DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Off-year elections held Tuesday will decide governors in Kentucky and Mississippi, the fate of abortion and marijuana amendments in Ohio, legislative control in Virginia and mayoral races in two of the nation's biggest cities. Andy Beshear is hoping that his support of abortion rights will persuade voters in his Republican-leaning state to look past their skepticism of the national party and give him another term in office. Ohio is the only state to consider a statewide abortion rights question this year. Voters there will decide whether to pass a constitutional amendment guaranteeing an individual right to abortion and other forms of reproductive health care. In Virginia, party control of the state legislature is up for grabs in what Republican Gov.

Persons: Elvis, Andy Beshear, Glenn Youngkin Organizations: GOP, Democratic, Republican, Republican Gov Locations: Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Virginia, America ’ Ohio, . Ohio, America

Andy Beshear, defying the deep conservativism of his state of Kentucky and equally deep unpopularity of President Joe Biden, won reelection to a second term Tuesday, beating Republican Daniel Cameron. "This is to you, Daniel Cameron: To tell a 12-year-old girl she should have the baby of her stepfather who raped her is unthinkable. Daniel Cameron would give us none," the young woman says in the ad. Cameron amended his anti-abortion position to include exceptions for rape and incest, but that argument appeared not to sway Kentucky voters. A year ago, Kentucky voters defeated a referendum that would have explicitly denied the state constitutional right to an abortion.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Joe Biden, Republican Daniel Cameron, Beshear, Cameron, Cameron –, –, Matt Bevin, Biden, Mitch McConnell, ” Beshear, Daniel Cameron, – Biden, Donald Trump Organizations: Democratic Gov, Republican, NBC, Kentucky, GOP Gov, Democratic, Morning Locations: Kentucky, Hadley

☆ Election Day 2023 Voters to Offer Clues on Abortion Politics and 2024 in Off-Year Election Day
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Neil Vigdor | Sarah Baird | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Voters in Ohio will decide on enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution, as well as legalizing recreational marijuana use. Will voters in Ohio back abortion rights? Even in deeply Republican states like Kansas, voters have overwhelmingly supported abortion access. Beyond abortion, the most watched initiative will be, again, in Ohio, where voters will decide whether cannabis should be legalized for recreational use. If voters agree, Ohio would become the 24th state to legalize marijuana.

Persons: Biden’s, Donald J, Trump, Biden, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin, Daniel Cameron, Andy Beshear, Steve Beshear, Beshear, Roe, Wade, Frank LaRose, Thomas E, Dobbs, Jackson, Tate Reeves, Brandon Presley, Presley’s, Brett Favre, Reeves, I’ve, Mr, Presley, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Warren of Organizations: New York Times, Democratic, Republican, State Senate, Republicans, —, Supreme, Affordable, Mississippi Public Service Commission, Texans, Liberal Locations: Ohio, Ohio , Kentucky, Virginia , Mississippi, Siena, Virginia, Kentucky, Richmond, Kansas, Mississippi, Dobbs v, Nettleton, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts

☆ What’s at Stake in Today’s Elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

And even though we’re in what political analysts call an off-year — with neither a presidential election nor midterm congressional elections — a steady stream of voters still showed up at polling stations. Two governorships are at stake in competitive races in typically Republican southern states. In Ohio, voters will decide whether to enshrine the right to abortion in the state’s Constitution and whether to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Today’s elections, which also include all 140 Virginia legislative contests and a race to fill a Pennsylvania Supreme Court seat, will probably be dissected for hints about 2024. The results may determine whether Democrats find some reassurances about their approach to key issues like abortion, which has been a bright spot for their party.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Brandon Presley, Elvis Presley Organizations: Gov, Democrat, Pennsylvania Supreme Locations: U.S, In Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, state’s, Virginia, Pennsylvania

☆ The US Army needs tanks to win a war in the Pacific, but it knows the Abrams isn't the right tank for the job
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But it also knows that rivals are building weapons that are potent against the aging Abrams tank. The Army's main battle tank, the M1 Abrams, now faces two main problems. End of the Abrams eraA US Abrams tank that Iraqi officials said was destroyed in fighting south of Baghdad in April 2003. Threats to the Abrams tank's battlefield dominance, according to the Army Science Board. The Army Science BoardThe Army Science Board assessed various alternatives.

Persons: Abrams, —, China —, Eddie McCrossan, M1A1 Abrams, Scott Nelson, Charles Flynn, Bradley, KARIM SAHIB, Michael Peck Organizations: US Army, Service, Army, Pacific, Rivals, M1 Abrams, Army Science Board, ., Logistics, US Defense Department, Eddie McCrossan Tanks, Nazi, US Army Pacific, Board, for Army, sustainment, China, Abrams, Getty, The Army, Booker, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Europe, Asia, Russia, China, Fort Knox, Kentucky, Britain, America, Russo, Ukraine, East Asia, Japan, Malay, Korean, Vietnam, Kuwaiti, Fulda, East, West Germany, Baghdad, AFP, Pacific, Forbes

CNN —Abortion rights are on the ballot Tuesday as Americans head to the polls for state and local races that will set the stage for next year’s presidential election. (Both oppose abortion rights.) Abortion (literally) on the ballot in OhioThe 2022 midterm elections showed that when abortion rights are on the ballot, voters overwhelmingly favored protecting or expanding access. This is the only abortion rights ballot initiative before voters this year. Though not explicitly on the ballot, abortion has featured prominently in the campaign, with Beshear arguing that Cameron will double down on the commonwealth’s already harsh restrictions.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Tate Reeves, Democrat Brandon Presley, Reeves ’ foibles, Elvis Presley, –, Former City Councilmember Cherelle Parker, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sen, John Whitmire, Gabe Amo, Republican Gerry Leonard, David Cicilline, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin, He’s, he’s, what’s, don’t, hasn’t, Court’s Dobbs, Mike DeWine, —, Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Beshear, Cameron, John Fetterman, Mehmet Oz, Daniel McCaffery, Max Baer, Carolyn Carluccio, Brett Favre, Brandon Presley, Presley, Reeves Organizations: CNN, Democrats, Republicans, Court, Democrat, Republican Gov, Former City, Republican, Democratic, Rep, House, Virginia Gov, Senate, Delegates, PAC, Kentucky, Kentucky Kentucky Gov, GOP, Trump, Beshear, Black Republican, Pennsylvania Democrats, NFL, Mississippi Public, Black, Southern Democrats, Southern Democrat, NJ Democrats, New York GOP, New Jersey Legislature, New York City Council Locations: Kentucky , Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Ohio –, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Houston, Rhode Island, state’s, Richmond, Kentucky Kentucky, Kentucky, Southern, Presley . Mississippi, NY, Gotham

☆ The bosses of rival chip giants Nvidia and AMD are cousins, researcher says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and AMD CEO Lisa Su are first cousins once removed. It has recently emerged that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and AMD CEO Lisa Su are first cousins once removed, with 60-year-old Huang being the older cousin. Nvidia and AMD did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours. The genealogist — a person who traces lines of family descent — published a condensed family tree on her Facebook account in June. Wu also interviewed a close family member of the two while putting together the family tree, per CNN.

Persons: Jensen Huang, Lisa Su, Su's, —, Huang, Su, Huang's, Jean Wu, It's, Wu, Jensen Organizations: Nvidia, Service, AMD, CNN, Consumer Technology Association webinar, Oneida Baptist Institute, Oregon State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Devices, IBM, Freescale Semiconductor Locations: Taiwan, Taiwanese, Taipei, Thailand, Washington, Kentucky, Tainan, New York

☆ Opinion: What Tuesday’s elections can tell us about 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Opinion John Avlon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Why should you care about Tuesday’s elections in Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi and Virginia? The storylines to watch include abortion, disinformation, dirty money and a test of that elusive but essential creature known as the red state Democrat. John Avlon CNNLet’s start with the Buckeye State, where abortion rights are on the ballot. Beshear is also the rare red state Democrat who can connect with rural voters — something Democrats desperately need more of. Meanwhile in Mississippi, there’s another governor’s race that The Washington Post is calling the most competitive in 20 years.

Persons: John Avlon, “, there’s, Dobbs, There’s, Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Mitch McConnell, Sen, Rand Paul, Beshear, James Carville, Cameron, McConnell, Tate Reeves hasn’t, Haley Barbour, Reeves, ” That’s, Elvis Presley —, Brandon Presley, Presley, Harry Enten, bode, ”, Glenn Younkin, Ron DeSantis ’ Organizations: CNN, John Avlon CNN, Buckeye State, Republican, Ohio Senate, Buckeye, GOP, Democratic, Washington, Republicans, Mississippi Today, don’t, Virginia Legislature, Twitter, Facebook Republican, Florida Gov, Virginia GOP Locations: “ Lincoln, Ohio , Kentucky , Mississippi, Virginia, Montana , Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi, Florida

WASHINGTON (AP) — The most-watched races in Tuesday’s off-year general election have all been dominated by the ongoing debate over abortion rights. Here's a look at three major races and how abortion has shaped each contest. Andy Beshear seeks a second term in a heavily Republican state Donald Trump carried twice. Ohio constitutional amendment on abortionOhio voters will decide whether to amend the state Constitution to protect access to abortion services. The date for the new primary has not been set but will take place after Tuesday’s general election.

Persons: Wade, Here's, Andy Beshear, Donald Trump, Daniel Cameron, Beshear, Cameron, Steve Beshear, Matt Bevin, Mitch McConnell, ”, Tate Reeves, Democrat Brandon Presley, Elvis Presley, Presley outraised Reeves, Reeves, Carolyn Carluccio, Daniel McCaffery, Gabe Amo, Republican Gerry Leonard, David Cicilline, Cicilline, Democrat Patrick Kennedy, Sylvester Turner, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sen, John Whitmire, Kimberly Mata, Rubio, Cody Smith, Veronica Martinez, Joe Ganim, Tuesday’s, Richard Dziekan, Gino DiGiovanni, Yusef Salaam Organizations: WASHINGTON, Supreme, Roe, Kentucky, Democratic Gov, GOP, U.S, Trump, Black Republican, Reconstruction, Associated Press, Republican Gov, Democrat, Republicans, Pennsylvania, Court, Rhode, Rhode Island U.S . House, Republican, Democratic U.S . Rep, Mayors, U.S . Rep, Robb Elementary School, Democratic, Capitol Locations: Tuesday’s, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, U.S, Kentucky , Ohio, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Houston, Uvalde , Texas, Bridgeport , Connecticut, Derby , Connecticut, New York

☆ Nvidia and AMD CEOs: Two of the world’s most powerful tech execs come from the same Taiwanese family
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Michelle Toh | Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The chief executives of Nvidia (NVDA) and AMD (AMD) aren’t just two of the most powerful people in the global AI chip industry, they’re also family. “For almost half a century now, Taiwan’s economy has been centered on electronics production, chip assembly, chip manufacturing, chip design, everything semiconductors. According to Nvidia, Huang was born in 1963 in Taipei before moving to the southern city of Tainan. “I would say anyone who logs on the internet is likely touching not just one, but dozens and hundreds of Nvidia and AMD chips,” said Miller. I would say anyone who logs on the internet is likely touching not just one, but dozens and hundreds of Nvidia and AMD chips.

Persons: Taipei CNN — Jensen Huang, Lisa Su, they’re, Su, Jean Wu, Wu, Huang, ” Su, ” Wu, ” Christopher Miller, ”, it’s, there’s, Hwa Cheng, Edith Yeung, Miller, Robyn Beck, AMD’s, Florence Lo, “, Christopher Miller Organizations: Taipei CNN, Nvidia, AMD, CNN, Consumer Technology Association, rockstar, Technology, Bloomberg, Getty, Race Capital, ASUS, Consumer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, Stanford University, McKinsey, Associated Press, CTA Locations: Hong Kong, Taipei, Taiwan, United States, China, Silicon Valley, Silicon, Tainan, Thailand, Washington, Kentucky, New York City, Las Vegas, AFP, Santa Clara , California

Now, as abortion restrictions and bans in red states have become reality, the issue is again on the ballot, both explicitly and implicitly, in races across the country. In Kentucky, Democrats are testing whether abortion can provide a political advantage even in a red state, as Gov. In Ohio, a socially conservative state, a ballot question that would enshrine abortion rights in the State Constitution will measure the extent of the country’s political pivot toward abortion rights. And in Virginia, the only Southern state without an abortion ban, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, is trying to flip the script in the state’s legislative elections, casting Democrats as “extreme” and saying his party supports a “common-sense position” — a 15-week ban.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Andy Beshear, Roe —, Glenn Youngkin Organizations: Democrat, Republican Locations: In Kentucky, Ohio, State, Virginia

John J. Kim | Tribune News Service | Getty ImagesDETROIT – United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain wants to expand the union's battle from the Detroit automakers to Tesla , Toyota Motor and other non-unionized automakers operating in the U.S. The UAW has previously failed to organize foreign-based automakers in the U.S. The UAW has previously discussed organizing Tesla's Fremont plant in California with little to no traction in those efforts. "Workers at Tesla, Toyota, Honda, and others are not the enemy — they're the UAW members of the future," Fain said. UAW President Shawn Fain marches with UAW members through downtown Detroit after a rally in support of United Auto Workers members as they strike the Big Three auto makers on September 15, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan.

Persons: Shawn Fain, John J, Kim, We've, Fain, Stellantis, we've, Ford, Bill Ford, Toyota Fain, Bill Pugliano, Tesla, Elon Musk, Musk, Tom Williams Organizations: United Auto Workers, UAW, Tribune, Service, Getty, DETROIT, Detroit, Tesla, Toyota Motor, U.S, General Motors, Ford Motor, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Nissan, GM, Ford, American, . ", Toyota, Honda, Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, CNBC, Cq, Inc Locations: Chicago, U.S, Fremont, California, Kentucky, Detroit, Detroit , Michigan, Fremont , California

☆ Ford buys EV charging startup in bid to help rescue its electric dreams
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ford has bought an electric charging startup called AMP, TechCrunch reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementFord is buying an electric charging startup as it tries to reinvigorate its flagging EV push. The auto giant is purchasing Auto Motive Power (AMP), an electric charging startup that makes battery management software, as it seeks to overhaul its charging technology and reduce the cost of its electric vehicles. A Ford representative told TechCrunch that the deal aimed to accelerate its efforts to encourage EV adoption and improve its charging technology. Other car makers have taken a similarly cautious approach to electric vehicles in recent months, with several ditching ambitious targets amid slowing demand.

Persons: —, Ford, it's, Bill Ford, Harald Wilhelm, Elon, carmaker Organizations: Ford, TechCrunch, Service, Auto Motive, The New York Times, Benz, EV, GM, Subaru Locations: California, Kentucky

Steve Beshear – faces Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a protege of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. In Mississippi, Republican Lynn Fitch is seeking a second term against Greta Kemp Martin, the litigation director of Disability Rights Mississippi. Democratic attorney Lindsey Cheek won the other runoff slot by taking 23% of the all-party primary vote. In Mississippi, Republican incumbent Michael Watson is seeking a second term and should easily defeat Democrat Ty Pinkins. She will face Democratic attorney, accountant, and small business owner Gwen Collins-Greenup, who finished second in the primary.

Persons: — it’s, Kentuckians, Andy Beshear, Jeff Landry, Beshear, Steve Beshear –, Daniel Cameron, Mitch McConnell, Kentucky’s, He’s, Cameron, Tate Reeves, Brandon Presley, Elvis Presley, Presley, Reeves, Democrat hasn’t, Jim Hood, Glenn Youngkin’s, Winsome Sears, Youngkin, Phil Murphy, Democratic Sen, Robert Menendez, Joe Biden, Max Baer, Carolyn Carluccio, Daniel McCaffery, Donald Trump, wouldn’t, Roe, Wade, Ohio’s, Sen, Bernie Sanders of, Janet Mills, Russell Coleman, McConnell, Pamela Stevenson, Republican Lynn Fitch, Greta Kemp Martin, Fitch, Liz Murrill, Landry, Lindsey Cheek, Michael Adams, Buddy Wheatley, Adams, Michael Watson, Ty Pinkins, Shuwaski Young, Young, Kyle Ardoin, Nancy Landry, Gwen Collins, Greenup Organizations: Democratic Gov, Democratic, Republican, Gubernatorial, Gov, Lean Democratic, Republican Gov, Public Service Commission, Democrat, Mississippi, Public, Impact Research, Lean Republican, State Legislative, Virginia, GOP, Senate, Republicans, House, George Mason University, Assembly, , New Jersey Republicans, Pleas, Superior Court, Ohio, Sierra Club, AFL, of Commerce, Avangrid Inc, Trump, Air Force, Disability Rights Mississippi, State, Iraq Locations: Mississippi, Virginia, Republican . New Jersey, Garden, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maine, In Kentucky, Republican Mississippi, U.S, Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads, Washington, New Jersey, , New Jersey, Montgomery County, In Ohio, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Massachusetts, Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, State Kentucky, In Mississippi

☆ The UAW won big against Detroit automakers. Unionizing Tesla and Toyota will be tougher
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But the UAW’s ambitious plans to organize Tesla and other non-union automakers face steep odds. To grow, the UAW will need to gain a foothold at non-union automakers, which produce more than half of the cars assembled in the United States. Historically, UAW talks with the Detroit automakers have been closely watched by non-union automakers and suppliers. Anti-union companiesThe UAW will have to overcome weak protections for labor organizing in the United States and automakers’ aggressive tactics to defeat unions. It may be easier for UAW to organize Volkswagen and other European automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz than automakers from Asia, experts say.

Persons: Tesla, Shawn Fain, ”, Harry Katz, “, Thomas Kochan, Tesla's, Justin Sullivan, Bill Lee, Nikki Haley, Joe Biden, Kochan, ” Kochan, “ There’s, “ Fain, he’s, Harley Shaiken, Jesse Jackson, John J, Kim, Elon Musk, Musk, “ Tesla, ” Shaiken, Biden, Erica Smiley, Smiley, ‘ we’ve, won’t Organizations: New, New York CNN, United Auto Workers, Ford, General Motors, Jeep, Chrysler, Detroit automakers, UAW, American, Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, Volvo, Mercedes, BMW, Nissan, Volkswagen, Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Labor, Companies, Employers, National Labor Relations Act, MIT Sloan School of Management, Getty, Workers, Benz, Tennessee Gov, Former South Carolina Gov, Environmental Defense Fund, Alabama, M University, Jackson State University, University of California, Berkley, Chicago Tribune, Tribune, Service, Tesla, National Labor Relations Board, Employees, Bloomberg, CNN, Biden Union, Union, Biden, Justice, Detroit Locations: New York, United States, California, Texas, Tesla's Fremont , California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Volkswagen’s, Chattanooga, Michigan, Detroit, Chicago, Chattanooga , Tennessee, Asia, Europe, Tesla’s Fremont California, ”

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — After horse deaths marred this year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and another occurred days ahead of the world championships, safety at the Breeders’ Cup is under intense scrutiny. “We know equine fatalities is a complicated issue and that’s why we’re continuing to invest in resources,” Drew Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders' Cup Ltd., said Wednesday. Breeders’ Cup officials said his death was due to “a cardiac event.” A required necropsy will determine the official cause. With history in mind, 1/ST Racing is conducting periodic inspections and testing of all racing surfaces before the Breeders’ Cup. Dutrow saddles White Abarrio in the Classic, his first Breeders' Cup runner since he returned earlier this year from a 10-year ban for medication violations.

Persons: ” Drew Fleming, Arcangelo, Jena Antonucci, ”, isn’t, Mage didn’t, Ramiro Restrepo, “, Groom, Dionne Benson, “ We’ve, Lisa Lazarus, “ That's, Bob Baffert, Donald Trump, HISA, Antonucci, Rick Dutrow, he's, Derby, Baffert hasn't, Medina Spirit's, Baffert, ” Baffert Organizations: Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Breeders, Santa, Federal Trade Commission, Breeders ’, Belmont, Santa Anita, Triple Crown, Anita, Churchill Downs Inc, Breeders ', Associated Press Locations: ARCADIA, Calif, Kentucky, Santa Anita, California, Santa, Churchill, Belmont, U.S, HISA, Del Mar

☆ Toyota hikes wage of US factory workers after UAW labor deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Other nonunion logistics and service parts employees are getting wage hikes. The media and organizing project Labor Notes earlier reported the wage hikes and other details, citing a company document. The pay of production Toyota workers in Kentucky at top scale will rise by $2.94 to $34.80 an hour. Under the new tentative agreements with General Motors (GM.N), Ford Motor (F.N) and Stellantis (STLAM.MI), UAW workers will receive a wage hike of 11% upon ratification and 25% in wage hikes through April 2028. The UAW declined to comment on the Toyota wage hikes.

Persons: Johanna Geron, ” Chris Reynolds, Shawn Fain, Fain, David Shepardson, Chizu Nomiyama, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Toyota, REUTERS, United Auto Workers, Detroit Three, Labor, North, General Motors, Ford Motor, UAW, Ford, Volkswagen, Nissan, Detroit, Thomson Locations: Zaventem, Belgium, U.S, Kentucky, Washington

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Attorneys representing Tennessee transgender teens and their families asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to block a ban on gender-affirming care for minors that a lower court allowed to go into effect. Advocates for trans kids argue that having access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy is safe, necessary health care backed by every major medical group. “Families are losing access to much-needed medical care that has allowed their children to flourish. Health care providers who violated the law risked facing a $25,000 penalty and other disciplinary actions. A federal judge struck down Arkansas’ ban as unconstitutional in June, sparking state officials to ask an appeals court to review that decision.

Persons: Jonathan Skrmetti, ”, Lucas Cameron, Vaughn, “ Organizations: —, U.S, Supreme, American Civil Liberties Union, Circuit, Republican, Assembly, Democratic, Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Health, ACLU, Tennessee Locations: Tenn, Tennessee, United States, Kentucky, ”, U.S, Arkansas, Alabama

☆ Mike Johnson tests his new power with risky gambit on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —New House Speaker Mike Johnson is already tying Washington in new partisan knots. Johnson surprises by picking Israel funding as his first test of credibilityJohnson’s hard ball play on Israel funding came as a surprise given that some of the urgency for ending the speakership impasse last week was to swiftly clear a funding package following the Hamas attacks. The Biden administration on Tuesday formally threatened to veto the House GOP’s standalone Israel aid bill. The inclusion of the offsets could indicate that Johnson needs to placate his most hardline members even to pass a measure as popular as Israel funding. Some other Senate conservatives are also at odds with their leader, backing the decoupling of Israel and Ukraine aid.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden’s, Mitch McConnell, McCarthy, McConnell, Johnson, ” Beth Sanner, “, Biden, ” Sanner, Johnson’s, ’, Jared Moskowitz, ”, “ I’m, Marjorie Taylor Greene of, Rashida, Greene, George Santos, McConnell –, Donald Trump, –, Vladimir Putin, don’t, Rand Paul, he’s, ” Paul, CNN’s Manu Raju, Chuck Schumer, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Putin, ‘ I’m Organizations: CNN, New, Washington, Republican, Republicans, stoke, Internal Revenue, GOP, Louisiana Republican, Democratic, Senate, National Intelligence, Central ”, White, Israel, National Republican, Extreme, Democrats, Jewish Democrat, “, GOP Rep, Democratic Rep, Democrat, New York Rep, titans, Taiwan, New York Democrat, US, NATO Locations: Israel, Louisiana, Ukraine, China, Russia, Washington, Gaza, Florida, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Palestinian American, Michigan, Kyiv, Kentucky, United States, Moscow, Iran, Tehran, Baltic

But this year, abortion is on the ballot, with party control of the closely divided chambers of the legislature determining whether Virginia will lose its status as the last Southern state where abortion is mostly legal and accessible. Democrats, meanwhile, see the races as critical not only to sustaining abortion rights in swing-state Virginia but as a test of how powerful the issue remains nationally. Predicting winners is always difficult in state legislative races, but especially hard in Virginia. Where Democrats have an edge, experts say, is on the motivating factor of abortion rights. Since Dobbs, pro-abortion rights voters have become more energized, Rackaway says, since they're trying to regain something they lost in the Supreme Court ruling.

Persons: Danica Roem, Danny Diggs, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin's, Chapman Rackaway, Youngkin –, Zack Roday, Dobbs, Steven Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington, Ohioans, Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Jaime Harrison, Harrison, Kyle Kondick, Biden, Youngkin, Farnsworth, –, Rackaway, you've, Diggs, Roday doesn't, they've, Roday, Heather Williams Organizations: Senate, Republican, Gov, Old Dominion, Republicans, Radford University, U.S . Senate, GOP, Youngkin's PAC, Jackson, Health Organization, University of Mary, Democratic, Bluegrass State, Democratic National Committee, Center, Politics, University of Virginia, Virginia, Democrats, The Washington Post, –, National Democrats, Democratic Legislative, Republican National Committee, Republican Party of Virginia, Campaign Locations: Northern Virginia, Virginia, Southern, Old, Dobbs – California , Kansas , Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Kentucky

Mr. Johnson, the Louisiana Republican who has personally voted against sending military aid to Kyiv, released a $14 billion aid bill for Israel on Monday. But Mr. Johnson spurned that request, in an acknowledgment of how toxic funding for Ukraine has become among Republicans. agents,” Mr. Johnson said. “Instead of advancing a serious proposal to defend Israel, defend Ukraine and provide humanitarian aid, this House G.O.P. My guess is you can get Ukraine aid passed, probably as a stand-alone bill here.

Persons: Mike Johnson’s, Biden, Johnson, Biden’s, Fox News’s, ” Mr, Chuck Schumer, Mr, Kevin McCarthy, Thomas Massie of, Marjorie Taylor Greene, “, ’, Ms, Greene, —, Steven Ellis, MacGuineas, Mitch McConnell of, ”, Schumer, McConnell, Oksana Markarova, I’ve, Johnson’s, Susan Collins of, “ I’m, Josh Hawley, Let’s, Hawley, McConnell “, let’s, Patty Murray, Antony J, Blinken, ” Zach Montague Organizations: Senate, Louisiana Republican, Internal Revenue Service, Israel, Fox, Democratic, Republicans, United, Taxpayers, Federal Budget, Biden, Republican, University of Louisville, Ukraine, Mr Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Louisiana, Kyiv, Taiwan, United States, New York, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, America, Kentucky, Ukrainian, Susan Collins of Maine, Gaza, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Washington, Russia, Iran

President Joe Biden’s Cabinet secretaries will be advocating for the foreign aid to a mostly friendly audience in the Senate, where majority Democrats and many Republicans support tying aid for the two countries together. Despite growing questions about the Ukraine aid within the Republican conference, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell has forcefully advocated tying the aid for Ukraine and Israel together. As they returned to Washington on Monday night, Senate Republicans who support the Ukraine aid were uncertain of the path forward. 2 Senate Republican, said it could complicate Democrats’ efforts to pass the two together if there were a bipartisan vote for the Israel aid alone in the House. In recent weeks, though, a growing group of Senate Republicans have joined the majority of House Republicans who are advocating to slow down or stop U.S. aid to Ukraine.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden’s, Mike Johnson, Biden, ”, Chuck Schumer, Vladimir Putin, Patty Murray, Maine Sen, Susan Collins, ” Murray, Mitch McConnell, Oksana Markarova, ” Markarova, embolden Putin, Sen, John Thune of, Thune, Republican Sen, Joni Ernst, Iowa, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, Putin, Johnson, Schumer, “ we're, Richard Neal, Ron Wyden, ” Wyden, Karine Jean, Pierre, ” “, —, Seung Min Kim, Fatima Hussein, Tara Copp Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Senate, Republican, Internal Revenue Service, Republicans, Hamas, Senate Republicans, House Republicans, Fox News, Democrat, New York Rep, White, Associated Press Locations: United States, Israel, Ukraine, America, Russia, Taiwan, China, U.S, Mexico, Ukrainian, Kentucky, Washington, John Thune of South Dakota, Ohio

☆ UAW deal with Ford includes $8.1 billion in investments, $5,000 ratification bonuses
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Members of the United Auto Workers union picket outside the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, on Sept. 26, 2023. DETROIT – Local United Auto Workers union leaders approved a tentative agreement Sunday with Ford Motor that includes $8.1 billion in new plant investments by the company, $5,000 ratification bonuses and other economic gains such as 25% compounded wage increases and improved profit-sharing payments. The 4 ½-year tentative agreement, which was announced Wednesday, will now be rolled out to 57,000 UAW-Ford members for regional informational meetings and then voting, the union said Sunday. UAW leaders outlined some details of the tentative agreement last week but released the summary and more than 800-page contract Sunday after local union leaders approved it for member voting. The UAW announced a tentative deal Saturday with Stellantis, however, it has yet to reach a new agreement with GM, despite the sides being close to a deal last week.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Chuck Browning Organizations: United Auto Workers, Plant, DETROIT – Local United Auto Workers, Ford, UAW, General Motors, Chrysler, Stellantis, GM, Ohio Assembly, Louisville Assembly, Ford Expedition, Lincoln, Kansas, Kansas City Assembly Locations: Michigan, Wayne , Michigan, Kentucky, Kansas City

Andy Beshear downplayed party labels while campaigning Monday for a second term in Republican-leaning Kentucky, touting his role in creating jobs, improving roads and leading recovery from a series of disasters as rising above partisan politics. In urging Kentuckians to stick with him, Beshear said there's a "better chance to build that better Kentucky for our kids and our grandkids. And a chance to leave a collective legacy of more opportunity for the next generation than we ever thought was possible.”Former two-term Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, the current governor’s father, joined the incumbent Monday, quipping: “I used to be somebody. We could not have had a better governor.”The pandemic gave Beshear an unprecedented platform as governor.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Beshear, we've, ” Beshear, “, Cameron, Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, “ You’ve, Kentuckians, there's, Steve Beshear, I’m, ” Steve Beshear, Steve, he’s, haven’t, ” Cameron, Janet Quigg Organizations: — Democratic, Republican, GOP, Bluegrass State, Democratic, Democrat, Kentucky Gov Locations: RICHMOND, Ky, Kentucky, Richmond, Kentucky's, Appalachia, Ohio, Indiana, COVID

☆ Ford shares fall after pulling full-year forecast, wider losses in EV unit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Shivansh Tiwary | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Detroit automaker also pulled its 2023 forecast, citing "uncertainty" over the pending ratification of its new labor deal with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, which is expected to significantly increase labor-related expenses. The company's quarterly report added to the gloom around the EV market, which has seen inflation-wary consumers pull back on some purchases. Ford logo is pictured at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany September 10, 2019. The automaker has lost about $4.32 billion in market cap throughout the duration of the strike, according to LSEG data. Reporting by Shivansh Tiwary and Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tesla, Ford, BEV, Wells, Wolfgang Rattay, John Lawler, Shivansh Tiwary, Nathan Gomes, Krishna Chandra Organizations: Ford Motor, Detroit, United Auto Workers, UAW, REUTERS, EV, Reuters, Ford, General Motors, Thomson Locations: Kentucky, Frankfurt, Germany, Bengaluru

Search resuls for: "In Kentucky"

25 mentions found