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☆ Walmart's PAC has quietly donated nearly $1 million to campaigns ahead of the midterms. While the company has a ''don't rock the boat strategy,' it contributed to 41 election deniers.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Ben Tobin | Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

WALPAC donated almost 50-50 to Democratic and Republican federal candidates for the midterms. Walmart's PAC donated to 41 candidates who denied the 2020 presidential election results, ProPublica found. Of that, about 53% went to Republican candidates, and 47% went to Democrats. Some members of Congress, particularly among Democrats, also reject any corporate PAC contribution — WALPAC or otherwise — as a matter of practice. However, the company did donate a significant amount of money to candidates who voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results.

☆ It Took Two Weeks to Call Every State in 2020. This Is When to Expect Results This Year.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Alicia Parlapiano | Lazaro Gamio | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +10 min

Six of them — all but Alaska and Michigan — have competitive Senate races this year that could determine the balance of power in Congress. North Carolina Last polls close at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Competitive congressional races Senate, House (1 district) Timing of results State officials expect a quick pace of reporting, similar to 2020. How vote counting progressed in 2020 Race call 6 p.m.,Nov. 3 Midnight Noon,Nov. 4 96% rpt. How vote counting progressed in 2020 Race called 4 days later 6 p.m.,Nov. 3 Midnight Noon,Nov. 4 82% rpt. How vote counting progressed in 2020 Race called 1 day later 6 p.m.,Nov. 3 Midnight Noon,Nov. 4 100% rpt.

☆ Biden comments on coal-fired plants slammed by Manchin ahead of U.S. midterms
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JOLIET, Ill. (Reuters) - Comments by President Joe Biden about shutting coal-powered energy plants days before critical midterm elections drew fire on Saturday from a key conservative Senate Democrat. Higher energy costs following Russia’s war in Ukraine have helped lift prices, along with the economic rebound from the COVID pandemic. Pennsylvania, where Biden was scheduled to campaign later on Saturday, is both a major producer and consumer of coal. Tuesday’s midterms will determine whether Democrats retain control of Congress and hinge on races like the one for an open Senate seat in Pennsylvania. The power industry is the source of a quarter of the nation’s greenhouse gases and Biden campaigned on a pledge to cut net emissions to zero by 2035.

☆ Joe Manchin Criticizes Biden Over Comments on Closing Coal Plants
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Catherine Lucey | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Sen. Joe Manchin, who represents a coal-producing state, called on the president to apologize to coal workers. Sen. Joe Manchin criticized President Biden on Saturday over comments the president made the previous day about moving away from coal plants in favor of wind and solar energy. “President Biden’s comments are not only outrageous and divorced from reality, they ignore the severe economic pain the American people are feeling because of rising energy costs,” the West Virginia Democrat said in a statement.

☆ Tim Ryan doubles down on his go-it-alone strategy in Ohio's crucial Senate race as Democratic leaders campaign elsewhere: 'They don't need to rescue me. I need to rescue them'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Democratic Senate hopeful Tim Ryan is facing off against Trump-backed challenger JD Vance in Ohio. He added, somewhat defiantly, "They don't need to rescue me. Fans of Democratic Ohio Senate hopeful Rep. Tim Ryan chat in front of his campaign bus during a rally in Xenia, Ohio on November 4, 2022. "We don't need people from the outside coming in to sell us something, because his message is so strong," Saul added. Matheny said, adding that it "shows working-class people that you don't need all that extra money in your pocket."

The rise comes as other respiratory viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, are also spreading early and rapidly. Common winter viruses tend to peak in December and January — not October and November — though it's unclear how the early and intense spread of respiratory viruses will ultimately play out this season. It's the first time since the beginning of the Covid pandemic that run-of-the-mill respiratory viruses are again circulating widely. Other respiratory viruses, including rhinoviruses and enteroviruses, are also circulating widely, and could account for some of those illnesses. "We'll probably start seeing cases rise on the West Coast in the coming weeks," said Dr. Meredith McMorrow, a pediatrician and team lead for Enhanced Surveillance Platforms at the CDC.

States are working to shore up what might be the most public and vulnerable parts of their election systems: the websites that publish voting results. One of its victims last month was Hawaii.gov, which also hosts the state’s election night reporting. That means avoiding even the perception of hackers’ changing votes, which makes election results websites all the more crucial. Historically, election results websites have been ripe targets for malicious hackers who want to sow chaos. Some U.S. officials emphasized that even accurate results on websites should be taken for what they are — preliminary indications of election results.

☆ Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Tim Ryan avoids talking about Trump on the trail as he paints GOP opponent JD Vance as extreme
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Insider spent a day following Rep. Tim Ryan across Ohio as campaigned for US Senate. He's running a tight race against GOP nominee JD Vance, despite Trump winning Ohio twice. "You are grounded, go to your room," Ryan mock-replies, before drawing his story back to the reality of his Senate campaign. Republican Senate candidate JD Vance at a GOP unity event in Canton, OH on October 27, 2022. Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio at a rally for Ryan in Cleveland, OH on October 27, 2022.

☆ Amendment 2: Kentucky voters could establish that citizens don't have the right to abortion
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kentucky's Amendment 3 will change the constitution to clarify that the right to abortion does not exist. Opponents argue that it will make it more difficult to pass future abortion rights legislation. Currently, there are three lawsuits challenging abortion law in Kentucky, all of which assert that the state's constitution provides a right to abortions. Those in support argue that the amendment is necessary to remove future legal challenges to the state's abortion law. Those opposed say the amendment will make it harder to pass abortion rights legislation in the state or argue that a person's right to abortion is protected.

☆ For voters submitting absentee ballots, your state may require it to be verified. Here are the ways your ballot is checked for authenticity.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Kayla Gallagher | Annie Fu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

To ensure authenticity, some states require ballot verification for votes to count. In order to better prevent the risk of election fraud, some states have implemented ballot verification rules to ensure the authenticity of a voter's ballot. Currently, 27 states require absentee ballots to be verified using a few different methods: signature match, voter signature only, notary or witness signatures, photo ID, or the last four digits of a person's Social Security number. Three states — Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma — require the envelope containing the absentee ballot to be notarized, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. There are 24 states that require voters to be notified when there is a signature missing or a signature discrepancy on their ballot.

☆ Joe Manchin tells CEOs it's 'foolish' for them to give money to political candidates while 'asking nothing in return'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin addressed a room full of top CEOs on Thursday morning. He said that by "asking nothing in return" for political donations, CEOs were "supporting bad behavior." He expanded, contrasting the investments that CEOs make in the business world with the money that they contribute to political candidates' campaign accounts. Manchin suggested on Thursday that CEOs were making political contributions based on broader ideological dynamics — referencing Democrats who are "too liberal" or Republicans who voted against certifying the 2020 election results. While Manchin appeared to be suggesting an outright quid-pro-quo for political contributions, he added that political contributions from CEOs are fueling "bad behavior" by politicians, suggesting a broader point about political dysfunction.

After oil prices soared following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, European governments already have imposed windfall taxes on their oil industries. But most U.S. lawmakers show little appetite to reverse that trend after oil companies like Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp <CVX.N. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative Ro Khanna, both Democrats, are among legislators who have already introduced bills to tax excess oil company profits. Democratic Senators Kyrsten Sinema from Arizona and Joe Manchin from West Virginia would likely oppose a windfall profits tax, dimming its prospects, congressional sources and research groups said. Administration officials conceded privately that it may be difficult to enact a federal windfall profits tax, and said no deadline has been set for a next step.

☆ SEC pushes ahead with slate of proposals to boost corporate reporting, disclosure requirements
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A flag outside the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. While Washington is consumed with the elections next week, the Securities and Exchange Commission is continuing to consider numerous rulemaking proposals that could significantly increase the reporting and disclosure requirements of corporate America. The SEC is considering two proposals Wednesday. These proposals are moving slowly from the "proposed" stage to the "adopted" stage; all or part of his agenda could be adopted in 2023. There is likely to be vociferous pushback on more controversial proposals such as climate disclosure.

☆ CVS Health raises outlook as third quarter results beat estimates
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Jack Stebbins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

CVS Health reported third quarter earnings Wednesday morning that beat Wall Street's expectations. CVS' Health Care Benefits segment grew nearly 10% compared to the same quarter last year, driven in part by an increase in its medical memberships from 2021. CVS encompasses a large swath of health care services, including its prescription and over-the-counter medicine sales, its MinuteClinic patient care services and its pharmacy benefits manager, CVS Caremark. The retailer has signaled a renewed focus on health care this quarter, announcing its purchase of Signify, an at-home health care company, for $8 billion in September. The move mirrors Amazon and Walgreens own expansions further into health care services.

☆ If you're voting by mail in the 2022 midterms, here are the deadlines to submit your absentee ballot in each state
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Kayla Gallagher | Taylor Tyson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Here are the deadlines for mail-in ballots in each state. When casting a vote in the 2022 midterm elections, many voters will chose to submit an absentee ballot. You can also drop off your ballot at some in-person polling locations during early voting and on Election Day. Election Day, November 8, is the deadline to postmark absentee ballots in all states. Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, members of the military living overseas and other American citizens living abroad can request absentee ballots and vote in federal elections.

Here are Insider's top picks for same-day or next-day funding:Best quick personal loans LightStream Personal LoanUpstart Personal LoanAvant Personal LoanBest Egg Personal LoanRocket Loans Personal LoanOppLoans Personal LoansLendingPoint Personal Loan Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Same day Editor's rating 4.5/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star APR 5.99% to 21.49% with AutoPay (Rates as of 10/25/2022. This lender topped Insider's list of best personal loans in 2022, and quick funding is yet another bonus. Other fast personal loans we consideredNot all banks that offer personal loans will fund them quickly. Fast cash personal loan credit requirementsLender Minimum credit score LightStream 660 Upstart 600 Avant 600 Best Egg 640 LendingPoint 580 Rocket Loans 620 OppLoans No minimumThe best quick personal loan for you will largely depend on your credit score.

☆ A state-by-state guide to where you're guaranteed paid time off for voting—and where you aren't
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Federal law doesn't require employers to give employees any time off to vote, much less paid time off. Instead, the laws vary from state to state: Just 29 states and the District of Columbia currently require employers to give employees time off to vote in general elections. Only 23 of them require that you actually get paid for that time, and those rules also vary by state. Some require up to three hours of paid time off, while other states leave it up to employers to determine what constitutes a "reasonable amount of time to vote." That leaves 21 states where your employer is not required to offer you any time off in order to cast your ballot next week.

☆ Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, a low-key moderate who once ran for president, faces off against first-timer Joe O'Dea in a surprise battleground
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Michael Bennet is running against Republican Joe O'Dea in Colorado's US Senate race. Colorado, which Joe Biden won by double digits in 2020, is an unexpected battleground. No fan of the current president, O'Dea added that "seeing a Biden-Trump rematch again in 2024 would rip the country apart." Bennet won 48.1% of the vote when he ran in 2010 for his own term — less than 2 percentage points ahead of Republican challenger Ken Buck. Joe Biden carried Colorado by 13 points in 2020, beating then-President Donald Trump there by more than 400,000 votes.

President Joe Biden last week doled out $2.8 billion to miners developing new U.S. sources of lithium, nickel, copper and other EV minerals, as well as battery parts manufacturers and recyclers. Those grants followed August's Inflation Reduction Act, which links EV tax credits to minerals extracted domestically or from 20 allies. "People have a misconception about how quickly we can get mines up and running given the U.S. permitting process," said Megan O'Connor, Nth Cycle's CEO. "Hopefully, they'll give us some help and fast track some of the permitting process," said Kent Masters, Albemarle's CEO. The yawning divide between America and China's approaches to funding the EV supply chain is now a top concern for many policymakers and their advisers in the nation's capital.

☆ Ohio Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan says he'd 'probably' be a 'royal pain in the ass' in the Senate, doesn't commit to supporting Sen. Chuck Schumer as caucus leader
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Tim Ryan said he'd "probably" be a "royal pain in the ass" if elected to the Senate next month. Ryan made the comment during an interview with Politico, where he remarked on his tight Senate race. The lawmaker also told Politico that he was unsure if he'd back Chuck Schumer as Democratic leader. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. As Ryan has campaigned across Ohio, he has spoken out against some of his party's leaders, including President Joe Biden.

☆ The decider: Jill Biden’s unparalleled influence and impact on the president
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Peter Nicholas | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Carol-Lee-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +17 min

WASHINGTON — Whenever his aides are pressed about President Joe Biden’s political future, they’ll often point to one person as the true decider: his wife of 45 years, Jill Biden. Eager to introduce herself to Gina McCarthy, then the president’s chief climate adviser, she gathered some flowers from a White House garden and brought them to her office, according to White House aides. When the realization of her new security restrictions sunk in, Jill Biden told her staff she didn’t want to become isolated. Journeys outside the protective cocoon of the White House expose her to the vitriol coursing through the nation’s politics. “I don’t pay attention because I just don’t want to hear it,” Jill Biden said.

☆ U.S. makes unusual disclosure of ballistic missile submarine's presence in Persian Gulf
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Courtney-Kube-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Courtney Kube | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: 1 min

The U.S. military made an unusual disclosure Wednesday, revealing the presence of one of its submerged nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine in the Persian Gulf in a move likely to make waves across the region. The U.S. Central Command released photos showing CENTCOM Commander General Michael “Erik” Kurilla onboard the submarine, in a rare decision to reveal the vessel’s location. It is extremely rare for the U.S. military to acknowledge where their ballistic missile subs are operating, particularly when they are stationed near an adversary's shores. In a statement Kurilla praised the submarine and its crew, calling submarines like it “the crown jewel of the nuclear triad.”“The West Virginia demonstrates the flexibility, survivability, readiness, and capability of USCENTCOM and USSTRATCOM forces at sea,” he said.

But the Inflation Reduction Act, which represents about a third of the spending, was passed by Democrats alone. The White House is still pushing a more expansive child tax credit that was not included in the Inflation Reduction Act. Here’s a detailed look at what Mr. Biden wanted and what he got:Climate and Environment Proposed $722 billion Passed $509 billionOn climate, the Biden administration got much of what it wanted. Health Care Proposed $563 billion Passed $412 billionOn health care, there were some victories for the president — and much trimming. The family programs were eliminated largely because of concerns from Mr. Manchin about the overall size of what became the Inflation Reduction Act.

☆ U.S. sets March date for Gulf of Mexico drilling auction
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 20 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Thursday said it will hold a Gulf of Mexico drilling auction in March of next year to satisfy a requirement in the government's new climate change law. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe sale would be the first Gulf of Mexico oil and gas auction mandated under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which President Joe Biden signed into law in August. Biden paused drilling auctions on federal lands and waters shortly after taking office as part of a climate change agenda. The IRA requires that BOEM now hold offshore auctions in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska that the administration canceled earlier this year. It is also in the process of finalizing a five-year proposal for offshore oil and gas development.

People are seen shopping in a Walgreens, owned by the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 26, 2021. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterSteven Derringer, arguing for Walgreens, blamed the opioid crisis on excessive prescriptions and smaller, "mom and pop" pharmacies with lax controls. The U.S. opioid crisis has caused more than 500,000 overdose deaths over two decades, according to government data. One, brought by two Ohio counties, resulted in a jury verdict against Walgreens, Walmart and CVS Health Corp (CVS.N) last year, and a judgment of more than $650 million last month. Walmart and CVS settled with West Virginia last month for $82.5 million and $65 million, respectively, a week before a scheduled trial.

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