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☆ The Supreme Court makes almost all of its decisions on the 'shadow docket.' An author argues it should worry Americans more than luxury trips.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The Supreme Court makes nearly all its decisions on the emergency relief docket or "shadow docket." What is the Supreme Court 'shadow docket?' Capitol Police watch an abortion-rights rally from behind the security fence surrounding the Supreme Court on June 23, 2022. Public trust in the Supreme Court is at a historic lowNadine Seiler attends a rally for voting rights while the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the Moore v. Harper case December 7, 2022. The dangers posed by the shadow docket are more perilous than the wrongs of individual justices, Vladeck argues, because the shadow docket's ills are inherently institutional.

Persons: Steve Vladeck, —, Vladeck, Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Scott Applewhite, mifepristone, William Baude, Nathan Howard, it's, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Joe Biden's, Chip Somodevilla, Roe, Wade, Obama, Bush, Trump, Nadine Seiler, Harper, Drew Angerer, stokes Organizations: Service, Supreme, Supreme Court, AP, University of Chicago, Capitol Police, Getty, Former, — Locations: United, Joe Biden's State, Texas, U.S, Moore

☆ Nearly all of the Supreme Court's decisions are made on the 'shadow docket.' It poses an even bigger ethical concern than luxury trips and disclosure forms.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The Supreme Court makes nearly all its decisions on the emergency relief docket or "shadow docket." What is the Supreme Court "shadow docket?" The court's emergency docket is where justices make quick decisions to address emergency relief requests and other procedural matters. But the vast majority of orders that reach the emergency docket are of little interest to the general public. The dangers posed by the shadow docket are more perilous than the wrongs of individual justices, Vladeck argues, because the shadow docket's ills are inherently institutional.

Persons: Steve Vladeck, —, Vladeck, mifepristone, William Baude, Nathan Howard, it's, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Roe, Wade, Obama, Bush, Trump, Nadine Seiler, Harper, Drew Angerer, stokes Organizations: Service, Supreme, Supreme Court, University of Chicago, Capitol Police, Getty, — Locations: Texas, U.S, Moore

☆ Savers should be cheering higher interest rates. So why are they unhappy?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London CNN —When central banks raise interest rates, mortgage borrowers can expect higher monthly repayments, while savers are supposed to be rewarded with bigger returns on their deposits. In Asia, the picture is less uniform: China cut its benchmark lending rate last month, adding to recent reductions in other interest rates, and Japan has kept its main interest rate negative in a bid to stimulate demand. However, rates on savings accounts there are closer to the central bank’s main rate than in other major economies. “While interest rates were ultra-low, the mortgage market was incredibly competitive, so [banks] were operating on unusually small margins between savings rates and mortgage deals… so they’re busy filling their boots,” she said. The top 100 US money market funds tracked by Crane Data are offering an average annual interest rate of 4.94%.

Persons: Nathan Howard, Jeremy Hunt, Sarah Coles, Hargreaves Lansdown, ”, Christopher Furlong, Crane, Peter Crane, they’ve Organizations: London CNN, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, US Federal Reserve, Bloomberg, Getty, European Central Bank, of, CNN, Getty Images Bank, Finance, Bank of England’s, HSBC, Barclays, Crane Data, Bank of England, “ Locations: Europe, United States, United Kingdom, Asia, China, Japan, South Korea

☆ Baltimore mass shooting: Investigators searching for suspects in block party shooting that killed 2 and injured 28 others
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe Melissa Alonso | Elizabeth Wolfe | Melissa Alonso | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Investigators in Baltimore are searching for multiple suspects in a mass shooting that launched a beloved annual neighborhood block party into chaos early Sunday, killing two people and injuring 28 others, most of whom were teens, officials said. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said Sunday his office is mobilizing every available resource to assist with the investigation. Residents watch as Baltimore police investigate the site of a mass shooting in the Brooklyn Homes neighborhood on July 2, 2023. The archive, like CNN, defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are shot, not including the shooter. Gunfire shatters community festivityMembers of the Kingdom Life Church pray at the site of a mass shooting in the Brooklyn Homes neighborhood on July 2, 2023.

Persons: Mayor Brandon Scott, Aaliyah Gonzales, Kylis Fagbemi, Richard Worley ., Worley, –, Gonzales –, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Scott, ” “, Nathan Howard, ” Scott, Nick Mosby, ” Mosby, Yvonne Booker, she’s, I’m, I’ve, ” Booker Organizations: CNN — Investigators, Mayor, CNN, Baltimore Police Department, Police, Baltimore Mayor, Baltimore, Brooklyn Homes, Getty, Baltimore City Locations: Baltimore, Brooklyn, Worley, Maryland

☆ Inflation, the Fed and a Major Recession Indicator: 3 Things to Watch
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Dion Rabouin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

E70Debt Ceiling Deadline, Housing and Business Surveys: What to Watch Lawmakers are reaching a critical point in the debt ceiling debate with the June 1 deadline approaching. Investors also get the latest reports on new and pending home sales as well as multiple reports on the health of U.S. businesses. WSJ's Dion Rabouin explains. Photo: Nathan Howard/Reuters

Persons: WSJ's Dion Rabouin, Nathan Howard Organizations: Business, Lawmakers, Investors

The Texas Legislature impeached Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton on Saturday. Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton sits in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, on May 29, 2023. But the threshold for conviction in the Senate trial is higher, requiring a two-thirds majority of its 31 members. If that happens, Ken Paxton would be permanently barred from holding office in Texas. He had suggested before the House impeachment vote that all 31 senators would vote in the trial.

Persons: Ken Paxton, —, Paxton, Donald Trump, Sen, Angela Paxton, Eric Gay, Speaker Dade, Gov, Dan Patrick, Trump, Patrick, Nathan Howard The, Patrick wouldn't, Austin, Nate Paul, Bryan Hughes, Hughes, Paul, Republican Ken Paxton, NICHOLAS KAMM, Trump's, Republicans didn't, Matt Rinaldi, Paul . Four, US Justice Department's, Paxton's Austin, Phelan, James " Pa, Ferguson, O.P, Carrillo, ___ Bleiberg Organizations: Texas Legislature, Republican, Service, The Texas Legislature, GOP, Chamber, Texas Capitol, Senate, Speaker, AP, Getty, Republicans, Texas Senate, Texas, Washington Post, US Justice, Democratic, FBI, Legislature, Trump, Gov Locations: , Texas, Texas, Austin , Texas, Washington, Dallas

Hours later, the Democratic president said he was confident the legislation would pass both chambers of Congress to avoid a U.S. government default. Biden and McCarthy were due to speak later on Sunday to finalize the agreement, which has drawn fire from hardline Republicans and progressive Democrats. House Republicans expected on Sunday to unveil legislation to pass the deal. But McCarthy dismissed threats of opposition within his own party, saying "over 95%" of House Republicans were "overwhelmingly excited" about the deal. The deal would also impose a 1% across-the-board spending cut should Congress fail to enact 12 appropriations bills by Oct. 1.

WASHINGTON, May 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy reached a tentative deal to suspend the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling on Saturday evening, ending a months-long stalemate. Biden and McCarthy held a 90-minute phone call earlier on Saturday evening to discuss the deal, McCarthy briefed his members later in the evening, and the White House and the House leader spoke afterward. [1/6] General view of the U.S. Capitol after U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) reached a tentative deal with President Joe Biden to raise the United States' debt ceiling and avoid a catastrophic default, in Washington, U.S. May 27, 2023. The long standoff on raising the debt ceiling spooked financial markets, weighing on stocks and forcing the United States to pay record-high interest rates in some bond sales. The work to raise the debt ceiling is far from done.

☆ Republicans question June 1 debt ceiling deadline as talks zero in on potential trade-offs
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty ImagesWASHINGTON — A significant group of House Republicans raised questions Tuesday about whether the Treasury Department's June 1 deadline to avoid a potential U.S. debt default was accurate. "We'd like to see more transparency on how they come to that date," House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise said Tuesday at a news conference. "We're getting closer," McCarthy told reporters late Monday, adding that the "circle" of issues was becoming "smaller, smaller, smaller." A Republican negotiator, Rep. Patrick McHenry, N.C., told reporters that spending was still the biggest hurdle to an agreement. Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., left, and Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., speak to reporters about debt ceiling negotiations as they leave the House Republicans' caucus meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, May 23, 2023.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Steve Scalise, Scalise, Janet Yellen's, Nathan Howard, Biden, We're, McCarthy, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jean, Pierre said, Katherine Clark, Elise Stefanik, Patrick McHenry, Garret Graves, Bill Clark Organizations: White, AFP, Getty Images WASHINGTON, House Republicans, Treasury, Republican, Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC, US, Democratic, Courage for America, Capitol, Getty Images House Republicans, Rep, Republicans, Capitol Hill Club, CQ, Inc Locations: Washington ,, United States, California, Washington , DC, U.S, N.C, R, Washington

☆ Fresh round of debt ceiling talks kick off as US default worries grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A failure to lift the debt ceiling would trigger a default that would shake financial markets and drive interest rates higher on everything from car payments to credit cards. Any deal to raise the $31.4 trillion debt limit must pass both chambers of Congress before Biden could sign it into law. A plan passed by the House last month would cut a wide swath of government spending by 8% next year. Biden has said he would consider spending cuts alongside tax adjustments but that Republicans' latest offer was "unacceptable." McCarthy told reporters debt ceiling talks have not included discussions about tax cuts passed under former President Donald Trump, a Republican.

"Unfortunately, the White House moved backwards," McCarthy said, adding that the "socialist wing" of the Democratic Party appeared to be in control. McCarthy's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the White House statement. Democratic President Biden’s proposed 2024 budget and Republicans’ ‘Limit, Save, Grow’ Act will both generate budget savings over a decade, but how they will do so is starkly different. The source also said House Republicans want to extend tax cuts passed under former President Donald Trump, which would add $3.5 trillion to the federal debt. Congressional Republicans voted to raise the debt ceiling three times, with no budget cut pre-conditions, when Republican President Donald Trump was in the White House.

☆ Congressman George Santos Indicted on Federal Fraud Charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Corinne Ramey | James Fanelli | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

U.S. Rep. George Santos is expected to appear in federal court on Wednesday in Central Islip, N.Y.. Photo: Nathan Howard/Bloomberg NewsRep. George Santos (R., N.Y.) surrendered to federal authorities on Wednesday to face criminal charges that he embezzled contributions, fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits and lied on federal disclosure forms. Mr. Santos, who represents a district on Long Island, is expected to appear in federal court in Central Islip, N.Y., later on Wednesday. An indictment was unsealed charging Mr. Santos with seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.

☆ George Santos Faces 13 Felony Charges, Including Fraud and Money Laundering
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Corinne Ramey | James Fanelli | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

New York Rep. George Santos surrendered to federal authorities on Wednesday after being criminally charged with fraud. Photo: Nathan Howard/Bloomberg NewsRep. George Santos, accused of fabricating much of his life’s story to secure public office, was indicted Wednesday on federal charges that he embezzled contributions, fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits and filed false federal disclosure forms. The New York Republican, who was elected last year to represent parts of Long Island and Queens in Congress, surrendered to authorities Wednesday morning and pleaded not guilty in federal court in Central Islip, N.Y., in the afternoon. A 13-count indictment charged Mr. Santos with seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.

☆ Fugees rapper convicted in US over lobbying campaigns with Malaysian financier
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Sarah N. Lynch | Thomson Reuters | Sarah N. Lynch Is The Lead Reporter For Reuters Covering The U.S. Justice Department Out Of Washington | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Nathan HowardWASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - A jury on Wednesday convicted Grammy Award-winning rapper Prakazrel "Pras" Michel of The Fugees hip hop group on criminal charges that he conspired with a Malaysian financier to orchestrate a series of foreign lobbying campaigns aimed at influencing the U.S. government under two presidents. Low, who also faces separate federal charges in New York that he embezzled $4.5 billion from Malaysia's 1MDB sovereign wealth fund, remains at large. Because federal election law prohibits foreigners from donating to U.S. campaigns, prosecutors said Michel masked the source of the funds. "Once he gave me the money, it was my discretion how I spent the money because it's my money," Michel told the jury, describing the payment as "free money." On whether he failed to register as a foreign agent, Michel told jurors that his attorney George Higgenbotham never told him it was required by law.

☆ The worst bird flu outbreak in US history is 'wiping out everything in numbers we've never seen before.' Here's what you need to know.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A new strain of bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is spreading across the US. Bill Powers with his flock of white turkeys, kept under shelter to prevent exposure to bird flu, on November 14, 2022 in Townsend, Delaware. And we now have the highest amount of poultry loss to avian influenza, so this is a worst-case scenario," she added. Last week the US Government started testing four new bird flu vaccines to try and protect the poultry from this mass outbreak, per Reuters. Markets are in troubleFarmers and the markets are being hit hard by the ravages of avian flu.

☆ Factbox: 2024 US presidential election: who's in, who's out and who's still thinking about it
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Ross Colvin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Here is a list of major declared candidates and other potential 2024 hopefuls in both the Democratic and Republican parties. Political analysts say there is little benefit to him jumping into the race too soon, with the election still 19 months away. In the meantime, he can continue to look presidential, although he still has poor approval ratings in opinion surveys. The former Kansas congressman was one of Trump's most loyal lieutenants and initially backed his false claims of a stolen presidential election in 2020. Several of his key staff, though, have recently joined the DeSantis camp, however, suggesting that Youngkin, is not going to run in 2024.

[1/7] U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on childcare and eldercare costs during an event in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 18, 2023. Biden signed the order, which includes over 50 specific actions, in the White House Rose Garden, flanked by family caregivers, people with disabilities, older adults and early childhood and long-term care workers. "The executive order doesn't require any new spending. The executive order was also welcomed by AARP, a major lobbying group for older Americans, and the AFL-CIO, the largest U.S. labor organization. Heather Boushey of the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) told reporters that childcare and eldercare shortages and soaring costs limited the ability of many women to work, constraining labor supply and dampening economic growth.

☆ Texas will play an outsized role in selecting the next GOP presidential nominee. So Trump isn't leaving anything to chance.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Trump has previously indicated that he wouldn't leave the 2024 presidential race if he was indicted. Among the bold-named Texas figures who have signed on to Trump's 2024 campaign are Lt. Gov. Greg Abbott, who has been floated as a potential 2024 presidential candidate, was also not on the list. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas won his home state in the 2016 Republican presidential primary. Cruz took home the lion's share of Texas' GOP delegates in what is a winner-takes-most system.

☆ TikTok CEO set for grilling in House hearing. But U.S. lawmakers also face questions
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +15 min

U.S. tech platforms including Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Google's YouTube , Twitter and Snap's Snapchat have raised similar fears for lawmakers and users. Evaluating a potential banThere's little appetite in Washington to accept the potential risks that TikTok's ownership by Chinese company ByteDance poses to U.S. national security. The interagency panel tasked with reviewing national security risks stemming from ByteDance's ownership has threatened a ban if the company won't sell its stake in the app. Trahan said members should ask about national security risks of the app, but those questions should be substantive. Bowman noted lawmakers haven't received a bipartisan congressional briefing from the administration on national security risks stemming from TikTok.

☆ From $2.5 million yachts to $400,000 in DoorDash bills, here are Sam Bankman-Fried and other execs' wildest purchases with FTX and Alameda funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Since the dramatic implosion of crypto exchange FTX last November, court filings and other reports have revealed the extent of executives' lavish spending habits. Liquidation expert John J. Ray III took over the FTX CEO role from Sam Bankman-Fried to handle the bankruptcy. Nathan Howard/Getty Images; Michael M. Santiago/Getty ImagesBankruptcy lawyers said Alameda "bought planes, houses, threw parties, made political donations" with a $65 billion line of credit at FTX. The vast sums are hard to visualize, but it was partly thanks to this spending that customers have been left out of pocket.

☆ When will Supreme Court rule on Biden's student loan forgiveness plan? Here's what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Payment pause on federal student loans is still ongoingFederal student loan payments have been on pause since March 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic first hit the U.S. and crippled the economy. The Department of Education in November said the bills would resume 60 days after the litigation over its student loan forgiveness plan resolves. If the justices allow student loan forgiveness to go through, many borrowers will never have to restart payments. "Sixty days will be enough to forgive student loan debt if the president's plan survives," Kantrowitz said. A ruling against student loan forgiveness isn't the end

☆ A tiny-home startup has attracted 160,000 customers, including Elon Musk. But disgruntled customers, an empty factory, and a tie to an alleged Iranian agent cloud its future.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Daniel Geiger | Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

A Boxabl Casita being delivered to a SpaceX facility in Texas. Tackling the US housing crisisStamped out on an assembly line, Boxabl homes could finally begin to help quench America's perpetual housing shortage. Homeowners, meanwhile, could rent out Boxabl units as secondary dwellings in their backyards or as Airbnbs. Firooznia, Tiramani said, sometimes provided a tiebreaking vote when the father and son disagreed on business decisions. During a tour of Boxabl's factory in December, a freelance reporter for Insider saw Tiramani's wife, Shauna, arrive with their four young children.

So yeah, I’m proud of it,” McConnell said, hailing it as an “extremely important” win for conservatives. He said it’ll mean they no longer “pay a ransom on the domestic side” in order to secure hefty military spending. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill.. said he’s “disappointed” in the unequal spending levels but argued that the Kentucky Republican was using his leverage. Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks alongside Sens. Democrats say McConnell was pushing for deals due to the rising support in the Democratic Party in recent years to end the filibuster.

☆ 2 victims of shooting at Virginia Walmart that left 6 dead still in hospital
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Two of the victims injured in the mass shooting at a Walmart Supercenter in Chesapeake, Virginia, that left six people dead remained in hospital over Thanksgiving, with one in critical condition, officials said. "On this Thanksgiving, we are extra thankful for our community and we are thinking of every victim of the Walmart shooting and their family members," the City of Chesapeake said in a tweet Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. "There are still two people injured in the hospital, one in critical condition and the other in fair/improving condition," the city said. A memorial placed outside Walmart in Chesapeake, Va., on Nov. 23, 2022. Nathan Howard / Getty ImagesIn a statement Wednesday, Walmart said Bing had been an overnight team leader who had been with the company since 2010.

☆ Avian flu outbreak wipes out record 50.54 million U.S. birds
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

CHICAGO — Avian flu has wiped out 50.54 million birds in the United States this year, making it the country’s deadliest outbreak in history, U.S. Department of Agriculture data showed on Thursday. The deaths of chickens, turkeys and other birds represent the worst U.S. animal-health disaster to date, topping the previous record of 50.5 million birds that died in an avian-flu outbreak in 2015. Wild birds like ducks transmit the virus, known as highly pathogenic avian influenza, through their feces, feathers or direct contact with poultry. Government officials are studying infections at turkey farms, in particular, in hopes of developing new recommendations for preventing infections. Turkey farms account for more than 70% of the commercial poultry farms infected in the outbreak, the USDA said.

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