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☆ FBI investigating threatening letters sent to elections officials in several states
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Michael-Kosnar-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Michael Kosnar | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

The FBI is warning election offices to be on the lookout after threatening letters containing suspicious substances were sent to the offices of multiple secretaries of state throughout the country. A senior law enforcement official confirms elections officials in at least six states received packages on Monday, but so far none of the packages have been found to contain any actual hazardous material. Secretaries of state, attorney general offices and state election offices in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Tennessee, Wyoming and Oklahoma were targeted. The FBI, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and state and local law enforcement partners are investigating multiple letters containing suspicious substances which have been mailed to Secretary of State's offices. The incident is also the second time in the past year that threats have hit multiple state election offices simultaneously.

Persons: —, Robert Evnen, Chuck Gray, State Paul Pate, State Tre Hargett, Doug Kufner, Donald Trump, Trump, State Jena Griswold Organizations: FBI, ”, NBC News, U.S . Postal, Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Memorial Hall, Nebraska State Patrol, Lincoln, Lancaster County Health Department, Nebraska, State, Hargett Locations: Nebraska , Iowa , Kansas , Tennessee , Wyoming, Oklahoma, ” In Kansas, Iowa, Topeka , Kansas, Lincoln , Nebraska, Nebraska, Lancaster, Wyoming, Tennessee, California , Georgia, Nevada , Oregon, Washington, Colorado

☆ An AI mayor? OpenAI shuts down tools for AI political candidates
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

AI has “helped me in my life personally … such as helping me with my resume,” Miller told CNN. I really want to see that happen.”On Tuesday, however, OpenAI told CNN it shut down Miller’s access to the tool that was being used to interact with and persuade voters. “We’ve taken action against these uses of our technology for violating our policies against political campaigning,” an OpenAI spokesperson told CNN. Although the public-facing version of VIC has been removed by OpenAI, Miller said it still works on his own ChatGPT account. OpenAI told CNN it also took action against another candidate in the UK who was using its AI models to help campaign for Parliament.

Persons: CNN — Victor Miller, ”, ” Miller, “, OpenAI, “ We’ve, Chuck Gray, ” Gray, Miller, Gray, Steve Endacott, Steve, Endacott, Jen Golbeck, Golbeck, ” David Karpf, ” Karpf, doesn’t Organizations: CNN, Cheyenne, Neural, College of Information Sciences, University of Maryland, George Washington University Locations: Cheyenne , Wyoming, Wyoming, “ Wyoming, Cheyenne, Slovakia

☆ Emails show how a right-wing group steers GOP leaders on major policy issues
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Bob Ortega | Daniel Medina | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft speaks with reporters on Jan. 23 in Jefferson City, Missouri. In Wyoming, a GOP state senator forwarded an FGA draft bill to Secretary of State Chuck Gray that would prohibit sending out unsolicited absentee ballot request forms. Emails show the group strategized with the secretary of state’s office for weeks leading up to Ashcroft proposing his own such rule last January. FGA notches wins with weakened child labor lawsFGA’s lobbying group, The Opportunity Solutions Project, spearheads its efforts at the state level. Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesFGA also continues its push at the state level across the country to enact its policy priorities.

Persons: State Jay Ashcroft, “, Ashcroft, Kacen Bayless, FGA, –, Chuck Gray, ” Gray, Gray, ”, Joe Biden’s, Jay, Daniel Garrett, Garrett, “ It’s, Missouri’s, Scott Fitzpatrick, BlackRock, ” Fitzpatrick, Mark Felix, Fitzpatrick, ALEC, Andy Puzder, Carls Jr, ” Puzder, Kristina Shelton, Puzder, ” Kristina Shelton, they’ve, Tarren Bragdon, Rebecca Burkes, It’s, Tyson, ’, Bragdon, Sarah Bryner, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Paul Renner, Donald Trump, Chip Somodevilla, Shelton, ” Shelton Organizations: CNN, State, Republican, Foundation, Government, Missouri, Kansas City Star, Tribune, Service, GOP, Ashcroft, Conservative, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, National, University of Pennsylvania, Brookings Institution, Exxon, BlackRock, ” BlackRock, Energy, ExxonMobil, Washington Post, American Legislative Exchange Council, Heritage Foundation, Heritage, Boston, Wisconsin Democratic, FGA, Solutions, Tyson Foods Inc, George’s Inc, US Department of Labor, Solutions Project, Daily, The Heritage Foundation, Alliance, Trump, Florida Governor, Bragdon, Florida House, House, FBI, Justice Department, Department of Education, Center, Pleaides Locations: Missouri, Texas, Jefferson City , Missouri, Wyoming, Kansas , Indiana, BlackRock, Florida, ExxonMobil Baytown, Baytown , Texas, Washington, ” Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Iowa, Park City , Utah, DeSantis, Rome , Georgia

☆ Analysis-New anti-ESG rule in Missouri offers US Republicans another path away from 'wokeness'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

(Reuters) - A new Missouri securities rule offers a template for Republican U.S. state officials who want to advance an “anti-woke” business agenda even as such ideas struggle for legislative backing. Ashcroft acted after Republican lawmakers failed to pass a similar measure during the state’s legislative session that ended on May 12, amid infighting over which bills should be prioritized. Concerns over costs, bureaucracy and economic fallout led to bills stalling or passing in weakened form even in so-called red states, where Republicans dominate state government. Several corporate attorneys said other Republican officials may adopt Ashcroft’s playbook and act on their own. According to a spokesperson, Ashcroft initiated the rulemaking before the legislative session began, essentially as a backup plan in case lawmakers did not act on the same idea introduced in January.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, John “ Jay ” Ashcroft, Ashcroft, “, ” overreach, Ashcroft’s, ”, Beth I.Z, Boland, Lardner, Larry Fink, ’ Ashcroft, ” Ashcroft, can’t, Dan Mehan, Lance Dial, Chuck Gray, West, Ron DeSantis, Walt Disney Organizations: Reuters, Republican U.S, REUTERS, Merriam, Webster, Strategy, “, Foley, Republicans, Morningstar, BlackRock, state’s, Representatives, Republican, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Missouri, Florida Locations: Missouri, Appleton City , Missouri, U.S, Boston, Wyoming, ESG

☆ Analysis: New anti-ESG rule in Missouri offers US Republicans another path away from 'wokeness'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Ashcroft acted after Republican lawmakers failed to pass a similar measure during the state's legislative session that ended on May 12, amid infighting over which bills should be prioritized. Concerns over costs, bureaucracy and economic fallout led to bills stalling or passing in weakened form even in so-called red states, where Republicans dominate state government. Several corporate attorneys said other Republican officials may adopt Ashcroft's playbook and act on their own. According to a spokesperson, Ashcroft initiated the rulemaking before the legislative session began, essentially as a backup plan in case lawmakers did not act on the same idea introduced in January. EXTRA ARROWSFinancial executives who so far have avoided the strongest laws worry that the possibility of executive or administrative actions, as in Missouri, gives state officials flexibility to keep up the pressure.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Walt Disney, Missouri's, John " Jay, Ashcroft, Ashcroft's, Beth I.Z, Boland, Lardner, Larry Fink, Dan Mehan, Lance Dial, Chuck Gray, West, Ron DeSantis, Ross Kerber, Greg Roumeliotis, Anna Driver, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Walt, Republican U.S, Merriam, Webster, Strategy, Foley, Republicans, Morningstar, BlackRock, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, state's, Representatives, Republican, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Missouri, Florida, Thomson Locations: Appleton City , Missouri, U.S, Missouri, Boston, BLK.N, Wyoming, ESG

☆ Wyoming, the first territory in the United States to grant women the right to vote, just became the first state to ban medication abortion
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Wyoming became the first state to ban abortion pills after a bill became law on Friday. The "Life is a Human Right Act" makes prescribing or selling abortion pills a felony. Wyoming was the first territory in the United States to grant women the right to vote, according to the National Parks Service, after passing a law offering women suffrage in 1869 — before the region even achieved statehood. It now becomes the first state to ban abortion-inducing medications as legal battles play out in Texas and beyond over similar proposed bans elsewhere. Representatives for Gordon, Gray, and Representative Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, who sponsored the "Life is a Human Right Act," did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Over two dozen corporate leaders and businesses are quietly donating to the campaigns of at least four Republicans who have pushed false claims about the 2020 election results while running to become secretaries of state, according to a review of state campaign finance disclosures. Marchant is running to be Nevada's secretary of state, while Finchem and Karamo are aiming for the same position in Arizona and Michigan, respectively. The allegations led to dozens of failed lawsuits attempting to overturn state results and prompted the deadly Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Those business officials started financing the secretary of state candidates in Aug. 2021 and continued their donations through September, according to state records. Beckel noted in an email to CNBC that donors could be giving to secretary of state candidates for future help with issues more directly tied to their businesses.

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