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☆ Bernie Sanders is holding a vote to subpoena Howard Schultz for fighting Starbucks unionization
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Bernie Sanders announced he's holding a vote on issuing a subpoena for Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. The Senate HELP chairman wants Schultz to testify on his company's fight against unionization. Sanders, the new chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, also wants the committee to authorize an investigation into major corporations' labor law violations. Schultz rejoined Starbucks as interim CEO in April 2022 and will transition out of the role this month, the company wrote to Sanders in February. "A multi-billion dollar corporation like Starbucks cannot continue to break federal labor law with impunity," Sanders said.

☆ Jill Biden says Joe is 'pretty much' ready to announce he's running for reelection
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Jill Biden says her husband Joe is "pretty much" ready to announce he's running for reelection. She told The Associated Press that, "He's not finished what he started." "He says he's not done," she told Superville during an interview in Nairobi. "He's not finished what he's started. —The Associated Press (@AP) February 24, 2023

☆ Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says 'he'll do some thinking' on whether he should have visited East Palestine, Ohio sooner
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Pete Buttigieg said he could have expressed concern "sooner" for East Palestine, Ohio, after a train derailed. He said he'll "do some thinking" on whether it was a mistake to wait to visit. Asked on Thursday whether it was a mistake to have held off on visiting the community, Buttigieg said he'll "do some thinking" on that. "I felt strongly about this and could have expressed that sooner," he said. Buttigieg acknowledged earlier in the week that he could have spoken out sooner about the derailment.

☆ Bernie Sanders says 'we want to look at a shorter workweek' as part of his pro-worker agenda leading a key Senate panel on labor
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sen. Bernie Sanders is the new head of a key Senate panel on labor issues. Sen. Bernie Sanders is pushing for a four-day workweek, worker-owned businesses, and taxing robots that replace workers. Sanders told Insider he plans to hold at least one hearing on the future of work, exploring how workers can benefit from a revolution in technology. "It is an outrage that you have a billionaire like Howard Schultz engaging in vicious anti-union activity and I think he has got to explain his illegal behavior to the Senate," Sanders told me. "As technology increases worker productivity, we want to look at a shorter workweek," he said.

☆ Bernie Sanders says Elizabeth Warren could have helped him win the 2020 primary but 'chose not to' by withholding her endorsement
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Bernie Sanders says Sen. Elizabeth Warren's nod could have helped him win in 2020. Her endorsement ahead of Super Tuesday "could have been significant," he wrote in his new book. Those contests in March 2020 followed a major feud that erupted months earlier between Sanders and Warren. "Despite poor showings in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, Warren chose to stay in the race," Sanders wrote in "It's OK To Be Angry About Capitalism," to be released on February 21. "Our campaign, which days earlier had been expected to win the most delegates on Super Tuesday, was suddenly trailing," he wrote.

☆ Bernie Sanders jabs Joe Biden for not replying when asked to fulfill his promise to halt federal contracts for anti-union employers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sanders liked Biden's campaign promise to halt federal contracts for anti-union employers. Sanders criticizes Biden for not responding to his request that he follow through on the promise. He reminded Biden of his campaign promise to "institute a multi-year federal debarment" for employers illegally opposing unions and ensuring federal contracts only go to employers who agree to not run anti-union campaigns. "That campaign promise was exactly right. He called Amazon the "poster child as to why this anti-union busting Executive Order is needed now more than ever."

☆ Bernie Sanders says he agrees with Bill Gates that the government should 'tax the robots' replacing workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Bernie Sanders says government should "tax the robots" that replace workers. In his new book, Sanders references Microsoft's Bill Gates' ideas on this issue. "We're going to need to adapt tax and regulatory policies" to address robots, Sanders write. He also wants to tax robots. His book references policy ideas from other proponents, including Microsoft's Bill Gates, a billionaire who Sanders notes is "not someone I regularly agree with."

☆ Bernie Sanders says he 'never received so much attention' as his 'weird' viral mittens meme moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sanders wrote that "it got weirder" a few days later when he started seeing memes of himself across the globe. In more than 50 years of public life, Sanders wrote that he "never received so much attention." The ever-rumpled Sanders wrote that Vermonters are "a practical and functional people" who try to stay warm. The "warm Vermont coat" that he wore to President Joe Biden's inauguration, he wrote, was the only coat he had in Washington. Sanders wrote that the photo created "a lot of smiles," but also allowed him to raise funds for organizations serving low-income Vermonters.

☆ The mystery objects shot down by US fighter jets were 'most likely' harmless civilian objects, Biden says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Three mysterious objects were shot down by the US military in North American airspace last weekend. The three unidentified objects are "most likely" just civilian objects, he said on Thursday. Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Feb. 5, 2023. Biden on Thursday also said he's directed his team to create "sharper rules" for dealing with unidentified objects moving forward, distinguishing between those that pose a security risk and those that don't. In total, four objects — one Chinese surveillance balloon and the three smaller objects that remain unidentified — have been shot down over North American airspace since early February.

☆ Biden aides briefed former Trump officials on the Chinese spy balloon intrusions the ex-president has claimed never happened
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Biden administration has briefed key former Trump administration officials on China's spy balloons. "It never happened with us under the Trump administration and if it did, we would have shot it down immediately," he said on Sunday. He referenced "recent balloon/"object" incidents," but nothing from the Trump administration. During a February 6 briefing, Kirby told reporters that the Chinese surveillance balloons transited US airspace "for brief periods of time" during the Trump administration. Biden officials reached out to key officials from the Trump administration to offer briefings on the forensics they did.

☆ Joe Biden's physician pronounces him a 'healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male' in new report
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Joe Biden's physician pronounced him a 'healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male' in a new health summary. Biden is being treated for atrial fibrillation, hyperlipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux, seasonal allergies, spinal arthritis, and mild sensory peripheral neuropathy of the feet, Biden's physician Kevin O'Connor wrote in a memo. "President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency..." O'Connor wrote. Biden's medical report comes a day after Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley called for "mandatory mental competency tests" for politicians older than 75, a dig at both Biden and former President Donald Trump. Biden's last medical report in November 2021 also described him as "healthy" and "vigorous" and said he was "fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency."

☆ Ex-White House chief of staff Ron Klain said he flew home to Indiana and back every Sunday for months to be with his ill mother
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ex-White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain worked six days a week at the White House, he told the New Yorker. Klain, 61, mentioned this logistical feat and example of devotion as an aside during an interview with Evan Osnos for the New Yorker, while explaining why he decided to leave the Biden White House after two years. Klain left the White House this month after spending the first two years of the administration leading Biden's team. Biden spoke of Klain's mother during a chief of staff transition ceremony at the White House, when Klain turned over the reins to Jeff Zients. Klain's mother, Sarann Klain Warner, a retired travel agent, was reportedly too ill to attend.

☆ Biden fires Trump-appointed Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton after alleged misconduct, White House says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

President Joe Biden fired the Architect of the Capitol, the White House said Monday. "After doing our due diligence, Mr. Blanton's appointment as Architect of the Capitol was terminated at the President's direction," the official said in a statement. Blanton's dismissal follows a report from the Inspector General's office accusing Blanton of misusing a government vehicle and impersonating a police officer. In a February 13 letter to Blanton obtained by Punchbowl News, a White House official wrote that Blanton's appointment would be terminated by 5 p.m. at Biden's direction. The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for facilities, maintenance, and operation of the US Capitol, among other things.

☆ US fighter aircraft shot down an 'object' threatening flights over Alaska just days after downing a Chinese spy balloon
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Jake Epstein | Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The US military recently shot down an unidentified object in US airspace over Alaska, a senior official said Friday. "I can confirm that the Department of Defense was tracking a high-altitude object over Alaska airspace in the last 24 hours. On that order, a fighter jet assigned to US Northern Command shot down the object off the northeastern part of Alaska, near the Canadian border. "We do not know who owns it, whether it's state owned or corporate owned or privately owned. This incident comes nearly a week after a US Air Force F-22 fighter jet fired a single AIM 9X air-to-air missile to take down a high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina.

☆ Fox Corp cancelled Biden's Super Bowl interview with Fox Soul, White House says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Fox Corp asked to cancel a Super Bowl interview with President Joe Biden, the White House said. Biden was to speak on Fox Soul, a digital television network operated by Fox Television. Interviews with the president are a tradition on Super Bowl Sunday. It's customary for the president to give an interview to the network broadcasting the Super Bowl on the day of the game. Since Fox is airing the Super Bowl, the interview by tradition would go to Fox News.

☆ Chris Sununu boasts about beating Ron DeSantis in a conservative ranking: 'I'm sorry, Ron.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Chris Sununu took a swipe at Ron DeSantis while boosting his conservative credentials. You're number 2. Ron DeSantis, while boosting his own conservative credentials. "I'm a principled free market conservative," Sununu said. Sununu boasted that he's ranked "the most fiscally conservative goveror of the country," though he did not cite the ranking.

☆ GOP Gov. Chris Sununu jokes that Marjorie Taylor Greene's 'fur thing' at the State of the Union made her look like 'she belonged on the top of Mt. Washington'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Chris Sununu joked about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's State of the Union wardrobe choice. He described her white coat with fluffy fur trim as a "fur thing." "She looked like she belonged on the top of Mount Washington," he said. Chris Sununu said he's not sure what was happening with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's State of the Union wardrobe selection, describing her $495 Peruvian alpaca wool coat as a "fur thing." She looked like she belonged on the top of Mount Washington."

☆ NH GOP Gov. Chris Sununu says Republicans were 'rude' during Biden's State of the Union address: 'My mother taught me manners first'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sununu criticized GOP lawmakers for their behavior during Biden's State of the Union Address. Sununu also said a line in GOP Gov. "The heckling from the crowd — it was just politics, politics, politics on both sides," Sununu said during a Thursday interview at Politico's The Fifty: America's Governors. During his nationally-televised speech, Biden was booed and heckled by Republicans and even called a "liar" by conservative firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' rebuttal to Biden's speech was "not helpful" when she characterized Republicans as "normal" and Democrats as "crazy."

☆ Republicans' 'weaponization' committee is a "Fox News reboot of McCarthyism," White House says ahead of first hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The House "Weaponization of the Federal Government" subcommittee is holding its first hearing. The White House likened it to a "reboot of McCarthyism" designed to help Republicans get on Fox News. The hearing will cover "the politicization of the FBI and DOJ and attacks on American civil liberties." The hearing led by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan will include witness testimony from Fox News commentators, the White House notes. Jordan, in a House floor speech last month, rejected the notion that the committee is a "ploy" and said whistleblowers have talked to Republicans about alleged government intrusions.

☆ George Santos signs onto abortion, guns, term limits, and impeachment bills as he attempts to make friends on Capitol Hill
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Freshman Rep. George Santos is still finding his way on Capitol Hill after a rough start. In his first off-the-rails month on Capitol Hill, Santos has signed onto bills dealing with abortion rights, guns, the global social media phenomenon TikTok, congressional term limits, and even articles of impeachment. He signed onto bills promoting term limits and calling for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a top priority for the MAGA wing. "The congressman seeks to work with everyone, and has developed relationships with Republican members, as well as those across the aisle," a Santos spokesperson said. Republican Rep. Mike Waltz of Florida introduced that legislation to block Americans from doing business with Venezuela.

Embattled Rep. George Santos grabbed a premier center aisle seat ahead of President Joe Biden's State of the Union Address. Seated beside Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Santos soon discovered that not everyone — including some Republicans — was interested in seeing him. Santos sat just in front of Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee and behind Rep. Trent Kelly of Mississippi. Seats are reserved for senators as a group in the front of the chamber and House members sit behind them. House members can claim preferred spots during the day but they have to camp out there to reserve them for the entirety of the speech.

☆ Biden will take aim at smoking in his State of the Union speech as part of his 'cancer moonshot'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Biden will announce plans to accelerate progress in lowering cancer deaths. Biden will announce plans tonight to accelerate progress in the fight against cancer deaths, and that includes fighting the biggest, preventable driver: smoking. "We're going to continue to focus on prevention," Danielle Carnival, the White House "Cancer Moonshot" coordinator, told reporters during a Tuesday morning call. He launched his "Cancer Moonshot" program while serving as vice president after losing his son Beau to a brain tumor in 2015. Also as part of his plan to tackle cancer, Biden will call on Congress to reauthorize the National Cancer Act to update cancer research and care systems and the administration will take steps to ensure patient navigation services are covered benefits.

☆ McCarthy warns Republicans not to misbehave at State of the Union, promises no 'childish games' like Pelosi's infamous speech tearing moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Oma Seddiq | Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

McCarthy swiped at Pelosi ahead of Biden's state of the union address on Tuesday. "We're not going to do childish games tearing up a speech," he told CNN. Pelosi infamously ripped up a copy of Trump's speech after his 2020 SOTU address. Pelosi made headlines when she ripped up a copy of Trump's speech after he delivered his third state of the union address three years ago. McCarthy, the newly elected House speaker, will take Pelosi's previous seat on the platform behind Biden during his address on Tuesday night.

☆ Count on a springtime re-election announcement for Biden if he follows Trump, Obama, Bush and Clinton's examples
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

President Joe Biden reelection bid looks increasingly likely, and more a question of when. Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump launched re-election bids between April and June during the year before the election. Here's a look at Biden's predecessors' announcements:Donald TrumpTrump never left campaign mode after his golden escalator ride in 2015. Photo by Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images)Bush filed paperwork to run for reelection on May 16, 2003. "The American people will decide whether or not I deserve a second term," the president told reporters, according to the Associated Press.

☆ George Santos' attack on Colombian Botox is 'completely false,' Medical Tourism Association CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A leaked audio recording of George Santos revealed him disparaging Colombian Botox treatments as "diluted." The Medical Tourism Association CEO rejects that premise, calling it "completely false." The comment riled the CEO of the Medical Tourism Association, who called it yet another "absurd" statement from the embattled Santos. If you go to the right physicians, clinics or hospitals you are not going to be receiving diluted Botox." "You could receive diluted botox here in the US or receive Botox that isn't even real, or by a doctor here who actually isn't a doctor," he said.

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