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☆ Reports say China plans to set up a spy base in Cuba. The Pentagon says no, but it's closely watching what Beijing is up to.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

China is reportedly in talks with Cuba about setting up a spy base on the island roughly 100 miles from Florida. It's a move that would follow in the footsteps of the Soviet Union, which operated a spy base on the island for decades. The Soviet spy facility in Lourdes was operational until 2001, when it closed down. The Pentagon responded to the reports of China's plan for a spy facility in Cuba Thursday afternoon, with spokesman Brig. Update: 6/9/2023 — This article has been updated with new statements from the Pentagon, the White House National Security Council, Cuba, and China.

Persons: —, Laura Richardson, Mike Waltz, Brig, Pat Ryder, he'd, John Kirby, Kirby Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Privacy, Department of Defense, White, Politico, Central Command, Cape Canaveral, Wall Street Journal, CNN, The New York Times, Senior, US Southern Command, Florida Republican, House Intelligence, Armed Services, Chinese Communist Party, Soviet Union, National Security, Cuban, White House National Security Council Locations: China, Cuba, Florida, Soviet Union, Beijing, Havana, Cape, America, Soviet, Lourdes

☆ China's working on a secret deal with Cuba to set up a spy base about 100 miles off the coast of Florida: reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China is reportedly in talks with Cuba about setting up a spy base on the island roughly 100 miles from Florida. The Soviet Union operated a signals intelligence base in Cuba for decades. It's a move that would follow in the footsteps of the Soviet Union, which operated a spy base on the island for decades. US officials told The Wall Street Journal that China and Cuba have reached a multi-billion-dollar agreement in principle on the establishment of the base. China officially only has one overseas military base, an installation in Djibouti that it has expanded since it first opened in 2017.

Persons: —, Laura Richardson, Mike Waltz, China's Organizations: Soviet Union, Service, Privacy, Politico, US Central Command, Cape Canaveral, Wall Street Journal, Senior, US Southern Command, Florida Republican, House Intelligence, Armed Services, Chinese Communist Party, CIA, State Department, National Security Locations: China, Cuba, Florida, Soviet Union, Beijing, Havana, Cape, America, Soviet, Lourdes, Djibouti, Cuban, People's Republic, United States

☆ Far-right House Republicans just sent gas stove bills up in flames — and it's a warning shot at Kevin McCarthy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Sarah Gray | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Far-right House members are not pleased with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's debt ceiling compromise. Eleven conservative GOP members nuked McCarthy's bans on banning gas stoves, sending his plans up in flames. The Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act would have barred the Consumer Product Safety Commission from using federal funds to regulate gas stoves or issue safety guidance that would ban them or make them more expensive. To peel back the layers here: The folks who have championed gas stoves versus induction stoves in the culture wars voted against H.Res. 463 — a procedural vote to establish rules on a floor vote for two gas stove-related bills — to punish McCarthy.

Persons: Kevin, —, Kevin McCarthy, nuked, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, Chip Roy, Matt Rosendale, Rob Bishop, Ken Buck, Lauren Boebert, Eli Crane, Andy Biggs, Tim Burchett, Ralph Norman, Bob Good, Steve Scalise, Caucus —, Gaetz, Farnoush Amiri Organizations: Service, Caucus, Gas, Protection, Product Safety, US Department of Energy, Biden White, H.Res, NBC, North Carolina Rep, Colorado, Colorado Rep, Arizona, Tennessee, South Carolina Rep, House Republicans, Gaetz Locations: Florida, Texas, Montana, Arizona, Virginia

☆ Florida GOP lawmaker says the anti-immigration law he backed is causing a 'major problem' as migrant families are leaving the state
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Kelly Mclaughlin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Florida GOP lawmaker said the anti-immigration law he backed was supposed to tell new immigrants to "stay out." But now migrant families are fleeing the state, and it's a "big problem" for farmers and tourism, Rep. Rick Roth said. "The bill has a lot of negative consequences that I'm trying to mitigate," Florida Rep. Rick Roth told Insider. During the meeting, Roth told constituents that migrants have started moving to Georgia and other states. Roth told Insider that the bill came straight from Gov.

Persons: Rick Roth, Roth, —, Alina Garcia, Juan Fernandez Barquin, Thomas Kennedy, they're, WPTV, Garcia, Kennedy, Ron DeSantis, Fernandez Barquin, DeSantis Organizations: Florida GOP, Twitter, Service, CBS News, New, Gov Locations: Florida, Hialeah , Florida, Georgia, New Republic

☆ With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. interview, Musk again uses Twitter to promote candidates aligned with his views
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

On Monday, Musk is set to share an audio chatroom with Robert Kennedy Jr., the anti-vaccine activist and Democratic candidate for president. Instagram’s parent, Meta, has also banned accounts belonging to Kennedy’s anti-vaccine advocacy group. But by putting Kennedy center stage on Twitter, Musk appears poised to promote these views further to his millions of followers. Ron DeSantis, who announced his White House bid with Musk during a Twitter Spaces event last month plagued by technical glitches. That could be the very thing that drives away more moderate candidates from accepting Musk’s “invitation” to appear alongside him.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Robert Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, Anthony Fauci, Instagram, “, Joe Biden, Williamson, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, Musk’s Organizations: CNN, Twitter, Democratic, ”, Florida Republican Gov Locations: Nazi Germany, Washington, coronavirus

CNN —Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and 2024 Republican presidential contender, sharply criticized the party’s top-polling candidates in a CNN town hall in Iowa on Sunday. “This is bigger than Ukraine,” Haley said during the CNN town hall, “this is a war about freedom and it’s one we have to win. “I don’t trust the government to deal with red flag laws. Red flag laws or “extreme risk protection orders,” as Michigan Gov. On the trail, Haley has called for raising the retirement age for people currently in their 20s and limiting Social Security and Medicare benefits for wealthier Americans.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, ” Haley, Haley, “, DeSantis, Vladimir Putin –, that’s, Trump, Kim Jong, don’t, ”, Biden, “ We’ve, CNN Haley, you’ve, Gretchen Whitmer, we’re, ’ Haley, I’ll, DeSantis ’, –, we’ve, China Haley, Joe Biden’s, Michael’s, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, South, Sunday, United Nations, Capitol, Florida Gov, Disney, United, Trump, Ukraine, Russia, North, Health, WHO, Putin, Democratic, Republicans, Michigan Gov, Social Security, GOP, Medicare, Congress, Democratic National, Republican, Florida Republicans, South Carolina Army National Guard Locations: South Carolina, Iowa, Florida, United States, Russia, Haley’s, Ukraine, Afghanistan, ”, China, Taiwan

☆ Why running for president has a lot of upsides, even for the candidates who lose
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Often, candidates can even get the book deals before they run for president, especially if there's a lot of buzz around them. CNN host and debate moderator Wolf Blitzer stands in front of the Republican presidential candidates in 2016. outlook has taken hold among both Republican and Democratic presidential candidates. Numerous presidents were once failed presidential candidates, including Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, George H.W. "The only way to learn how to run for president," Sullivan said, "is to run for president."

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Sen, Tim Scott of, Asa Hutchinson, Vivek Ramaswamy, Larry Elder, Mike Pence, Chris Christie, Doug Burgum, It's, Marco Rubio's, Terry Sullivan, Sullivan, who've, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, Kent Nishimura, aren't, Kamala Harris of, Joe Biden, Stacy Rosenberg, Haley, Glenn Youngkin —, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, J, Miles Coleman, Ball, Mike Huckabee, Spencer Platt, Rosenberg, Doug Heye, Trump Adam Kinzinger hasn't, Archie Bunker, Trump, Hutchinson, Sanders, Michael Benet of, Biden, Heye, Rubio, John Hickenlooper, Hickenlooper, Wolf Blitzer, David J, Phillip, Hillary Clinton, Scott, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, he's, Coleman, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, George H.W, Bush — Organizations: Service, GOP, Florida Gov, Arkansas Gov, New, New Jersey Gov, North Dakota Gov, White, Trump, Transportation, Los Angeles Times, Getty, Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Information Systems, Public, Virginia Gov, Publishers, Macmillan Publishing, Senators, University of Virginia Center for Politics, Former Arkansas Gov, Fox News, Netflix, Republican, Democratic, Child Tax, Florida Republican, Capitol, CNN, Georgia Gov Locations: Florida, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Arkansas, New Jersey, Millenial, South Bend , Indiana, Kamala Harris of California, Virginia, Iowa, California, Illinois, United States, Michael Benet of Colorado, Colorado, New Hampshire

☆ A Nevada Air Force base planned a drag show to celebrate Pride Month. Pentagon leaders said no.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Pentagon canceled a drag show scheduled for the first day of Pride Month at a Nevada Air Force base. Defense Department officials told the Air Force base their Thursday show couldn't take place, NBC News first reported, citing two defense officials and a US official. Representatives for Nellis Air Force Base and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. "Drag queen story hours is not something that the department funds," Austin told the committee at the time, NBC News reported. "Consistent with Secretary Austin's congressional testimony, the Air Force will not host drag events at its installations or facilities.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Mark Milley, Austin, —, Milley, Lawanda Jackson, CoCo Montrese, Carnie, Carnie Asada, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz Organizations: Pentagon, Nevada Air Force, NBC, Service, Privacy, Nellis Air Force Base, Pride, . Defense Department, Air Force, NBC News, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Austin, Nellis, Representatives, Facebook, Florida Rep, Armed Services Committee, Nellis Air Force, Twitter Locations: Nevada, Vegas, Austin

☆ McCarthy may need Democrat support to pass the debt ceiling deal and a secret group of moderates may be there to catch him if the GOP revolts, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy reached a debt ceiling agreement yesterday. The proposal must pass in the House, where some GOP members have said they won't support it. A group of Democrats has formed to help carry the bill if GOP members revolt, Politico reported. "We'll protect him if he does the right thing," Politico reported one of the House Democrats involved in the talks said. "I don't think McCarthy's the kind of guy who wants this to be his kind of legacy," Politico reported the representative said.

☆ Ron DeSantis lines up business leaders to raise money for 2024 presidential run
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

They'll receive briefings from campaign staff and call around to raise money for the campaign, NBC News reported. Ron DeSantis has assembled a team of wealthy business leaders to help raise money for his presidential campaign, according to a partial list of fundraisers provided by a senior political official with the Florida Republican. Lambert served on Trump's Inaugural Committee and was a national finance chair for Trump's successful 2016 campaign for president, according to his website. Records show that Lambert has also donated to the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC and Trump's campaign. Jay Zeidman, a managing partner at health care investment firm Altitude Ventures, is also listed as a DeSantis campaign fundraiser.

Persons: They'll, DeSantis, Donald Trump's, David Horowitz, Horowitz, Elon Musk, Ron DeSantis, Trump's, Hal Lambert, Lambert, Trump, Jay Zeidman, Zeidman, Jeb Bush's, Bush's, George P, Bush, Frank Mermoud, Orpheus, Mermoud Organizations: NBC News, GOP, Horowitz Group, CNBC, Florida Republican, White, Republican National Committee, MAGA, Ron DeSantis PAC, Ventures, Florida Gov, New York Times, Records Locations: Miami, California, Florida

Ron DeSantis and Disney , Nike CEO John Donahoe said it's important for corporations to choose their battles, but fight for the values integral to their brands. In response, Donahoe said companies don't need to weigh in on every political kerfuffle but should be a loud voice when their brand's values are under attack. "I think Bob's doing a great job at this," Donahoe said of Disney CEO Bob Iger. "If it's core to who you are and your values, then no, you stand up for your values," he said. "In addition, our core consumer for the Nike brand, the Jordan Brand, the converse brand, are urban Black and brown communities — that's where sneaker culture started," Donahoe explained.

☆ Tim Scott's biggest financial backer is Larry Ellison, a tech billionaire who owns the sixth-largest island in Hawaii and has poured $35 million into the senator's super PAC
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ellison has pumped $35 million into Scott's super PAC, and could legally give him millions more. On Monday, Ellison attended Scott's campaign launch in North Charleston, where Scott described him as one of his mentors. Trump's political operation includes the "MAGA, Inc" super PAC, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has enjoyed the support of the "Never Back Down" super PAC. Scott's campaign isn't the first time a Republican presidential candidate has heavily relied on a single megadonor.

Ambassador and South Carolina Republican Gov. Nikki Haley has walked a long and windy road when it comes to her one-time boss, former President Donald Trump. DeSantis’ announcement nears: NBC News’ Dasha Burns reports that Florida Republican Gov. And the New York Times reports DeSantis has been telling donors that out of the three “credible” candidates for president (Trump, himself and President Biden), only he and Biden can win. Raising eyebrows: Virginia GOP Gov.

☆ Florida Governor DeSantis to enter US presidential race next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, May 17 (Reuters) - Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will officially enter the 2024 U.S. presidential race next week, according to two sources familiar with the decision, immediately becoming Donald Trump's biggest rival for the Republican nomination and shaking up a contest that largely has been one-sided. DeSantis will likely file paperwork declaring his candidacy on May 25 to coincide with a donor meeting in Miami, with a more formal launch the week of May 29, according to a source. Those attacks have taken a toll on DeSantis’ standing in national polls. But DeSantis and his advisers hoped to use the legislature’s session as a springboard to a campaign announcement and have stayed true to their timetable. DeSantis, 44, was re-elected as governor just last year, trouncing his Democratic opponent by nearly 20 percentage points.

☆ DeSantis to enter presidential race next week: sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsDeSantis to enter presidential race next week: sourcesPostedSources say Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will officially join the 2024 U.S. presidential race next week, making him Donald Trump's biggest rival for the Republican nomination. Gabe Singer reports.

☆ Florida teacher says she is under investigation after showing 5th grade class Disney movie with gay character
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Melissa Alonso | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“I am the teacher that’s under investigation with the Florida Department of Education for indoctrination for showing a Disney movie,” Barbee said in a TikTok post over the weekend. In the post, Barbee explained she played the Disney movie to a class which was partially full after a day of standardized testing. Jordan also provided CNN with a copy of the announcement from the school district to parents. “Yesterday, the Disney movie ‘Strange World’ was shown in your child’s classroom,” the school district said. CNN has reached out to Rodriguez and Hernando County School District and the Florida Department of Education for comment.

☆ Matt Gaetz slams 2 Fox News hosts for over-sexualizing AOC and joking that he might divorce his wife and marry her instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gaetz spoke out against Fox News and accused two of its hosts of over-sexualizing Ocasio-Cortez. Two hosts on "The Five" joked last week about how Gaetz could divorce his wife and marry Ocasio-Cortez. Gaetz also slammed Pirro, saying: "And then Judge Jeanine — Judge Jeanine, who starts out saying I am happily married. Judge Jeanine, who was sitting at my table at Mar-a-Lago the night I proposed to my wife. Representatives for Fox News, Gaetz, and Ocasio-Cortez did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular working hours.

☆ Trump’s latest court loss may not hurt primary bid, but some Republicans raise alarm about 2024 viability
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

He would not win the White House. The unanimous jury verdict was vindication for Carroll and offered a symbolic win for other women who have made assault allegations against the president. Many White House hopefuls have exited presidential races for less. Nikki Haley or prospective White House contender, Florida Gov. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy characteristically dodged commenting on the verdict after leaving debt crisis talks at the White House on Tuesday.

☆ Democrats are so desperate to win in Florida that they are considering NBA legends Dwyane Wade and Grant Hill for the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some prominent Florida Democrats are eyeing former NBA stars in a bid to reverse their losing streak. NBC News reported that Democrats have talked to Grant Hill and tried to coax Dwyane Wade into running. Democrats are searching for a challenger to Sen. Rick Scott, who is up for reelection in 2024. Having Wade County is great," Wade told the publication. He hasn't been officially approached, but he is on the list of four or five dream candidates to challenge Rick Scott.

☆ Disney Says DeSantis, Allies Are ‘Weaponizing the Power of Government’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Robbie Whelan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

After a year of trying to outmaneuver each other, Walt Disney Co. is suing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. WSJ’s Arian Campo-Flores explains what’s behind the lawsuit. Photo Composition: Rachel RogersWalt Disney Co. has fired back at Florida Gov. That measure, which seeks to retroactively void a contract that Disney signed to lock in planning approvals to potentially expand its theme parks and hotels in Florida, escalated a year-long fight between Disney and Florida Republicans.

☆ Ron DeSantis was advised to write 'LIKABLE' at the top of his notepad as a reminder to himself to not get aggressive, old 2018 debate prep video shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ron DeSantis was advised to write 'LIKABLE' on his notepad before a 2018 debate. An advisor told DeSantis to tone down his aggressiveness in a debate prep video obtained by ABC News. "You have to write in all caps at the top of the pad, 'LIKABLE,'" the advisor off camera said. Ron DeSantis was advised by an aide to find ways to stay "likable" and tone down his aggressiveness while speaking in debates. According to ABC News, the advisor later told DeSantis: "You want to have that likable, dismissive tone, and not condescending."

☆ Ron DeSantis was already fretting in 2018 about how he could disagree with Trump without alienating the MAGA base, old debate prep video shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

DeSantis was already worried about alienating the MAGA base in 2018, per an old debate prep video. Ron DeSantis was already worrying about how he could publicly disagree with then-President Donald Trump without annoying and alienating the MAGA base, a new video shows. A video published on Sunday by ABC News shows Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz helping DeSantis prep for debates, for DeSantis' first gubernatorial campaign in 2018. And while DeSantis has held back from publicly criticizing Trump, Trump has launched numerous attacks on the Florida governor. Trump has also given DeSantis nicknames like "Ron DeSanctimonius" and "RINO Globalist" — the former of which DeSantis has tried to brush off.

☆ Republicans dismiss fears that their debt ceiling bill would make the housing crisis worse for 1 million families as 'scaremongering'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

House Republicans' debt ceiling bill would cut significant funding from federal housing services. HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge said the agency would suffer "the most devastating impacts in HUD's history" if the funding cuts in the bill are made law. He went on, "It's being positioned as congressional Republicans are heartless because they want to pass these spending cuts. "The House bill reduces spending to the levels we had in 2022. The last I checked, 2022 was not a horrid apocalypse sweeping across our country," Cruz told Insider on Wednesday.

☆ Woman arrested after reportedly throwing drink at Matt Gaetz, with the Florida congressman insisting on pressing charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A woman intentionally threw a drink at Rep. Matt Gaetz during an event on Saturday, police said. Gaetz decided to press ahead with criminal charges against the woman. A previous case of a drink being thrown at Gaetz resulted in a woman serving 15 days in prison. A woman with Chambers told police that she was actually the one who cursed at Gaetz as they walked past, according to the Pensacola News Journal. This is the second time Gaetz has had a drink thrown at him resulting in criminal charges, with the first incident leading to a prison sentence.

☆ Matt Gaetz says AOC is 'wrong a lot' but 'she's not corrupt' as the pair joined forces to block Congress from trading stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Both congressional lawmakers formed an unlikely team-up on Tuesday to introduce a new bill. "AOC is wrong a lot, she'd probably say the same thing about me, but she's not corrupt," Gaetz told Fox News host Jesse Watters on Tuesday. They and several other congressional leaders warned that congressional trading erodes trust in the government and presents conflicts of interest. Gaetz told Watters on Tuesday that Congress should "disallow congressional stock trading for the same reason we don't allow the referee to bet on the game." Representatives for Gaetz, Ocasio-Cortez, and Frankel did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

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