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WAYCROSS, Ga. (AP) — Two young citizen-soldiers who became close friends after enlisting in the Army Reserve were remembered at funerals in southeast Georgia on Saturday, nearly three weeks after they died in a drone attack while deployed to the Middle East. Kennedy Sanders was held in the packed 1,200-seat auditorium of Ware County Middle School in Waycross. The soldiers were among three members of their Army Reserve unit who died Jan. 28 in a drone strike on a U.S. base in Jordan near the Syrian border. According to the Army Reserve, Moffett and Sanders both enlisted in 2019 as construction engineers who use bulldozers and other heavy equipment to clear roads and construction sites. She joined the Army Reserve after graduating from Windsor Forest High School, where she had been a drum major and JROTC cadet.

Persons: Kennedy Sanders, Sanders, Col, Jeffrey Dulgarian, “, ” Sanders, Mandy Lingenfelter, ” Lingenfelter, Jesus, Breonna Moffett, Moffett’s, Jan, William Jerome Rivers, Moffett's, Francine Moffett, Moffett, children's, Oneida Oliver Organizations: Army Reserve, Ware County Middle School, Atlanta Journal, Gators, 926th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade, Moffett, Palsy, Windsor Forest High School, Hamas Locations: Georgia, Ware, Waycross, Ware County, Savannah, U.S, Jordan, Syrian, Carrollton, Fort Moore, Iran, Israel, Syria

☆ Kristen Stewart says Donald Trump's social media posts about her cheating on Robert Pattinson inspired her to come out
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kristen Stewart reflected on the events that led to her coming out as gay on "Saturday Night Live." download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementKristen Stewart has said that Donald Trump's past criticism of her inspired her to address her sexuality for the first time while hosting "Saturday Night Live" in 2017. Robert Pattinson should not take back Kristen Stewart. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2012"Robert Pattinson should not take back Kristen Stewart," Trump posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, in 2012 after paparazzi photographs of Stewart kissing director Rupert Sanders were released, causing a media firestorm.

Persons: Kristen Stewart, —, Donald Trump's, Rolling Stone, Robert Pattinson, Donald J, Trump, Stewart, Rupert Sanders, Huntsman, Little, Donald, Stella Maxwell, Dylan Meyer Organizations: Service, Republican, Variety

The company also has promised to wall off U.S. user data from its parent company through a separate entity run independently from ByteDance and monitored by outside observers. TikTok says new user data is currently being stored on servers maintained by the software company Oracle. The AP-NORC poll shows TikTok users — about 170 million in the U.S., most of whom skew younger — are less likely to be worried about the app sharing American users' data, reflecting a previously felt generational divide. The Biden campaign has said it is using a separate cellphone for TikTok to isolate the app from other communications and was taking additional steps for protection. The poll also found that about 6 in 10 U.S. adults — and 41% of daily TikTok users — are “extremely or very concerned” about the amount of time children and teenagers spend on TikTok.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, TikTok, ”, Dan Ives, Biden, Mark Warner, ” Warner, “, Alex Haurek, Vivek Ramaswamy, influencers, —, it’s, Linley Sanders, ___ Organizations: The Associated Press, NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, U.S, Oracle, Foreign Investment, Commerce Department, Wedbush Securities, European Union, Senate, Virginia Democrat, Republican, Union Locations: U.S, Beijing, Virginia, India, Washington

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The state of Maine's long-cherished reputation for political independence is being threatened by the nation's polarized politics, with more and more of its voters feeling pressured to take sides. So-called independents, or unenrolled voters, have gone from the state's largest voting bloc to trailing both major parties in just four years. Republicans, too, overtook unenrolled voters two years later. As of last month, a tally of active voters indicated there were 343,488 Democratic voters, 279,936 Republican voters and 273,298 unenrolled voters. The economist served in the Maine Senate as an independent, and remains active on political issues.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Trump, Haley, ”, Zach Azem, — “, Sen, Angus King, Arizona’s Kyrsten, Vermont's Bernie Sanders, Jill Goldthwait, unenrolled, “, —, Paul LePage, Donald Trump, Mark Brewer, Brewer, they'll, State Shenna Bellows, Richard Woodbury, “ I’m, ” Woodbury, David Sharp, @David_Sharp_AP Organizations: New, New Hampshire GOP, Democratic, AP VoteCast, GOP, University of New Hampshire Survey, Republicans, Democratic Party, Republican, University of Maine, Trump, Congressional, State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Maine Senate Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, New Hampshire, Bar, District, Yarmouth

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Izurieta said Lopez-Galvan attended the parade with her husband and her adult son, a die-hard Kansas City sports fan who also was shot. Kansas City has long struggled with gun violence, and in 2020 it was among nine cities targeted by the U.S. Justice Department in an effort to crack down on violent crime. Lucas has joined with mayors across the country in calling for new laws to reduce gun violence, including mandating universal background checks. Stephanie Meyer, chief nursing officer for Children’s Mercy Kansas City, said it was treating 12 patients from the rally, including 11 children between the ages of 6 and 15, many of whom suffered gunshot wounds.

Persons: —, Quinton Lucas, ” Lucas, Stacey Graves, “ I’m, ” Graves, Lisa Lopez, Galvan, ”, ” KKFI, Lopez, Lisa G, Rosa Izurieta, Martha Ramirez, Izurieta, “, Lisa, ” Izurieta, Lucas, Lisa Money, Kevin Sanders, ” Sanders, Nancy Lewis, Lewis, Stephanie Meyer, Meyer, Rick Burkholder, Andy Reid, Mike Parson, Teresa Parson, Joe Biden, ” Biden, ” Throngs, Scott McFetridge, Jim Salter, Louis, Josh Funk, John Hanna Organizations: KANSAS CITY, Kansas City Chiefs, Nuggets, NBA, Texas Rangers, Radio, KKFI, Facebook, KC, Kansas City, U.S . Justice Department, University Health, Mercy, Mercy Kansas City, Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, Chiefs, Arrowhead, Station, Republican Gov, Associated Press Locations: KANSAS, Mo, Kansas City, U.S, Denver, Kansas, Lenexa , Kansas, Mercy Kansas, ” St, Des Moines , Iowa, St, Omaha , Nebraska, Columbia , Missouri, Topeka , Kansas

☆ Parents who took on student debt for their kids have 'extremely limited' options for loan forgiveness and cheaper monthly payments — but Biden can change that, 9 Democratic lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A group of Democrats urged the Education Department to expand relief for parent PLUS borrowers. They also requested PLUS borrowers be included in Biden's second attempt at broader loan forgiveness. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders — in sending a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona regarding parent PLUS borrowers. The burden increases on parents because, as the lawmakers wrote, options for federal relief on PLUS loans "remain extremely limited." "We write to you out of deep concern that Parent PLUS borrowers have been left out of key student loan actions the Administration has taken," the Democrats said.

Persons: —, Sen, Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders —, Secretary Miguel Cardona, Biden, Derrick Johnson, Wisdom Cole, Cardona Organizations: Education Department, Service, Democratic, Secretary, Parent, Education, Higher, The Education Department, National, Parent PLUS Locations: Sens

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — At least eight people were injured in a shooting at the end of the parade to celebrate the Super Bowl win by the Kansas City Chiefs, sending terrified fans running for cover and marring yet another high-profile public event in gun violence. After the Denver Nuggets’ championship parade last year, a shooting took place in downtown Denver that injured two people, though police said they didn’t believe the incident was associated with the actual celebration. Also last year, an argument resulted in shots being fired at a parking lot near the Texas Rangers’ World Series championship parade. That followed the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series in 2015, the city’s first baseball championship in 30 years.

Persons: Michael Hopkins, Lisa Money, “, you’ve, ”, Kevin Sanders, ” Sanders, Lisa Augustine, Laurel Gifford, Jill Jensen Chadwick, Mike Parson, Parson, ” Parson, Rick Burkholder, Andy Reid, Nobody, Throngs, Clark Hunt, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, prophetically, ___ Organizations: KANSAS CITY, Super, Kansas City Chiefs, Fire Department Battalion, Police, Social, Kansas, Mercy, Mercy Kansas City, Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, University of Kansas Health, Missouri Gov, ” Chiefs, Arrowhead, Denver Nuggets, Texas Rangers, Chiefs, New England Patriots, 49ers, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Eagles Locations: KANSAS, Mo, Kansas City , Kansas, Lenexa , Kansas, Mercy Kansas, “, Denver

☆ Liberal Group Joins Efforts Calling for Protest Vote Against Biden in Michigan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Reid J. Epstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Our Revolution, the political organization that Senator Bernie Sanders launched in 2016, is throwing its weight behind the movement to vote Uncommitted in Michigan’s Democratic primary, seeking to pressure President Biden into changing his approach to the war between Israel and Hamas. On Wednesday, Our Revolution is planning to send an email to 87,000 members in Michigan and to about 225,000 supporters in other states, encouraging them to vote Uncommitted in the state’s Feb. 27 primary to “push Biden to change course on Gaza now.”Former Representative Andy Levin, Democrat of Michigan and a signee of the letter, said Mr. Biden was at risk of having voters sit out the November election in protest of U.S. policy toward the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. He warned that Mr. Biden could lose the state to former President Donald J. Trump in the general election without a major change in Israel policy. “I am working with some people who feel like they will never vote for Joe Biden, but there are many, many, many I feel will vote for Joe Biden on Nov. 5 if he changes course,” Mr. Levin said in an interview Tuesday evening. “This is the best way I can help Joe Biden.”

Persons: Bernie Sanders, Biden, Andy Levin, Mr, Donald J, Trump, Joe Biden, ” Mr, Levin, ” Organizations: Democratic, Hamas, Democrat Locations: Israel, Michigan, Gaza, ”, U.S

☆ Winter Storm New York and New England Brace for Powerful Nor’easter
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Mike Ives | Isabella Kwai | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

The wintry mess left both parties racing to rewrite last-minute campaign plans and sophisticated models to understand how the storm might affect turnout. But many Republican voters still prefer to vote on Election Day, and their party is accustomed to closing a gap. The party has won nearly every major election on Long Island since 2021, partly on the strength of its turnout operation. Peter T. King, a former Republican congressman, conceded that the snow could cost his party a couple of percentage points. Still, he predicted that the recently revived Nassau County Republican machine was up to the task.

Persons: Stephanie Keith, Dave Sanders, The New York Times Stephanie Keith, The New York Times Tom Suozzi, Mazi Pilip, George Santos, ” Steve Israel, ”, Biden, Santos, Tom Suozzi, Suozzi, Mazi, “, ” Jay Jacobs, Peter T, King, committeemen, Suozzi’s, haven’t, Mr, Jacobs, Delia DeRiggi, Bruce Blakeman, Blakeman, Ellen Yan Organizations: The New York Times, The New York Times Credit, Democrat, Republican, Queens and, Republicans, Democratic, Mr, Democratic Party, Nassau County Republican, Legislature Locations: Nassau, New York, Queens and Long, New York City, Long, Nassau County, North Shore, Whitton

☆ These 3 Democratic senators voted against a $95.3 billion Ukraine and Israel aid bill — citing the war in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Three Democratic senators voted against a $95.3 billion bill to give aid to Israel and Ukraine. Other Democratic senators who have been critical of the war voted for the aid anyway. AdvertisementEarly on Tuesday morning, the Senate passed a $95.3 billion bill to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan by a 70-29 margin. Most of the votes against the bill came from Republicans, some of whom were opposed to providing $60 billion in Ukraine aid while others protested the lack of border security provisions. It requires any country receiving foreign aid, including Israel, to submit written assurances that they are complying with human rights laws.

Persons: —, Peter Welch of, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders of, Sanders, Welch, Netanyahu, Israel, Joe Biden, Biden, Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Mike Johnson, Johnson Organizations: Democratic, Service, Senate Democratic Conference, Senate Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Gaza, Taiwan, Peter Welch of Vermont, Oregon, Bernie Sanders of Vermont

The vast majority — nearly $40 million — went to law firms working on his personal legal problems. But significant portions of their donations went to law firms defending Trump in civil cases involving his real-estate empire and its top executives, including Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump. Only about $861,000 was spent on law firms working exclusively on political issues. Where there were gaps, we contacted law firms and individual lawyers who received money from the PACs. In 2021 and 2022 combined, Trump spent $16 million on legal fees through the Save America PAC.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, —, MAGA, Trump's, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Stormy Daniels, Jean Carroll, Robert, Clifford S, Michael Cohen, — Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel, Frederick —, Madaio, Alina Habba, Michael Madaio, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Mary Trump, general's, Carroll, Trump —, Joe Tacopina, Chad Seigel, Christopher Kise, Jesus M, Suarez, Eli Bartov, Bryan Woolston, Silverman Thompson Slutkin, White, Evan Corcoran, Todd Blanche, Cadwalader, Taft, Blanche, Attorney Alvin Bragg's, Daniels, Susan Necheles, John Lauro, who's, Steven H, Drew Findling, Jennifer Little, Jesse R, it's, Jim, John Rowley, Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, perjured, ArentFox Schiff, Jeff McConney, Stanley Woodward, Stanley Brand, Carlos de Oliveira, John S, Irving of, Boris Epshteyn, Kenneth Chesebro, Troutman Pepper, Ivanka, Newsmax, Harmeet, Dhillon, Bradley T, Morvillo Abramowitz, David Pecker, Elkan Abramowitz, Greenberg Traurig, Ballard Spahr, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Corey Lewandowski, Robert Mueller's, Jones, Andrew Kelly, It's, Forbes, defaming Carroll, he's Organizations: Service, Trump, Save America PAC, Make, Trump Organization, Politico, Reuters, New, Associates, Democratic National Committee, The New York Times, Times, Continental LLP, Inc, AP, Attorney, Capitol, Law, Taft, Brand Woodward Law, Irving of Earth & Water Law, Ivanka Trump, Republican National Committee, Save, MAGA, Curve Solutions, National Enquirer, Republican, MAGA PAC, Bloomberg Locations: New York, Georgia, Carroll, Manhattan, Florida, York, Washington, DC, Wickersham, Attorney Alvin Bragg's Manhattan, Fulton County , Georgia, codefendants, MAGAworld, Robert Mueller's Russia

☆ Senate passes $95 billion aid bill for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, but getting it through the House is another matter
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewThe US Senate passed a $95 billion emergency defense aid bill for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan early Tuesday morning. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X that Putin "will regret the day he questioned America's resolve." AdvertisementHowever, the bill will now need to go to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to face stiff opposition. House Speaker Mike Johnson preemptively rejected the bill on Monday evening, saying that it failed to address US-Mexico border security and was therefore a nonstarter. AdvertisementIt does not include any border security provisions after Schumer stripped the border security language from the bill last week, per Reuters.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Peter Welch of, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders of, Sen, Chuck Schumer, Putin, America's, Mike Johnson preemptively, ”, Schumer, JD Vance, won’t, Hakeem Jeffries Organizations: Service, Senate, Democratic, Business, Representatives, Associated Press, Republican Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, Peter Welch of Vermont, Oregon, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Mexico, “, China, Gaza

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and amid growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad. But a bipartisan deal on border security struck by Republican Sen. James Lankford fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. After the border bill collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone — as Democrats had originally intended. In an unusually raw back-and-forth, GOP senators who support the aid challenged some of the opponents directly on the floor. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that “I reiterated America’s commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.”But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, It’s, ”, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch of, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden's, Schumer, McConnell, “, ” McConnell, Republican Sen, James Lankford, J.D, Vance, Russia's Putin, Putin, Kentucky Sen, Rand Paul, Carolina Sen, Thom Tillis, ” Tillis, ” Sen, Jerry Moran, Moran, Trump, Russia “, Mike Turner, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Turner, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, ” Johnson, Abigail Spanberger, Zelenskyy, ” Spanberger, Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republican Party, Ukraine, Republican, Republicans, Sens, Ukraine —, GOP, U.S . Senate, Trump, Ohio Republican, Kentucky, NATO, House Republicans, House Intelligence, Russia, ”, Senate, Virginia Democrat, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, United States, U.S, Oregon, Peter Welch of Vermont, Russia, Kyiv, China, Gaza, Ohio, Carolina, Europe, America, Virginia

☆ An airline's new policy to ask passengers to weigh themselves voluntarily is criticized for being 'embarrassing' and 'triggering'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Finnair says that weight data helps the safe operation of flights. AdvertisementAn airline’s trial policy to ask passengers to weigh themselves before flights has sparked controversy, with critics saying it could be triggering and embarrassing. Travel journalist Yvette Caster, also interviewed by GB News, called Finnair's move to weigh passengers "fatphobic." Finnair has announced it will begin weighing passengers with their carry-on luggage to better estimate the plane's weight before take-off. Uzbekistan Airlines began weighing passengers for the same reason in 2015.

Persons: Finnair, —, Hayley Hasselhoff, Yvette, Kate Staniforth, ”, Laura Sanders, MailOnline, “ It's Organizations: Service, GB, Travel Republic, Air, Zealand, Korean, Hawaiian Airlines, Uzbekistan Airlines Locations: Finland, British

Senators conducted a late-night vote Friday, advancing to next steps as they spin through objections from a core group of Republicans. More closely aligned with Donald Trump, the GOP's presidential front-runner, the Republican senators aren't putting a priority on stopping Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion. Attendance slipped Friday night as senators advanced the bill, 64-19, with 14 Republicans joining Democrats to move it forward. "The failure of the United States Congress, if it occurs, not to support Ukraine, is close to criminal neglect,” Biden said. In a key vote Thursday, 17 Republican senators agreed to start debate on the bill — but 31 voted against it.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, aren't, Vladimir Putin's, Chuck Schumer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden, ” Biden, Olaf Scholz, Trump, ” Sen, Mike Lee, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, ” McConnell, Sen, Dan Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Senators groused, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Bernie Sanders, Sanders, Netanyahu, “, ”, Chris Van Hollen, Mike Johnson Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Senate, Republican, New York Democrat, Republicans, Democrats, Ukraine, White, United States Congress, GOP, Capitol, Senators, European Union Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Israel, U.S, Europe, Taiwan, China, Gaza, Central, United States, Utah, Alaska, Rafah, “, Vermont, Maryland, Washington

☆ ‘Saturday Night Live’ star Colin Jost selected as White House Correspondents Dinner headliner
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Colin Jost will be live from Washington, DC — not New York — on the final Saturday night of April. The “Saturday Night Live” comedian, featured in the “Weekend Update” segments, was selected by the White House Correspondents’ Association as the entertainer for the press organization’s 2024 dinner, set to take place on April 27. “Colin Jost knows how to make Saturday nights funny, and I am thrilled Colin will be live from the nation’s capital as the headline entertainer for this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” said Kelly O’Donnell, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association and NBC News senior White House correspondent. Throughout his career he has nabbed five Writers Guild Awards and two Peabody Awards, in addition to 14 Emmy Awards nominations. After Wolf ignited controversy for a joke she made about then-White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House Correspondents’ Association pivoted to a non-comedian headliner, inviting presidential biographer Ron Chernow to helm the dinner.

Persons: Colin Jost, Donald Trump, “ Colin Jost, Colin, ”, Kelly O’Donnell, Jost, Jamie McCarthy, PEN America “, ” O’Donnell, Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert, Michelle Wolf, Wolf, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Ron Chernow, Roy Wood Jr Organizations: CNN, White, ’ Association, NBC News, White House, Peabody, PEN America, ’ Locations: Washington, New York

Democratic senators on Friday called Biden's directive — meant to bring breadth, oversight, deadlines and teeth to efforts to ensure foreign governments don't use U.S. military aid against civilians — historic. “This is a sea-change in terms of how you approach U.S. military aid and its impact on civilians,” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said. Human rights advocates said the challenge for the new directive would be the same faced by all previous efforts to withhold U.S. weapons and funding from human rights abusers — whether administrations will actually enforce the human rights conditions against strategically important allies and partners. Foreign governments that fail to provide those assurances on time would have their military aid paused. Those “are honored in the breach,” Roth, the human rights expert, said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren, who'd, Maryland Sen, Chris Van Hollen, ”, Kenneth Roth, Antony Blinken, isn't, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Karine Jean, Pierre, “, ” Jean, Pierre said, Leahy, —, ” Roth, it's, ” Van Hollen, — Seung Min Kim Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democrats, Ukraine, Democratic, Capitol, White House, Maryland, Human Rights Watch, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, U.S, Foreign Assistance Locations: Gaza, Israel, Russia, Massachusetts, what's, Ukraine, Israeli, United States, U.S

☆ Under Bernie Sanders’s Glare, Pharmaceutical Chiefs Will Testify on Drug Prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Noah Weiland | Rebecca Robbins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The chief executives of three major pharmaceutical companies are set to appear in front of the Senate health committee on Thursday to defend how much they charge for drugs in the United States, drawing them further into a confrontation with lawmakers and the Biden administration over the cost of some of the most widely used prescription medications. The three executives scheduled to testify — Joaquin Duato of Johnson & Johnson, Robert M. Davis of Merck and Christopher Boerner of Bristol Myers Squibb — are expected to clash with the health committee’s chairman, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who has made reining in drug prices a signature cause of his late-career years in Congress. Mr. Sanders plans to focus the hearing on why drug prices are higher in the United States than in other wealthy countries. His staff has singled out several widely used drugs, including Eliquis, a blood thinner made by Bristol Myers Squibb, and Januvia, a diabetes drug from Merck, that can be bought for much less in Canada and Europe than in the United States.

Persons: Biden, — Joaquin Duato, Johnson, Robert M, Davis, Christopher Boerner, Bernie Sanders of, Sanders Organizations: Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb Locations: United States, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Canada, Europe

NEW YORK (AP) — Tim Sanders started his company, Silent Donor, based on his own experience giving money to charities. Christie Herrera, president and CEO of the conservative advocacy nonprofit Philanthropy Roundtable, has said the fight for donor privacy is the biggest challenge her organization currently faces, “I think it’s time for philanthropy to step up and start talking about these donor privacy issues,” she said. Silent Donor also sets a deadline of 30 days to move a donation through its system and into a charity. Sanders said nonprofits should listen more to donors who seek more privacy for their gifts. He said that recent decline in philanthropic donations may be related to donors not wanting others to know about their financial decisions.

Persons: — Tim Sanders, ”, ” Sanders, –, Malala Yousafzai, Christie Herrera, “, ” Chuck Collins, Collins, —, Donor's Sanders, Sanders, ” Collins Organizations: Internal Revenue Service, Peace, IRS, Republican, Institute for Policy Studies, DAF, U.S . House, U.S . Senate, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Ukrainian, United States

☆ These 17 GOP senators voted to advance a $95.3 billion Ukraine and Israel aid package — without the controversial border provisions that Republicans have rejected
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On Wednesday, 17 Republican senators joined with Democrats to begin debate on a version of the foreign aid bill that no longer includes any of the border security provisions. AdvertisementThe $95.34 billion package contains $60 billion in new aid to Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and $9.15 billion for humanitarian assistance, including for Gaza. In May 2022 — the last time the Senate voted on a bill primarily dealing with Ukraine aid — 39 GOP senators supported it. Several Democratic senators are hoping to impose new conditions on Israel aid amid the devastating war in Gaza, and Republicans may offer amendments of their own. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has threatened to call a vote on ousting Johnson from the speakership if he allows another vote on Ukraine aid.

Persons: —, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson, Sen, Bernie Sanders Organizations: Service, House Republicans, Republican, Democrats, Business, GOP, —, Democratic, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, United States, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Vermont

☆ Senators to question Merck, J&J and Bristol Myers Squibb CEOs over high U.S. drug pricing
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Senators will question the CEOs of Johnson & Johnson , Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb on U.S. drug prices at a hearing Thursday, as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle work to rein in high health-care costs for Americans. Prescription drug prices in the U.S. are also more than 2.5 times as high as those in other high-income nations, another federal report showed. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee says that's especially true for some of the top drugs from J&J, Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb. ET and include testimony from J&J CEO Joaquin Duato, Merck CEO Robert Davis and Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Chris Boerner. A spokesperson for Bristol Myers Squibb did not immediately respond to a request for comment ahead of the hearing.

Persons: Sen, Bernie Sanders, Ed Markey, Joaquin Duato, Robert Davis, Chris Boerner, Duato, Davis, Bristol Myers, Eli Lilly's, J Organizations: Capitol, Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, U.S, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, Bristol Myers, CNBC, J, Bristol Locations: U.S

☆ Kansas City Stars, With Help From Taylor Swift, Are Advertising Champs
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Santul Nerkar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Kansas City Chiefs enter Sunday’s Super Bowl having already won — when it comes to commercials. Over the past year, the star players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, along with Coach Andy Reid, have been inescapable to TV viewers. The estimated amount spent to air the ads on television was $178 million for Mr. Mahomes, $120 million for Mr. Kelce and $69 million for Mr. Reid, according to iSpot.tv, an ad measurement company. Because there were several commercials in which at least two of the three appeared, the dollar totals have some overlap. Basically, the more spend an ad has, the more viewers are seeing it.

Persons: Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid, Kelce baring, Mahomes, Reid, Kelce, ”, Cassandra Arora, Deion Sanders, Nick Saban, Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy Organizations: Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday’s, Pfizer, National Football League, “ Brands, Chiefs, University of Colorado’s, University of Alabama, 49ers, Toyota Locations: San Francisco

DENVER (AP) — Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes are closing in on adding Cincinnati Bengals secondary coach Robert Livingston as defensive coordinator, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team has not finalized the hiring. Livingston is set to inherit a Colorado defense that surrendered 34.8 points and 453.3 yards per game in Sanders' first season in charge. Livingston started as a scout with the Bengals in 2012 before later joining their coaching staff. In Colorado, he would work with a secondary that includes Travis Hunter, a first-team All-Pac-12 defensive back who also plays wide receiver, and Shilo Sanders.

Persons: — Deion Sanders, Robert Livingston, Livingston, Charles Kelly, who's, Sanders, He's, Travis Hunter, Shilo Sanders, Sean Lewis, Pat Shurmur, Lewis, Deion Sanders, Shedeur, Jordan Seaton Organizations: DENVER, Colorado Buffaloes, Cincinnati Bengals, Associated Press, Auburn, Bengals, Colorado, Buffaloes, San Diego State, The Buffaloes, ___, AP Locations: Colorado

☆ Democrats have become way more comfortable putting Israel aid on hold amid the ongoing war in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Democrats believe it will be essentially impossible to get that aid through both chambers of Congress without attaching it to Israel aid. AdvertisementYet despite AIPAC's endorsement of a $11.7 billion Israel aid package on Tuesday, all but 46 House Democrats voted against it. Democratic Rep. Don Beyer, a former diplomat, said he sees little urgency in approving more Israel aid. Another factor in Democrats' rejection of the Israel aid bill was its exclusion of humanitarian aid for Palestinians, which is included in the Senate's foreign aid bill. And there are some progressive Democrats who are likely to spurn further Israel aid altogether.

Persons: —, That's, it's, Israel, Don Beyer of Virginia, Beyer, I'm, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Don Beyer, Bill Clark, Greg Landsman, Jeremy Ben, Ami, Landsman, Sen, Bernie Sanders of, Rep, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez Organizations: Service, Business, Democratic Rep, Republicans, Internal Revenue Service, GOP, Democratic, Jewish, Democrats Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Gaza, Ohio, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Alexandria, Cortez of New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — Self-help author and spiritual guru Marianne Williamson on Wednesday announced the end of her long-shot Democratic challenge to President Joe Biden. She won just 2% of the vote in South Carolina and about 3% in Nevada. “I hope future candidates will take what works for them, drinking from the well of information we prepared,” Williamson wrote in announcing the end of her bid. She tweaked Biden, an avid Amtrak fan, by announcing her campaign at Washington’s Union Station. That followed a new plan by the Democratic National Committee, championed by Biden, that reordered the party’s 2024 presidential primary calendar by leading off with South Carolina on Feb. 3.

Persons: —, Marianne Williamson, Joe Biden, Oprah Winfrey, “, Williamson, ” Williamson, Dean Phillips, Biden, Donald Trump, Sen, Bernie Sanders of Organizations: WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Democratic, Minnesota, Department of Peace, Amtrak, Washington’s, Democratic National Committee Locations: New, South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Beverly Hills , California, California, Bernie Sanders of Vermont

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