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☆ Premarket stocks: The US is pulling ahead in the economic race with China
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It appears that a soft landing, where price rises are tamed and the economy manages to avoid recession, is possible. Before the Bell: Is it fair to say that the US is outpacing China in the race for economic supremacy? Just last year people might have said the opposite — that the US was heading towards recession and the Chinese economy was thriving. It is remarkable to see the US economy blazing ahead while the Chinese economy sputters and slips into deflation. What else should investors be aware of when they read about the Chinese economy?

Persons: Bell, Eswar Prasad, Jamie Dimon, he’s, Marianne Lake, Jennifer Piepszak, Piepszak, Troy Rohrbaugh, Rohrbaugh, Dimon, hasn’t, “, Brian Fung, Oregon Democratic Sen, Ron Wyden, Biden Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Cornell University, International Monetary, JPMorgan, JPMorgan Chase, Bloomberg, NSA, National Security Agency, Oregon Democratic, Pentagon, CNN Locations: New York, China, Oregon

The answer explains why Congress is racing to wind down what is known as the employee retention tax credit. Lawmakers aim to use the savings to offset the cost of three business tax breaks and a more generous child tax credit for many low-income families. Households benefitting from the changes in the child tax credit would see an average tax cut of $680 in the first year, according to an estimate from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. Under current law, taxpayers have until April 15, 2025, to claim the employee retention credit. But in this case, the employee retention tax credit appears to have few friends left on Capitol Hill.

Persons: Danny Werfel, ’ ”, Sen, Ron Wyden, Elizabeth Warren, Ron Johnson, ” Johnson, “, ” Warren, Wyden, Jan, Larry Gray, Gray, ”, ” Gray, preparer, Werfel, Mark Warner Organizations: WASHINGTON, Senate, IRS, —, Center, Senate Finance, Capitol Locations: Rolla , Missouri, America, New Jersey

☆ The NSA buys Americans’ internet data, newly released documents show
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —The National Security Agency has been buying Americans’ web browsing data from commercial data brokers without warrants, intelligence officials disclosed in documents made public by a US senator Thursday. The purchases involve what Nakasone described as netflow data, or the technical information generated by devices as they use the internet. Nakasone added that the NSA does not purchase cellphone location data of Americans or location data generated by automotive infotainment systems in the United States. “NSA purchases commercially available Netflow data for its cybersecurity mission, to include but not limited to inform the Agency’s collection, analysis, and dissemination of cyber threat intelligence,” an NSA official said. As part of Thursday’s announcement, Wyden wrote a letter to the Biden administration urging it to stop the warrantless surveillance of Americans through the purchases of internet data.

Persons: Oregon Democratic Sen, Ron Wyden, Biden, ”, Paul Nakasone, Wyden, Nakasone, “, Ronald Moultrie, Allison Nixon, ” Nixon, Timothy Haugh, ” Wyden, Avril Haines, Haines, Lina Khan, CNN’s Sean Lyngaas Organizations: Washington CNN, National Security Agency, Oregon Democratic, Pentagon, CNN, The New York Times, NSA, Defense Department, cyberattacks, Defense Intelligence Agency, Federal Trade Commission, InMarket Media, FTC Locations: Oregon, United States, U.S

☆ Biden administration planning action to stop hostile foreign governments exploiting Americans’ personal data
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Biden administration is preparing an executive order aimed at curbing the ability of foreign governments to access sensitive personal data on Americans that could jeopardize national security, one current US official and one former US official familiar with the matter told CNN. Foreign efforts to exploit Americans’ data represent an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to national security and foreign policy, the draft text of the order says, according to the US official. The National Security Council at the White House declined to comment on the draft executive order. A surge in the amount of intimate personal information on US citizens that can be bought and sold online has alarmed lawmakers and senior US officials focused on national security. Wyden said he hoped the final text of the executive order, among other things, applies to data held by US subsidiaries of foreign companies.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, ” Sen, Ron Wyden, Wyden, TikTok, “, ” Justin Sherman, Duke, ” Sherman Organizations: CNN, Bloomberg News, National Security Council, White, Oregon Democrat, Social, Duke University Locations: China, Oregon

☆ Bipartisan tax bill clears key congressional hurdle, teeing up potential House vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Emily Wilkins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The package released earlier this week was the result of a rare, bipartisan agreement between Republican House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (Mo.) To help win more Democratic support, the bill also expands the child tax credit by adjusting it for inflation and allowing Americans who don't have a tax bill to get the credit as a refund, among other changes. In addition to Friday's committee vote, the White House also came out in support of the legislation. In the end, Blumenauer said he would "reluctantly" vote for the bill, but wanted to see the child tax credit expanded further. House Speaker Mike Johnson had yet to confirm when, or even if, he would bring the bill to the House floor for a vote.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Jason Smith, Ron Wyden, Karine Jean, Pierre, Earl Blumenauer, Blumenauer, Mike Johnson, Smith, Wyden Organizations: Business, of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, Republican, Democratic, White, Oregon Democrat Locations: Taiwan, Mo, Oregon

☆ A bipartisan group of lawmakers' plan to boost the child tax credit for parents would help 'hundreds of thousands of kids get out of poverty,' a top economic official says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed boosting the child tax credit for parents. The White House told BI that Biden is committed to fighting "for the full expanded Child Tax Credit." AdvertisementA bipartisan proposal to boost the child tax credit for parents appears like it might be on track to get the White House's stamp of approval. "We're very supportive of expanding the child tax credit," Bernstein said. "So, helping hundreds of thousands of kids get out of poverty, reaching 16 million kids with a more fair child tax credit, that sounds like a really smart idea to us."

Persons: Jared Bernstein, Biden, —, Ron Wyden, Jason Smith, Poppy Harlow, White, Bernstein, Joe Biden, hasn't, it's, Michael Kikukawa, Wyden, Smith's, Kikukawa, Democratic Sen, Sherrod Brown, GOP Sen, Mike Crapo Organizations: White House, Service, Democratic, Republican, Tax Relief, American Families and Workers, White House Council, Economic Advisers, American, Budget, Child, GOP

☆ Bipartisan Tax Deal Would Provide Boost to Businesses, Families
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Richard Rubin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The new plan would provide some U.S. households with more money from the child tax credit. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty ImagesWASHINGTON—Top U.S. lawmakers unveiled a bipartisan tax agreement that would revive expired breaks for businesses and increase the child tax credit for low-income families, and they are aiming to push the $78 billion in tax breaks through Congress in the next few weeks. The deal comes from Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) and Rep. Jason Smith (R., Mo. ), ideological opponents who found common ground after months of talks. They have a tough task ahead, given skepticism about aspects of the deal in both parties and a tight deadline before tax season starts.

Persons: Alex Wong, Sen, Ron Wyden, Jason Smith Organizations: Getty, WASHINGTON —, WASHINGTON — Top U.S Locations: WASHINGTON — Top, Mo

☆ Lawmakers Strike Tax Deal, but It Faces Long Election-Year Odds in Congress
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Kayla Guo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Top Democrats and Republicans in Congress on Tuesday released a $78 billion compromise they have reached to expand the child tax credit and restore three popular expired business tax breaks, but the package faces a challenging road to enactment in an election year. The plan includes $33 billion to partly extend a major expansion of the child tax credit that was initially beefed up for one year as part of the sweeping 2021 pandemic aid law, and another $33 billion to reinstate a set of expired business tax benefits related to research, business and capital deductions. It would also include an increase of a tax credit to encourage the development of low-income housing, tax relief for disaster victims and tax breaks for Taiwanese workers and companies operating in the United States. The package would be financed by reining in the employee retention tax credit, a pandemic-era program to encourage employers to keep workers on payroll that has become a hotbed of abuse. They have led an intensive round of discussions aimed at striking a compromise and pushing it into law in time for the start of tax filing season this month.

Persons: Jason Smith, Ron Wyden Organizations: Republicans, reining, Republican, Democrat, Finance Committee Locations: United States, Missouri, Oregon

☆ Congress announces tax deal to expand child tax credit and revive breaks for businesses
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Sahil Kapur | Kate Santaliz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — Senior lawmakers in Congress announced a bipartisan deal Tuesday to expand the child tax credit and provide a series of tax breaks for businesses. The deal, details of which were reported earlier by NBC News, would enhance refundable child tax credits in an attempt to provide relief to financially struggling and multi-child families. Democrats had demanded a larger child tax credit after an earlier version they passed for less than one year expired, causing child poverty to fall and then rise again after it lapsed. And Republicans were motivated to revive some expired portions of the 2017 Trump tax cuts for businesses. Wyden has said he hopes to pass the deal by the beginning of tax filing season, which is Jan. 29.

Persons: Cara Baldari, Evie, Sarah Orrin, Vipond, Otto, Jason Smith, Ron Wyden, Smith, " Wyden, Wyden, That's Organizations: D.C, U.S, Capitol, WASHINGTON —, Congress, NBC News, American Locations: China

☆ Apple knew AirDrop users could be identified and tracked as early as 2019, researchers say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Washington CNN —Security researchers warned Apple as early as 2019 about vulnerabilities in its AirDrop wireless sharing function that Chinese authorities claim they recently used to track down users of the feature, the researchers told CNN, in a case that experts say has sweeping implications for global privacy. AirDrop lets Apple users who are near each other share files using a proprietary mix of Bluetooth and other wireless connectivity without having to connect to the internet. A Chinese tech firm, Beijing-based Wangshendongjian Technology, was able to compromise AirDrop to identify users on the Beijing subway accused of sharing “inappropriate information,” judicial authorities in Beijing said this week. The Chinese tech firm, Wangshendongjian Technology, that claimed to have exploited AirDrop appeared to have used some of the same techniques first identified by the Darmstadt researchers in 2019, said Alexander Heinrich, one of the German researchers. “Now that Chinese security agencies are exploiting this vulnerability, it’s a tough political problem for Apple.”

Persons: Apple, “, ”, Benjamin Ismail, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, ” Rubio, Milan Stute, Sascha Meinrath, Palmer, Alexander Heinrich, ” Heinrich, Kenn White, Heinrich et al, ” White, Sen, Ron Wyden, ” Wyden, “ Apple, Qi An Xin, Dakota Cary, SentinelOne, Ismail, would’ve, Matthew Green Organizations: Washington CNN —, CNN, Apple, Bluetooth, Technology, Republican, Senate Intelligence Committee, Technical University of Darmstadt, Penn State University, Wangshendongjian Technology, ” Apple, Oregon Democrat, Beijing, Olympic, Xinhua, Johns Hopkins University, “ Locations: China, Washington, Hong Kong, Beijing, Florida, Germany, Darmstadt, Oregon, cyberattacks, Dakota

☆ Senators call on federal regulators to review Navy Federal mortgage disparities, citing CNN investigation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Casey Tolan | Rene Marsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, ten Democratic U.S. senators asked the regulators to investigate Navy Federal Credit Union’s mortgage lending for compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws. The credit union, which has more than 13 million members, lends to military servicemembers, defense personnel, veterans, and their families. “Navy Federal’s members have made countless sacrifices in their service to our country,” the senators wrote in the letter. The credit union declined to provide CNN any additional data that would make it possible to analyze those factors. Navy Federal has not yet responded to the lawsuits in court.

Persons: Sen, Sherrod Brown, Ron Wyden, Mary McDuffie, Emanuel Cleaver, Steven Horsford, Hakeem Jeffries, ”, Maxine Waters, Ben Crump – Organizations: CNN, Department of Housing, Urban Development, Consumer Financial Protection, Democratic U.S, Navy, Credit, Banking, Finance, Congressional Black Caucus, Federal, “, Navy Federal, Financial Services Locations: Ohio, Oregon, “ Navy, Virginia

☆ A bigger tax break for parents and companies is getting closer to becoming a reality
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThere might be welcome tax news for parents and businesses soon — if legislators are finally able to wrangle a deal. "We've made a substantial kind of progress," Wyden told Semafor. AdvertisementRyan Carey, a spokesperson for Wyden, told BI last week that discussions were "ongoing" and "productive." At the same time, Democrats have been pushing for some renewal of pandemic-era expansions to the Child Tax Credit that expired in December 2021. Wyden told Semafor that he'd want the package in front of President Joe Biden by January 29, when filing season begins.

Persons: —, Ron Wyden, Jason Smith, Semafor's Joseph Zeballos, We've, Wyden, Semafor, Smith, Ryan Carey, Carey, Spokespeople, Donald Trump's, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Senate, Democrat, Tax, Business, Senate Finance, Child Tax, American, Child, ARP CTC

☆ Governments are spying on Apple and Google users through phone notifications, U.S. senator says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-06 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden warned that foreign governments are spying on smartphone users by compelling Apple and Google to turn over push notification records, according to a letter he sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday. In the U.S., however, Wyden said information about push notification records cannot be released to the public. Wyden did not specify which governments have asked Apple and Google for push notification records. A Google spokesperson said the company shares Wyden's commitment to keeping people informed about requests for push notification records. The company did not clarify where it publishes requests for information about push notification records, or if it is restricted.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Tim Cook, Joe Biden, Sen, Ron Wyden, General Merrick Garland, Wyden Organizations: Apple, White, Washington , D.C, U.S, Google, Wednesday, DOJ, CNBC, The, Justice, CNBC PRO Locations: Washington ,, Apple's, U.S

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking up a case Tuesday over a Washington couple's $15,000 tax bill that is widely seen as a test of a never-enacted tax on wealth. Political Cartoons View All 1277 ImagesThe Moores paid $15,000 in taxes based on Charles Moore’s investment in an Indian company. They argue that the tax violates the 16th Amendment, which allows the federal government to impose an income tax on Americans. “The Moore case could make it impossible to close those loopholes,” Wyden said. Public documents show that Charles Moore's involvement with the company, including serving as a director for five years, is far more extensive than court filings indicate.

Persons: Charles, Kathleen Moore, Paul Ryan, Donald Trump, ”, Moores, Charles Moore’s, Moore, Democratic Sen, Ron Wyden, “, ” Wyden, Charles Moore's, Samuel Alito, David Rivkin, Alito, Rivkin, Fatima Hussein Organizations: WASHINGTON, Washington, Wisconsin Republican, Republican, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Democratic, Oregon, Moores, ___ Associated Locations: Redmond , Washington, Indian, ___

☆ US drug shortages are forcing ‘impossible choices’ for Americans, experts tell Senate committee
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Dr. Jason Westin regularly witnesses the power of lifesaving cancer drugs. But because generic cancer drugs are often in shortage in the United States, he says, he and his patients have been put in a terrible position. Makers of generic drugs don’t have to share information about the supply chain, so buyers currently choose based only on price. Hernandez told the Senate committee that of the top 50 generic drugs paid for by Medicare Part D, 16 were marked up 1,000% or higher. Until there is some kind of legislation that addresses drug shortages, Wosińska and the other experts agreed, they will continue.

Persons: Jason Westin, ” Westin, that’s, they’d, Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Crapo, Generics, ” Crapo, “, ”, Crapo, Inmaculada Hernandez, ” Hernandez, Dr, Marta E, it’s, ” Wosińska, Ron Wyden, ” Wyden, Hernandez, Sanjay Gupta Organizations: CNN, Anderson Cancer Center, US, Finance, Vanderbilt, Tennessee Republican, Food and Drug Administration, Westin, Skaggs School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Centers, Medicare, Medicaid Services, Brookings Institution, CNN Health Locations: M.D, Houston, United States, Nashville, Idaho, China, India, San Diego, Oregon, generics

The tool, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, will expire at the end of December unless the White House and Congress can cut a deal and resolve an unusually vexing debate that has yielded unlikely alliances at the intersection of privacy and national security. Without the program, administration officials warn, the government won't be able to collect crucial intelligence overseas. National security officials have said that 59% of articles in the president’s daily brief contain Section 702 information. The White House has already dismissed as unworkable the one known legislative proposal that’s been advanced. Despite the clear challenges in reaching a compromise, the last-minute scramble between the White House and Congress has come to be expected each time the government’s surveillance powers are set to be renewed.

Persons: Biden, Matthew Olsen, Ayman al, Donald Trump, Trump, “, ”, Jamil Jaffer, George Mason University’s, That’s, Jim Jordan, Democratic Sen, Ron Wyden, Wyden, Andy Biggs, —, We’re, ” Wyden, “ We’ve, Farnoush Amiri Organizations: WASHINGTON, Foreign Intelligence, House, Department's, Hamas, Trump, White House, Congress, National Security Institute, George, White, Capitol, FBI, Republican Rep, Democratic, Republican, Associated Press Locations: U.S, Russia

The bill follows more than a decade of debate over post-Sept. 11, 2001, surveillance powers that allow domestic law enforcement to warrantlessly scan the vast mountains of data gathered by America's foreign surveillance apparatus. Reforms in the proposed legislation include putting limits on searches of Americans' communications without judicial authorization and a prohibition of so-called "backdoor" searches which invoke foreign intelligence justifications to spy on Americans. "We're introducing a bill that protects both Americans' security and Americans' liberty," Senator Ron Wyden - a Democrat and a longtime critic of government surveillance - said at a press conference on Tuesday. The reforms introduced Tuesday reflect discomfort over the practice of warrantless scans, which are authorized under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Reporting by Raphael Satter; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ron Wyden, Amanda Andrade Rhoades, it's, Mike Lee, Representative Warren Davidson, Zoe Lofgren, Raphael Satter, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Democrat, FBI, Foreign Intelligence, National Intelligence, Republican, Republican U.S, Representative, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Washington , U.S

☆ Researchers find sensitive personal data of US military personnel is for sale online
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Sensitive personal information like the apparent home addresses and health conditions of thousands of active-duty US military personnel can be bought cheaply online from so-called data brokers, according to a study published Monday by Duke University researchers. The researchers could shop for data on servicemembers based on geolocation, including whether they lived or work near Fort Bragg, Quantico or other sensitive military locations. The Federal Trade Commission is currently considering new regulations to crack down on data brokers. “However, we have repeatedly raised concerns about the practices of data brokers and their potential impact on consumer privacy. The Pentagon and US intelligence community have long been concerned about how foreign spies might exploit the market for personal data on Americans.

Persons: Scammers, ”, Justin Sherman, ” Sherman, Ron Wyden, “, ” Wyden Organizations: CNN, Duke University, Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy, Social, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, Fair, Oregon Democrat, Department of Defense’s, Pentagon Locations: Fort Bragg, Quantico, Oregon, United States

☆ A Tangle of Rules to Protect America’s Water Is Falling Short
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Dionne Searcey | Delger Erdenesanaa | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +18 min

UNCHARTED WATERS A Tangle of Rules to Protect America’s Water Is Falling Short The Times asked all 50 states how they manage groundwater. California’s State Water Resources Control Board provides a list of some 85 firms that help clients who have questions about water rights there. Irrigated acres 0 10 100 200 thousand 1987 2017 MISSOURI MISSOURI ARKANSAS ARKANSAS MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI LOUISIANA LOUISIANA Irrigated acres 0 10 100 200 thousand 1987 2017 MISSOURI MISSOURI ARKANSAS ARKANSAS MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI LOUISIANA LOUISIANA Irrigated acres 0 10 100 200 thousand 1987 2017 MISSOURI MISSOURI ARKANSAS ARKANSAS MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI LOUISIANA LOUISIANA Irrigated acres 0 10 100 200 thousand 1987 2017 MO. “When Tennessee pumps groundwater, it is pumping water located within its own territory,” the 2021 ruling said. One practical problem The Times’s research identified is that state water authorities are often small operations relative to their sprawling responsibilities and the growing danger of aquifer damage.

Persons: don’t, Matthew Staver, ”, Christopher Neel, Chris Scheuring, Reba Epler, Mira Rojanasakul, “ We’re, Andrew Sheeley, Mike Parson, Jeff Roberson, Dave Owen, Ron Wyden, who’s, “ We’ve, Ryan Gordon, Mark Rogers, Gabriel Eckstein, Jeremy Manley, Cody Smith, Jake Parrish, Sharon Megdal, Elizabeth Cisar, “, ’, Dr, Gordon, Ariz, Rebecca Noble Organizations: Times, MISSOURI TEXAS, VERMONT, New York Times, The New York Times, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, California Farm Bureau, Nationwide, Arup, Water Resources Control, Congress, MISSOURI MISSOURI ARKANSAS, Missouri Department of Natural, Associated Press, UC Law San, Energy, Power, WASHINGTON, Maine Geological Survey, United States Geological Survey, United States Supreme, Associated, Texas, M University, Staff, State Engineer’s Office, Yakima Herald -, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona, Joyce Foundation, The New York Locations: America’s, . TEXAS MISSOURI VERMONT, MISSOURI, MISSOURI TEXAS VERMONT, VERMONT, TEXAS MISSOURI, MISSOURI TEXAS, Oklahoma, Kansas, . Oklahoma, California, American, Wyoming, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Great, Mississippi, Missouri , Arkansas, Louisiana, MISSOURI MISSOURI ARKANSAS ARKANSAS MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI LOUISIANA LOUISIANA, . LA, LA, Missouri, Missouri Department of Natural Resources . Missouri, Ozark, States, Kentucky, Vermont, Oregon, In Texas, United States, WASHINGTON ARKANSAS, ARKANSAS WASHINGTON, Maine, Tennessee, Memphis, Muleshoe , Texas, When Tennessee, Minnesota, Blaine, ’, Laramie County, Sunnyside, Wash, Yakima, Yakima Herald - Republic, Colorado, Maryland, In Illinois, Illinois, ”, Arizona, Phoenix, In Kansas, Washington, Hope

President Joe Biden’s Cabinet secretaries will be advocating for the foreign aid to a mostly friendly audience in the Senate, where majority Democrats and many Republicans support tying aid for the two countries together. Despite growing questions about the Ukraine aid within the Republican conference, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell has forcefully advocated tying the aid for Ukraine and Israel together. As they returned to Washington on Monday night, Senate Republicans who support the Ukraine aid were uncertain of the path forward. 2 Senate Republican, said it could complicate Democrats’ efforts to pass the two together if there were a bipartisan vote for the Israel aid alone in the House. In recent weeks, though, a growing group of Senate Republicans have joined the majority of House Republicans who are advocating to slow down or stop U.S. aid to Ukraine.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden’s, Mike Johnson, Biden, ”, Chuck Schumer, Vladimir Putin, Patty Murray, Maine Sen, Susan Collins, ” Murray, Mitch McConnell, Oksana Markarova, ” Markarova, embolden Putin, Sen, John Thune of, Thune, Republican Sen, Joni Ernst, Iowa, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, Putin, Johnson, Schumer, “ we're, Richard Neal, Ron Wyden, ” Wyden, Karine Jean, Pierre, ” “, —, Seung Min Kim, Fatima Hussein, Tara Copp Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Senate, Republican, Internal Revenue Service, Republicans, Hamas, Senate Republicans, House Republicans, Fox News, Democrat, New York Rep, White, Associated Press Locations: United States, Israel, Ukraine, America, Russia, Taiwan, China, U.S, Mexico, Ukrainian, Kentucky, Washington, John Thune of South Dakota, Ohio

☆ Clarence Thomas Didn’t Fully Repay $267,230 Loan for Luxury Motor Home, Senate Report Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Jess Bravin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Justice Clarence Thomas hasn’t disclosed his tax returns, so it isn’t publicly known whether he reported any income related to the vehicle. Photo: Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersWASHINGTON—Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas didn’t report on required financial disclosure forms that a friend forgave some or all of a $267,230 loan, according to a report released Wednesday by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden . “The new evidence obtained by the Committee raises a number of potentially serious tax questions for Justice Thomas,’’ said the report prepared by the committee’s Democratic staff.

Persons: Clarence Thomas hasn’t, Evelyn Hockstein, Clarence Thomas didn’t, Ron Wyden, Justice Thomas, ’ ’ Organizations: WASHINGTON —, Senate Finance, Democratic

☆ US lawmakers question tax prep companies on sharing of taxpayer data with Big Tech platforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Americans should be able to file their taxes without fear that their sensitive data will be shared with Big Tech companies,” said the letters, copies of which were obtained by CNN. The letters — led by Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren — focus on the use of tracking technology developed by tech platforms and embedded within the tax prep companies’ websites that quietly transferred users’ personal information to Meta and Google, allegedly without their consent. Of the five tax prep companies, Intuit was not a major focus of the initial congressional probe because it did not use tracking pixels to the same extent as the others, the investigation found. They also asked the same question of each of the four other tax prep companies, as well as requesting a commitment to abide by the FTC’s warning not to use customer data in ways consumers did not expressly approve. The lawmakers requested that the tax prep firms respond by Nov. 8.

Persons: ”, Massachusetts Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren —, Warren, Meta, — Sens, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Duckworth, Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse, Katie Porter Organizations: CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Big Tech, Massachusetts Democratic, Meta, Google, FTC, Intuit, Ramsey Solutions, Oregon Democrat, Connecticut Democrat, Vermont Independent, Rhode, Rhode Island Democrat, House Democratic Locations: Oregon, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, California

☆ Clarence Thomas ruled against student debt relief. Now a Senate panel alleges his healthcare exec pal forgave his $267,230 loan.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Senate committee found that Clarence Thomas had a substantial loan forgiven by a wealthy friend in 2008. Thomas' friend, healthcare exec Anthony Welters, loaned him over $260,000 that Thomas used to purchase a luxury RV. The findings came four months after Thomas joined a majority Supreme Court opinion striking down Biden's student debt forgiveness plan. The Senate Finance Committee said Thomas didn't report the loan on his ethics forms. "Justice Thomas should inform the committee exactly how much debt was forgiven and whether he properly reported the loan forgiveness on his tax returns and paid all taxes owed.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Anthony Welters, —, Joe Biden, Biden, Thomas ', Welters, Thomas didn't, Oregon Sen, Ron Wyden Organizations: Service, White, New York Times, Committee, Finance Locations: Oregon

[1/2] U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas poses during a group portrait at the Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., October 7, 2022. Durbin said the "undisclosed, forgiven" loan demonstrates the need for a binding code of conduct for the court. The documents showed that Welters forgave the loan in 2008, according to the findings. The Senate Judiciary Committee in July approved a Democratic-backed bill that would mandate a binding ethics code for the justices. Thomas and Welters did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Evelyn Hockstein, Thomas, Anthony Welters, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Welters, Ron Wyden, Elliot Berke, Berke, Harlan Crow, Steven Lubet, Lubet, Stephen Gillers, Andrew Chung, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Welters, Democratic, hobnobbing, Senate, New York Times, Texas, Crow, Northwestern University, New York University, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, New York, Washington

☆ US drops digital trade demands at WTO to allow room for stronger tech regulation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai speaks during the Axios BFD event in New York City, U.S., October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has dropped longstanding U.S. digital trade demands in World Trade Organization talks in order to give Congress room to regulate big tech firms, her office said on Wednesday. USTR spokesman Sam Michel said many countries were examining their approaches to data and source code, and how trade rules can affect them. "We need to make clear that digital rules favoring Big Tech monopolies are a non-starter for the U.S. in any trade agreement, including IPEF,” she said. "These digital trade rules prevent countries around the world from using regulation to lock out American companies and their workers from their markets," said John Murphy, the Chamber's senior vice president for international policy.

Persons: Katherine Tai, Brendan McDermid, Trump, Biden, Ron Wyden, ", Wyden, Sam Michel, Michel, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Tai, ”, USTR, John Murphy, David Lawder, Diane Craft Organizations: Trade, REUTERS, Rights, . Trade, Trade Organization, U.S, Reuters, Prosperity, WIN, Oregon Democrat, Senate Finance Committee, Congress, Intel, Democratic, Big Tech, . Chamber, Commerce, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Geneva, CHINA, China, Australia, Japan, Korea, Oregon, United States, Mexico, Canada

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