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☆ Abrams tanks were 'built to kill' Russian armor, but Ukraine has its work cut out for it keeping them in the fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Chris Panella | Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Ukraine has received a first batch of US-provided M1A1 Abrams tanks. It's heavy-duty, combat-proven armor that was built with a very specific mission in mind: killing Russian tanks. The promise to deliver American-made Abrams tanks to Ukraine followed plans from the UK, Germany, and other European partners to provide Ukraine with Challenger and Leopard tanks. AdvertisementAdvertisement"The Abrams was built, A1 and A2 alike, knowing we had to kill many more Russian tanks. AdvertisementAdvertisementUS M1A1 Abrams tanks needed for training the Armed Forces of Ukraine arrive by rail at Grafenwoehr, Germany, May 14, 2023.

Persons: Abrams, it's, —, Robert Greenway, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden, M1A1 Abrams, Lance Cpl, Scott Jenkins, Joe Biden, M1A1s, Pat Ryder, Gian Gentile, RAND's, Gentile, Leo, Challenger, Allan Tannenbaum, Greenway, Charlie Company ,, Brendan Mullin, there's, It's, Tylon Chapman, Douglas R, Bush, we've Organizations: US Army, Service, Ukraine, Soviet, Hudson Institute, Army, New York Times, M1A1, Iraq's, Special Forces, Marine Corps M1A1, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Marine Expeditionary Force, US Marine Corps, Kyiv, Pentagon, Challenger, Leopard, Leopards, RAND's Arroyo Center, US, Charlie, Charlie Company , 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, United Arab Emirates, Armed Forces, US Air National Guard, Honeywell, Abrams, Acquisition, Logistics, Technology, M1 Abrams Locations: Ukraine, Soviet, Pohjankangas, Niinisalo, Finland, Scott Jenkins Ukraine, Germany, RAND's Arroyo, Russian, Iraq, Soviet Union, U.S, Kuwait, Grafenwoehr

Many companies have complained about poor railroad service over the past couple years as the industry worked to recover from the depths of the pandemic. It, however, welcomed regulators establishing some clear minimum service standards for railroads that never existed before and requiring railroads to report more details about their performance. Getting the rule right is important because roughly 75% of refineries and petrochemical manufacturers are only served by a single railroad. Canadian regulators have long had similar rules that allow companies to hire other railroads to deliver their goods. The Canadian rules don't require companies to prove they are getting poor service like the proposed new U.S. rules.

Persons: Scott Jensen, Martin Oberman, ” Oberman, Rob Benedict, Benedict, Ian Jefferies, ” Jefferies, Jeremy Ferguson, ” Ferguson Organizations: — Companies, Surface Transportation, American Chemistry Council, Chemistry, American, and Petrochemical Manufacturers, Association of American Railroads, Transportation Division, International Association of, Rail, Transportation Workers Locations: OMAHA, Neb, U.S, North America, Canada, Mexico

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government is worried about the safety of chemical facilities across the country after its power to keep dangerous substances out of the hands of extremists lapsed a month ago. Homeland Security officials say this left gaping holes in the country's national security, and they are calling on Congress to act quickly when it returns this week. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, which falls under DHS, then determines whether the facility is considered high risk and therefore must develop a security plan. Congress gave the department the authority to begin the chemical security program in 2006, and it went into effect the following year. Homeland Security officials say the program's lapse has left them without a vital security tool.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, ”, Kelly Murray, Sen, Rand Paul, Paul, ” Paul, there's, Murray, she's, reauthorized, they're, Matt Fridley, “ They’re, Scott Jensen Organizations: WASHINGTON, Department of Homeland Security, Chemical, Homeland Security, Homeland, Chemical Security, Infrastructure Security Agency, DHS, Congress, Kentucky Republican, & Infrastructure Security Agency, American Chemistry Council Locations: Virginia, Kentucky

☆ Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear won't say if he'd follow the state's new Senate vacancy law and appoint another Republican if McConnell steps down
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Katie Balevic | John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A 2021 law would require Beshear to appoint a Republican to the Senate should McConnell step down. Beshear attempted to veto that law at the time and could defy it if McConnell ever vacated his seat. AdvertisementAdvertisement"If Mitch does leave office, I think (Beshear) will appoint who he wants to appoint and let them challenge it in court. Some Kentucky Republicans, however, have said McConnell should have stepped down last year. Scott Jennings, a McConnell advisor, told The Post that the senator seemed fine during a Wednesday evening GOP fundraiser.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Mitch McConnell's, Beshear, McConnell, Mitch McConnell, Beshear —, — wouldn't, I'm, Brian P, Monahan, McConnell vacates, Michael Abate, Abate, he's, Jared Smith, Beshear's, Mitch, That's, Smith, Bob Barney, didn't, Scott Jennings, Jennings Organizations: Republican, Service, GOP, Democrat, Washington Post, Capitol, Kentucky Republicans, Louisville Courier, Republican Party, Courier, Post Locations: Wall, Silicon, Kentucky, Louisville, Frankfort, Jessamine County

☆ After Mitch McConnell's 2nd freezing episode, a Kentucky GOP county chair says he's 'disappointed' that the senator didn't relinquish his leadership role in 2022: 'That would've been a wise decision'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

After Mitch McConnell froze again, a Kentucky GOP leader said the senator should have left last year. Bob Barney, the GOP chair in Jessamine County, told The Post he was "disappointed" in the situation. But McConnell's Republican Senate colleagues have, by and large, rallied around him. Barney told the newspaper he feels as though McConnell won't be selected as the GOP leader once again, which will eventually push him to leave office. "We're all very disappointed that he didn't let someone else take over as leader in 2022," Barney told The Post.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Bob Barney, Sen, John Cornyn of, McConnell, Cornyn, didn't, Barney, Rick Scott of, Barney —, Joe Biden, —, Mitch, he'd, Scott Jennings, Jim Banks, Jennings Organizations: Kentucky GOP, GOP, Republican, Service, Kentucky Republican, Washington Post, Safer Communities, Post, Kentucky Republicans, Indiana Rep, Democratic, Bluegrass State Locations: Kentucky, Jessamine County, Wall, Silicon, John Cornyn of Texas, Rick Scott of Florida

☆ What Courtney Dauwalter Learned in the Pain Cave
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Rebecca Byerly | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

After running for 60 miles through snow, up steep, root-filled switchbacks with thousands of feet of elevation gain, Courtney Dauwalter entered what she calls her pain cave. Scott Jurek won Western States seven times (most recently in 2005) but never once ran as fast as Dauwalter did this year. She beat a 1994 Western States record set by Ann Trason, who won the race 14 times, by more than two hours. Now she is trying to do something even the most accomplished ultrarunners would consider extraordinary: win three highly competitive 100-mile races in a single summer. She has won the race twice and currently holds the women’s record.

Persons: Courtney Dauwalter, —, Scott Jurek, Ann Trason, Mickey Mouse, billy Organizations: Western Locations: Sierra Nevada, ultrarunning, Moab , Utah, Western, Silverton, Colo, Blanc, Chamonix, France

☆ Opinion: The surprise winner of the debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Opinion Cnn Contributors | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +30 min

CNN —CNN Opinion asked our political contributors to weigh on the first Republican presidential debate of the 2024 season. On Wednesday night, on more than one issue, Haley broke with the old guard in some meaningful ways. Karen Finney: Ron DeSantis falls flatKaren Finney Ralph AlswangeAfter weeks of buildup and reports of serious debate preparation with a top Republican debate coach, this was supposed to be the night that Florida Gov. Instead, DeSantis delivered a flat debate performance devoid of any standout moments, demonstrating why he is the best alternative to former President Donald Trump. Asa Hutchinson in a few instances, not one of the GOP candidates sounded like a serious contender for the White House.

Persons: Nikki Haley, “, Donald Trump, Haley, won’t —, that’s, Trump, Joe Biden’s, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Haley’s, Karen Finney, Karen Finney Ralph Alswange, DeSantis, Donald Trump ., MAGA, George Soros, Florida’s, ” Karen Finney, Patrick T, Brown, Patrick, Mike Pence, Ramaswamy’s, Ramaswamy, Pence, “ It’s, ” Ramaswamy, Sophia A, Nelson, ‘ Rich, Richmond ’ Sophia A, Nelson Sophia A, Richmond ”, Oliver Anthony, Sen, Tim Scott of, Margaret Thatcher —, Michelle Obama, ” Scott Jennings, Scott Jennings, Nikki Haley overperforming, Doug Burgum, Asa Hutchison, Chris Christie, unapologetically, George W, Bush, Mitch McConnell, Jill Filipovic, Jill Filipovic Vivek Ramaswamy, G.T . Bynum, Bynum, Ronald Reagan —, —, shamefully, Putin, Nicole Hemmer, Robert Taft, Dwight Eisenhower, Ike, Ronald Reagan, Pat Buchanan, Carolyn T, Robert M, Who, Geoff Duncan, GOP Geoff Duncan CNN, Asa Hutchinson, ” Roxanne Jones, Roxanne Jones, Nikki Haley —, I’ve, Jones, ”, WURD, Kristen Soltis Anderson, Nikki Haley’s, ” Raul A, Reyes, Joe Biden, Biden, Raul A, Jon Gabriel, Jon Gabriel Immigration, I’m, ” DeSantis Organizations: CNN, South Carolina Gov, Republican Party of Trump, Florida Gov, Biden, Republican, Donald Trump . Time, New, New Jersey Gov, Democratic, Trump, GOP, Public Policy Center, Economic, North, Richmond, British, Republican Party, North Dakota Gov, Arkansas Gov, RunSwitch Public Relations, Twitter, Pew Research Center, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Education, Pew, Former South Carolina Gov, Rogers Center, Vanderbilt University, “ Partisans, Conservative, Wednesday, Department of Justice, UN, Former New Jersey Gov, America’s Conservative Party, White House . Florida Gov, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN, New York Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Kristen Soltis Anderson CNN Former South Carolina Gov, America, Reyes CNN, Special Forces, Fox, CNN Town Hall, USA, Gallup, The Arizona Locations: China, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, America, Washington , DC, Ukraine, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Georgia, Louisville , Kentucky, millennials, New York, Israel, United States, Tulsa , Oklahoma, Mexico, El Paso, dearer, Arizona, The Arizona Republic

☆ Would a conviction sink Trump? These Republicans are convinced
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The question alarming many Trump-skeptical Republicans this week is whether Americans would ever send a convict to the White House. Sununu dismissed national polls that show Trump’s support among Republicans well over 50% and said to look at polling in early contest states. A new poll in Iowa by the Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom suggests Trump has the support of 42% of likely Republican caucusgoers. Opposing views of Trump’s supportCNN’s Harry Enten looked at that Iowa poll and argues that much of Trump’s support is committed. Two-thirds of the likely caucusgoers who say they will support Trump also say their mind is made up.

Persons: Trump, J, Michael Luttig, Joe Biden, ”, Sen, Bill Cassidy, Cassidy, couldn’t, Scott Jennings, Jennings, Luttig, Tucker Carlson, It’s, Chris Sununu, …, ” Sununu, Joe Biden’s, Trump’s, bilking, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Sununu, That’s, caucusgoers, Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Harry Enten, What’s, Donald Trump can’t, –, ” Enten, Biden, “ Donald Trump Organizations: CNN, Trump, New, Louisiana Republican, Republicans, Republican, White, Quinnipiac University, GOP, –, Fox News, New Hampshire Gov, The New York Times, statehouse, Sunday, Democratic Party, Des Moines Register, NBC, caucusgoers ., caucusgoers . Florida Gov, South Locations: Atlanta, Milwaukee, New York, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, Washington ,, Georgia, Louisiana, “ State, America, “ Both Iowa, caucusgoers . Florida, South Carolina, caucusgoers

☆ Who was Henrietta Lacks? The life of the woman whose 'immortal' cells changed modern medicine forever.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Yoonji Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

After her mother died when Lacks was 4 years old, her father sent her and her nine siblings to live with their maternal grandfather in a log cabin in Clover, Virginia. The cabin was once the slave quarters on the plantation that Lacks' white great-grandfather and great-uncle had owned. A tobacco farm in Virginia. Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty ImagesLacks worked as a tobacco farmer starting from an early age, feeding animals, tending the garden, and working in the tobacco fields, according to her family. She attended a designated Black school, but had to drop out to help support the family when she was in the sixth grade.

Persons: Scott J, Ferrell Organizations: Congressional Locations: Clover , Virginia, Virginia

☆ Why Trump’s latest indictment will reverberate for years to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

And he’s not just any former president – Trump’s the front-runner for the GOP nomination, whom polling shows is closely matched with President Joe Biden in a hypothetical rematch. “The lawlessness of these persecutions of President Trump and his supporters is reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, and other authoritarian, dictatorial regimes,” it said. Trump’s congressional Republican backers ignored Smith’s evidence, branding the indictment an attempt to distract from questions they’ve raised about the business activities of the current president’s son, Hunter. The political inferno ignited by the indictment will raise questions about whether such an ordeal is truly in the national interest. Ron DeSantis stands to gain in the GOP primary from any eroding of Trump’s political prospects.

Persons: CNN —, Donald J, Trump ”, “, –, Joe Biden, George Washington, Jack Smith’s, Trump, President Trump, they’ve, Hunter, Smith, insurrectionists, …, Biden, they’d, Scott Jennings, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Mike Pence, it’s, ” Smith, ” George Conway, John Lauro, ”, Jeffrey Clark, ” Clark, Pence, Trump’s, Ron DeSantis, Kevin McCarthy, Wyoming Sen, John Barrasso –, weaponizing, Chris Sununu, who’s Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, Biden, Department, Republicans, New York Times, Siena, Justice Department, Republican, White House, Trump thickens, White, Justice, Florida Gov, Harvard Law, US Navy, Capitol, New Hampshire Republican Gov Locations: United States, America, Washington, Manhattan, Nazi Germany, Fulton County , Georgia, Wyoming

☆ 2024 Republican candidate Scott decries Florida's new Black history plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Tim Scott, the most high-profile Black candidate in the 2024 Republican presidential race, has blasted his rival Ron DeSantis, Florida's governor, over the state's newly adopted Black history curriculum, saying "there's no silver lining" in slavery. Without naming DeSantis, Scott said he hoped that every candidate in the Republican field "would appreciate that." Scott's remarks came after another prominent Black Republican, U.S. Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, also criticized the new standards. That triggered an outraged pushback from DeSantis' campaign online, which suggested Donalds was a supporter of Kamala Harris, a Democrat and the first Black vice president. Harris last week delivered a fierce rebuke of DeSantis and the history curriculum while on a trip to Florida.

Persons: Tim Scott, Ron DeSantis, Scott, DeSantis, Scott's, Byron Donalds of, Donalds, Kamala Harris, Harris, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, James Oliphant, Ross Colvin, Richard Chang Organizations: Republican, Twitter, Black Republican, U.S, Democrat, Black, DeSantis, Republican Party, Florida, of Education, Thomson Locations: Iowa, Byron Donalds of Florida, Florida

☆ A ‘Thoroughly American Opera’ and More: The Week in Reporter Reads
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

“He has created an entirely new phase of musical art and has produced a thoroughly American opera.”The anonymous critic who wrote these bold words didn’t have a performance of Scott Joplin’s “Treemonisha” to evaluate, or a recording. In June 1911, all the reviewer had to go on was Joplin’s 230-page piano-vocal score. “Its production would prove an interesting and potent achievement,” the critic added, “and it is to be hoped that sooner or later, it will be thus honored.”It turned out to be decidedly later. More than half a century passed before the opera finally premiered. When it did, its brilliance, shortcomings and unfinished aspects made it a work begging to be completed — giving creative artists room to experiment boldly with this “new phase of musical art.”◆ ◆ ◆Written and narrated by John Leland

Persons: Scott Joplin’s, “, John Leland

☆ Has Scott Joplin’s ‘Thoroughly American Opera’ Found Its Moment?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Zachary Woolfe | More About Zachary Woolfe | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The singers who played the couple became Treemonisha and her adoring friend, Remus, in the opera proper. More stylized — and effective, and relevant — was the conception, in an entirely different sound world than Joplin’s, by the Isango Ensemble. “We wanted to show quite clearly that if Monisha doesn’t take that child, that child is going to die,” Dornford-May said. With the poverty in the townships — life expectancy of 49, TB rife, H.I.V. rife — with that sense of poverty, disease and death hanging over people, to take in another mouth to feed is extraordinary.”

Persons: Louis, Berlin, Chilton, Joplin, Remus, Alexander —, Rajendra, Justin Austin vibrated, Mark Dornford, wasn’t, “, Monisha, ” Dornford, ” Locations: St, Joplin, Cape Town, South Africa, Caen, France, America

☆ Bill Gates says AI risks are real but nothing we can’t handle
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Bill Gates sounds less worried than some other executives in Silicon Valley about the risks of artificial intelligence. In a blog post on Tuesday, the Microsoft co-founder outlined some of the biggest areas of concern with artificial intelligence, including the potential for spreading misinformation and displacing jobs. But he stressed that these risks are “manageable.”“This is not the first time a major innovation has introduced new threats that had to be controlled,” Gates wrote. In a blog post earlier this year, Gates wrote: “Could a machine decide that humans are a threat, conclude that its interests are different from ours, or simply stop caring about us? “It reminds me of the time when electronic calculators became widespread in the 1970s and 1980s,” Gates wrote.

Persons: Bill Gates, ” Gates, “, Kevin Scott, Gates, ”, it’s Organizations: CNN, Microsoft, International Atomic Energy Agency Locations: Silicon Valley

☆ Use these 3 tactics to mimic any school's 'gifted program'—without having to enroll, says education expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

But gifted programs aren't the only way to give your child those benefits — and that's important. "Truthfully, a lot of the services that are provided would benefit a much larger group of kids," Peters tells CNBC Make It. Here are three strategies you can use to mimic a gifted program's advantages outside the classroom, he says. But a parent calling their child "gifted" or "special" might come off as empty praise, says Peters. "Teaching isn't easy, and different kids learn best in different ways," Twersky noted.

Persons: Scott J, Peters, Irina Gorelik, Michael Twersky, Twersky Organizations: CNBC, Williamsburg Therapy, Khan Academy Locations: Williamsburg

☆ US Green Berets are looking to troops from NATO's newest member as 'mentors' for harsh winter combat
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In March, US Green Berets trained in the Arctic with "mentors" from Finland's Utti Jaeger Regiment. The Utti Jaeger RegimentUtti Jaeger Regiment soldiers during training in May 2019. The Utti Jaeger Regiment takes part in about 40 "executive assistance tasks," which likely includes training and real-world missions, each year. But Finnish forces live in those conditions, and the Special Forces soldiers looked up to them because of it. US Green Berets and Utti Jaeger Regiment troops at a helicopter landing zone in Lapland on March 12.

Persons: Finland's Utti, —, Utti Jaeger, Utti, Lance Cpl, Scott Jenkins, Anthony Bryant, Izabella Workman, I'm, Jaeger, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: Green Berets, Finland's Utti Jaeger, Service, NATO, Utti, Utti Jaeger, US Marine Corps, Utti Jaeger Regiment, US Army, Staff, US Army Special Forces, Green, Special Forces, Special Forces Group, US, Warfare, Finns, 10th Special Forces Group, US Air Force, Utti Jaeger Regiment Helicopter Battalion, Tech, Special Jaeger Battalion, Army, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins, School, International Locations: Finland, Ukraine, Russia, Lapland, Finland's, Fort Carson, Colorado, Alaska, Europe, Swedish, Johns

☆ NASA Panel Says Data Problems Make Explaining U.F.O.s Difficult
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Many in the public are invested in the idea that some of the anomalous phenomena could be extraterrestrial. NASA officials said many panel members had been subjected to online harassment. Throughout the meeting, many commentators on NASA’s YouTube feed accused panel members of lying or covering up evidence of extraterrestrials. Despite such hostility, the panel tried to explain some of the material that has fascinated the public. Many military videos of these phenomena appear interesting at first, but only later do ordinary explanations emerge.

Persons: ”, Nadia Drake, Scott J, Kelly, ” Mr, “, Bart Simpson, Sean M, Kirkpatrick Organizations: NASA, Pentagon, Defense Department, Federal Aviation Administration, The New York Times, YouTube, Navy Locations: United States

☆ WSJ Opinion: DeSantis and Scott Join the GOP Primary Battle
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Wsj Opinion | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WSJ Opinion: Journal Editorial ReportFrom the award-winning opinion pages of The Wall Street Journal, the Journal Editorial Report sees columnists and members of the Journal Editorial Board debate the major economic, political and cultural issues of the day. From the policy debates to the political fights, each week get critical perspective and the analysis you need on developments from Washington.

☆ Opinion: The ultimate ‘Succession’ lesson
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. Walt Handlesman/Tribune Content AgencyIn a much more ominous vein, the theme of survival dominates the HBO show “Succession,” which is coming to an end Sunday. She’s so caught up in beating her brothers at the succession game that she can’t see this baby as anything but an obstacle.”“Ultimately, this storyline is a perfect encapsulation of the larger tragedy that is ‘Succession,’” Bodenheimer added. The contest for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination heated up last week with the official entry of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former President Donald Trump’s strongest challenger in the polls.

☆ 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.

☆ Disney rocks DeSantis ahead of expected White House bid announcement
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Disney did not specifically blame DeSantis for the move, partly citing “changing business conditions.” But the message was clear. In keeping with his bruising political persona, DeSantis reacted defiantly to Disney’s announcement that it would halt the office project. “Ron DeSantis’ failed war on Disney has done little for his limping shadow campaign and now is doing even less for Florida’s economy,” the Trump campaign said in a statement. Another possible GOP primary candidate, former Vice President Mike Pence, also leveraged the Disney announcement to jab DeSantis. Given his political exposure on Disney and the combative political image that is central to his White House hopes, DeSantis probably has no option but to further escalate the showdown.

☆ ‘Fancy Bear Goes Phishing’ Review: The Art of Hacking Humans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Richard Lea | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The ILOVEYOU computer worm. Photo: Sion Touhig/Sygma via Getty Images‘You may not be interested in hacking,” says Scott J. Shapiro, adapting a quote often attributed to Leon Trotsky, “but hacking is interested in you.” Estimates of the losses attributable to cybercrime vary between $600 billion and $6 trillion a year, he continues, citing the former IBM chief executive Ginni Rometty, who has said that if data is “the world’s new natural resource” then cybercrime “is the greatest threat to every profession, every industry, every company in the world.” But Mr. Shapiro isn’t panicking: “Much of what is said about hacking is either wrong, misleading, or exaggerated.”

☆ Opinion: Mitch McConnell’s confidence is being put to the test
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. Not to worry, said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a veteran of debt limit battles. McConnell’s reassurance that all will work out in the end is validated by history, but that doesn’t mean this time couldn’t be different. “If female voters are key to a Donald Trump victory in 2024, the former president should be in big trouble – but he doesn’t seem to care,” Jill Filipovic observed. “The town hall audience – selected on the basis of their intention to vote in the Republican primary in New Hampshire – appeared to be made up mostly of Trump fans.

☆ A Hostile, Under-the-Radar Primary Splinters Republicans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Nick Corasaniti | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“A celebrity versus the resources versus old school,” said Scott Jennings, a Republican operative in the state, summing up the contest between the three top contenders. “Cameron is the front-runner, but there’s no doubt this race has gotten close and remains fluid,” added Mr. Jennings, who like many other Republicans has remained neutral. Indeed, many of the major forces in Kentucky Republican politics are staying on the sidelines. For Republicans, part of the challenge of defeating Mr. Beshear has to do with the G.O.P. Yet that has kept Mr. Beshear from contentious showdowns with Republicans on hot-button issues, and has let him focus on using state resources to help repair infrastructure and improve the economy.

☆ ‘Renfield’ Review: Dracula, Worst Boss Ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Manohla Dargis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Count Dracula has been dead for so long and gone through so many iterations — exotic, satanic, romantic — that it’s almost surprising there’s any juice left in the thirsty old boy. Yet here he is again, resurrected by a glorious, vamping Nicolas Cage, swinging a cape, baring his fangs and stealing his every scene. He’s basically toast, and our guy, the Count’s unhappy servant, Renfield (a Nicholas Hoult type, relatable, smooth, good-looking) — after years of groveling and scarfing bugs — has had it. After a century of pop-culture celebrity and box-office success there’s no need: He is what he is, a vampire. He’s also, unsurprisingly given the job’s grisly requirements, a terrible boss, which the movie uses to economically establish how the long-suffering Renfield joins the support group.

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