reason, the Army appears to be encouraging its Arctic soldiers to be creative and able to adapt to whatever conditions or situations they might encounter.

Persons: —, Col, Sean Lucas, JPMRC, Brandon Vasquez, Spc.Wyatt Moore, Abreanna Goodrich, China —, I've, Zachary Burns, Sammantha Ohm, Joseph Gaskin Organizations: US, Army, Service, US Army Pacific's, Pacific Multinational Readiness Center, Business, 11th Airborne Division, U.S ., 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Airborne Division, Pacific Multinational Readiness, U.S, US Army, U.S . Army, 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne, Donnelly Training, Public Affairs Detachment, National Intelligence, Spc, Department of Defense, Army Spc, 5th Squadron, 1st Calvary Regiment, Delta Co Locations: Russia, China, Fairbanks , Alaska, Alaska, Hawaii, U.S, Utqiagvik, Soviet Union, Canada, Denmark, Russian, JPMRC

☆ US soldiers are fighting to get back lost skills for war in the 'most challenging environment on the planet,' Army general says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The US Army's new JPMRC training rotation in Alaska prepares soldiers to fight in frigid conditions. Many skills related to Arctic combat had atrophied, generals said. On the flip side, JPMRC also does an annual rotation in Hawaii, training soldiers to fight in the wet, humid jungle. US Army Alaska officially became the 11th Airborne Division, a newly reactivated unit, with the focus on Pacific and Arctic combat. The general told reporters US Army Alaska had "sort of lost the Arctic ethos" because of its focus on counterinsurgency in the Middle East.

Persons: —, USARPAC, Elijah Magaña, Brian S, Eifler, JPMRC, Charles Flynn, Flynn, Brandon Vasquez, Eilfer Organizations: US, Army, Service, US Army, Pacific Multinational Readiness Center, 11th Airborne Division, U.S, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Airborne Division, Pacific Multinational Readiness, Donnelly Training, Troops, U.S . Army, US Army Alaska, The Army Locations: Alaska, Fairbanks , Alaska, Iraq, Afghanistan, Hawaii, Pacific, China, U.S, Utqiagvik, Russia

☆ As Ukraine's air force dodges Russian missiles, the US and its allies are practicing to keep their jets flying while under attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Ukraine's air force has remained operational in the face of ongoing Russian attacks. US Air Force/Airman 1st Class Albert MorelLike other Air Force commands, US Air Forces Europe regularly conducts ACE exercises. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Air Force's concern is driven by the proliferation of precision weapons that could allow an adversary to pick off valuable targets. US airmen and Finnish Air Force pilots at Rovaniemi Air Base during Astral Knight 23 Part 6 on August 23. The Pentagon's EDI budget request for 2024 includes nearly $500 million for the Air Force to improve base infrastructure and pre-positioned equipment.

Persons: James Hecker, " Hecker, Albert Morel, they've, haven't, Hecker, John Lamontagne, Albert Morel Running, Capt, Quincy Watts, Watts, we're Organizations: Air, Service, Russian, US Air, US Air Forces Europe, Defense Writers, Astral, US Air Force, Air Force, Rovaniemi Air Base, NATO, US Air Force KC, Kallax Air Base, Finnish Air Force, Air Base Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Russian, Ukraine, Rovaniemi, Finland, Europe, Lithuania, Sweden, Baltic, Latvia, Italy, Aviano, China, Estonia

☆ Ukraine Warns of Renewed Russian Infrastructure Attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Enjoli Liston | Diego Ibarra Sanchez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The findings echoed the warnings President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said he gave allies ahead of the counteroffensive that began in early June. “The most glaring deficiency is the inability of Ukraine’s partners to appreciate the lead times between decisions and their desired effects,” Mr. Watling wrote. Even so, Mr. Watling noted, decisions to fulfill the requests were not made until mid-January. That is when Britain, France, Germany and the United States agreed to send Western tanks and other armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine, essentially allowing other NATO countries to follow suit. But the fight has unfolded slowly, with Ukraine’s forces tripped up by minefields and outgunned by Russian forces.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Jack Watling, Mr, Watling, Abrams, “, Zelensky, ” Organizations: Royal United Services Institute for Defense, Security Studies, United, Ukrainian, NATO Locations: British, Ukraine, Britain, France, Germany, United States, Russia, Russian

☆ War with China would be an 'onslaught' like the US hasn't faced in decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Jake Epstein | Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

War would also have severe consequences for China and US allies in the Western Pacific. Any war with China would be fought on multiple fronts — from the air and sea to the web and financial markets. The US maintained this capacity for decades, but America's manufacturing prowess has atrophied since the end of the Cold War. Control of the Pacific would be a crucial part of any war with China, and Beijing boasts the world's largest navy. Cash warsWhile a military conflict between the US and China is only a hypothetical, the two countries are already competing on the economic battlefield.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mark Milley, Dan Blumenthal, it's, Blumenthal, Ujian, didn't, Glenn O'Donnell, Forrester, stymie, Ann Wang, William Alan Reinsch, Reinsch, Russia —, Scott Kennedy, Kennedy, aren't, Ramping, Jake Epstein, Jacob Zinkula Organizations: US, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Armed, US Navy, American Enterprise Institute, US Department of Defense, US Marine Corps, Pentagon, Navigation Plan, Ford, Nimitz, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Beijing, Russia, Columbia University, Marine Locations: China, Western, Beijing, Pacific, Taiwan, South China, America, Nebraska, Pearl, Normandy, Mongolia, Ukraine, Russian, Nanchang, Liaoning, Shandong, Fujian, wean, Washington, United States, Japan, Philippines, Netherlands

☆ Robert Downey Jr.’s Post-Marvel Balancing Act
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( David Marchese | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

So from where you’re sitting, do you feel as if you’re able to make sense of the business right now? Robert Downey Jr. in “Oppenheimer.” Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal PicturesIs it right that you’re remaking “Vertigo”? Downey on “Downey’s Dream Cars.” MaxDowney with his son Exton Elias and father, Robert Downey Sr., in “Sr.” (2022). I’m saying that doing the right thing for the right reasons gives you an advantage in spirit. You know, there’s part of me that thinks I should be a writer or an entrepreneur or I could blah, blah, blah.

Persons: Robert Downey Jr, ” Robert Downey Jr, “, Oppenheimer, ”, Christopher Nolan, Nolan —, Downey, Lewis Strauss, J, Robert Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy, —, Tony Stark, “ Oppenheimer, “ Perry Mason, ” Melinda Sue Gordon, ” Max Downey, Exton Elias, Robert Downey Sr, there’s, Chris Nolan, I’m, I’ve, he’s, Strauss, Oprah, Taylor, we’re, ” Downey, Holly Hunter, Mariana Trench, don’t, you’ve, Marisa Tomei, “ Chaplin ”, Jami Gertz, Andrew McCarthy, Sherlock Holmes, David Marchese, Emma Chamberlain, Walter Mosley Organizations: Marvel, Atomic Energy Commission, Universal, Netflix, Paramount, Everett, Little League, Carolco, Getty, Century Fox, U.S, Marshals, YouTube, Cal Newport Locations: Thunderdome, “, “ Sr, what’s, America

☆ Opinion | Biden Is Trying to Co-opt Trump’s Biggest Strength
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Ezra Klein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

“Frankly, our domestic economic policies also failed to fully account for the consequences of our international economic policies,” he said. All these factories and battery plants and electric-vehicle charging stations and auto manufacturing facilities give Biden his strongest line against Trump. On my watch, it’s grown nearly 100 percent in two years.”Biden made a point of saying that in the economy he’s building, “we don’t need everyone to have a four-year degree. It’s great if you can get one; we’re trying to make it easier for you to get one. But you don’t need it to get a good-paying job anymore.”

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Sullivan, ”, “, “ That’s, Jared Bernstein, ” Bernstein, Biden, Trump, ” Biden Organizations: Brookings Institution, Democrat, Biden’s, Economic Advisers, Rocky Mountain Institute, Biden, Trump Locations: Washington, Chicago, America, Manhattan, San Francisco

☆ A year ago, I sold my ad agency to a new type of agency holding company. Here are the things I wish I knew before.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Ryan Joe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

One year ago, the ad agency Mekanism was bought by PE-backed holding company Plus Company. The ad agency Mekanism sold one year ago to the Canadian holding company Plus Company, which is backed by the private equity firm CVC Capital Partners. But as far as bosses go, not only is Plus Company CEO Brett Marchand really smart, I like him as a person. There are also holding companies that use a new model, like S4 and DEPT, where you become part of one big group. Due diligence was like "getting a couple of colonoscopies a week"I looked into CVC, the private-equity company that funds Plus Company.

Persons: Mekanism, Jason Harris, I've, Brett Marchand, hasn't, we'd, it's, They'd, We're, haven't, Brett, They're Organizations: PE, Plus Company, Capital Partners, Plus, Publicis, WPP, CVC, Company Locations: colonoscopies

In recent years the 15-member body has been split on how to deal with North Korea. Although both Russia and China backed toughened sanctions after North Korea's last nuclear test, in May 2022 they vetoed a U.S.-led push to impose more U.N. sanctions over North Korea's renewed ballistic missile launches. North Korea fired several cruise missiles off its east coast on Wednesday, three days after firing a short-range ballistic missile into the sea. North Korea's last known firing of strategic cruise missiles was on March 12, when it said it fired two from a submarine. "But I think it is a much more dangerous North Korea than it has been in the past," Berrier said.

☆ A new study reveals how psychedelics can physically reshape our brains to help fight depression
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Yeji Jesse Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A study published in Science shows how psychedelics can physically change brains. The study showed that psychedelics helped grow the "branches" of brain cells, when tested in animals. Brain cells look something like a tree, and the branches that each cell has are called dendrites. Dendrites are responsible for receiving signals from other brain cells and play an essential role in how our brain functions. Further research should study how exactly psychedelics work inside cells to foster the regrowth of brain cells and what effect these changes have on brain function, it said.

☆ Southwest faces Senate hearing over holiday travel chaos
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Passengers check in for a Southwest Airlines Co. flight inside Terminal 1 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California, on August 10, 2022. Southwest Airlines ' chief operations officer is scheduled to face questions from a Senate panel on Thursday over the carrier's December meltdown that stranded thousands of passengers over the holidays. Andrew Watterson plans to apologize for the travel chaos before the Senate Commerce Committee. The president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, Casey Murray, will tell the panel that the carrier ignored warning signs about its operation, according to written testimony reviewed by CNBC. Core values were forgotten," Casey Murray said in written testimony ahead of Thursday's hearing.

☆ Southwest explains its meltdown to Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Gregory Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —Congress is set to receive new evidence Thursday of internal chaos at Southwest Airlines over the Christmas holiday meltdown. The Senate Commerce committee is set to question Southwest executive Andrew Watterson, alongside Southwest pilot union president Casey Murray, Sharon Pinkerton of the Airlines for America trade group, Paul Hudson of Flyers’ Rights, and economist Clifford Winston of The Brookings Institution. It’s a mess down here.”A photograph of the message, which shows the extent of the airline’s breakdown, is included in testimony the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association union, SWAPA, plans to present at the hearing. Southwest CEO Bob Jordan apologized and the airline offered reimbursements for passengers’ costs, along with bonus points. The union criticized the airline for giving executives stock options in the wake of the meltdown while employees lost profit sharing pay because of the airline’s financial hit due to the meltdown.

☆ Southwest pilots detail the Christmas meltdown chaos
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Gregory Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Congress is set to receive new evidence Thursday of internal chaos at Southwest Airlines over the Christmas holiday meltdown. It’s a mess down here.”A photograph of the message, which shows the extent of the airline’s breakdown, is included in testimony the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association union, SWAPA, plans to present at a Senate Commerce committee hearing. “No updates here,” another cockpit computer message to pilots read. Southwest CEO Bob Jordan apologized and the airline offered reimbursements for passengers’ costs, along with bonus points. The union criticized the airline for giving executives stock options in the wake of the meltdown while employees lost profit sharing pay because of the airline’s financial hit due to the meltdown.

☆ Russia has screwed up over and over in its war in Ukraine, and Western militaries need to learn from its mistakes, former US Army general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The West needs to learn from Russia's screw-ups in its war with Ukraine, a former US Army general said. "Russia has shown us what kinds of problems a large army can have if it hasn't done its homework," he said. The US and the West, Ryan emphasized in discussions with Insider, should be learning from Russia's mistakes. "We should be preparing our own militaries for a possible war with Russia and or China," the former general said. Looking at the future of the war in Ukraine and Western involvement, Ryan said "the West will probably increase its reactions to Russia's actions as they unfold."

☆ Biden-Xi meeting brings North Korea into crosshairs. Sanctions are needed.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Anthony Ruggiero | Anthony Ruggiero Is Senior Director Of The Nonproliferation | Biodefense Program At The Foundation For Defense Of Democracies. He Previously Served On The National Security Council Under President Donald Trump As The Senior Director For Counterproliferation | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

But after North Korea re-engaged in negotiations, he reduced sanctions in exchange for promises of denuclearization, which Pyongyang soon violated. They included sanctions and an indictment against a Chinese company and four Chinese people who helped North Korea evade U.S. sanctions. This robust sanctions policy in the last year of Obama’s presidency extended into the beginning of his successor’s term. More than 20 countries curtailed diplomatic or commercial relationships with North Korea. Yet, instead of ratcheting up pressure on North Korea, Trump turned to other issues for the rest of his term.

From Tuesday, Japan will reinstate visa-free travel to dozens of countries, ending some of world's strictest border controls to slow the spread of COVID-19. Just over half a million visitors have come to Japan so far in 2022, compared with a record 31.8 million in 2019. GHOST TOWNNarita Airport, Japan's biggest international airport some 70 kilometres from Tokyo, remains eerily quiet, with about half of its 260 shops and restaurants shuttered. Whether overseas visitors wear face masks and abide by other common infection controls in Japan is another concern. "From the start of the pandemic until now, we've had just a few foreign guests," said Tokyo innkeeper Sawa.

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