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☆ Read Your Way Through Appalachia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Barbara Kingsolver | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Appalachia is a region and a mind-set. Appalachia has few large cities, our economies are land-based and, unless you live here, we’re probably not what you think. It’s “Appal-achia.” As in, “If you keep that up, I’ll throw this apple atcha.” But in fact, we won’t. We tend toward heart-blessing kindness in the way of small-town folks who rely on each other in good times and bad, and live together regardless. Weighing in at nearly three pounds, “Writing Appalachia: An Anthology,” edited by Katherine Ledford and Theresa Lloyd, is too big to pack but too wonderful to miss.

Persons: we’re, “, King James Bible, ”, Katherine Ledford, Theresa Lloyd, — James Still, Jesse Stuart, Harriette Simpson, Steven Stoll’s, Stoll, otherness Locations: Appalachia, Georgia , Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, State

☆ Once Rare, Impeachments and Censures Have Become the Norm in Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Carl Hulse | More About Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

After sidestepping Ms. Boebert, House Republicans are now conducting what they characterize as an “inquiry” into a potential impeachment, one that is likely to gain steam in the G.O.P. The censure, brought forward by Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, a strong supporter of Mr. Trump, accused Mr. Schiff of lying and spreading distortions in his investigation of the president. Some Republicans were clearly uncomfortable with the idea of censuring Mr. Schiff, and the move failed on its first attempt. But after Ms. Luna dropped a proposed $16 million fine from her resolution, Republicans pushed through the censure on a party-line vote in June. Far from hanging his head in ignominy, Mr. Schiff said he welcomed the vote as a badge of honor that proved he was effective.

Persons: Ms, Boebert, Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, General Merrick B, Garland, “, ”, Mitch McConnell, Kevin McCarthy, meting, Adam B, Schiff, Trump, Anna Paulina Luna of, Mr, Luna, Dianne Feinstein Organizations: Republicans, Democratic, Lawmakers, Capitol, Republican, censures, California Democrat, Intelligence Locations: Kentucky, California, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, ignominy

☆ Mitch McConnell was heckled with chants of 'retire' at the annual Fancy Farm picnic in Kentucky days after he froze during a Capitol Hill press conference
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mitch McConnell was heckled at the annual Fancy Farm picnic in Kentucky this past weekend. Booing is not unusual at Fancy Farm, but McConnell spoke after a much publicized health scare. The veteran GOP leader has committed to serving in his leadership role through the 2024 elections. And the reception is definitely not unusual at the Fancy Farm picnic, where Democrats and Republicans have their most fervent supporters cheer and boo candidates from opposing parties during the oft-raucous event. But during McConnell's speech at Fancy Farm, he went into attack mode against Democratic Gov.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, McConnell, jeers, Andy Beshear, who's, Daniel Cameron, haven't, Joe Biden —, Sen, Dianne Feinstein —, Biden, Gray Organizations: GOP, Service, Republicans, Republican, Hill, Senate, Democratic Gov, Republican Party, Democratic, Beshear, Bluegrass State, California Democrat Locations: Kentucky, Wall, Silicon, Georgia, Frankfort, …, California, Insider's

☆ Key Witness Doesn’t Back Up G.O.P.’s Biggest Allegations on Bidens
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Luke Broadwater | More About Luke Broadwater | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Republicans who for months have accused President Biden without proof of crime and corruption thought that a former business partner of his son’s could be the key to finally substantiating their most serious allegations. “Hunter’s ex-business partner, Devon Archer, could blow the lid off Joe Biden’s phony claims of innocence,” blared an email on Friday from former President Donald J. Trump’s campaign. Representative James R. Comer, Republican of Kentucky, told Fox News that Mr. Archer could become a “hero” of the House G.O.P.’s investigation into what they call the “Biden crime family,” delivering the damning evidence they need to impeach Mr. Biden. But the testimony this week of Mr. Archer, a former Yale lacrosse player who has been convicted of federal tax charges, fell well short of that, shooting down a bribery allegation Republicans have long promoted and generally rejecting the idea that the elder Mr. Biden had any material involvement in his son’s business dealings. It was the latest instance of House Republicans promising far more than they could produce in terms of proof of their allegations against the president.

Persons: Biden, “ Hunter’s, Devon Archer, Joe Biden’s, ”, Donald J, James R, Comer, Archer, Mr Organizations: Republican, Fox News, Yale, Republicans Locations: Kentucky

☆ Sen. Rand Paul says GOP's top recruit against Manchin has 'a lot of health issues,' questions his ability to serve
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Rand Paul is raising concerns over the health of his party's top Senate recruit in West Virginia. Jim Justice has "a lot of health issues" and questioned "how he'll be able to serve." Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, who currently holds the seat, has not yet announced whether he will seek re-election. "The governor has got a lot of health issues and is not very mobile," Paul, who's backing Mooney in the primary, told POLITICO. The concern raised by Paul about Justice's health comes as the Senate is grappling with a series of health-related issues among senators.

Persons: Sen, Rand Paul, Jim Justice, Republican Sen, Rand Paul of, leadership's, Democratic Sen, Joe Manchin, Alex Mooney, Paul, Mooney, POLITICO, he'll, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Dianne Feinstein, John Fetterman of Organizations: Service, Republican, Democratic, GOP, Senate, Kentucky Republican, California, Capitol Locations: West Virginia, Wall, Silicon, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Maryland, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania

☆ House GOP chairmen announce probe into Hunter Biden plea deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Clare Foran | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Three House GOP chairmen sent a letter Monday to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding documents and information regarding circumstances related to Hunter Biden’s plea deal with the Justice Department. A plea deal between Hunter Biden and the Justice Department is on hold after a dramatic court hearing Wednesday. Noreika said she had “concerns” about the parties seemingly linking the tax plea agreement to resolving a felony gun charge. While the investigation was ongoing, Hunter Biden fully paid his federal tax bill, along with interest and penalties, his lawyers have previously said. Last month, Garland rejected claims the Justice Department improperly interfered in the Hunter Biden probe.

Persons: General Merrick Garland, Hunter, Jim Jordan of, James Comer of, Jason Smith of, Hunter Biden, Hunter Biden’s, Devon Archer, “, ”, Maryellen Noreika, Noreika, David Weiss, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Garland Organizations: CNN, GOP, Justice Department, Republicans –, House Republicans, Justice, Trump -, White House, Department Locations: Jim Jordan of Ohio, Jason Smith of Missouri

☆ McConnell has fallen multiple times this year, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, who froze during a news conference Wednesday and earlier this year suffered a concussion after falling down, has also endured two other falls this year, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. And just this month at Reagan National Airport in Washington, McConnell was getting off the plane when he tripped and fell, a source familiar with this incident said. His falls have at times caused serious injuries, like in 2019, when McConnell fell at his Louisville home and fractured his shoulder. In October, McConnell told CNN he would definitely complete his term for the seat he’s held since 1985. But in May, after he suffered his concussion, McConnell declined to entertain the question about his plans to stay in his seat or run for leader.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Sauli Niinistö, hasn’t, Sanjay Gupta, CNN McConnell, ” McConnell, “, I’m, ” Organizations: CNN, GOP, Senate, Reagan National Airport, Capitol, NBC, McConnell, Louisville Locations: Finland, Helsinki, Washington, Kentucky

☆ If Mitch McConnell steps down, Kentucky Republicans made sure years ago it won't be a Democrat who replaces him
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

On Wednesday, McConnell froze at a press conference, raising questions about his ability to lead. But if he steps down, the Democratic governor in Kentucky will have to keep the Senate seat red. On Wednesday, McConnell froze and stopped talking mid-sentence during a press conference, raising questions about the 81-year-old senator's health. Other senators pulled the silent McConnell aside as the press conference continued. But the state's Republican-run legislature overrode Beshear's veto — with McConnell strongly backing the effort, according to the Courier Journal.

Persons: McConnell, Mitch McConnell, —, Andy Beshear, Beshear Organizations: Democratic, Kentucky Republicans, Republican, Service, Kentucky Republican, NBC, Louisville Courier, Courier Locations: Kentucky, Wall, Silicon, That's

☆ Do You Know a Politically Motived Prosecution When You See One? - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Jesse Wegman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

If you’re feeling bewildered by all the claims and counterclaims of politicization, you’re not alone. The Justice Department will always be led by a political appointee, and most state and local prosecutors are elected. That means extremely clear rules for investigators and prosecutors and eternal vigilance for the rest of us. So how to distinguish an investigation or prosecution based solely on the facts from one motivated improperly by politics? More often, though, it takes some work to determine whether an investigation or prosecution is on the level.

Persons: you’re, Jim Jordan of, it’s, McCarthy, Hillary Clinton, James Comer of, Hunter Biden, Biden’s, Comer Organizations: Trump, Democratic, The, Fox News Locations: Russia, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Benghazi, James Comer of Kentucky

☆ Opinion | Barbara Kingsolver Thinks Urban Liberals Have It All Wrong on Appalachia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( The Ezra Klein Show | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +58 min

It’s like there’s no point in asking who started this because it’s a really, really old antagonism. I think that’s probably what’s most critical right now is that all of our entertainment, our news media, it’s all made in cities. And he’s really pretty horrible, and he doesn’t feed them enough, and that’s really sad. You’re going to have a flat tire, and the guy that pulls up to help you is going to tell your dad within minutes. It’s not like most books you’re going to see.

Persons: Ezra Klein, ezra klein, —, Hernan Diaz, Barbara Kingsolver, “ David Copperfield ”, Dickens, It’s, barbara kingsolver, you’ve, ezra klein We’re, Nobody, I’d, I’ve, Bobby Ann Mason’s, “, — Wendell Berry, Robert Penn Warren, James Still, Harriette, Taylor Greer, you’re, George Washington, ” he’s, — he’s, he’s, I’ll, They’re, George W, Bush, they’re, barbara kingsolver You’re, we’ve, That’s, that’s, I’m, ” barbara kingsolver, barbara kingsolver Oh, barbara kingsolver ezra klein barbara kingsolver, ezra klein Yes, we’re, Charles Dickens, “ David Copperfield, ”, Tommy, ” It’s, ezra klein There’s, barbara kingsolver There’s, Tommy Traddles, Tommy Waddles, who’s, He’s, We’re, Tommy’s, she’s, it’s, Beth Macy, overdosed, ” ezra klein, There’s, grandkids, they’ve, Dori, doesn’t, Peggot, Frances Goldin, Arwen Donahue, She’s, Beth Macy’s, Lazarus, Laline Paull, ezra klein Barbara Kingsolver Organizations: New York, Fiction, Trump, Nicholas County High School, DePauw University, Walmart, The New York Times, . Times, New York Times, Farmers, “, Knoxville —, Purdue Pharma, Purdue, aha, Scots Locations: Appalachia, It’s, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, U.S, exploitations, Congo, Caribbean, Indiana, Nicholas, Arizona, Europe, Tucson , Arizona, Tucson, Paris, Athens, France, “ Shiloh, MAGA, America, Brazil, Eastern Europe, There’s, California, New York, “, Tommy, Pennington, Knoxville, there’s, nove, Lee County, that’s Lee County, that’s, United States of America, who’s, New York City

☆ How Canada’s Record Wildfires Got So Bad, So Fast
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Nadja Popovich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

How Canada’s Record Wildfires Got So Bad, So FastWildfires in Canada have burned a staggering 25 million acres so far this year, an area roughly the size of Kentucky. With more than a month of peak fire season left to go, 2023 has already eclipsed Canada’s previous annual record from 1989, when over 18 million acres were scorched. Hot, dry conditions have fueled widespread wildfires, mostly in Canada’s boreal forests, since the spring, with some of the largest blazes burning in Northwest Canada and Quebec. A heat wave baked British Columbia and Alberta in mid-May, exacerbating several early wildfires. More than 100 times over the past three months, Canadian wildfires have grown sufficiently large and powerful to produce their own weather, kicking up giant thunderclouds known as pyrocumulonibus, and injecting smoke high into the atmosphere.

Persons: ”, Jennifer Kamau, Kamau, “, González, Mike Flannigan, Yan Boulanger, Flanningan Organizations: Canadian Interagency Forest Fire, Madison Dong, Thompson Rivers University, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Times Locations: Canada, Kentucky, Northwest Canada, Quebec, North America, International, United States, Madison, Columbia, Alberta, Northern Canada, Thompson, Kamloops , British Columbia, California

Weeks later, Mr. Trump is the former President Trump. Instead, in a brief televised address shortly before 2:30 a.m., Mr. Trump furiously laid down his postelection lie. For weeks, Mr. Trump had been peppering him with tips of fraud that, upon investigation by federal authorities, proved baseless. The cavalry “is coming, Mr. President,” Kylie Kremer tweeted to Mr. Trump on Dec. 19. On Jan. 15, Mr. Trump acquiesced to an Oval Office meeting with Mr. Lindell, who arrived with two sets of documents.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Joseph R, Biden, Justin Clark, Rudolph W, Giuliani, Clark, Weeks, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Jared Kushner, McConnell’s, Biden’s, William P, Barr, Mr, Trump’s, Sidney Powell, Lin Wood, sleuths, MyPillow, Mike Lindell, Patrick Byrne, Stephen K, Bannon, Michael T, Flynn, platformed, Jared Taylor, Enrique Tarrio, Doug Mills, Eric, “ We’re, ”, Fox, Eric Trump, Newt Gingrich, Joe Biden’s, Kevin McCarthy, Laura Ingraham, Obama, Dennis Montgomery, Thomas McInerney, McInerney, John McCain, Bannon’s, “ it’s, Paul Gosar, Doug Ducey, Roy Blunt of, Roy Blunt, Anna Moneymaker, —, “, ” Mr, Mark Meadows, Josh Holmes, Kushner, — Mr, Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, Lindsey Graham, Sean Hannity, Lindsey Graham of, Sean Hannity’s, — I’ve, Let’s, Graham, Pat A, Axios, Brendan Smialowski, “ Hannity, Thomas, Jenna Ellis, Matt Morgan, Al Gore, George W, Bush, Brooks, Stefan Passantino, Powell, Lynsey Weatherspoon, Gore, William H, Rehnquist, Giuliani —, Kris Kobach, Mark Martin, Lawrence Joseph, Kobach, Uncle Sam, Mr . Biden, Ken Paxton, Jeffrey M, Landry, Paxton, Kyle D, Hawkins, Jacquelyn Martin, Joseph, Richard L, Chris Carr, Carr, Mike Johnson of, Mike Johnson, McCarthy, Privately, Ted Cruz of, John Sauer, ’, ” James E, Nicolai, North, Wayne Stenehjem, Stenehjem, Wayne, Tasos Katopodis, MAGA, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Marsha Blackburn of, Ms, Blackburn, Amy Kremer, Ann Stone, Roger Stone, Amy Coney Barrett, Kremer’s, Kylie Jane Kremer, Jennifer Lawrence, Dustin Stockton, Lawrence, Stockton, I’ve, Lindell, they’d, Taylor, Greg Locke, Covid, Michael McKinney, Tucker Carlson, Carlson’s, “ Donald Trump, ” Ms, Meadows, Georgia runoffs, Byrne, Cipollone, he’d, Martin, Mike Pence, reconvene, ” Kylie Kremer, James Yeager, Kylie Kremer, Yeager’s, Lawrence whooped, John Kennedy, James Lyle, Josh Hawley, “ You’ve, Lyle, Couy Griffin, Kennedy, Pete Marovich, Kremer, Julie Jenkins Fancelli, Alex Jones, Caroline Wren, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr, Katrina Pierson, Brad Raffensperger, Jeffrey A, Rosen, Department’s, Jeffrey Clark, Scott Perry, Hawley, Cruz, Year’s, Tom Cotton of, Cotton, Cindy Chafian, Chafian, Jones, Stone, Locke, Jan, “ You’ll, Gosar, Griffin, Robert O’Brien, I’m, ’ ”, Kenny Holston, Donald Trump, ” Mark Walker, Ben Margot, Stefani Reynolds, Samuel Corum, Erin Schaff, David J, Ted Cruz, John Bazemore Organizations: Twitter, Dominion Systems, Trump, Biden, Dominion, New, New York City, The New York Times, Senate, New York, Republican Party, Capitol, White, Times, The Times, America News Network, Fox, America, Boys, New York Times, American, Air Force, Electoral College, Republicans, Joe Biden’s Democratic Party, Republican, Facebook, Democrats, Associated Press, “ Fox & Friends, White House, West Wing, “, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Veritas, Justice Department, Postal Service, York Daily, Agence France, Zignal Labs, Amistad, Thomas More Society, Mr, Electoral, Supreme, Lawyers, General Association, Associated, State, University of California, Republican House, Women, Tea Party, Trump -, Breitbart, of, Credit, SPAN, Tea Party Express, Republican National Committee, Internet, Army, Des Moines Register, Marine, General Services Administration, Swedish, Cowboys, Capitol ., Street Journal, Save, General Association ., Law Defense Fund, Freedom, Coalition, Proud Boys, Willard, Homeland Security, Party, Getty, Georgia Electoral College Locations: Detroit, Arizona, Georgia, New York, America, China, Trump, Grand Rapids, Mich, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Santa Cruz ,, Arizona —, Russia, North Vietnam, United States, Roy Blunt of Missouri, Kentucky, Utah, Alaska, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Erie, Pa, Pennsylvania, Long, Bush, Florida, tightest, Kansas, North Carolina, Ken Paxton of Texas, Texas, State of Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Irvine, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Ted Cruz of Texas, Missouri, Washington, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Trump’s, Hudson, Stockton, Tennessee, Des Moines, Meadows, White, fistfights, Nashville, West Monroe, La, Louisiana, drumbeating, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Delaware

☆ Blinken Calls Blockade of Diplomatic Nominees a National Security Risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Michael Crowley | More About Michael Crowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Vance of Ohio, have also blocked nominees for different reasons. “These delays are undermining our national security,” Mr. Blinken told reporters during an unusual appearance at the State Department’s daily news media briefing. The overwhelming majority of the stalled State Department nominees are career diplomats, and more than a third have been awaiting votes for about a year or more, he added. The aide noted that the vacancies put the United States at a disadvantage in its global competition with China, which many Republicans call their top foreign policy priority. Beijing has ambassadors in dozens of foreign capitals where the United States lacks them, the aide said.

Persons: Rand Paul of Kentucky, Biden, Ted Cruz of, Vance of, Mr, Blinken, ”, chargé d’affaires Organizations: State Department, Republican, State, Department, Democratic, Foreign Relations, World Health Organization, International Monetary Fund Locations: Ted Cruz of Texas, Vance of Ohio, United States, China, Beijing

Last month, U.S. District Judge David Hale found that the ban likely violated the U.S. Constitution. However, he said he had to put his order on hold because the federal appeals court hearing the case recently paused a similar order in Tennessee. The law is being challenged by families of transgender children who say they will be irreparably harmed by losing access to medical treatments. The now-reinstated Kentucky and Tennessee laws were both blocked by federal judges on June 28 in response to lawsuits by families of transgender children. The families say the laws discriminate against transgender people and take away parents' right to make medical decisions for their children.

Persons: David Hale, Daniel Cameron, Corey Shapiro, Hale, Brendan Pierson, David Gregorio Our Organizations: District, . Constitution, Republican, Civil Liberties Union, Kentucky, U.S, Circuit, Appeals, Thomson Locations: Kentucky, U.S, ., Tennessee . Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas , Alabama, Florida, Indiana, New York

Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) speaks during a press conference on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with members of the House Freedom Caucus on July 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. The House narrowly passed an annual defense policy bill on Friday after Republicans added provisions on abortion and transgender surgeries — measures that were a nonstarter for Democrats. The amendments, adopted Thursday, would ban the secretary of defense from paying for or reimbursing service members for abortion-related expenses and transgender surgeries and hormone treatments. House Democratic leaders said Thursday that members of their caucus will vote against passing the bill. The defense legislation will eventually need to be reconciled with a version of the bill under consideration in the Senate.

Persons: Ronny Jackson, Ken Buck, Ken Buck of Colorado, Andy Biggs, Eli Crane of, Thomas Massie of, Henry Cuellar, John Duarte of, Brian Fitzpatrick, Matt Rosendale, Joe Biden's, Hakeem Jeffries, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Scott Perry, We're, Perry, Pete Aguilar, I've, Pat Ryan Organizations: National Defense, Caucus, Democrats, Four, Rep, Texas Democrat, Republicans, Department of Defense, Defense Department, Democratic, House Democratic, Senate, GOP, House Armed Services Committee Locations: Washington ,, Ken Buck of, Eli Crane of Arizona, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Texas, John Duarte of California, Pennsylvania, D

☆ Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has some fans on Capitol Hill — they just happen to be Republicans
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

RFK Jr. might be running for President as a Democrat, but he has some fans among GOP lawmakers. Sen. Ron Johnson told Insider he hopes Kennedy "gains traction and wins the nomination." House Republicans have invited Kennedy to testify next week, and some Democrats say it's a political ploy. "He's displayed extraordinary political courage," said Johnson, recounting Kennedy's own narrative about how he took up anti-vaccine advocacy. Johnson's liking for Kennedy goes beyond just COVID and vaccines — he's on a similar wavelength with other aspects of Kennedy's conspiratorial worldview as well.

Persons: Sen, Ron Johnson, Kennedy, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Johnson, It's, he's, Bobby, He's, John F, York Sen, Trump, Joe Biden's, Jack Dorsey, David Sacks, Biden, it's, That's, Jim Banks, Ted Cruz, Thomas Massie of, I'd, Massie, Jim Jordan, Tom Williams, Jordan, Donald Trump's, Dennis Kucinich, who's, Kucinich, Dan Goldman, Goldman Organizations: RFK Jr, GOP, Republicans, Service, Democratic, Tea Party, Republican, JFK, CIA, Biden, Ukraine, Twitter, Capitol, Kennedy Democrats, Democrat Party, Jim Banks of Indiana, Federal Government, FBI, Big Tech, Inc, Getty, Center, Children's Health Defense, Democrat Locations: Wall, Silicon, Kennedy's, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, York, Ted Cruz of Texas, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Ohio, New York

CNN —House Republicans unloaded a barrage of criticism directed toward FBI Director Christopher Wray Wednesday, outlining a litany of complaints while Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee. Chairman Jim Jordan opened the hearing launching into a wide array of attacks on the FBI. “House Republicans will attack the FBI for having had the audacity to treat Donald Trump like any other citizen. FBI Director Christopher Wray is sworn in prior to testifying before a House Judiciary Committee hearing. “We did stand up a whole dedicated unit to focus on threats to FBI, individuals, FBI employees and FBI facilities because of the uptick that we saw over that time period,” Wray said.

Persons: Christopher Wray, Wray, Jim Jordan, Hunter Biden, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, “, ”, Matt Gaetz, ” Wray, ” Gaetz, Edgar Hoover, Gaetz, Jonathan Ernst, ’ Wray, Trump . Jordan, Jordan, Jerry Nadler, ” Nadler, Saul Loeb, –, John Durham, Biden, Hunter, ” that’s, ” Jordan, Thomas Massie, Massie, Nadler, Jack Smith’s, – Wray Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, FBI, Catholic Church, Florida Republican, Reuters, GOP, Foreign Intelligence, Republican, Trump ., Ohio Republican, Republicans, Trump, DOJ, FISA, “, White, ” New York Rep, ”, Committee, Getty, CNN, US State Department, Biden, White House, Democratic National Committee, Capitol, Trump’s Locations: Richmond, Florida, Washington , DC, Ohio, United States, Russia, Durham, Ukrainian, Louisiana, Kentucky, Lago, Mar

☆ NATO unity will be tested at upcoming summit. Ukraine's possible entry may be the biggest challenge
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Patriot long-range air defence systems of the German Bundeswehr armed forces are deployed at Vilnius Airport ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania on July 7, 2023. "I don't think it's ready for membership in NATO," President Joe Biden told CNN in an interview airing Sunday. More than two-thirds of alliance members have banned the weapon because it has a track record for causing many civilian casualties. As for Ukraine's possible entry into NATO, the alliance said in 2008 that Kyiv eventually would become a member. "That's an issue that will cause tension and dissent, and that's not what the Vilnius summit is all about," he said.

Persons: NATO's, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Douglas Lute, Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Lute, Mitch McConnell, Putin, Daniel Fried, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Finland, Erdogan, It's, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Max Bergmann, They've, Bergmann, Viktor Orban, Idaho Sen, Jim Risch, aren't, Risch, I'm, we've, Jens Stoltenberg, who's, Mette Frederiksen, Stoltenberg, Rasmussen, Skip Davis, that's Organizations: German Bundeswehr, Vilnius Airport, NATO Summit, NATO, CNN, Republican, Kentucky, Associated Press, Putin, Atlantic Council, Ukraine, State Department, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Senate Foreign Relations, Danish, Center for Locations: German, Vilnius, Lithuania, Russian, Ukraine, Sweden, Eastern Europe, United States, Israel, Moscow, Finland, U.S, Russia, Kyiv, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Stockholm, Idaho, Hungary, Baltic, Norwegian, Danish

Stanton, Kentucky CNN —All Heather and Nick Maberry wanted to do was hold their dead baby, but strict Kentucky abortion laws meant they couldn’t. They were “furious” that the laws meant they never got to kiss or cuddle their daughter, Willow Rose, or tell her goodbye, Heather said. The Maberrys wanted to terminate the pregnancy, but a near-complete abortion ban in their state doesn’t have exceptions for birth defects – even severe ones like anencephaly. CNN reached out to three sponsors of Kentucky abortion laws to ask why fatal fetal anomalies aren’t an exception to the current laws. While she was willing to take that risk for a live baby, Willow was not going to live.

Persons: Heather, Nick Maberry, ”, Willow Rose, “ We’ll, We’ll, “ We’re, we’ve, –, Maberrys, “, ” Heather, Nick, Heather Maberry, Heather Neace Maberry Heather, ‘, Heather Neace Maberry, gravidarum, “ I’d, Anencephaly, Willow, ‘ We’ll, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, ” “ Organizations: Kentucky CNN, Kentucky Medicaid, CNN, Maberrys, Facebook, University of Kentucky, National Institutes of Health, Heather’s, CNN Health, Family Planning, of Chicago Locations: Stanton, Kentucky, Madison, Aubrie, Stanton , Kentucky, Lexington, Chicago

☆ Bedbugs: What travelers need to know this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Potter suggests that before you even unpack, at least do a cursory bed check. If there are two beds in a room, Potter does not put his suitcase on the other bed. These are the signs of bedbug infestationsThis is what a serious bed bug infestation looks like on a mattress. Bed bug eggs are the size of a pinhead and pearl-white. Bedbugs are more than a bed and motel problemIn a hotel room, place your luggage on a rack, as you see above.

Persons: Michelle Quinn, bedbugs, “, Jeff March, Quinn, ”, Michael F, Potter, I’d, Andrew Francis Wallace, Dmitry Bezrukov, Daniel K, it’s, you’ve, Joel Carillet, ” Potter, she’s, ” Quinn Organizations: CNN, Google, Alamy, Entomology, University of Kentucky, Toronto Star, American, & Lodging Association, Environmental Protection Agency, Inouye International Airport, Hawaii Department of Transportation, CNN Travel, Medical, Centers for Disease Control, bedbugs, Cleveland Clinic, Washington , D.C Locations: Indiana, sofas, Honolulu , Hawaii, Washington ,

☆ Judge Blocks Kentucky’s Transgender Care Ban for Minors
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Anna Betts | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The NewsA federal judge temporarily blocked part of a Kentucky state law from taking effect that would ban the prescription and administration of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender people younger than 18. The judge said the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their challenge to the law on constitutional grounds. The preliminary injunction was issued Wednesday afternoon by Judge David J. Hale of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. It comes almost two months after the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky filed a lawsuit on behalf of seven transgender children and their parents. Judge Hale, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2014, said in his ruling that, based on the evidence, the treatments barred by the law “are medically appropriate and necessary for some transgender children” according to major medical organizations.

Persons: Judge David J, Hale, Judge Hale, Barack Obama Organizations: U.S, Western, of, American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky Locations: Kentucky, of Kentucky

☆ Judges Block Transgender Care Bans for Minors in Kentucky and Tennessee
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Anna Betts | Emily Cochrane | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Federal judges in two states intervened on Wednesday to temporarily block laws that would ban gender-transition care for minors, the latest instances where legislation targeting transgender people have been halted by the judiciary. The separate rulings in Kentucky and Tennessee came days before key provisions of the laws were set to go into effect, as a wave of legislation aimed at curbing L.G.B.T.Q. rights has cleared Republican-controlled legislatures across the country this year. Several of those laws either remain tangled in legal battles, or have been ruled unconstitutional by federal judges. Most of the bill took effect immediately when it became law this year, but some provisions were set to go into effect on Thursday.

Persons: David J, Hale Organizations: Republican, U.S, Western, of Locations: Kentucky, Tennessee, of Kentucky

☆ Simple, Satisfying 3-Ingredient Barbecue Sauces
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Steven Raichlen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

South Carolina’s contribution to regional American barbecue is mustard sauce. Barbecue buffs — from Columbia, S.C., through Georgia, and in parts of Kentucky and Florida — understand the wonders that mustard can work on pork; how the spice enhances the meat’s sweetness, while the acidity cuts through the fat. Mustard may be the addition of the German immigrants who settled in South Carolina in the 18th century and whose descendants opened barbecue restaurants still revered in the state, such as Bessingers in Charleston, Sweatman’s in Holly Hill and Hite’s in West Columbia. A good mustard sauce is a study in balance: the bite of mustard and mouth-pucker of vinegar offset by the sweetness of honey or brown sugar. Tradition calls for using ballpark-style mustard, but try the suaveness of Dijon-style mustard or a grainy mustard from Meaux in France.

Persons: — Locations: Columbia, Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, South Carolina, Charleston, Sweatman’s, Holly Hill, Hite’s, West Columbia, Dijon, Meaux, France

☆ Clarence Thomas: Appellate judge defends justice in new book, rejects 'pot shots' at Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Ariane De Vogue | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A federal appeals court judge previously on short lists for the Supreme Court is taking the rare step to broadly and publicly reject allegations that Justice Clarence Thomas has been improperly influenced by lavish gifts provided by a conservative billionaire, dismissing “pot shots” at the Supreme Court in general. Thapar this past week released a new book about Thomas entitled “The People’s Justice,” in which he explores the justice’s favored judicial philosophy of originalism. “You can judge their works, and what they do, against what they’ve done in the past,” Thapar told CNN. Ethics and financial disclosuresThapar rejects suggestions that Thomas should have disclosed the hospitality provided by Crow on annual financial disclosure forms. They have called Justice Thomas ‘the cruelest justice,’ ‘stupid,’ and even an ‘Uncle Tom’ a traitor to his race,” Thapar writes.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Amul Thapar, Thapar, Thomas, originalism, Thomas ’, Thomas ’ originalism, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, Harlan Crow’s, ” Thapar, Ginni, Crow, ” Virginia Canter, ” “, ” Canter, hadn’t, “, –, ”, Thomas’s, Thomas ‘, ’, Tom ’, Elizabeth Wydra, ” Wydra Organizations: CNN, Eastern, Eastern District of, ProPublica, Citizens, Crow, Administrative, Center Locations: Cincinnati, Eastern District, Eastern District of Kentucky, Washington

☆ House GOP retirement fund bill takes aim at ESG investing
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Emily Wilkins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

House Republicans are continuing their attempt to pump the brakes on so-called "woke" investing with new legislation that could place limits on financial advisors and retirement funds. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., will introduce a bill Wednesday that would target funds that consider environmental, social and governance issues, known as ESG. Barr's measure would update the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to require retirement funds to focus only on maximizing profits, limiting the ability to invest in ESG options. In addition, advisors would need to disclose the difference in fees and performance between ESG funds and a similar index. Proponents say ESG investing is intended to promote the social good, although critics say it hurts investors.

Persons: Andy Barr, Kevin McCarthy, Bill Huizenga, Barr, fiduciaries, Jared Golden, Joe Manchin, Jon Tester —, Joe Biden, who's, Andy Beshear, Brad Sherman Organizations: Investments, U.S, Capitol, Republicans, CNBC, Biden, — Rep, Sens, Senate, Financial, Republican, Democratic, California Democrat, Financial Services Locations: Ky, ESG, America, Kentucky, California

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