DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Rashida Tlaib Posts Video Accusing Biden of Supporting ‘Genocide’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Kayla Guo | More About Kayla Guo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Representative Rashida Tlaib, Democrat of Michigan and an outspoken voice for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, released a video on Friday that accused President Biden of supporting the genocide of Palestinians. President, the American people are not with you on this one,” Ms. Tlaib says in the video. “We will remember in 2024.”After she speaks, the screen goes dark and a message appears in white lettering stating: “Joe Biden supported the genocide of the Palestinian people. But accusing Mr. Biden of supporting genocide marks an extraordinary broadside against the president by a lawmaker from his own party. “As the Israeli government carries out ethnic cleansing in Gaza, President Biden is cheering on Netanyahu, whose own citizens are protesting his refusal to support a cease-fire,” Ms. Tlaib said on Thursday.

Persons: Rashida Tlaib, Biden, “ Mr, Ms, Tlaib, ”, “ Joe Biden, ” Ms, Biden’s, Mr, Israel —, Israel pummels, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Netanyahu, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Israel, Richard J, Durbin, Pope Francis Organizations: American, Democratic, Democratic Party, Hamas, Israel, Republicans, Democrats, Republican, Illinois Locations: Michigan, Israel, United States, Gaza, Georgia, ”

☆ Where Mike Johnson Stands on Ukraine, Abortion, L.G.B.T.Q. Issues and More
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Kayla Guo | More About Kayla Guo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Speaker Mike Johnson, the little-known congressman from Louisiana who won the gavel on Wednesday, is deeply conservative on both fiscal and social issues, reflecting the G.O.P.’s sharp lurch to the right. Mr. Johnson, a lawyer, also played a leading role in former President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, helping to push a lawsuit to throw out the results in four battleground states he lost and then offering members of Congress a legal argument upon which to justify their votes to invalidate the results. He has a career rating of 92 percent from the American Conservative Union and 90 percent from Heritage Action for America. Here’s where he stands on six key issues. Government fundingMr. Johnson is a fiscal conservative who believes Congress has a “moral and constitutional duty” to balance the budget, lower spending and “pursue continued pro-growth tax reforms and permanent tax reductions,” according to his website.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Donald J, “ Organizations: American Conservative Union, Heritage Action, America, Here’s Locations: Louisiana

Follow our live updates for the House speaker nominee vote. House Republicans have elected two nominees for the job since a hard-right clutch of lawmakers toppled Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The math can change if there are absences, or if any lawmakers vote “present” rather than in support of a candidate. Mr. Jeffries has pitched the idea of forming a coalition government that he describes as an “enlightened arrangement.” But the idea is a long shot. Empowering Mr. McHenry, one of Mr. McCarthy’s closest allies, was regarded by many far-right members as akin to reinstalling Mr. McCarthy as speaker.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, Ohio —, Jordan, McCarthy’s, Biden, Kenny Holston, McCarthy, Hakeem Jeffries, Mr, Jeffries, Patrick McHenry, Haiyun Jiang, Patrick T, McHenry, Luke Broadwater Organizations: Republican, Republicans, Conference, New York Times, Mr, Democrats, The New York Times Legislative, Hamas Locations: Louisiana, Ohio, Ukraine, New York, Israel, McHenry of North Carolina, McHenry

House Republicans have elected two nominees for the job since a hard-right clutch of lawmakers toppled Speaker Kevin McCarthy. House Republicans cast aside Mr. Jordan as their nominee for speaker on Friday in a secret-ballot vote, essentially moving to begin the search for a new leader all over again. They are holding an internal election for a new nominee on Tuesday — and if they elect one, Republicans could go to the House floor for a vote later that day. The math can change if there are absences, or if any lawmakers vote “present” rather than in support of a candidate. Empowering Mr. McHenry, one of Mr. McCarthy’s closest allies, was regarded by many far-right members as akin to reinstalling Mr. McCarthy as speaker.

Leaving the House floor shortly after delivering the opening prayer on Friday morning, the House chaplain, Margaret G. Kibben, turned to the sergeant-at-arms flanking the entrance and whispered, “Godspeed.”It was a barely audible plea that could not hold back yet another day of chaos and uncertainty, of sniping and of death threats, as House Republicans splinter in ways that it increasingly seems nothing short of divine intervention can repair. By the end of the day, Republicans had toppled their latest candidate for speaker of the House, Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, and in his place a free-for-all had sprouted up, with about a dozen members exploring a bid. And with Republicans having no plans to meet again until Monday, the House is guaranteed to go speakerless for at least 20 days, paralyzed as wars rage overseas and a U.S. government shutdown nears.

Persons: Margaret G, Kibben, Jim Jordan of Organizations: Republicans Locations: Jim Jordan of Ohio, U.S

PinnedRepresentative Jim Jordan of Ohio failed for a third time on Friday morning to win election as House speaker, leaving his party with no consensus on a way forward and the chamber paralyzed in the face of growing pressure to get back to business. Three Republicans from swing districts won by President Biden — Representative Marc Molinaro of New York, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Representative Tom Kean of New Jersey — abandoned Mr. Jordan after supporting him earlier. There is no consensus among Republicans about an alternative candidate to Mr. Jordan, who has yet to show any inclination to drop out of the race. The House has been in a state of chaos for 18 days after hard-right rebels ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Mr. Jordan then received his party’s nomination to be speaker, but he failed to win the post in votes by the full House on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Persons: Jim Jordan of, Jordan, Biden, Marc Molinaro, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Kean of, Tom Kean of New Jersey —, Patrick T, McHenry, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, ” Organizations: Tom Kean of New, Republicans, Republican, Capitol, Caucus, Committee Locations: Jim Jordan of Ohio, New York, Tom Kean of New Jersey, McHenry of North Carolina, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Mexico, Louisiana

The second failed effort on Wednesday by Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio to be elected House speaker added momentum to an idea that has been floated by lawmakers in both parties in recent days: Give Representative Patrick T. McHenry, the interim speaker, explicit power to conduct legislative business. Mr. McHenry is acting as temporary speaker under rules adopted after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that require the speaker of the House to come up with a list of people to fill the post in the event that it becomes vacant. When former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was booted out by a right-wing rebellion two weeks ago, the world learned that Mr. McHenry’s was the first name on his list. Many House aides believe that Mr. McHenry’s power is strictly confined to presiding over the election of a new speaker, as he has been doing this week. And as the turmoil around replacing Mr. McCarthy has continued, some members in both parties have been quietly discussing a way to explicitly grant Mr. McHenry permission to step in with full — or at least expanded — authority to run the House.

Persons: Jim Jordan of, Patrick T, McHenry, Kevin McCarthy, McHenry’s, McCarthy Organizations: Mr Locations: Jim Jordan of Ohio

Amanda McDaniel, a member of the preservation alliance, is rooting for Jordan’s speaker bid — seeing in him the same principles she holds. It is not an approach that builds consensus — a previous Republican speaker to brand him a “legislative terrorist” — even as he has steadily parlayed it into political success. Mr. Jordan embraced right-wing populism long before the Tea Party or Donald Trump made into a national force. Eric Forson, 50, said that when he wrote to his elected representatives during the 2013 government shutdown, Mr. Jordan was the only one who responded. Ms. Esch and her husband, Mike, 57 were both hopeful that Mr. Jordan would drum up the votes needed to take the speaker role on Wednesday.

Persons: Jim Jordan, Amanda McDaniel, ”, McDaniel, Jordan, “, Katie Porter, Porter, Mr, Jordan’s, Donald Trump, grimaces, Jim wasn’t, Brian Seaver, Eric Forson, Forson, he’s, Missy Esch, . Esch, Mike, Mike Esch Organizations: Champaign County Preservation Alliance, Ohio, Ohio General, Caucus, Tea Party, Lima Correctional, State Senate, Urbana Brewing Company Locations: Champaign, Urbana, Ohio, Washington, Lima, Jordan’s

“You have to prepare for the worst-case scenario,” Ms. Spanberger said. Speaker Kevin McCarthy sent members of Congress home Thursday afternoon after efforts to break a spending impasse with far-right members of his party failed. By the end of the week, lawmakers were in full prep mode and government agencies were dusting off their well-worn instructions for how to function amid the dysfunction. “We had lots of notes from the last time,” Mr. Beyer said in an interview. “Pretty much we’re not going to be able to do anything, because the agencies that we’d be talking to to help us solve it won’t be coming to work,” Mr. Beyer said.

Persons: Ms, Spanberger, Kevin McCarthy, Donald S, Beyer Jr, “, ” Mr, Beyer, “ We’re Locations: Virginia

But the move left hundreds more military promotions in limbo, still stymied by Mr. Tuberville’s objections. Mr. Schumer had been reluctant to force votes on individual nominees for fear of being seen as capitulating to Mr. Tuberville. “The Senate will overwhelmingly vote to confirm them, and these three honorable men will finally be able to assume their positions,” Mr. Schumer said on the Senate floor. “And the abortion policy that Senator Tuberville abhors will remain in place. Senator Tuberville will have accomplished nothing.”

Persons: Tommy Tuberville, Chuck Schumer, Eric Smith, Randy George, Charles Q, Brown Jr, Schumer, Tuberville, Roe, Wade, ” Mr, Tuberville abhors, ” Organizations: Republican, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Alabama, Pentagon Locations: Alabama, New York

☆ At the Capitol, Even the Attending Physician Can’t Escape Politics
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Kayla Guo | More About Kayla Guo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, 81, wanted to quiet concerns about his health after two alarming on-camera episodes in which he appeared unable to speak or move, he turned to Dr. Brian P. Monahan. Dr. Monahan, the low-profile and mild-mannered Navy doctor who has served for nearly 15 years as the on-site physician in the Capitol, quickly provided a clean bill of health for the longtime Republican leader. The brief and carefully worded statement matter-of-factly shot down several of the leading medical theories for what might be wrong with Mr. McConnell, including a seizure disorder, stroke and Parkinson’s disease. The note drew criticism from some physicians and medical experts — including at least one who as a senator is among Dr. Monahan’s patients — and shone a spotlight on the unique and politically tricky job of the attending physician of Congress. Dr. Monahan, whose job entails serving 535 members of Congress, the justices of the Supreme Court, staff aides and even tourists at the Capitol, has long sought to stay out of politics.

Persons: Mitch McConnell of, Brian P, Monahan, Dr . Monahan, McConnell, . Monahan Organizations: Capitol, Republican Locations: Mitch McConnell of Kentucky

(It is not yet clear when a trial over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election will start. But Mr. Trump could essentially try to hit pause on any state charges. Things would get even more complicated if Mr. Trump were to be convicted in one or more cases and still win the 2024 election. And Mr. Trump would almost certainly use his control of the Justice Department to ensure that it reverses its position. Among the questions that possibility would raise is who qualifies as a cabinet member if the Senate has not confirmed any new political appointees by Mr. Trump.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Jack Smith, Smith, Fani Willis, Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon, “, Trump’s, — Organizations: Republican, Trump, Republican Party, Mr, Justice Department, Justice, Department Locations: Washington, Florida, New York, Georgia, Fulton County

☆ Congress Looks to Improve Air Travel Through F.A.A. Reauthorization
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Kayla Guo | More About Kayla Guo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Congress is working to overhaul air travel at a time of growing dysfunction and disruption in the system, as lawmakers haggle over a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration for the next half-decade and make a number of changes that could affect passengers. Republicans and the airline industry largely oppose new regulations of the industry intended to strengthen consumer protections. And Washington-area representatives have said they would block the measure if it allowed for more long-distance flights in and out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, just outside the capital. But the House dispensed with some of the major potential obstacles on Wednesday night. It narrowly rejected, 229 to 205, a bipartisan proposal to add seven new round-trip flights to Reagan National Airport, potentially smoothing the road to final passage.

Persons: Ronald Reagan Organizations: Federal Aviation Administration, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Reagan National Airport Locations: Washington, Ronald Reagan Washington

☆ A Baltimore Party, a Hail of Gunfire and a Neighborhood Shattered
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Kayla Guo | Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In videos from a block party on Saturday night, hundreds of teenagers and young adults are seen dancing in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Baltimore and singing along to the lyrics of local rappers. As they shout and move their hands through the air, many hold up phones to record the revelry on a hot summer night. A barrage of gunfire had torn through the Brooklyn Day party in South Baltimore, leaving two young people dead and 28 more people wounded. Even for a city plagued by gun violence in recent years, the number of victims was staggering, representing more people than would sit in an average high school classroom. Over the past decade, only 10 other shootings in the United States have resulted in so many gunshot victims, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a research group, though many mass shootings have taken more lives.

Organizations: Brooklyn Day Locations: Brooklyn, Baltimore, South Baltimore, United States

Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Not everyone with debt would have been covered under the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan. The Supreme Court has barred the Biden administration from carrying out its plan to extinguish up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt, and millions of borrowers will continue to struggle under the weight of their loans. Ms. Schmidt owes $64,000 in student debt, more than half of which is for her graduate work in nursing. But she’s already contemplating how she’ll finance her dream of becoming a civil rights lawyer, which typically requires an additional six figures in student debt. Yet her mother is still paying down student debt of her own.

Persons: Biden, Gina McDavitt, weren’t, Pell, “, ”, McDavitt, ” Ms, Ms, Monica Schmidt, Schmidt, Kevin Serna, Dorien Rogers, Rogers, Asha Anthony, she’s, —, Anthony, Mr, don’t, Joanna Leiserson, Brian Kaiser, “ I’m, Leiserson Organizations: Georgetown University, Biden, College of San, San Francisco State University, The New York Times, University of Phoenix, Northern Illinois University, Public, Schaun, Tax, Howard University, Salisbury University, The New York, Republicans Locations: Washington ,, College of San Mateo, Bay, Vallejo , Calif, Genoa, Ill, Germantown, Md, Credit, Montgomery County, Mesa, Maryland, Spokane, —, forbearance

☆ Congress has the power to forgive student loans, but it’s exceedingly unlikely to do so.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Kayla Guo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Supreme Court’s decision on Friday striking down President Biden’s student debt cancellation initiative effectively punts the issue to Congress, where it is all but certain to go unaddressed. In overturning Mr. Biden’s $400 billion proposal to cancel student loans for 40 million Americans, the court said that he had overstepped his authority and that such an expansive program needed explicit approval by Congress. Republicans had said they would block the proposal if the Supreme Court did not, though their multiple efforts to do so have not succeeded. In their initial bill to lift the debt ceiling, approved along party lines in April, House Republicans included a measure that would have axed the debt cancellation plan and lifted a temporary pause on payments put in place during the pandemic. But that bill died once debt ceiling negotiations began between the White House and Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Persons: Biden’s, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: Congress, Republicans, White

your moneyThere are still plenty of ways to get your student debt wiped away. That’s because the Supreme Court’s disapproval of the plan does not change laws and regulations that already give many federal student loan borrowers an escape hatch. What follows is a list of ways to eliminate your federal student loan balance aside from paying in full. If you know someone who is struggling with student loan debt, suggest that the borrower review every last option. Bankruptcy DischargeYes, you can discharge your student loan debt by filing for personal bankruptcy.

Persons: Biden’s, —, It’s, Biden, Tara Siegel Bernard, Ann Carrns, Ann, Donald J, Trump, Tara Organizations: U.S . Department of Education, Education Department, Public, Westwood College, Corinthian Colleges, DeVry University, ITT Technical Institute, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs Locations: forbearance

☆ Republicans, Claiming Double Standard, Vow to Keep Investigating Bidens
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Kayla Guo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Congressional Republicans on Tuesday blasted the plea deal Hunter Biden reached with the Justice Department, accusing President Biden of orchestrating a lenient penalty for his son and promising to intensify their investigations of the Biden family. Speaker Kevin McCarthy said the agreement, in which Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors for failing to pay taxes on time and could avoid prosecution on a separate gun charge, “continues to show the two-tier system in America.”He and many other Republicans drew a contrast between the charges against Mr. Biden and the 37-count indictment the Justice Department unsealed this month against former President Donald J. Trump on charges that he mishandled highly classified national security documents and lied to and obstructed investigators looking into the matter. “If you are the president’s leading political opponent, D.O.J. tries to literally put in you jail and give you prison time,” Mr. McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol. “If you are the president’s son, you get a sweetheart deal.”

Persons: Hunter Biden, Biden, Kevin McCarthy, “, Mr, Donald J, Trump, D.O.J, ” Mr, McCarthy, ” Organizations: Tuesday, Justice Department, Department, Capitol Locations: America

Search resuls for: "Kayla Guo"

18 mentions found