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☆ Mitch McConnell gloats about the 'big dilemma' facing Democrats over Kyrsten Sinema's independent Senate bid in Arizona
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Democrats will soon have to decide whether to back a Democrat or Kyrsten Sinema in Arizona. But he took the opportunity to praise the first-term senator while boasting about the situation facing the Democratic Party as she prepares to run for re-election in 2024. "I think it is a big dilemma for the Senate Democratic majority to decide whether to support her or to support somebody running on the Democratic ticket," he added, visibly smirking. For now, Sinema's vote is crucial for maintaining the party's 51-seat majority in the Senate. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont — another independent who caucuses with Democrats — has previously made noise about potentially backing a primary challenger to Sinema.

☆ Hormone therapy improves mental health for transgender youths, a new study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

Transgender youths reported more life satisfaction and fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety after receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy for two years, according to a new study. However, medical associations such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, among others, oppose efforts to restrict gender-affirming care for minors. In addition to the New England Journal of Medicine study, about half a dozen others have shown that access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy can improve mental health outcomes, including reducing suicidal ideation, among transgender youths. Three studies — two published in 2020 and another published in 2021 — found that earlier access to gender-affirming medical care is associated with better mental health. They also noted that improvement in mental health varied widely, and that some participants continued to report high levels of depression and anxiety and lower levels of positive emotions and life satisfaction.

☆ US-China Tech War: How Money for Semiconductor Factories Costs Americans
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Taylor Dorrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

If the first Cold War was defined by the development of nuclear weapons, this Tech Cold War is defined by the computer chip. The massive Intel plant in Ohio is a key part of the race with China for the future of tech. Even before the Intel plant, the Columbus area was well acquainted with these sorts of trade-offs. But, the Ohio State study found, Columbus' residential tax-abatement programs did little to meaningfully address the housing problem, while draining the city's funds. Federal, state, and local subsidies add up to billions of dollars that Intel is saving on its new Ohio semiconductor factory.

☆ Moving species emerges as last resort as climate warms
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Moving species to save them — once considered taboo — is quickly gaining traction as climate change upends habitats. Concerns persist that the novel practice could cause unintended harm the same way invasive plants and animals have wreaked havoc on native species. “Climate change is causing a greater need for this — for taking a species outside its known historical range.”A pending change to the U.S. “In the future, some species’ ranges may shift due to climate change, or their current habitats might become unsuitable due to invasive species encroachment,” Armstrong said in an email. Humanity has been moving species around for centuries, often inadvertently and sometimes causing great harm.

☆ With over 100 anti-LGBTQ bills before state legislatures in 2023 so far, activists say they're 'fired up'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

So far, Texas has taken the lead with 36 such bills, according to Equality Texas, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy group. Four states — Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee and Arizona — have enacted restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for minors, though federal judges have blocked them from taking effect in Arkansas and Alabama. State Sen. David Bullard, the Republican sponsoring the bill, told The Oklahoman that gender-affirming medical care is a “permanent change in your body that cannot be reversed. Accredited medical associations — including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association — have supported gender-affirming care for minors. Advocates and doctors who treat trans youth have said many of the health care restrictions proposed by state legislators mischaracterize what gender-affirming care is.

WASHINGTON — A weekslong standoff between Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and his conservative detractors comes to a head Tuesday as lawmakers prepare to vote on a new speaker of the House. But nine members of that group, including Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry, R-Pa., characterized his proposals as too little, too late. "Despite some progress achieved," the Freedom Caucus group wrote, "Mr. McCarthy’s statement comes almost impossibly late to address continued deficiencies ahead of the opening of the 118th Congress on January 3rd." McCarthy, who has Trump's endorsement and easily defeated Biggs to win his party's nomination for speaker, isn’t backing down. He is already moving into the speaker’s suite, and upon leaving the Capitol on Monday he predicted that the day of the speaker vote would be a "good day."

☆ As the world courts TSMC, Taiwan worries about losing its ‘silicon shield’
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

TSMC is considered a national treasure in Taiwan and supplies tech giants including Apple (AAPL) and Qualcomm (QCOM). Chiu claimed that the chip giant was under political pressure to move its operations and its most advanced technology to the US. In response, Wu said there was no secret deal, nor was there any attempt to diminish the importance of Taiwan to TSMC. But he believes the company will continue to manufacture its most advanced technology at home. Many experts believe that by the time 3-nanometer chips are being made in Arizona, TSMC’s Taiwan operations would be producing even smaller, more advanced chips.

☆ Polygamous leader in Arizona had more than 20 ‘wives,’ including children, feds say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Antonio Planas | Antonio Planas Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Bateman was the leader of a branch of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the affidavit said. The girls had escaped from their group homes in Arizona, the affidavit said. On Sept. 14, nine girls were taken into custody with the Arizona Department of Child Services, according to the affidavit. A defendant named in the affidavit became one of Bateman’s wives when she was under 18. The woman left Bateman and that's when he began accumulating wives, the affidavit said.

☆ Judge forces GOP officials in Arizona's Cochise County to certify midterm results, ending a high-stakes confrontation
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Officials in Cochise County, Arizona, voted 2-0 to accept the results of the midterms on Thursday. Their vote came shortly after a judge ordered them to certify the vote. Two officials on the three-member board signed off on the vote, while the third was not present. McGinley then ordered the board to sign off on the vote by that afternoon. It was suggested that Cochise County's refusal to certify its results could cost Republicans a seat in the US House of Representatives.

☆ 12 Republican senators so far have broken with their party to support a bill that would protect same-sex marriage. Final passage is expected Tuesday night.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Senate will vote on a bill to protect same-sex marriage on Tuesday night. Twelve Republican senators so far have voted to advance the bill. Senators have tweaked the bill, which passed the Democratic-controlled House in July, to get GOP support. So far, 12 Republicans have cast votes in support of advancing the bill, and more could emerge when the final version comes up. A Gallup poll from June 2021 found that 70% of Americans — including 55% of Republicans — support same-sex marriage.

In the 13 races in six battleground states where an election denier was on the ballot for governor, secretary of state or attorney general, 12 lost, according to the latest NBC News projections. Arizona — along with Michigan and Alabama — was one of three states where election deniers advanced to be the GOP nominees for governor, secretary of state and attorney general. In Pennsylvania, meanwhile, Republican Doug Mastriano — who was one of the most high-profile election deniers — lost the race for governor to Democrat Josh Shapiro. “But voters sent a very clear message that Americans deeply care about democracy and don’t want extremists running our nation’s elections.”The defeats of election deniers spanned well beyond swing states. All 14 races where election deniers won were in states that voted to elect Trump in both 2016 and 2020.

☆ Four Republican senators so far have broken with their party to support a bill codifying same-sex marriage
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Senate is set to take a procedural vote Wednesday on a bill codifying same-sex marriage into law. Four Republican senators are publicly backing the bill so far, but more could emerge this week. Senators tweaked the bill, which sailed through the Democratic-controlled House in July, to get GOP support. A Gallup poll from June 2021 found that 70% of Americans — including 55% of Republicans — support same-sex marriage. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is broadly supportive of same-sex marriage, while retiring Republican Sens.

Nationally, 32% of voters in 2022 said their vote was “to oppose Joe Biden.” But 28% said their vote was “to oppose Donald Trump,” even though Trump was out of office. About 30% of Pennsylvanians said their vote was to oppose Biden, while 26% said their vote was to oppose Trump. Only 6% of Biden 2020 voters supported Oz, while 8% of Trump 2020 voters backed Democrat John Fetterman. Nationally, 92% of Biden voters supported Democrats, while 7% peeled off to support Republicans. And 96% of Trump voters backed Republicans, while 3% broke for Democrats, the exit polls showed.

☆ Asian Americans favored Democratic candidates in midterms, exit polls say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Kimmy Yam | Kimmy Yam Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

She’s among the many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who showed up at the ballot box on Tuesday. Surveys show that Asian Americans favored Democrats during the midterm elections, according to election night exit polls. According to that poll, 64% of Asian Americans voted Democrat in House races, while 32% voted Republican. Roughly three-quarters of Asian American voters in Pennsylvania, for example, favored Democratic candidates for governor, Senate and House. Roughly two-thirds of Asian Americans also favored the Democratic candidate in the House and Senate races.

☆ In historic House race between gay candidates, Republican defeats Democrat, NBC News projects
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Matt Lavietes | Matt Lavietes Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Republican George Santos is the winner in the race for New York’s 3rd Congressional District, beating Democrat Robert Zimmerman and flipping the seat from blue to red, NBC News projected. The contest marked the first time two openly gay congressional candidates had gone head to head in a general election. He will also become the first openly LGBTQ non-incumbent Republican elected to Congress. Former Republican Reps. Mark Foley of Florida and Aaron Schock of Illinois came out as gay after they resigned from the House. “I am an openly gay candidate.

☆ Midterm elections live updates: Pennsylvania races, New Hampshire Senate race too early to call
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Brandy Zadrozny | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Sahil-Kapur-Headshot.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +109 min

Share this -Link copiedWisconsin Senate and governor's races too early to call It is too early to call the Senate and gubernatorial races in Wisconsin, according to NBC News. Share this -Link copiedNew Hampshire Senate race too early to call The Senate race in New Hampshire is too early to call, according to NBC News. Share this -Link copiedPennsylvania Senate and governor races are too early to call After polls closed at 8 p.m. While Maricopa County election officials initially categorized the problem as a “hiccup,” it took hours before a solution was identified early Tuesday afternoon. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said.

While Maricopa County election officials initially categorized the problem as a “hiccup,” it took hours before a solution was identified early Tuesday afternoon. According to the poll, 46% of voters said their family’s financial situation is worse than it was two years ago. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, filed a similar complaint Friday against state election officials. The app and portal had been down for part of the morning and the state's election hotline also briefly experienced issues. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said.

By the end of Election Day, approximately 21,000 total interviews will be conducted. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, filed a similar complaint Friday against state election officials. The app and portal had been down for part of the morning and the state's election hotline also briefly experienced issues. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said. Share this -Link copiedSunny weather in most battleground states on Election Day It’s a bright and sunny Election Day in many battleground states!

How the midterm election outcome could impact Biden's agenda Nov. 8, 2022 02:02 Read the full story here. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, filed a similar complaint Friday against state election officials. The app and portal had been down for part of the morning and the state's election hotline also briefly experienced issues. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said. Share this -Link copiedSunny weather in most battleground states on Election Day It’s a bright and sunny Election Day in many battleground states!

☆ Election deniers could win vital races in the midterms. Experts worry that some could refuse to certify the 2024 election if the GOP candidate loses.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Election deniers are running in key battleground states during the 2022 midterms. Kari Lake and Mark Finchem are going for two positions that could influence election procedures in Arizona. Experts told the NYT that election deniers could refuse election results in the 2024 presidential race. As secretary of state, Finchem could revise election procedures that would alter rules that deal with everything from voter registration to election certification procedures. In one of these introduced laws, proposed in Arizona in January, state legislators would have the power to change the election results.

☆ Ted Cruz reimbursed himself $555,000 after successfully challenging a political spending law at the Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ted Cruz's campaign paid him $555,000 to cover old personal loans to his Senate committee. Ethics advocates and some Supreme Court justices warned that the decision could lead to corruption. And the one-time presidential candidate and two-term senator has the US Supreme Court to thank for it. That allowed Cruz to initiate a lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission, which eventually made its way up to the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan echoed that same argument in her dissenting opinion.

☆ Sen. Cory Booker said 'there should be no super PACs for anyone,' but now he's raising money for one
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Hanna Kang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In the past, Booker was opposed to super PACs, saying "there should be no super PACs for anyone." A solicitation from Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, on behalf of Giffords PAC, an anti-gun super PAC. Giffords PAC'No super PACs for anyone'In the past, Booker hasn't been so keen on super PACs. "That's why we're not taking corporate money, federal lobbyist money, pharma executive money," Booker told Bobic. In response to Phillips' launching a super PAC supporting Booker's presidential bid, Booker spokesman Jeff Giertz restated Booker's opposition to super PACs.

☆ Insiders say morale 'sucks' at electric-vehicle startups like Rivian and Lucid — and it could be a death blow for struggling Tesla wannabes
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-01 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

As EV startups face a storm of troubles, many employees say they're losing faith in the mission. "They kept saying, 'Tesla, Tesla, the next Tesla,'" a now former supervisor at the electric-vehicle startup said. Canoo has lost several key leaders, as have Xos, Lucid, and others. Some current and former startup workers said they had a continued appetite for industry opportunities. Are you a current or former EV startup employee?

☆ In a political first, two gay candidates face off in congressional election
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Julie Moreau | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

A historic number of LGBTQ candidates will appear on ballots across the country in November. It is one of 16 competitive races in which LGBTQ candidates appear, and which may decide control of the U.S. House, according to the LGBTQ Victory Fund. 'It was going to happen sooner of later'The odds of a faceoff between two gay candidates have gone up in recent years, because there’s been an increase in LGBTQ candidates at all levels of government. Santos is the only openly LGBTQ Republican running for Congress this fall, according to the LGBTQ Victory Fund. “The issue is not that both of us are gay,” Zimmerman said.

☆ Leaked documents show White House blocked government website used to recruit election workers during the pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-14 | by ( Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Government emails and documents exclusively obtained by Insider reveal an internal fight within the Trump administration over whether to create the poll-worker recruitment website HelpAmericaVote.gov. The White House's Office of Management and Budget initially rejected the Election Assistance Commission's request to create the website. EAC officials immediately resubmitted their HelpAmericaVote.gov request. In a separate statement to Insider, the General Services Administration, which had overseen distribution of ".gov" website domains since 1997, confirmed it was no longer involved in approving or denying federal agencies' website requests. Hovland added his agency's request for the HelpAmericaVote.gov website contained all the information OMB required and that he was "surprised" approval was so difficult to obtain.

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