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☆ Senate passes $95 billion aid bill for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, but getting it through the House is another matter
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewThe US Senate passed a $95 billion emergency defense aid bill for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan early Tuesday morning. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X that Putin "will regret the day he questioned America's resolve." AdvertisementHowever, the bill will now need to go to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to face stiff opposition. House Speaker Mike Johnson preemptively rejected the bill on Monday evening, saying that it failed to address US-Mexico border security and was therefore a nonstarter. AdvertisementIt does not include any border security provisions after Schumer stripped the border security language from the bill last week, per Reuters.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Peter Welch of, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders of, Sen, Chuck Schumer, Putin, America's, Mike Johnson preemptively, ”, Schumer, JD Vance, won’t, Hakeem Jeffries Organizations: Service, Senate, Democratic, Business, Representatives, Associated Press, Republican Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, Peter Welch of Vermont, Oregon, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Mexico, “, China, Gaza

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and amid growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad. But a bipartisan deal on border security struck by Republican Sen. James Lankford fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. After the border bill collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone — as Democrats had originally intended. In an unusually raw back-and-forth, GOP senators who support the aid challenged some of the opponents directly on the floor. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that “I reiterated America’s commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.”But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, It’s, ”, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch of, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden's, Schumer, McConnell, “, ” McConnell, Republican Sen, James Lankford, J.D, Vance, Russia's Putin, Putin, Kentucky Sen, Rand Paul, Carolina Sen, Thom Tillis, ” Tillis, ” Sen, Jerry Moran, Moran, Trump, Russia “, Mike Turner, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Turner, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, ” Johnson, Abigail Spanberger, Zelenskyy, ” Spanberger, Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republican Party, Ukraine, Republican, Republicans, Sens, Ukraine —, GOP, U.S . Senate, Trump, Ohio Republican, Kentucky, NATO, House Republicans, House Intelligence, Russia, ”, Senate, Virginia Democrat, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, United States, U.S, Oregon, Peter Welch of Vermont, Russia, Kyiv, China, Gaza, Ohio, Carolina, Europe, America, Virginia

Senators conducted a late-night vote Friday, advancing to next steps as they spin through objections from a core group of Republicans. More closely aligned with Donald Trump, the GOP's presidential front-runner, the Republican senators aren't putting a priority on stopping Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion. Attendance slipped Friday night as senators advanced the bill, 64-19, with 14 Republicans joining Democrats to move it forward. "The failure of the United States Congress, if it occurs, not to support Ukraine, is close to criminal neglect,” Biden said. In a key vote Thursday, 17 Republican senators agreed to start debate on the bill — but 31 voted against it.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, aren't, Vladimir Putin's, Chuck Schumer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden, ” Biden, Olaf Scholz, Trump, ” Sen, Mike Lee, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, ” McConnell, Sen, Dan Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Senators groused, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Bernie Sanders, Sanders, Netanyahu, “, ”, Chris Van Hollen, Mike Johnson Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Senate, Republican, New York Democrat, Republicans, Democrats, Ukraine, White, United States Congress, GOP, Capitol, Senators, European Union Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Israel, U.S, Europe, Taiwan, China, Gaza, Central, United States, Utah, Alaska, Rafah, “, Vermont, Maryland, Washington

Democratic senators on Friday called Biden's directive — meant to bring breadth, oversight, deadlines and teeth to efforts to ensure foreign governments don't use U.S. military aid against civilians — historic. “This is a sea-change in terms of how you approach U.S. military aid and its impact on civilians,” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said. Human rights advocates said the challenge for the new directive would be the same faced by all previous efforts to withhold U.S. weapons and funding from human rights abusers — whether administrations will actually enforce the human rights conditions against strategically important allies and partners. Foreign governments that fail to provide those assurances on time would have their military aid paused. Those “are honored in the breach,” Roth, the human rights expert, said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren, who'd, Maryland Sen, Chris Van Hollen, ”, Kenneth Roth, Antony Blinken, isn't, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Karine Jean, Pierre, “, ” Jean, Pierre said, Leahy, —, ” Roth, it's, ” Van Hollen, — Seung Min Kim Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democrats, Ukraine, Democratic, Capitol, White House, Maryland, Human Rights Watch, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, U.S, Foreign Assistance Locations: Gaza, Israel, Russia, Massachusetts, what's, Ukraine, Israeli, United States, U.S

☆ These 17 GOP senators voted to advance a $95.3 billion Ukraine and Israel aid package — without the controversial border provisions that Republicans have rejected
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On Wednesday, 17 Republican senators joined with Democrats to begin debate on a version of the foreign aid bill that no longer includes any of the border security provisions. AdvertisementThe $95.34 billion package contains $60 billion in new aid to Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and $9.15 billion for humanitarian assistance, including for Gaza. In May 2022 — the last time the Senate voted on a bill primarily dealing with Ukraine aid — 39 GOP senators supported it. Several Democratic senators are hoping to impose new conditions on Israel aid amid the devastating war in Gaza, and Republicans may offer amendments of their own. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has threatened to call a vote on ousting Johnson from the speakership if he allows another vote on Ukraine aid.

Persons: —, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson, Sen, Bernie Sanders Organizations: Service, House Republicans, Republican, Democrats, Business, GOP, —, Democratic, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, United States, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Vermont

☆ Under Bernie Sanders’s Glare, Pharmaceutical Chiefs Will Testify on Drug Prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Noah Weiland | Rebecca Robbins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The chief executives of three major pharmaceutical companies are set to appear in front of the Senate health committee on Thursday to defend how much they charge for drugs in the United States, drawing them further into a confrontation with lawmakers and the Biden administration over the cost of some of the most widely used prescription medications. The three executives scheduled to testify — Joaquin Duato of Johnson & Johnson, Robert M. Davis of Merck and Christopher Boerner of Bristol Myers Squibb — are expected to clash with the health committee’s chairman, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who has made reining in drug prices a signature cause of his late-career years in Congress. Mr. Sanders plans to focus the hearing on why drug prices are higher in the United States than in other wealthy countries. His staff has singled out several widely used drugs, including Eliquis, a blood thinner made by Bristol Myers Squibb, and Januvia, a diabetes drug from Merck, that can be bought for much less in Canada and Europe than in the United States.

Persons: Biden, — Joaquin Duato, Johnson, Robert M, Davis, Christopher Boerner, Bernie Sanders of, Sanders Organizations: Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb Locations: United States, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Canada, Europe

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A bounty of 10 African penguin chicks has hatched in just over a year at a San Francisco science museum as part of an effort to conserve the endangered bird. African penguins have dwindled to 9,000 breeding pairs in the wild, the academy said in a statement. Photos You Should See View All 21 ImagesChicks spend their first three weeks with their penguin parents in a nest box. The penguins at the museum in Golden Gate Park have distinct personalities and are identifiable by their arm bands, according to the academy's website. African penguins can live to be 27 years old in the wild, and longer in captivity.

Persons: Brenda Melton, ”, Opal, Pete, Partners Stanlee, Bernie Organizations: FRANCISCO, California Academy of Sciences, Partners Locations: San Francisco, ”, Golden, bray, Africa

☆ Senators to question Merck, J&J and Bristol Myers Squibb CEOs over high U.S. drug pricing
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Senators will question the CEOs of Johnson & Johnson , Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb on U.S. drug prices at a hearing Thursday, as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle work to rein in high health-care costs for Americans. Prescription drug prices in the U.S. are also more than 2.5 times as high as those in other high-income nations, another federal report showed. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee says that's especially true for some of the top drugs from J&J, Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb. ET and include testimony from J&J CEO Joaquin Duato, Merck CEO Robert Davis and Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Chris Boerner. A spokesperson for Bristol Myers Squibb did not immediately respond to a request for comment ahead of the hearing.

Persons: Sen, Bernie Sanders, Ed Markey, Joaquin Duato, Robert Davis, Chris Boerner, Duato, Davis, Bristol Myers, Eli Lilly's, J Organizations: Capitol, Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, U.S, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, Bristol Myers, CNBC, J, Bristol Locations: U.S

☆ Democrats have become way more comfortable putting Israel aid on hold amid the ongoing war in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Democrats believe it will be essentially impossible to get that aid through both chambers of Congress without attaching it to Israel aid. AdvertisementYet despite AIPAC's endorsement of a $11.7 billion Israel aid package on Tuesday, all but 46 House Democrats voted against it. Democratic Rep. Don Beyer, a former diplomat, said he sees little urgency in approving more Israel aid. Another factor in Democrats' rejection of the Israel aid bill was its exclusion of humanitarian aid for Palestinians, which is included in the Senate's foreign aid bill. And there are some progressive Democrats who are likely to spurn further Israel aid altogether.

Persons: —, That's, it's, Israel, Don Beyer of Virginia, Beyer, I'm, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Don Beyer, Bill Clark, Greg Landsman, Jeremy Ben, Ami, Landsman, Sen, Bernie Sanders of, Rep, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez Organizations: Service, Business, Democratic Rep, Republicans, Internal Revenue Service, GOP, Democratic, Jewish, Democrats Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Gaza, Ohio, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Alexandria, Cortez of New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — Self-help author and spiritual guru Marianne Williamson on Wednesday announced the end of her long-shot Democratic challenge to President Joe Biden. She won just 2% of the vote in South Carolina and about 3% in Nevada. “I hope future candidates will take what works for them, drinking from the well of information we prepared,” Williamson wrote in announcing the end of her bid. She tweaked Biden, an avid Amtrak fan, by announcing her campaign at Washington’s Union Station. That followed a new plan by the Democratic National Committee, championed by Biden, that reordered the party’s 2024 presidential primary calendar by leading off with South Carolina on Feb. 3.

Persons: —, Marianne Williamson, Joe Biden, Oprah Winfrey, “, Williamson, ” Williamson, Dean Phillips, Biden, Donald Trump, Sen, Bernie Sanders of Organizations: WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Democratic, Minnesota, Department of Peace, Amtrak, Washington’s, Democratic National Committee Locations: New, South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Beverly Hills , California, California, Bernie Sanders of Vermont

☆ Medicare now negotiating price of drug that costs $7,100 in US vs. $900 in Canada
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The annual list price of Bristol Myers Squibb’s Eliquis, a blood thinner that reduces the risk of stroke, is $7,100 in the US. Johnson & Johnson’s arthritis drug Stelara carries an annual list price of $79,000 in the US. Johnson & Johnson declined to comment on Sanders’ report. Medicare launches drug price negotiationsOther nations typically pay far less for medications, in large part because their governments often determine the cost. Those who have yet to meet their deductible and the uninsured may have to pay the full list price.

Persons: CNN — Sen, Bernie Sanders, Bristol Myers, it’s, Johnson, Sanders, drugmakers, Biden, Donald Trump, Sanders ’, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck Organizations: CNN, Bristol, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Medicare, Bristol Myers Locations: Japan, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Vermont

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Killer Mike says an “over-zealous” security guard contributed to the physical altercation that led to his arrest after the rapper and activist won three awards at the Grammys. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesIn his statement, Mike thanked the Grammys for recognizing his work. He won best rap album for “Michael.”Before Sunday, Mike’s last Grammy came in 2003 when he won for “The Whole World” for best rap performance by a duo or group. Atlanta, it’s a sweep!”As a member of Run the Jewels, Mike, along with producer El-P, pumped out four critically acclaimed albums. The Grammy-winner hosted Netflix’s “Trigger Warning with Killer Mike,” a 2019 documentary series about issues that affect the Black community.

Persons: Mike, ” Mike, “, ”, Michael, —, ” Mike’s, Andre, Eryn Allen Kane, “ Michael, Mike’s, El, Sen, Bernie Sanders ’, Netflix’s Organizations: ANGELES, Crypto.com, Police, “ Scientists & Engineers Locations: Los Angeles, Atlanta, it’s

Fewer than 24 hours after a long-awaited, bipartisan border deal and foreign aid package was unveiled in the Senate, opposition is rapidly mounting in the chamber – making it increasingly possible the bill will not survive a key vote expected this week. The grim odds facing the bill in the Senate come as former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have continued to attack the deal, ratcheting up pressure on Senate Republicans to oppose it or risk facing a conservative backlash. So far, 18 Republican senators have publicly criticized the bill, including Montana Sen. Steve Daines, a member of Senate GOP leadership. For all of these reasons I will vote no when the bill is brought to the Senate floor this week,” he said. It’s unclear, however, whether a foreign aid package would be able to pass on its own as many Senate Republicans have demanded tighter border security in exchange for aid to those allies.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Johnson, hasn’t, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy of, Sen, Kyrsten, James Lankford of, Montana Sen, Steve Daines, Texas Sen, John Cornyn, ”, New Jersey Sen, Bob Menendez, California Sen, Alex Padilla, Menendez, ” Padilla, Bernie Sanders, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Lankford, CNN’s Kristin Wilson Organizations: Republicans, Israel, West Bank, Democratic, GOP, Republican, National Republican Senatorial, House Republicans, California, Trump, ICE, Border Patrol Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Arizona, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Montana, Texas, New Jersey, America, Vermont, United States, Israel

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden won the South Carolina primary on Saturday, the contest that revitalized his 2020 campaign and now has given him his first official victory in his bid for a second term. The Associated Press declared Biden the winner at 7:23 p.m. based on an analysis of initial vote results showing him with a decisive lead in key locations throughout the state. His only challengers on the ballot, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota and self-help author Marianne Williamson, trailed far behind. South Carolina was Biden’s first victory that year, after placing fourth in Iowa, fifth in New Hampshire and a distant second in Nevada. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesBlack voters play a key role in Democratic primaries in the state.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Dean Phillips, Marianne Williamson, Sen, Bernie Sanders of, Pete Buttigieg, Tom Steyer, Biden’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, South Carolina, Associated Press, U.S . Rep, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Democratic Locations: U.S, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Bend, Indiana, South Carolina, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South

He fought hard in state after state, even as the front-runner amassed a delegate advantage that would be virtually impossible to overcome. Haley decided to skip Nevada’s presidential caucuses next Thursday in favor of a state primary election two days earlier that does not award delegates. Trump could embarrass Haley in her home state of South Carolina later in the month, where the former president has a loyal following. In New Hampshire's recent primary, for example, Trump won a decisive victory against Haley backed by his popularity among traditional Republican voters. The Haley campaign has already rolled out leadership teams and “Women for Nikki” chapters in all 15 Super Tuesday states.

Persons: Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Nikki Haley, she's, Donald Trump, Haley, Joe Biden, David Urban, Biden, ” Urban, she’s, ”, Sanders, Trump, “, “ Nikki Haley, “ birdbrain, HALEY, Nachama Soloveichik, She's, Soloveichik, Eric Levine, Betsy Ankney, Susie Wiles, Ken Griffin, Paul Singer, ” She's, “ He’s, He’s, Ronna McDaniel, Hopper, Trumper, ” Hopper, isn't, Nikki ”, Koch, Emily Seidel, Michael Palmer, Seidel, Palmer, Haley's, Republican pollster Neil Newhouse, ” ___ Organizations: COLUMBIA, Democratic, GOP, Republican, Trump, Washington Post, Monmouth University, Biden, New York, South, AP VoteCast, Capitol, Haley, Prosperity, AFP, ” ___ Peoples Locations: Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, South Carolina, New, York, Florida, South Carolina’s, Michigan, South Carolina , Michigan, Tennessee , North Carolina , Arkansas, Virginia, California, New York

☆ A shorter workweek is gaining ground as another major pilot program prepares to kick off
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The four-day workweek has been successful elsewhereThe Dominican Republic will be the first Caribbean country to test a shorter workweek, according to the country's Ministry of Labor. Other lawmakers, like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, have also voiced support for a shorter workweek. AdvertisementMost four-day workweek programs are voluntary for companies, and many countries have no legislation that requires a shorter workweek. With continued positive data, it's possible that the US and other countries could see the shorter workweek implemented into law. Have you been a part of a four-day workweek pilot program or do you work at a company adopting the schedule?

Persons: —, What's, Mark Takano, Vermont Sen, Bernie Sanders Organizations: Employees, Service, International Labor Organization, country's Ministry of Labor, Economic, Revenue, Democratic, Education, Workforce, Labor Locations: Dominican Republic, Latin America, Claro, Caribbean, Australia, United Kingdom, Zealand, Chile, Colombia, Mexico's, Vermont

Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesHere’s a look at what to expect on Saturday:PRIMARY NIGHTThe South Carolina Democratic presidential primary will be held on Saturday. DECISION NOTESBiden’s decisive victory in the 2020 South Carolina primary offers some useful benchmarks in determining the winner on Saturday night as votes are being counted. He was also the top choice among Democratic primary voters in the state’s Democratic and Republican strongholds, as well as in the more moderate areas in between. AP's VoteCast survey of 2020 South Carolina primary voters found that 64% of Black voters supported Biden, compared with 33% of white voters. In the 2020 South Carolina Democratic primary, the AP first reported results at 7:09 p.m.

Persons: Joe Biden’s foundering, Biden, Dean Phillips, Marianne Williamson, Phillips, Williamson, Pee, AP's, Vermont Sen, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Sanders, it’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Democratic National Committee, New Hampshire, South, . Rep, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, South Carolina Democratic, Press, Biden, WHO, Republican, Carolina, Columbia, Palmetto State, AP, Voters, Democratic National Convention Locations: South Carolina, Iowa, New Hampshire, Carolina, Pee Dee, Waccamaw, Palmetto, Vermont, South Bend , Indiana, Chicago

☆ Trump meets with Teamsters as he looks to peel off union voters from Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Gregory Krieg | Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Story highlights Trump is looking to attract union members, who have traditionally voted Democratic. CNN —Former President Donald Trump Wednesday met with Teamsters union leaders and members in Washington as his campaign tries to drive a wedge between President Joe Biden and one of his most loyal constituencies: organized labor. The Teamsters have twice endorsed against Trump, backing Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Biden four years later. “We’re not ceding any territory, any group, any demographic to Joe Biden,” one senior Trump adviser said of the campaign’s outreach to working class voters. The group said Biden had been invited to its headquarters on the same day as Trump.

Persons: Trump, Biden, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Sean O’Brien, ”, John Palmer, “, ” Trump, Nikki Haley’s, ” Haley, Olivia Perez, Cubas, –, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Cornel West, Asa Hutchinson, Marianne Williamson, Dean Phillips, ” O’Brien, Shawn Fain, Sean O'Brien, Sara Nelson, Elizabeth Frantz, Reuters O’Brien, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, O’Brien, Mullin, Vermont Sen, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, “ We’re, Fain, Cole Scandaglia, ” Fain, ” Biden, Kara Deniz, CNN’s Arlette Saenz, MJ Lee Organizations: Democratic, Teamsters, United Auto Workers, CNN, Biden, Trump, United States Army Veteran, Republican, ” Former South Carolina Gov, GOP, UPS, Arkansas Gov, Teamsters Union, UAW, Capitol, Reuters, Oklahoma Republican, Drake Enterprises, Ford, General Motors, National Labor Relations Board, Department of Transportation, Auto Workers, Automobile Manufacturing Industry Locations: Washington, Michigan , Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Lago, United States, Arkansas, Minnesota, Washington ,, Oklahoma, Vermont, Detroit, Michigan

Three names in the industry – Johnson & Johnson , Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb – face a pivotal few weeks ahead. They join Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Chris Boerner, who agreed to the panel's initial invitation to appear. But why is the committee targeting Merck, J&J and Bristol Myers Squibb in the first place? J&J, Merck and Bristol Myers Squib are all suing to halt the talks, which will establish new prices that will go into effect in 2026. Bristol Myers Squibb's Opdivo is an immunotherapy used to treat cancers, including melanoma and lung cancer.

Persons: Annika Kim Constantino, – Johnson, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Joaquin Duato, Robert Davis, Chris Boerner, Sanders, Eli Lilly's, Januvia, Bristol Myers, He's, Biden, Merck's, Myers, Eliquis, Mike Perrone, it's Organizations: CNBC.com, Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Bristol Myers, Medicare, Bristol, CNBC, pharma Locations: U.S, drugmakers

☆ Group of Democrats call on Blinken to provide answers on bypassing Congress to approve arms sales to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A group of 19 predominantly Democratic lawmakers is calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide answers about why he bypassed Congress last month to approve arms sales to Israel. The top US diplomat made two emergency determinations in December to immediately approve the transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in military equipment to Israel. In their letter, the lawmakers noted the rarity of administrations using emergency declarations to immediately approve arms sales without congressional approval. “Use of a national emergency waiver does not exempt the U.S. government from assessing whether arms sales are consistent with” those standards, they wrote. I would say that the process that the secretary followed and the process that we follow here at the State Department is the process that the law actually prescribed,” Miller said at a State Department briefing.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Joe Biden, Independent Sen, Bernie Sanders, Democratic Sens, Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch, James McGovern, Earl Blumenauer, Joaquin Castro, Judy Chu, Raúl, Pramila Jayapal, Barbara Lee, Betty McCollum, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky, Jill Tokuda, Maxine Waters, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Leahy, credibly, “ Israel, ”, ’, “, Matt Miller, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, UN, Independent, Democratic, State Department, Leahy, ”, Department Locations: Israel, Gaza, Hamas

NEW YORK (AP) — The songwriters who gave us “Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer” and “Rocket Man” will add to their stuffed awards shelf later this year when Elton John and Bernie Taupin are awarded the Gershwin Prize. “Elton John and Bernie Taupin have written some of the most memorable songs of our lives. Taupin and John were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992. In 2023, John inducted Taupin into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. John this month achieved EGOT status after winning an Emmy for "Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium.”

Persons: ”, Dancer ”, Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Gershwin, John, Taupin, “ Elton John, Carla Hayden, “ Bennie, ” John, George, Ira Gershwin, ” Taupin, Ira, John’s George Gershwin, Marilyn Monroe —, Diana —, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson, Tony Bennett, Lionel Richie, Joni Mitchell, Emilio, Gloria Estefan, Garth Brooks, “ I’ve, Bernie, “ Organizations: Congress, Washington , D.C, PBS, Jets, Jazz, Songwriters Hall of Fame, Roll Hall of Fame, Dodger, ” Locations: Washington ,

☆ Trump poses dilemma for Senate GOP leaders after years of battling with McConnell
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Manu Raju | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Watch CNN’s coverage of Senate GOP leadership and Donald Trump on ‘Inside Politics Sunday with Manu Raju’ at 11 a.m. Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell hasn’t spoken to Trump in more than three years and tries to avoid uttering his name in public. As Trump steamrolls to the nomination, there are ample questions in GOP circles about how – and whether – Trump can rebuild Senate alliances that were critical in his first term but are nonexistent now. But Mullin said that the next Senate GOP leader and Trump need to move past the bad blood if they take back the majority and the White House. Asked last week if he could work with Trump as president, Thune said: “We can work with everybody.”Pressed again if he could do so as GOP leader, Thune said: “Well, that’s a hypothetical.”And the elevator doors closed.

Persons: Donald Trump, Manu Raju ’, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump ., Mitch McConnell hasn’t, John Thune of, hasn’t, Trump, “, ”, Texas Sen, John Cornyn –, McConnell, – Sen, John Barrasso, Kari Lake, Bernie Moreno, – Trump, –, there’s, Sen, J.D, Vance, Mitch McConnell, Chip Somodevilla, Johns, he’s, Rick Scott, Scott, —, Markwayne Mullin, Mullin, ” Mullin, they’re, ” Sen, Marco Rubio, Nikki Haley, Haley, Kevin Cramer, Mitch, Thom Tillis, Tillis, Josh Hawley, ” Hawley, Trump’s, Elaine Chao, ” McConnell, John Thune, John Cornyn, J, Scott Applewhite, Cornyn, Joe Biden, ” Cornyn, Barrasso, Joe Biden …, ” Thune, Thune –, Tim Scott of, Thune, CNN’s Morgan Rimmer, Lauren Fox, Christine Park Organizations: GOP, Trump, Team Trump, Republican, Capitol, Trump -, Republicans, Ohio Republican, CNN, Oklahoma Republican, White, Kentucky Republican, North Dakota Republican, North Carolina Republican, New, New Hampshire, Texas, Wyoming –, Thune Locations: New Hampshire, John Thune of South Dakota, Wyoming, Iowa, Arizona, Ohio, Ukraine, Washington ,, Florida, Oklahoma, Marco Rubio of Florida, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Washington, Tim Scott of South Carolina

☆ Joe Manchin could upend Biden’s reelection campaign – and blow up No Labels along the way
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Edward-Isaac Dovere | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Some around Biden agree Manchin may have a point in how to make the pitch. As Biden tries to assert the success of his presidency, Manchin says he shaped “everything” in the president’s agenda. “It’s been far less organized than he expected it to be” and “he doesn’t see a plan coming together,” a person familiar with Hogan’s thinking told CNN. “No matter what side of the fence you might be on, where you are for philosophically, we learned to navigate that,” he told CNN. Several anti-Trump Republicans who listened to Manchin’s speech told CNN they were happy to hear him.

Persons: CNN — Sen, Joe Manchin, Privately, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Manchin, there’s, Vermont Sen, Bernie Sanders, Biden, Sanders, hadn’t, ” Manchin, ”, Trump, “ He’s, Larry Hogan, –, “ It’s, “, hasn’t, Connecticut Sen, Joe Lieberman, Pat McCrory, Mark Penn, Nancy Jacobson, Ryan Clancy, Chris Christie, Heather Bresch, Bresch, Tom Reed, ” Reed, Bernie Sanders Manchin’s, codifying Roe, Wade, Roe, Machin, Saint Anselm Organizations: CNN, West Virginia Democrat, Biden, Trump, Democratic, Trump Republicans, Senate, White House, Washington, Democrat, Republican, North Carolina Gov, White, Representatives, Justice Department, New, New York Rep, Manchin, Saint Anselm College Locations: New Hampshire, South Carolina, Georgia, Vermont, Maryland, Dallas, Connecticut, North Dakota , New York , Florida , Texas, Hawaii, New Jersey, Manchin’s New Hampshire, Texas, Manchester, Washington, Saint, Unfazed

☆ Merck, Johnson & Johnson CEOs agree to testify in Senate hearing on high drug prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., holds his news conference with Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., in the Capitol on Thursday, January 25, 2024, on issuing subpoenas for pharmaceutical company CEOs to testify regarding drug prices. The CEOs of Merck and Johnson & Johnson have voluntarily agreed to testify at an upcoming Senate hearing on high drug prices in the U.S., Sen. Bernie Sanders announced Friday, as lawmakers ramp up efforts to rein in health-care costs for Americans. Meanwhile, Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Chris Boerner and another unnamed pharmaceutical CEO agreed to initial invitations to testify. The push to cut drug prices is one of the rare issues that has united both major political parties in recent years — though they have often backed different approaches to doing so. Last year, the Senate Health Committee similarly heard testimony from the CEOs of Moderna , Eli Lilly , Novo Nordisk and Sanofi on high drug prices.

Persons: Sen, Bernie Sanders, Ed Markey, Johnson, Joaquin Duato, Robert Davis, Chris Boerner, Sanders, Januvia, Bristol Myers, Joe Biden's, J, Eli Lilly Organizations: Merck, Johnson, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, Bristol Myers, Bristol, J, Moderna, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi Locations: U.S

☆ Meet a startup trying to keep your screen time from destroying the planet
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Our cloud usage is powered by a growing network of data centers in buildings filled with rows and rows of routers and servers. AdvertisementHyperscaling data centers puts tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google in a tough spot when it comes to their goals of drastically slashing greenhouse-gas emissions this decade. JetCool's technology could save data centers up to 15% of their overall power consumption, based on internal tests, the company said. A partnership with Sabey Data Centers last year demonstrated a 13.5% reduction in power use.

Persons: Bernie Malouin, Malouin, JetCool, Dell Organizations: Service, Netflix, Business, Microsoft, Google, MIT, Sabey, Bloomberg Locations: Virginia , Arizona, Nebraska, Europe

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