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☆ Debt ceiling fight threatens to deepen divide between GOP and corporate America
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Shannon-Pettypiece-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Shannon Pettypiece | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

WASHINGTON — Corporate America’s warnings of a financial catastrophe if Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling are falling on deaf ears among key congressional Republicans who find themselves increasingly at odds with the party's longtime allies. Republicans, who for decades closely aligned with the business community, have largely downplayed the alarm bells sounded by business groups, corporate CEOs and Wall Street investors over the economic consequences of missing an early June deadline for action on Capitol Hill. Instead, many GOP lawmakers vow to seek spending cuts in exchange for passing legislation that would let the U.S. government keep paying its bills. “The business groups and the major economic agents in this country are still going to be very influential by once again reminding Congress about the severe consequences the U.S. will face if the debt ceiling is not raised,” said the political consultant with corporate clients involved in the debt ceiling debate. “I think a lot of Republicans in the House, in the Senate, will understand that.

☆ Mitt Romney could face a 'divisive' re-election campaign in 2024 after backing both Trump impeachments and breaking with conservatives
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Mitt Romney is perhaps the most anti-Trump Republican senator and has often broken with the GOP. Romney voted to convict the former president during both of his impeachments, first on abuse of power charges in 2020 and then incitement of an insurrection in 2021. If Romney chooses to run again, he'll have to explain all of that to Republican primary voters back home. The Utah senator told Insider at the Capitol last month that he had not yet decided whether to run, but was "keeping my options open." In Washington, Romney can count on the backing of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who told Politico that it's "important for the Republican Party and the country" that the Utah Republican seek re-election.

"It's not just me and my children, future generations from our community in Jammu and Kashmir will vote for the BJP." A BJP victory in the disputed region could consolidate India's claim over the territory on the global stage. "We have taken a pledge to cross 50-plus seats to form the next government with a thumping majority," the BJP's president for Jammu and Kashmir, Ravinder Raina, told Reuters. Jammu has about 5.3 million inhabitants, 62% of whom are Hindu while Kashmir Valley has 6.7 million, 97% of them Muslim, according to a 2011 census. Previously unreported official records show just over 5.3 million certificates had been issued as of September.

☆ Pro-Biden super PAC plans 2024 focus on Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-25 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A pro-Biden super PAC is getting ready for Joe Biden to announce his reelection campaign. Unite the Country plans to target Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan once he officially announces he's running. The pro-Biden super PAC Unite the Country plans to target those battleground, Democratic-leaning states with a messaging blitz once Biden officially announces he's running for reelection. They spent about $6 million through November during the 2022 election cycle, with a focus on Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Arizona. Loveday said she hasn't discussed Biden's plans with him, but she has "full confidence" that he will run in 2024.

☆ Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock's runoff victory is a testament to how he connected with voters though faith
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

During the Georgia Senate race, Raphael Warnock didn't stray from his deep roots in the church. Warnock effectively engaged with a wide range of voters in a state that can be tough for Democrats. Warnock defeated former University of Georgia football legend Herschel Walker to secure a full six-year term in the Senate. Warnock, the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, campaigns at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Eatonton, Ga., on August 18, 2022. And he acknowledged that while many Americans have faced challenges in recent years, retaining a sense of faith was important.

ATLANTA — Georgia has set new records for early voting again as the two Senate candidates blitz the state ahead of Tuesday’s runoff election. White voters made up 55% of early voters, 32% were Black, and Latinos and Asian Americans each accounted for less than 2% of the total. Among Georgians under 30 years old, 15.5% of early runoff voters didn’t turn out for the general election. A resident fills out paperwork before early voting at a polling station in Atlanta on Tuesday. Another 32% of early voters are age 50 to 64, and 30% are younger than 50.

Democratic leaders in New Hampshire and Iowa quickly responded that they plan to ignore the DNC, follow state law and hold their nominations as planned. A New Hampshire law explicitly sets the state's primary date ahead of any DNC calendar. The changes could ease Biden's path to re-election by reshuffling the calendar to favor states that supported his nomination, in particular South Carolina. Biden's 2020 presidential campaign was struggling until he won South Carolina and went on to gain the party's nomination. "Joe Biden's political career was defined when South Carolina Democrats essentially handed him the Democratic Party nomination and the presidency," said Scala.

☆ Climate ‘Reparations’ Are a New Name for Foreign Aid
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Holman W. Jenkins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The word “reparations” was inflammatory, but perhaps the honorary chairman of the recently concluded 27th United Nations climate conference should have been Donald Trump. It was his assessment of the global climate lobby that prevailed: “It’s a money-making industry, OK? It’s a hoax, a lot of it.”The parties to the so-called COP27 did not officially run up the white flag on their project to control earth’s thermostat by 1.5 degrees Celsius, and they never will. But a watershed is upon us. By last Saturday, the focus had shifted from a goal at which the leading nations were clearly failing to one at which they are past masters: distributing foreign aid to advance their political interests and recycle money to domestic constituencies.

☆ Nepal's ruling party seen emerging as the single largest in elections
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Gopal Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Nepali Congress of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has won 13 of 22 results declared, with three each going to the main opposition Nepal Communist Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) party and the newly formed National Independent Party (NIP). A five-time prime minister, Deuba won his remote Dadeldhura constituency for the seventh straight time since 1991. The Maoist Centre, a dominant partner in the ruling coalition, is leading in 14 seats and has won just two seat in the parliament. But final results could be about 10 days away, as election officials need to count millions of paper ballots manually. read moreThe Nepali Congress party is seen as pro-India, while the UML is considered closer to China.

☆ Malaysia's upcoming election is poised to be a battleground of uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Su-Lin Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Four years ago, opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan swept Barisan Nasional — the ruling coalition at that time — out of power for the first time in 60 years. Then chairman and second-time prime minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned after 22 months in office and the coalition fell apart. Malaysia's political crisis has paved the way for a smorgasbord of parties and coalitions contesting the general election on Nov. 19. Perikatan gained notoriety after it was formed in 2020 following the defection of members from Pakatan Harapan. Anwar Ibrahim is looking to become prime minister after being denied the leadership for over two decades.

☆ Ukraine will make decision on any negotiations with Russia - Blinken
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Ukraine would decide on the timing and contents of any negotiation framework with Russia, according to a readout of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Phnom Penh on Saturday. Blinken also discussed the United States' unwavering commitment to assist Ukraine in mitigating the effects of Russia's attacks on critical infrastructure as winter approaches, including accelerated humanitarian aid. "Secretary (Blinken) reiterated that the timing and contents of any negotiation framework remains Ukraine's decision," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said. During Saturday's meeting, Blinken and Kuleba reaffirmed the importance of renewing an agreement allowing Ukraine to export grain via the Black Sea, before it expires next Saturday. According to the United Nations, 10 million tonnes of grain and other foods have been exported from Ukraine under the Black Sea initiative agreed in July, helping to stave off a global food crisis.

☆ 'Bulldog' lawyer Thomas Lauria Lauria predicted a crypto 'liquidation boom' well before Sam Bankman-Fried's FTX filed for bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Jack Newsham | Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Thomas Lauria runs the bankruptcy team at White & Case where clients have included Hertz and Johnson & Johnson. But Lauria told Insider that the ability of crypto companies to reorganize will depend on whether they have any real assets. Notably, when Lauria represented Hertz in its Chapter 11 case during the coronavirus pandemic, even its unsecured creditors were repaid in full. So I'm not sure that what's happening in crypto right now is really going to be a reorganization boom, but really probably more of a liquidation boom. About $10 billion of Hertz debt, when they filed, was related to financing in connection with their US fleet.

Share this -Link copiedWisconsin Senate race too close to call Wisconsin's Senate race between GOP Sen. Ron Johnson and Democrat Mandela Barnes is too close to call, NBC News says. Vance wins Ohio Senate race, defeating Democrat Tim Ryan, NBC News projects COLUMBUS, Ohio — J.D. Ohio Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance is leading The Senate race in Ohio is too early to call, NBC News says, but Republican candidate J.D. Share this -Link copiedGeorgia Senate race too close to call Georgia's Senate race is too close to call about three hours after polls closed at 7 p.m.

☆ Midterm elections live updates: Pennsylvania races, New Hampshire Senate race too early to call
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Brandy Zadrozny | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Sahil-Kapur-Headshot.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +109 min

Share this -Link copiedWisconsin Senate and governor's races too early to call It is too early to call the Senate and gubernatorial races in Wisconsin, according to NBC News. Share this -Link copiedNew Hampshire Senate race too early to call The Senate race in New Hampshire is too early to call, according to NBC News. Share this -Link copiedPennsylvania Senate and governor races are too early to call After polls closed at 8 p.m. While Maricopa County election officials initially categorized the problem as a “hiccup,” it took hours before a solution was identified early Tuesday afternoon. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said.

While Maricopa County election officials initially categorized the problem as a “hiccup,” it took hours before a solution was identified early Tuesday afternoon. According to the poll, 46% of voters said their family’s financial situation is worse than it was two years ago. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, filed a similar complaint Friday against state election officials. The app and portal had been down for part of the morning and the state's election hotline also briefly experienced issues. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said.

Americans named inflation and abortion as the most important issues driving their vote on Tuesday, according to the NBC News Exit Poll. Democrats care most about abortion rights, while Republicans are most concerned about inflation, according to the poll. Midterm voters are also continuing to feel pain at the pump as gas prices in the U.S. hover around $4 per gallon. More voters say Biden's policies are hurting than helpingBiden fell short in persuading voters of the merits of his administration's policies, according to the poll. Black voters are one of the few demographic groups where a majority (55%) say Biden's policies are helping the country.

☆ U.S. privately asks Ukraine to show Russia it's open to talks, the Washington Post reports
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - The Biden administration is privately encouraging Ukraine’s leaders to signal an openness to negotiate with Russia and drop their public refusal to engage in peace talks unless President Vladimir Putin is removed from power, the Washington Post reported on Saturday. "Ukraine fatigue is a real thing for some of our partners," the Post quoted one unnamed U.S. official as saying. The White House National Security Council and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said during a visit to Kyiv on Friday that Washington's support for Ukraine would remain "unwavering and unflinching" following next Tuesday's midterm congressional elections. Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Matt Hancock 'I'm a Celebrity' appearance sparks new U.K. anger at politicians
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Hyder Abbasi | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

After the news broke Tuesday that he would be participating in the show, Hancock was swiftly suspended from the ruling Conservative Party and subjected to a mix of public anger and ridicule. In West Suffolk, the area in East England that Hancock represents, the local Conservative Party association said it was “disappointed" by his bid for prime-time TV stardom. Hancock will not be the first lawmaker to appear on "I'm a Celebrity...Get me out of Here!" She was also suspended from the Conservative Party for appearing on the program but was later readmitted and served as a minister in Johnson's government. But Street also said he could see how Hancock appearing on the program could help him with voters.

☆ Main road to Brazil's Paranagua port, major grain export hub, still blocked
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Ana Mano | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ricardo MoraesSAO PAULO, Nov 1 (Reuters) - The main access road to Brazil's Paranagua port, the country's second busiest for grain exports, remained blocked by political protesters on Tuesday, according to a statement from the port authority, hobbling shipping from one of the world's top food producers. Farm states like Santa Catarina, where many meatpackers operate, and Mato Grosso, Brazil's biggest grain producer, were among the most affected by the protests that started after polls closed on Sunday, police data showed. The port authority at Santos, Latin America's biggest port, said things were normal as protests had not disrupted its terrestrial operations, according to a statement sent to Reuters. Yet due to bad weather, navigation in the port's estuary has been suspended since 4:00 a.m. (0700 GMT), the statement said. Reporting by Ana Mano Editing by Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

His complete radio silence has raised concerns about the orderly handover of power, while also adding to doubts about how long the blockades could last. However, Normando Corral, president of farm group Famato, said the roadblocks in the top grains-growing state of Mato Grosso could disrupt agricultural shipments if they persist. One of the state's main exports this time of year is Brazil's winter corn crop, which is planted after soybeans are harvested. Evandro Lermen, a member of grain cooperative Coacen in the Brazilian 'soy capital' Sorriso, Mato Grosso, told Reuters corn shipments were not being disrupted by the protests. Rumo, a leading rail company that operates Latin America's biggest grain terminal in Rondonopolis, Mato Grosso, said none of its operations in Brazil had been affected so far.

☆ Biden casts early vote, vows to visit more states in coming days
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] U.S. President Joe Biden arrives to cast his vote during early voting for the 2022 U.S. midterm elections with his granddaughter Natalie, a first-time voter, at a polling station in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. October 29, 2022. REUTERS/Tasos Katopodis/PoolWILMINGTON, Del., Oct 29 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden cast an early vote in the crucial Nov. 8 midterm elections on Saturday, joined by his granddaughter Natalie, a first-time voter, and said he would visit more states in coming days to help Democrats fight for every possible vote. "I'm feeling good," Biden told reporters after voting and speaking briefly with an elderly woman in a wheelchair. It's a choice, a fundamental choice," Biden said. "Millions of Americans are casting their ballots against Biden and Democrats' reckless agenda of crime, rising prices, and open borders," he said.

ATLANTA — Former President Barack Obama is set to headline a rally Friday for Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., and the Democratic candidate for governor, Stacey Abrams, in the closing stretch of the 2022 election in this highly competitive battleground state. Georgia played a determinative role last cycle and could likely be in the same position two years later,” Obama adviser Eric Schultz said ahead of the event. Warnock, who was first elected in a 2020 special election, is polling neck and neck in recent surveys with Republican challenger Herschel Walker. "The state where we’re going downhill is Georgia," Schumer could be heard telling Biden. Asked about the remarks, Justin Goodman, a spokesman for the majority leader, told NBC News: “Schumer believes the Democratic candidates will win.”

ATLANTA — Democratic candidates in the two marquee Georgia races are blitzing the airwaves with television ads — and making two markedly different pitches to voters. Another features testimonials from GOP-leaning voters who say they’re supporting Warnock this fall. Abrams is relying heavily on mobilizing the base, aiming to inspire and register disaffected Georgians and turbocharge progressive turnout. “They are running two very different campaigns,” said an adviser to Kemp, who was granted anonymity to candidly assess Democratic strategy. “There are some voters — many voters — that are already pretty much fixed in their opinions.

☆ A student-loan company is 'prioritizing profits over people' by remaining 'seemingly complicit' in GOP efforts to sue Biden's debt cancellation plan, Cori Bush says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Missouri-based student-loan company MOHELA is involved in a GOP lawsuit suing Biden's debt relief. Missouri Rep. Cori Bush called on the company to stop "prioritizing profits over people." On Wednesday, a federal judge heard arguments from lawyers representing President Joe Biden and the six Republican-led states who sued Biden's debt relief because they say it would harm their states' tax revenues. They also claim it would hurt the financial operations of Missouri-based loan company MOHELA, where the lawsuit was filed. The Biden administration is still moving forward with its up to $20,000 debt relief process.

☆ Lebanon parliament passes 2022 budget that falls short of IMF reform
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Timour Azhari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 26 (Reuters) - Lebanon's parliament passed the 2022 budget on Monday using an exchange rate for customs tax revenues that lies far below the market value of the Lebanese pound, falling short of economic reform measures that would pay the way for an IMF deal. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterBut parliament endorsed a rate of 15,000 pounds to the dollar. The market rate sat at around 37,000 pounds on Friday. Officials view the approval of a higher exchange rate for imports as a move that would be unpopular with their constituencies in the heavily import-dependent country. The budget - adopted with just three months left in the year - calculated expenditures at 41 trillion Lebanese pounds, or $1.1 billion at the market rate on Monday, and revenues at 30 trillion Lebanese pounds.

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