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☆ Someone needs to tell MTG that Biden can't be both a criminal mastermind and completely senile
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Greene baselessly claimed this week that Biden is the mastermind of a criminal empire. And he is the mastermind of the Biden criminal enterprise," Greene told Guilfoyle on Wednesday. The claims Greene has made about Biden are in line with those often trotted out by her fellow far-right GOP members. Other GOP figures, including Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, have also mocked Biden — who's 80 — for his age. It's also worth noting that Trump — who's 76, and who Greene staunchly supports — has been accused of sexual assault and arrested on 34 felony charges.

☆ Oil prices dip on U.S. rate hike expectations, weak China PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Katya Golubkova | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. consumer spending was flat in March as an increase in outlays on services was offset by a decline in goods, but persistent strength in underlying inflation pressures could see the Federal Reserve raising interest rates again. The Fed is expected to increase interest rates by another 25 basis points this week. On Friday, oil prices mostly rose over 2% after energy firms posted positive earnings, and U.S. data showed crude output was declining while fuel demand was growing. Fuel demand rose to nearly 20 million bpd, its highest since November, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). EIA data last week showed U.S. crude oil and gasoline inventories fell more than expected as demand for the motor fuel picked up ahead of the peak summer driving season.

☆ Oil prices slide on Fed rate hike expectations, weaker China manufacturing data
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Katya Golubkova | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An acceleration in consumer spending was offset by businesses liquidating inventories in anticipation of weaker demand later this year amid higher borrowing costs. Meanwhile China's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) declined to 49.2 from 51.9 in March, official data showed on Sunday, slipping below the 50-point mark that separates expansion and contraction in activity on a monthly basis. Brent crude has been tracking broader markets in recent sessions, with a slew of economic data creating more uncertainty about the outlook," ANZ's note said. On Friday, oil prices mostly rose over 2% after energy firms posted positive earnings, and U.S. data showed crude output was declining while fuel demand was growing. Fuel demand rose to nearly 20 million bpd, its highest since November, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

☆ Fact check: Trump’s own campaign can’t find proof for his ‘mental institutions’ immigration story
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

How we searched for proof of Trump’s storyCNN conducted a broad search for any proof for Trump’s story. These articles did not mention anything about South American mental health facilities being emptied under President Joe Biden, nor feature any quote from a doctor at any such facility. We then reached out to a pro-Trump super PAC asking for evidence for Trump’s “mental institution” story, but a spokesperson didn’t respond. We next turned to two groups that advocate for reduced immigration, the Center for Immigration Studies and the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which would be good candidates to be aware of any such evidence. As a last resort, we posted Trump’s quotes on Twitter and invited the public to try to find support for them.

☆ Analysis: American living standards are on the line in the debt ceiling drama
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Christine Romans | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Inside the Beltway, jockeying over raising the debt ceiling has become a partisan ritual to gain political points. But marching toward a debt ceiling default puts American living standards on the line. For most of that time, the debt ceiling was raised with little fuss, until 2011 brought the debt ceiling into a new dangerous realm of political brinksmanship. Deciding later not to pay the bills by not raising the debt ceiling is not sound fiscal policy. Roger Ferguson, economist and former vice chair of the Fed, said the debt ceiling is out of date.

☆ A new bill in Florida would allow citizens to sue for damage to or removal of Confederate statues
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A new bill in Florida would allow citizens to sue for damage to or removal of historical monuments. The bill doesn't mention Confederate statues, but opponents say it is a response to it. The newly-elected state senator, endorsed by Ron DeSantis during his 2022 campaign, previously served on the Florida Southwestern State College Board of Trustees. Before being elected, the state senator had been investigated for battery but was cleared by prosecutors in August. Over the past few years, a national movement to remove Confederate statues took hold in the US, with proponents of these removals pointing to the statues' ties to slavery.

CNN —For Yulia Laputina, Ukraine’s Minister of Veterans Affairs, a visit to Arlington National Cemetery was a deeply moving experience. On Thursday, the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, announced that the city council had “started the procedure for establishing the National Military Memorial Cemetery,” and had allocated land for its creation. Ukrainian Minister of Veterans Affairs Yulia Laputina visits Arlington National Cemetery in April 2023. Lawmakers made the case that personal connections to Americans across the country could “increase the level of support of practical support” for Ukraine, Laputina said. Yulia Laputina, Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine at the International Rehabilitation Forum in Lviv, Ukraine, on April 12.

United Airlines — The airline lost 0.9% in the premarket after it announced a net loss for the first quarter. The company reported $11.43 billion in revenue, slightly above the $11.42 billion estimated. The company posted earnings per share of $1.35, which fell below the $1.41 consensus estimate from analysts polled by Refinitiv. Ally Financial — The digital financial services company's shares were down 1.3% after its first quarter earnings and revenue missed Wall Street's expectations. The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.23, topping against a consensus estimate of $1.20 per share, according to FactSet.

☆ Biden slams McCarthy, tells him to 'take default off the table' in debt ceiling fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

President Joe Biden on Wednesday slammed House Republicans for flirting with defaulting on the national debt, saying America is not "a deadbeat nation." Biden called the gambit by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., "really dangerous." "Reagan said debt ceiling brinkmanship threatens the holders of government bonds and those who rely on Social Security and veterans' benefits. We meet our obligations, and I made it clear to Speaker McCarthy how we should proceed to settle our differences." Biden released his budget proposal last month and has asked House Republicans to do so as well.

☆ Scolding Isn’t a Foreign Policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Walter Russell Mead | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Internationally, it was another grim week for the Biden administration, the United States of America, and world peace. Indian officials reported that China is supporting the development of a military listening post on Myanmar’s strategic Great Coco Island in the Bay of Bengal. Farther south, a Sudanese military faction backed by Russia’s Wagner Group battles for control of Africa’s third-largest nation. The usual spinners and makeup artists are doing their best to make the disorderly unraveling of the American-led world order look like a visionary triumph of enlightened foreign policy, but former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers expressed a more cogent view. What we get from the United States is a lecture.’ ”

WASHINGTON — The top Democrat in the House slammed Republicans' plan to pass a bill later this month to suspend the debt ceiling for a year and impose broad federal spending cuts, rather than simply raise the $31.4 trillion limit and avoid any risk of potential U.S. debt default. "Even the flirtation with the default is going to hurt everyday Americans," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. "It risks raising car payments, it risks raising home mortgage payments, it risks raising student loan debt payments," he said. The New York Democrat said refusing to raise the debt ceiling for the first time in history would have "catastrophic" consequences. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler echoed Jeffries' concerns Tuesday, telling lawmakers that the debt ceiling fight has already affected the markets.

☆ United Nations issues rare rebuke of United States over leaked documents
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Richard Roth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Weeks after a trove of classified US intelligence documents were posted on social media, the United Nations issued a rare rebuke of the United States after reports that those documents allegedly revealed the US was spying on the Secretary-General and other high ranking UN officials. The UN also sent a note to the US Mission at the United Nations in New York regarding the leak, according to Dujarric. The stern reaction comes after a BBC report last week on a US intelligence leak which accused Guterres of being too soft on Russia. According to the broadcaster, the documents in the leak also includes detail of a private conversation between Guterres and his deputy Amina Mohammed. The leak appears to shed light on how Washington perceived Guterres’ handling of the Black Sea grain deal, according to the BBC.

☆ France wants independence, will stay 'strong and reliable' US ally, finance minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) - French finance minister Bruno Le Maire said on Wednesday that France and Europe want to pursue an independent policy path from the United States and China, but intend to be "strong and reliable allies of the United States of America." Asked about Macron's comments, Le Maire said the controversy was "much ado about nothing" because the French president has been advocating such an approach for years. I mean that on the geopolitical issues, on the industrial issues, on the technological issues, we want Europe to be more independent," Le Maire said. He said Macron spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden before visiting China and said the U.S., France and Europe have a "coordinated approach" to relations with China. Le Maire said Macron had asked China to hold more dialogue on Taiwan-related issues.

☆ Lawmakers meet with Apple, Disney CEOs as part of talks on competition with China
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

High-profile tech and media executives shared their experiences of working in and competing with China with lawmakers who visited California this week. Over the three-day trip that kicked off on Wednesday, lawmakers were scheduled to meet with Disney CEO Bob Iger and Apple CEO Tim Cook, as well as high-level executives from Google , Microsoft , Palantir and Scale AI. The trip highlights the key role tech and media industries play in America's increasingly complex relationship with China. In Hollywood, the group of lawmakers from the select committee learned about a range of topics related to competition with China. The group was also slated to meet with venture capitalists on Thursday, including Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures and SV Angel.

Companies United States of America FollowApril 5 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Wednesday, boosted by expectations of U.S. crude inventory declines as well as the latest output cut targets set by the OPEC+ producer alliance. The rises came as an industry report showed U.S. crude stocks fell by about 4.3 million barrels in the week ended March 31. However, weak manufacturing activity in the U.S. and China - the two biggest oil consumers - have kept oil prices from moving up further, despite the prospect of tighter supply following the OPEC+ cuts. Traders will be looking for cues on broader economic trends from the U.S. non-farm payrolls data due later this week, analysts say. Reporting by Laila Kearney in New York; Editing by Gerry Doyle and Kenneth MaxwellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Oil edges up as OPEC cuts, U.S. inventories brighten outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Laila Kearney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies United States of America FollowApril 5 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose in early Asian trade on Wednesday on anticipated U.S. crude inventory declines and OPEC+'s latest output cut targets. Gasoline inventories fell by about 4 million barrels, while distillate stocks fell by about 3.7 million barrels, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. The latest targets set by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+, also helped oil prices. Keeping oil prices from moving higher were concerns about demand, with U.S. job openings in February falling to the lowest level in nearly two years and U.S. manufacturing activity in March slumping. Weak manufacturing activity in China last month also added to crude oil demand concerns.

☆ Republican presidential hopeful Hutchinson says Trump should exit race over Jan. 6 attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It's unacceptable, and former president Trump bears significant responsibilty," Hutchinson, 72, said. His comments came on the same day that Trump flew to New York City to face charges in the hush money probe. Trump, who is seeking to regain the presidency in 2024, is the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday found that 48% percent of Republican voters wanted Trump to be their nominee, up from 44% last month. Reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; editing by Andy Sullivan and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ House Republicans vow to avenge Trump indictment by going after 'spineless weasel' Alvin Bragg and President Joe Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former President Donald Trump was charged with 34 felony counts Tuesday in Manhattan. House Republicans incensed by the arraignment began spitballing ways to fight back. "This day cannot be forgotten," Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona wrote online in a post bemoaning the "unequivocal persecution of Donald Trump." Meanwhile, House GOP Conference chair Rep. Elise Stefanik predicted that all those seeking to politically harm Trump with this trial had actually sealed their own fates. "President Trump will defeat this latest witch-hunt, defeat Joe Biden, and will be sworn in as President of the United States of America in January 2025," she said in a press release.

☆ John Bolton says if Manhattan DA case flops, it could be 'rocket fuel' for the former president: 'I'm worried about Alvin Bragg benefitting Donald Trump'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Taylor Ardrey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Bolton said if the Manhattan DA flops Trump's case that could be "rocket fuel" for his campaign. "I'm worried about Alvin Bragg benefiting Donald Trump," Bolton argued. "I'm not worried about Alvin Bragg hurting Donald Trump. I'm worried about Alvin Bragg benefiting Donald Trump," Bolton told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday, referring to the DA overseeing the ex-president's criminal case. You can say it's a sleazy case and it involves sleazy people," Bolton told CBS.

☆ Munitions, anti-tank rockets in next $2.6 bln US pledge for Ukraine -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Military aid, delivered as part of the United States of America's security assistance to Ukraine, is unloaded from a plane at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kyiv, Ukraine February 11, 2022. Also slated for inclusion were precision aerial munitions, bridging equipment Ukraine would use to assault Russian positions, recovery vehicles to help disabled heavy equipment like tanks and additional rounds for NASAMS air defenses that the U.S. and allies have given to Kyiv. The aid was comprised of $2.1 billion in weapons aid coming from Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funding that allows President Joe Biden's administration to buy weapons from industry rather than from U.S. weapons stocks. The U.S. has now pledged more then $30 billion worth of security assistance to Ukraine since the invasion. Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Donald Trump's Truth Social post about having 'such respect' for the New York grand jury has aged really poorly
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Trump said on Wednesday that he had "gained such respect" for the New York grand jury. This was after news broke that the grand jury may be taking a short break. In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, before getting indicted, Trump wrote: "I HAVE GAINED SUCH RESPECT FOR THIS GRAND JURY, & PERHAPS EVEN THE GRAND JURY SYSTEM AS A WHOLE." In a Truth Social post after his indictment, however, Trump seemed to have lost his newfound respect for the jury. "These Thugs and Radical Left Monsters have just INDICATED the 45th President of the United States of America," Trump wrote.

☆ The SPAC tied to Trump's Truth Social surges 11% after the former president is formally indicted
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Digital World Acquisition stock surged 11% after former President Donald Trump was indicted. Digital World is a SPAC that plans to merge with Trump's social media company, Truth Social. After the indictment on Thursday, Trump posted to his Truth Social account more than 45 times. That misspelled post was liked more than 40,000 times, which is about double the typical engagement Trump receives on his Truth Social posts. Trump plans to turn himself in early next week, which could drive more activity to Truth Social.

☆ Oil steadies as U.S. crude draw offset by Russian supplies, stronger dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Laila Kearney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies United States of America FollowMarch 29 (Reuters) - Oil steadied in early Asian trade on Thursday as a surprise draw in U.S. crude oil stockpiles that supported prices was offset by a smaller-than-expected cut to Russian supplies and stronger dollar. West Texas Intermediate U.S. crude fell 6 cents, or 0.1%, to $72.91 a barrel. Helping to support prices, U.S. crude oil stockpiles fell unexpectedly last week as refineries ramped up production after maintenance season and imports fell to a two-year low, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday. Crude inventories (USOILC=ECI) fell by 7.5 million barrels in the week to March 24 to 473.7 million barrels, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 100,000-barrel rise. Meanwhile, reports about Russian crude production falling by around 300,000 barrels a day in the first three weeks of March, less than the targeted cuts of 500,000 bpd, and strength in the U.S. dollar, erased oil price gains.

A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Donald Trump, possibly over a "hush-money" payment. Here's a timeline of Trump and Daniels' alleged relationship, the $130,000 payment to keep Daniels silent, and the testimonies leading to a possible indictment. Markus Schreiber/APManhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg convened a grand jury in mid-January of this year to consider an indictment against Trump. And Trump's former fixer and lawyer Michael Cohen, prosecutors' key witness, has made repeated visits to the DA's office and to the grand jury. Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesThe Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Trump on Thursday, March 30.

☆ Trump rages about being 'INDICATED' in social media post about his indictment, says 'THE USA IS NOW A THIRD WORLD NATION'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Trump raged on Truth Social about being "INDICATED" in New York. "THE USA IS NOW A THIRD WORLD NATION, A NATION IN SERIOUS DECLINE," he wrote. Cohen said that Trump directed him to pay Daniels off in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump. "These Thugs and Radical Left Monsters have just INDICATED the 45th President of the United States of America, and the leading Republican Candidate, by far, for the 2024 Nomination for President," Trump wrote on Truth Social. THE USA IS NOW A THIRD WORLD NATION, A NATION IN SERIOUS DECLINE.

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