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☆ In Deep-Blue Maryland, a Democratic Primary Turns Uncommonly Competitive
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Luke Broadwater | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It’s an unfamiliar question for deep-blue Maryland, which hasn’t had a Republican senator in nearly four decades. But the state’s typically sleepy Senate race has heated up this year after Larry Hogan, the popular former two-term Republican governor, decided to run. Now Democrats across the state are wringing their hands trying to figure out which of their candidates has a better shot at defeating Mr. Hogan. Perhaps because of the heightened stakes, the contest has turned increasingly negative as it has tightened, splitting Democrats in Congress and beyond. While congressional leaders have endorsed Mr. Trone, all but one Democrat in the state’s congressional delegation are backing Ms. Alsobrooks.

Persons: Chuck Taylor, Angela Alsobrooks, hasn’t, Larry Hogan, Hogan, Alsobrooks, Prince George’s, David Trone, Trone Organizations: United States Senate, Republican Locations: Maryland

☆ From senators to a dog killer: A power ranking of Trump's potential vice presidents
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump is entering the final stretch in his vice presidential selection process. So with that in mind, here's Business Insider's initial vice presidential power rankings. He's a former presidential candidate himself, a fact many recent vice presidential nominees share (though Trump ignored that in 2016). Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy: Ramaswamy staked out the most pro-Trump territory of any GOP presidential hopeful. Having never held elected office, the Roivant Sciences founder would have one of the least conventional resumes of any recent major party vice presidential nominee.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, —, I'm, Sen, Tim Scott of, TIMOTHY A, CLARY, Scott, He's, Larry Ellison, we've, Doug Burgum, North Dakota Ethan Miller, Kevin Cramer, haven't, Pence, Burgum, Dakotan, Marco Rubio, Joe Raedle, Florida Rubio, Rubio, Rubio isn't, Politifact, Elise Stefanik, Chip Somodevilla, New York Stefanik, Stefanik, Liz Cheney, isn't, it's, Biden, Mike Johnson's, JD Vance, Ohio Republican Andrew Harnik, Ohio Vance, Vance, Mike Pence, Byron Donalds of, Donalds, Kevin McCarthy's, Mike Johnson, hasn't, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, Tulsi Gabbard, Gabbard, Jr's, there's, Ben Carson, Carson, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin, Rupert Murdoch, Kristi Noem Organizations: Service, Republican, Time Magazine, Republican Party, Getty, Oracle, CNBC, Black Republican, Reconstruction, Trump, GOP, Gov, North Dakota Burgum's, Democrat, LBJ, Microsoft, Ohio Republican, Roivant Sciences, Democratic, RFK, South Dakota Gov Locations: Milwaukee, Nebraska, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Iowa, North Dakota, Marco Rubio of Florida, New York, Wyoming, Ohio, Byron Donalds of Florida, Trump, Hawaii, Michigan, Virginia

☆ Who Are Key Players in the Menendez Case?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Tracey Tully | Benjamin Weiser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Who Are Key Players in the Menendez Case? Mr. Menendez goes to trial on May 13 with two of the businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana. Fred Daibes New Jersey Real Estate Developer Mr. Daibes is accused of giving Mr. Menendez furniture, gold and cash. Nadine Menendez Mr. Menendez’s Wife Ms. Menendez served as a go-between for Mr. Menendez, Egyptian intelligence officials and men who were seeking political favors from the senator, according to the indictment. Defense LawyersAdam Fee Lawyer for Robert Menendez He previously spent five years as a prosecutor in the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District — the same office prosecuting Mr. Menendez.

Persons: Menendez, Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mr, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, Menendez's, Daibes, Nadine Menendez Mr, Menendez’s, Ms, Jose Uribe, Uribe, Uribe's, Sidney H, Stein, Bill Clinton, Jennifer Shah, Hassan Nemazee, Damian Williams, Williams, President Biden, Sam Bankman, Fried, Juan Orlando Hernández, Christina Clark, Clark, Charles McGonigal, Catherine Ghosh, Eli Mark, Paul Monteleoni, Robert Hadden, Lara Pomerantz, Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, Norman Seabrook, Daniel Richenthal, Sheldon Silver, Michael Avenatti, Adam Fee, Fee, Avi Weitzman, Lawrence Lustberg Organizations: Democrat, Robert Menendez New Jersey, Senate Foreign Relations, Jersey Real, EG, Prosecutors, United, Jose Uribe Former New, Benz, U.S, Southern, of, Democratic, Attorney, Southern District of, ex, Public, New, New York City Housing Authority, Justice Department, Southern District’s, New York State Assembly, Nike . Defense, Southern District Locations: New Jersey, Manhattan, Jersey, Egypt, Qatar, United States, Jose Uribe Former New Jersey, of New York, Southern District, Southern District of New York, Russian, New York City, Brooklyn, Columbia, New York, U.S, California

☆ A Rising Democrat Leans Into the Campus Fight Over Antisemitism
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Katie Glueck | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A few hours after Columbia University canceled its main commencement ceremony following weeks of pro-Palestinian student protests, Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania was in his office in Harrisburg, taking stock of the ways he sees universities letting students down. “Our colleges, in many cases, are failing young people,” he said in an interview this week. “Failing to teach information that is necessary to form thoughtful perspectives. They are willing to let certain forms of hate pass by and condemn others more strongly.”Mr. Shapiro — the leader of a pre-eminent battleground state, a rising Democrat and a proudly observant Jew — has also emerged as one of his party’s most visible figures denouncing the rise in documented antisemitism after the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Persons: Josh Shapiro, ”, “, Mr, Shapiro —, —, Shapiro Organizations: Columbia University, Gov, Pennsylvania, Israel Locations: Harrisburg, “, Israel

☆ Freshmen Democrats Work to Turn Biden Impeachment Effort on Its Head
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Luke Broadwater | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Representative Jasmine Crockett was sitting in a House Oversight Committee hearing last fall, growing increasingly frustrated as she listened to Republicans accuse President Biden of impeachable offenses without producing any evidence, when she had an idea. Ms. Crockett, a freshman Democrat from Texas and former defense attorney, summoned an aide and asked them to quickly print out a stack of photos showing the boxes of sensitive government documents stashed by a toilet at Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald J. Trump’s club in Palm Beach, Fla. Moments later, Ms. Crockett was brandishing the photos above her head, accusing Republicans of ignoring clear evidence that Mr. Trump had violated the law while pushing allegations against Mr. Biden for which they had shown no proof. “When we start talking about things that look like evidence, they want to act like they blind,” Ms. Crockett said of Republicans, spitting her words with a mix of outrage and bemusement. “These are our national secrets,” apparently in a toilet, she added, using an expletive to describe the plumbing.

Persons: Jasmine Crockett, Biden, Crockett, Donald J, Trump, Mr, Ms, ” Locations: Texas, Mar, Palm Beach, Fla

☆ Middle East Crisis U.S. Criticizes Israel for Failure to Protect Civilians in the Gaza Conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Michael Crowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

The report also did not find that Israel had intentionally obstructed humanitarian aid into Gaza. Such a finding would have triggered a U.S. law barring military aid to countries that block such assistance. They argue that Israel has indiscriminately killed civilians with American arms and intentionally hindered U.S.-supplied humanitarian aid. Either would violate U.S. laws governing arms transfers to foreign militaries, as well as international humanitarian law, which is largely based on the Geneva Conventions. The United States provides Israel with $3.8 billion in annual military aid, and Congress last month approved an additional $14 billion in emergency funding.

Persons: Biden, Israel “, —, President Biden, Israel, Israel’s, Israel ”, Brian Finucane, Finucane, “, Chris Van Hollen, Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr, ” “, ”, Josh Paul, Biden’s, John F, Kirby Organizations: State Department, Israel Defense Forces, President, Crisis, United, U.S ., Biden Administration, Israel, The State Department, Central Kitchen Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, U.S, Rafah, Congress, Geneva, Maryland, ”

☆ Jim Simons, billionaire hedge fund founder, dies at 86
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Jim Simons, the billionaire investor, mathematician and philanthropist, died on Friday in New York City, according to his foundation, the Simons Foundation. According to his foundation, Simons was fired from the institute in 1968 due to his opposition to the Vietnam War. Simons then joined the faculty at Stony Brook University as the head of the school’s mathematics department. Last year, Simons’ foundation donated $500 million to Stony Brook’s endowment, the largest unrestricted gift to an American university in history, according to the Simons Foundation. “I joined Stony Brook University in 1968 as chair of their Department of Mathematics,” Simons said at the time.

Persons: Jim Simons, Simons, ” Simons, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Simons, Technologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, MIT, Harvard University, Institute for Defense, National Security Agency, Stony Brook University, Renaissance Technologies, Simons Foundation, of Mathematics Locations: New York City, Newton , Massachusetts, Berkeley, Princeton , New Jersey, Vietnam, American

☆ Two former associates of Rep. Henry Cuellar agree to plea deal related to bribery case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Most of the money was eventually sent to the Cuellars, prosecutors allege, but Rendon didn’t think it was a good idea to send money directly to Imelda. From March 2016 to February 2018, Strother transferred nearly $215,000 to Cuellar’s wife, according to court filings. The Cuellars are not named in Strother’s and Rendon’s plea deal agreements, but both of their case numbers are listed as related cases to Cuellar’s in court records. Specific details laid out in the plea agreements also exactly match details in the indictment against Cuellar. Cuellar’s attorney, Chris Flood, told CNN in a statement, “As long as Strother and Rendon tell the truth, we are not worried.

Persons: Henry Cuellar’s, Department’s, Mina Colin Strother, Cuellar’s, Florencio “ Lencho, Cuellar, Imelda, Rendon, Strother, Imelda Cuellar, Chris Flood, ” Organizations: CNN —, Texas, CNN, ” CNN, Rendon Locations: San Antonio, Mexico City, Azerbaijan, South Texas, United States, Strother’s

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden’s decision this week to make public his ultimatum that a major Israeli offensive in the city of Rafah would result in a shut-off of some US weapons did not come easily or lightly. Last week, Biden signed off on a pause of 3,500 bombs to Israel that administration officials feared would be dropped on Rafah. Aware or not of the president’s views, Israeli officials reacted with shock to the public announcement. Israeli officials also sought to downplay the significance of Biden’s announcement. It marked the clearest signal yet that six months into the war, Biden was starting to seriously consider conditioning US support for Israel.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden’s, Netanyahu, Biden, Still, CNN’s Erin Burnett, he’d, ” Biden, Burnett, wasn’t, “, Erin Burnett, ”, John Kirby, Kirby, Daniel Hagari, Israel, –, Jesus, Israel’s, ” Kirby, straightforwardly, pare, Donald Trump, Utah Sen, Mitt Romney, Mike Johnson, who’d, Pennsylvania Sen, John Fetterman, they’re, CNN’s Manu Raju, Sen, Jon Tester, Ben Cardin, “ I’m, I’ve, we’ve, ” Sen, Bernie Sanders Organizations: Washington CNN, Israel Defense Forces, White, National Security, CNN, Kitchen, Capitol, Israel, Biden’s CNN, GOP, Politico, Pennsylvania, Foreign Relations Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Wisconsin, I’m, Rafah Israel, “ Israel, Utah, Montana, Vermont

☆ Young Michigan voters reveal deepening political problems for Biden seven months after start of Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( John King | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“All roads to the White House go through Michigan,” Gray said. “Michigan is up for grabs, and I did not think I would be saying this right now. “And that starts with calling for a cease fire, for listening to his student voters across the country.”A sign in the encampment at the University of Michigan in May 2024. Younger voters were critical to Biden returning Michigan to the blue column in 2020; exit polling showed Biden winning 61% of voters aged 18-29, to just 37% for Donald Trump. Both hope a break from campus protests and demonstrations will give younger voters time and space to see a bigger picture.

Persons: Ann, Jade Gray, ” Gray, ”, Gray, Jalisatgi, Joe Biden, “ Joe Biden, CNN Jalisatgi, Biden, Donald Trump, Matkin, “ I’d, Summer Matkin, John King, Taylor Swift, ” Matkin, Trump, “ I’ve, Maya Siegmann, Siegmann, “, …, Siegmman, Hillel, ” Siegmann, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ibrahim Ghazal, Ghazal, ” Ghazal, ” Ibrahim Ghazal, CNN Ghazal, I’m, Who’s, ” Jalisatgi Organizations: Ann Arbor , Michigan CNN, University of Michigan Student Union, College Democrats, University of Michigan, CNN, Biden, Younger, Michigan Democrats, Wayne State, Trump, Wayne, CNN Wayne State, Hillel, Jewish, Israel, Democratic, GOP, New University of Michigan, Jalisatgi, University of Michigan’s, Supreme Locations: Ann Arbor , Michigan, Gaza, Michigan, “ Michigan, Israel, Detroit, Palestine, Wayne State, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, Missouri

☆ The Chair of the FDIC is facing calls to resign after scathing report. The implications for banks could be significant
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Martin Gruenberg, the chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, is facing a barrage of calls from lawmakers to resign after a scathing 234-page report released Tuesday detailed pervasive sexual harassment, discrimination and bullying at the agency. If he heeds the calls, there could be significant ramifications for banks across the country. “We do recognize that, as a number of FDIC employees put it in talking about Chairman Gruenberg, culture ‘starts at the top,’” the report said. Gruenberg’s temperament “may hinder his ability to establish trust and confidence in leading meaningful culture change,” the report added. Aside from Democratic Rep. Bill Foster, Democrats have stopped short of calling on Gruenberg to resign.

Persons: New York CNN — Martin Gruenberg, Cleary Gottlieb Steen, Gruenberg, ‘, ’, “, ” That’s, CNN Gruenberg “, Joe Biden, Bill Foster, That’s, Travis Hill, Rulemaking, ” Dennis Kelleher, Hill, Cowen, Sen, Elizabeth Warren aren’t, Karine Jean, Pierre didn’t, Biden, Kelleher Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Hamilton, FDIC, CNN, Democrat, Democratic Rep, Republican, Senate, Democratic, Better, Federal Reserve, White Locations: New York, Basel

☆ Biden to unveil $3.3 billion Microsoft AI investment in battleground Wisconsin
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

President Joe Biden will visit the political battleground state of Wisconsin on Wednesday to announce plans by Microsoft Corp to build a $3.3 billion high-tech data center that will create thousands of jobs, the White House said. Microsoft's plans will result in 2,300 union construction jobs and some 2,000 permanent jobs over time, the White House said. It said nearly 4,000 jobs had been added in Racine since Biden took office, while about 1,000 manufacturing jobs were lost during the Trump administration. Biden is seeking to shore up support among Black voters ahead of the November presidential election, with national polls showing him essentially tied with Republican Trump. The Biden campaign on Wednesday announced the launch of a $14 million ad campaign, which will include a seven-figure investment targeting Black, Latino and Asian voters.

Persons: Joe Biden, Foxconn, Donald Trump, Microsoft's, Biden, Trump, — Organizations: Microsoft Corp, Microsoft, Gateway Technical College, Democrat, Black, Republican Trump, Wednesday Locations: Wisconsin, Racine County, Taiwan, Racine, Racine's Black

☆ Second Democrat Emerges to Challenge Mayor Adams’s Path to Re-election
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Jeffery C. Mays | Emma G. Fitzsimmons | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Zellnor Myrie, an Afro-Latino state senator from Brooklyn known for backing progressive causes, announced on Wednesday that he is moving to challenge Mayor Eric Adams in next year’s Democratic primary in New York City. Mr. Myrie’s announcement is further indication that Mr. Adams’s path to re-election is expected to be more challenging than is typical for Democratic mayors in New York. Mr. Adams, who faces record low poll numbers and a federal investigation into his campaign fund-raising, now must contend with at least two challenges from his own party. “For too many New Yorkers that I speak to, they’re tired of the showmanship,” he said. They want to see their government working relentlessly to make this city affordable, to make this city safe, to make it livable.”

Persons: Zellnor Myrie, Eric Adams, Adams, Myrie, ”, they’re Organizations: Democratic Locations: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, “, Yorkers

☆ Key lines: CNN’s interview with Biden on polls, protests and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —President Joe Biden sat down with CNN’s Erin Burnett on Wednesday for a rare, one-on-one television interview with a member of the national media. But Biden expanded, suggesting protesters have gone too far:There is a legitimate right to free speech and protest. There’s a legitimate right to do that and they have a right to do that. But there’s not a legitimate right to use hate speech. There is not a legitimate right to block people’s access to class.

Persons: Joe Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Biden, Donald Trump, We’ve, they’re, ” Biden, ”, SSRS, Jennifer Agiesta, He’s, I’ve, Trump, won’t, ’, ►, Joe ”, There’s, there’s, Israel, bin, They’re, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, Biden, Trump, University of Michigan, Microsoft Locations: Wisconsin, Midwest, Israel, Racine , Wisconsin, Scranton, “, Gaza, Afghanistan, Iraq, Rafah

☆ The FDIC is a 'boys club' where some senior execs pursued romantic relationships with their staff, says new report
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Meghan Morris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, has a "patriarchal" culture, according to an independent report. The bank regulator took no action on dozens of harassment complaints and moved wrongdoers around. The report said the FDIC has dismissed myriad harassment complaints and that wrongdoers are moved around internally or promoted. AdvertisementThe independent investigators spent nine pages discussing FDIC chairman Martin Gruenberg's conduct. The FDIC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside standard hours.

Persons: —, Cleary Gottlieb Steen, Hamilton, Martin Gruenberg's, Gruenberg, Travis Hill, Karine Jean, Pierre didn't Organizations: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Service, Wall Street Journal, FDIC, Democrat, Republican, White, Business Insider Locations: wrongdoers, Gruenberg

☆ TikTok sues to block prospective US app ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

If it loses, TikTok could be banned from US app stores unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the app to a non-Chinese entity by mid-January 2025. But Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, an advocate for the TikTok legislation, said in remarks on the Senate floor in April that the briefings provided critical insight into the risk TikTok poses. US policymakers have described the law at issue as a forced divestiture of TikTok, not an outright app ban. Some US officials have been trying to ban TikTok from the United States since 2020, when former President Donald Trump moved to block the app by executive order. (Trump has since reversed his position, saying a TikTok ban would only help Meta, a company Trump blames for his 2020 election defeat.)

Persons: Washington CNN — TikTok, Joe Biden, TikTok, Bytedance, “, didn’t, Virginia Democratic Sen, Mark Warner, Warner, they’ve, They’ve, ”, Tuesday’s, ByteDance, TikTok’s, Berman, Evelyn Douek, Biden, Gautam Hans, Hans said, Jennifer Huddleston, Donald Trump, Trump, Douek, ” Douek Organizations: Washington CNN, Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, Justice Department, Oracle, Foreign Investment, Republican, Democrat, Virginia Democratic, Senate, Stanford University, Cornell University . Still, Apple, Google, Cato Institute, European Commission, Trump Locations: China, United States, TikTok, Israel, Ukraine, Montana, Canada, United Kingdom, India

☆ Demonstrators Seize on Israeli Moves in Rafah to Rally Support
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Yan Zhuang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

When tents went up amid the Gothic architecture on the University of Chicago’s quad on April 29, administrators initially took a permissive view. But that changed on Friday when negotiations between protesters and university leaders stalled, and the university’s president, Paul Alivisatos, wrote a letter saying demonstrators had violated policies and engaged in vandalism. “The encampment has created systematic disruption of campus,” said Dr. Alivisatos, a chemist who became president of the university in 2021. As part of its free speech philosophy, the university also put forward the principle of institutional neutrality. But the statement also describes clear limits, including a right to prohibit illegal activities and speech “that constitutes a genuine threat or harassment.”

Persons: Paul Alivisatos, ” “, ”, Alivisatos, “, counterprotesters, Brandon Johnson Organizations: University of Chicago, University of, Chicago, “, ” Locations: Chicago, Palestine

☆ Apple interrogation of NYC worker about union drive was illegal, U.S. labor board rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Customers shop at the new Apple Store at the World Trade Center shopping mall in New York City. The manager of an Apple Inc retail store in Manhattan violated U.S. labor law by asking an employee whether he supported a union campaign, a federal labor board has ruled in its first decision involving the tech giant. The Democrat-controlled board also affirmed the judge's ruling that Apple illegally barred workers at the World Trade Center store from distributing union flyers. At least two Apple stores in the U.S. have unionized since 2022, and unions are working to organize several other locations including the World Trade Center store. The ruling requires Apple to post notices at the store informing workers that it violated the law and informing them of their legal rights.

Persons: Monday, Apple Organizations: Apple, World Trade Center, Apple Inc, National Labor Relations Board, Democrat, World Trade, . Workers, NLRB Locations: New York City, Manhattan, U.S, Oklahoma City

☆ U.S. probe finds widespread sexual misconduct at FDIC
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation must make sweeping changes to address widespread sexual harassment and other misconduct, according to an independent report released on Tuesday that raises questions about the future of the banking regulator's leadership. The report, prompted by a Wall Street Journal investigation, cited accounts from more than 500 people, including some who alleged FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg had engaged in bullying and verbal abuse. "For far too many employees and for far too long, the FDIC has failed to provide a workplace safe from sexual harassment, discrimination, and other interpersonal misconduct," said the report, adding that those accused of misconduct were frequently reassigned new roles. "Chair Gruenberg must accept responsibility and must immediately work to make fundamental changes to the agency and its culture." Some employees described Gruenberg as "harsh" and "aggressive", as well as prone to losing his temper, the report said.

Persons: Martin Gruenberg, Cleary Gottlieb, Gruenberg, Patrick McHenry, Sherrod Brown Organizations: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Wall Street Journal, FDIC, WSJ, Democrat, Republican, Financial Services, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs Committee

☆ Senators Seek to Curb Facial Recognition at Airports, Citing Privacy Concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Luke Broadwater | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A bipartisan group of senators is pushing to halt the expansion of facial recognition technology at airports in the United States and restrict its use as part of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that is making its way through Congress. Citing privacy concerns, Senators Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon, and John Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana, are proposing to block the expansion of the technology until 2027 and require the transportation security administrator to make clear that passengers can opt out at airports where it is in use. With a Friday deadline for renewing the aviation law, the proposal is among the amendments likely to get a vote before the bill can pass. The Federal Aviation Administration is planning to expand facial recognition technology to more than 430 airports, from 25, as part of an effort to speed up the check-in process. Using kiosks with iPads affixed to them, passengers have their photographs taken and matched to an image from a government database instead of presenting a physical identification card.

Persons: Jeff Merkley, John Kennedy Organizations: Federal Aviation Administration, Republican Locations: United States, Oregon, Louisiana

☆ Rep. Henry Cuellar's indictment has the GOP comparing him to George Santos. Here's what to know about the Texas Democrat's bribery scandal.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The growing scandal is drawing some comparisons on the right to George Santos. AdvertisementRep. Henry Cuellar is in the midst of a growing bribery scandal involving Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank. Cuellar is the third sitting lawmaker to be indicted this Congress, following former Republican Rep. George Santos of New York and Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New York. AdvertisementThe George Santos comparisonIt's only been a few days, but so far, Democrats have largely held off on calling for Cuellar to resign. Former Rep. George Santos at the State of the Union in March.

Persons: Henry Cuellar, George Santos, —, Cuellar, Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez, Santos, Cuellar's, Jessica Cisneros, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Bernie Sanders, That's, Hakeem Jeffries, Matt McClain, Getty Images Santos, don't, Donald Trump, Joe Biden Organizations: Democratic, Service, Justice, Texas Democrat, Republican Rep, George Santos of New, New, State Oil Company, Banco Azteca, Democrat, National Rifle Association, Rep, FBI, Republicans, State, Union, Washington, Getty Images, Botox Locations: Henry Cuellar of Texas, Azerbaijan, Mexican, George Santos of, George Santos of New York, New York, Texas, Azerbaijan Republic, Alexandria

☆ Assaults on German Politicians Raise Election-Year Worries
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A spate of attacks on German officials and politicians has brought fresh worries over political violence and a breakdown of civility ahead of several critical elections this year, including in three states where the far-right Alternative for Germany party could make significant gains. In the latest attack, on Friday evening, four people assaulted a prominent Social Democratic politician who was hanging campaign posters in Dresden, leaving him with a broken cheekbone and eye socket that required emergency surgery. The official, Matthias Ecke, is running for re-election to the European Parliament. That evening a Green Party campaigner, whose name has not been released, was attacked in the same residential neighborhood, by what the police believe was the same group of people. A day earlier, on Thursday, Rolf Fliss, the deputy mayor of the city of Essen, 300 miles west, was punched in the face by a group of men with whom he had been having what he initially characterized as a “friendly exchange.”The violent attack on Mr. Ecke drew a sharp response from Chancellor Olaf Scholz, himself a Social Democrat, in Berlin on Saturday.

Persons: Matthias Ecke, Rolf Fliss, Ecke, Chancellor Olaf Scholz Organizations: Social Democratic, Green Party, Social Democrat Locations: Germany, Dresden, Essen, Berlin

☆ U.S. wins global leadership approval over China when a Democrat is president, Gallup analysis shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty ImagesMost countries prefer alignment with the U.S. over China when the White House is occupied by a Democrat, according to Gallup poll data going back to 2007. "Significantly more countries seem to prefer U.S. leadership over Chinese leadership, at least under Democratic administrations," Gallup said in its report released Monday, adding that a Republican executive comes with a "net approval disadvantage." According to Gallup, the "bounce-back" under the Biden administration suggests that the U.S.'s net approval advantage over China is resilient, especially when accounting for more strongly aligned groups. China's favorability peaked in 2007 as it emerged on the global stage, but increased familiarity with Beijing has not boosted its appeal, Gallup said. Meanwhile, U.S. leadership has enjoyed a general net approval rate under the Biden and Obama administrations, compared with net disapproval rates under the Trump and last two years of the Bush leadership, the report showed.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Saul Loeb, Gallup, Trump, George Bush, Barack Obama, Biden, Obama, Bush Organizations: Afp, Getty, U.S, Democratic, Republican, Gallup, Biden, Trump, Pew Research Locations: Nusa Dua, Indonesian, Bali, China, Beijing, Trump

☆ Mayor Adams to Meet With Pope Francis in Rome
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Dana Rubinstein | William K. Rashbaum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mayor Eric Adams will travel to Rome on Thursday to meet with Pope Francis, becoming the latest in a recent succession of New York City mayors to pay respects to the leader of the Catholic Church. The trip comes as Mr. Adams, a moderate Democrat facing languishing poll numbers and a federal criminal investigation, prepares to run for re-election next year in what is expected to be a contested primary. A spokesman for the mayor had no immediate comment when asked about the trip; roughly an hour later, the mayor’s press office released an advisory that Mr. Adams would be in Rome later this week. The advisory mentions “travel to the Vatican City,” but did not specify if he would meet with the pope. But three sources familiar with Mr. Adams’s itinerary confirmed that he would see Pope Francis.

Persons: Eric Adams, Pope Francis, Adams, Frank Carone Organizations: Catholic Church Locations: Rome, New York City, Vatican City, ”

☆ Judge threatens Trump with jail for court violations: 'I have a job to do'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A judge on Monday delivered a dire warning to Donald Trump: Stop violating the court's orders, or you will be thrown in jail. "I do not want to propose a jail sanction," Merchan said, but "that I will, if necessary." But he said he would not hastily take the drastic step of throwing Trump in jail for his continued contempt. Prosecutors then called to the witness stand Jeff McConney, the former longtime controller of the Trump Organization. McConney, who worked under the company's former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, previously gave emotional testimony in a New York civil business fraud trial against Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Trump, Jeff McConney, McConney, Allen Weisselberg Organizations: Trump, Prosecutors, Trump Organization, White Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, United States, New York

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