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CNN —President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is bypassing traditional FBI background checks for at least some of his Cabinet picks while using private companies to conduct vetting of potential candidates for administration jobs, people close to the transition planning say. It also reflects Trump’s deep mistrust of the national security establishment, which he derides as the Deep State. If Gaetz does not participate in the vetting process, the FBI could still try to do a basic investigation at the request of the Senate. Instead, Trump’s transition team has been focused on conducting its own internal vetting of candidates for top administration jobs. So if Trump’s team continues to skirt the vetting process, those tapped for key roles wouldn’t be able to receive briefings until then.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Matt Gaetz, Tulsi Gabbard, Dan Meyer, “, ”, Trump’s, Gaetz, Gabbard, Bashar al, Vladimir Putin’s, Biden, Jared Kushner, won’t, wouldn’t, Mike Waltz Organizations: CNN, Trump, FBI, Justice Department, NATO Locations: Washington, Washington ,, Florida, Syria, Russia, Assad, United States, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ Dear Santa: Please bring me a Skibidi Toilet for Christmas
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Now in Walmart aisles: a Skibidi Toilet action figure — a $45 mystery toilet bowl. For $44.95, I could be the proud owner of the Skibidi Toilet — complete with toilet-themed toys in the bowl. The Skibidi Toilet is marketed as a "mystery surprise toilet" by Bonkers Toys. AdvertisementThe original Skibidi Toilet was the creation of animator Alexey Gerasimov, who made it for his YouTube channel DaFuq! He said the Skibidi Toilet was outselling LankyBox by around double.

Persons: Bonkers, —, you've, Lindsay Dodgson, Dan Meyer, Meyer, it's, Blake Droesch, Emarketer, Alexey Gerasimov, Gerasimov, Adam Goodman, DreamWorks SKG, Goodman, Logan Paul, KSI, they've Organizations: Service, Walmart, YouTube, Bonkers, DreamWorks, Paramount Pictures Locations: San Diego, discounters, Santa

☆ Opinion | ‘Artificial Intelligence?’ No, Collective Intelligence.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( The Ezra Klein Show | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A.I.-generated art has flooded the internet, and a lot of it is derivative, even boring or offensive. called “Spawn” trained on human voices that adds an uncanny yet oddly personal layer to the music. Beyond her music and visual art, Herndon is trying to solve a problem that many creative people are encountering as A.I. baby,” Spawn, on “PROTO”; how A.I. voice imitators grew out of electronic music and other musical genres; why Herndon prefers the term “collective intelligence” to “artificial intelligence”; why an “opt-in” model could help us retain more control of our work as A.I.

Persons: Holly Herndon, Mathew Dryhurst, Jules LaPlace, ”, Herndon, Jordan Meyer, Patrick Hoepner, “, Ezra Klein Organizations: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Locations: Dryhurst

☆ Part scary, part exciting: How artists are using AI in their work
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

But they also said they were excited about what generative AI might bring. Installation artist Rubem Robierb was "shocked" when he first saw what generative AI could do, he told CNBC by phone. "In its infancy, [generative] AI can create more images in a second [than] the human brain can even process. As it exists right now, [generative] AI sources from known images, known artwork, and known artists to complete a task. Generative artUsing generative AI in an ethical manner is a key consideration for London gallery the Serpentine, which has developed AI projects with artists since 2014, according to its CEO Bettina Korek.

Persons: Refik, Hugo Glendinning, OpenAI's DALL, Rubem Robierb, Robierb, Dandara dos Santos, Rubem, Bettina Korek, Refik Anadol, Korek, Anadol, Julian Espagnon, Danilo S, Shane Guffogg, Carlucci, Holly Herndon, Mat Dryhurst, Jordan Meyer, Guffogg, I'm Organizations: CNBC, Celebrity Cruises for Edge, Smithsonian Institution, Economic, United Arab, & Systems, gallery's Arts Technologies Locations: London, New York City, Fortaleza, Brazil, New York, Miami, Europe, Serpentine, Davos, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Herndon, Venice, Italy, California

☆ To get $9 million in pandemic aid, Lil Wayne pledged to operate a 'drug-free workplace.' The feds believed him.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Jack Newsham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Lil Wayne loves weed. But in 2021, Lil Wayne — whose real name Dwayne Carter — told the government that his touring company was a "drug-free" workplace. No one at the Small Business Administration appeared to question it, and the government cut a $8.9 million check to Lil Wayne's company Young Money Touring Inc. Representatives for Beach House didn't respond to a request for comment, nor did press contacts for Lil Wayne or Post Malone. The feds could claw the money backThe SBA told grant applicants that they could be sued or even prosecuted for lying.

Persons: Malone, Lil Wayne, —, Lil Wayne —, Dwayne Carter —, Lil Wayne's, Post Malone, Post, Joe Rogan's, they're, Carter, , Harold Pollack, Josh Schiller, Schiller, Dan Meyer, Andrew Preble, should've, Day Organizations: Service, Small Business Administration, Inc, Austin Post, Post, SBA, Touring Inc, University of Chicago, Elon, SpaceX, Beach House, NME, Beach Locations: people's, San Francisco, Angeles, New Orleans

A former fundraiser for U.S. Rep. George Santos pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal wire fraud charge, admitting he impersonated a high-ranking congressional aide while raising campaign cash for the embattled New York Republican. Miele is the second campaign aide to Santos who took a plea deal in a federal probe. Federal prosecutors say Santos wired some of the money to his personal bank account and used the rest to pad his campaign coffers. Santos has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and has vowed to clear his name. Santos also recounted what he believed was an attempt by Miele last summer to try to rejoin Santos' campaign.

Persons: George Santos, Sam Miele, Dan Meyer, Kevin McCarthy, Meyer, Miele, Santos, “, Kevin Marino, Marino, ” Miele, Nancy Marks, Marks, ” Santos, Prosecutors Organizations: U.S . Rep, New York Republican, Republican, Federal, U.S, Eastern, of, Federal Elections Commission, Republican Party, Associated Press Locations: Santos, Peace, U.S, of New York, Queens, Long, —

Mr. Santos, a Republican representing parts of Long Island and Queens, has not been charged in connection with Mr. Miele’s efforts. The congressman has said that he was unaware of the ruse, and fired Mr. Miele shortly after learning of it from Republican leadership. Prosecutors accused Mr. Miele of carrying out a fund-raising scheme in the fall of 2021 to aid Mr. Santos’s ultimately successful election campaign for the House. For his efforts, prosecutors say, he was paid 15 percent on whatever he brought in. Mr. Santos is facing 23 of his own felony counts, including wire fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.

Persons: Santos, Miele, Santos’s, ” Mr, Dan Meyer, Kevin McCarthy, Mr, Joseph Murray Organizations: Republican, New York Times, Prosecutors Locations: Long Island, Queens

U.S. Rep. George Santos leaves the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Central Islip, New York, May 10, 2023. A man who was a paid campaign fundraiser for Rep. George Santos was indicted in New York on federal criminal charges related to his allegedly impersonating a top aide to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as he solicited donations for Santos. Santos, who was first elected in 2022, represents a House district that covers parts of Queens in New York City, and Nassau County in Long Island. McCarthy, a California Republican, has defended Santos' right to continue serving in the House even as he fights his own criminal charges. "According to a federal indictment, George Santos paid someone to impersonate Kevin McCarthy's chief of staff to raise money, yet McCarthy continues to protect Santos," Goldman wrote.

Persons: George Santos, Kevin McCarthy, Santos, Samuel Miele, Miele, Dan Meyer, McCarthy, Kevin Marino, John Marzulli, Dan Goldman, Kevin McCarthy's, Goldman, CNBC's Kevin Breuninger, Brian Schwartz Organizations: Rep, Eastern, of, Santos, New York Republican, CNBC, U.S, California Republican, Democrat, Court Locations: U.S, of New York, Central Islip , New York, New York, Miele, Queens, New York City, Nassau County, Long, California, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Eastern

☆ A former campaign staffer for Rep. George Santos who impersonated Kevin McCarthy's chief of staff for donations was just indicted for wire fraud and identity theft
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A New York grand jury indicted a former fundraiser for Rep. George Santos' 2020 and 2022 campaigns. The indictment alleges that Sam Miele impersonated someone without their permission in order to solicit more than a dozen donations. The indictment does not say who Miele impersonated, but previous reporting notes the stolen identity was of Dan Meyer, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's former chief of staff. While the indictment does not say who, exactly, Miele impersonated, previous reporting from The Washington Times and CNBC notes that Miele took on the identity of Dan Meyer, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's former chief of staff. Miele's indictment comes three months after federal prosecutors unsealed a thirteen-count indictment against Santos that included charges of theft of public funds, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Persons: George Santos, Sam Miele, Dan Meyer, Kevin McCarthy's, Santos, Miele, Meyer, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Service, GOP Rep, New, Prosecutors, The Washington Times, CNBC, Washington Times, Citigroup, Catholic, Baruch College, New York University Locations: York, Wall, Silicon, New York, Miele

A recent report in the Wall Street Journal that Elon Musk uses ketamine at parties could prompt an investigation into his security clearance, two attorneys who specialize in national security law told Insider. Drug use is typically grounds for the government to yank someone's security clearance, the two national security attorneys told Insider. Security clearance applicants are specifically required to disclose whether they have used ketamine on SF-86, the standard application form used to apply for a clearance. Edmunds, the security clearance attorney, said that in his experience, there is a "very prevalent" double standard for security clearance infractions, wherein defense contracting executives and higher-ranking government officials receive more permissive treatment than their subordinates. Musk boosts the benefits of drug useAfter the Rogan incident, Musk told "60 Minutes" that he didn't regularly smoke pot.

Persons: Elon, Joe Rogan's, Musk, yank, Dan Meyer, Tully, Alan Edmunds, Meyer, Doug Hurley, Bob Behnken, Joe Burbank, SpaceX's, Spirit AeroSystems, Leonardo, Edmunds, Mark Zaid, Marijuana, Rogan, It's, Tesla, Sam Altman Organizations: Street, NASA, Air Force, Elon, SpaceX, Tesla, The Defense Department, Bloomberg, CNBC, National Reconnaissance Office, Space Force, Kennedy Space Center, Orlando Sentinel, Tribune, Service, Getty, Defense Department, National Intelligence, Defense Counterintelligence, Security Agency, Spirit, Terran, FDA, Washington Post, Politico, New York Times, Twitter Locations: Florida, United States

It was one the president deployed once again behind closed doors at the White House. With Memorial Day on the horizon, senior White House officials said protecting veterans’ benefits was a top priority. They also knew it was a sensitive issue for Republicans’ politically, especially as House Republicans parried White House allegations about cuts to veterans’ services. White House officials would engage in conversations where their Republican counterparts would outline a potential resolution on issues. For months, White House officials hoped – and to some degree based on past battles, expected – Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell would engage in finding a resolution.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, “, ” Biden, Kevin McCarthy, simmered, Steve Ricchetti, Louisa Terrell, Shalanda Young, reticence, Biden didn’t, McCarthy, ’ carveouts, Republicans ’, Republicans parried, ” Terrell, ”, ” Young, Jeff Zients, –, would’ve, that’s, ” Zients, ” Ricchetti, Patrick McHenry, Young, Michael Linden, Ricchetti, McCarthy’s, Mitch McConnell, Terrell, McHenry, Garret Graves, Graves, Dan Meyer, they’ve, “ There’s, you’re, cleaver Organizations: CNN, Resolute, Legislative, White, Republican, FBI, Republicans, Internal Revenue Service, SNAP, Congressional, Office, Progressive, Young, White House, GOP, Biden, Republican Rep, Congress, dropoff, Air Force Academy Locations: Washington, Garret Graves of Louisiana, McHenry, Louisiana, Ukraine, Colorado

☆ Inside a debt ceiling standoff ‘far more dangerous than people will recognize’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Jeremy Diamond Lauren Fox Melanie Zanona Phil Mattingly Arlette Saenz Kevin Liptak | Jeremy Diamond | Lauren Fox | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

“She’s well respected by both sides,” McCarthy said of the former longtime House Appropriations Committee staffer, according to White House officials. “Asking me about the communication (with the White House) implies there was communication,” one House Democrat said. For the White House negotiators, that meant late nights and early mornings. The White House negotiators left Capitol Hill abruptly and for hours, it was unclear when the conversations would resume. Quietly, White House negotiators had never actually stopped talking to their Republican counterparts.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, “, “ You’ve, ” Rep, Patrick McHenry, Biden, Steve Ricchetti, Shalanda Young, Louisa Terrell, ” McCarthy, James S, Alex Wong, Young, Garret Graves, ” Graves, Graves, Tom Cole of, ” Cole, White, Jeff Zients, McHenry, ‘, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Ricchetti, ”, ” Terrell, Dan Meyer, –, apprised, decamping, ’, Anna Moneymaker, nonstarters, ” McHenry, McHenry –, —, Susan Walsh, businesslike, Biden’s, Eisenhower, Zients, Jose Luis Magana, Young –, Louisianans –, Jim Clyburn, Clyburn, Annie Kuster, ” Kuster, wasn’t, ” Young Organizations: CNN, White, ”, Republican, Legislative, Young, Management, Brady, Capitol, White House, GOP, McCarthy’s, Pennsylvania, Capitol Hill, U.S, Biden, Democrat, Democratic, Republicans, Building, Air Force, West Executive, LSU Tigers, South Carolina Democrat, New Democrat Coalition, Democrats Locations: Irish, Washington , DC, Louisiana, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, McHenry, Hiroshima, Japan, Washington

☆ Discord users say Jack Teixeira only leaked documents to show off. That's a problem for the US military, which uses the app as a conduit for recruitment: reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old airman, was accused of leaking US intelligence documents on Discord. The US military uses Discord to recruit young people who are enthusiastic about video games. Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old junior-ranking US National Guard airman, was arrested on Thursday in connection to the leak of classified Pentagon documents. Some Republicans — most prominently Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — have hailed Teixeira as a national hero, but members of Thug Shaker Central said otherwise. A spokesperson for Discord and the Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

☆ Kevin McCarthy says he's 'always had a few questions' about George Santos' resume
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Kevin McCarthy told MSNBC he's always "had a few questions" about George Santos' CV. A Santos staffer has been accused of impersonating McCarthy's chief of staff in 2020 and 2022. McCarthy told MSNBC he has spoken to Santos about the impersonation scandal. MSNBC also asked McCarthy about a CNBC report published in January about Sam Miele, a Santos staffer. Representatives for Santos and McCarthy did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

☆ George Santos campaign paid staffer nearly $100k to pretend to be Kevin McCarthy's chief of staff and get money from donors
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A fundraiser for George Santos allegedly posed as Kevin McCarthy's chief of staff, per CNBC. According to FEC filings, the fundraiser was paid almost $100k by Santos' campaign. According to CNBC, Santos' campaign paid Miele almost $50,000 for fundraising during the embattled lawmaker's failed 2020 run for Congress. Meyer, McCarthy's office, and Santos' campaign did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. The non-partisan watchdog Campaign Legal Center (CLC) also filed a complaint with the FEC on Monday, alleging that Santos and his 2022 campaign violated campaign-finance laws by engaging in a "straw donor scheme."

☆ 'We were duped': How George Santos raised money from wealthy GOP donors while lying about his resume
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

His name was actually Sam Miele, and he worked for Santos raising money for his campaign, according to one GOP donor who contributed to Santos' campaign. In raising money for his campaign, Santos fed donors the same falsehoods he gave voters, campaign fundraisers and others say. "We were duped," said a Republican political strategist close to GOP donors and the leadership of the Republican Jewish Coalition. The RJC is considered the most prominent group of Jewish Republican donors, making gatherings such as the Hanukkah event key networking platforms for politicians. Vallone gave $17,900 in August between Santos' campaign, his leadership PAC and a joint fundraising committee, according to FEC records.

☆ Minneapolis to pay $50,000 each to 12 injured by police during Floyd protests
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Brendan O'Brien | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 1 (Reuters) - The city of Minneapolis will pay $50,000 each to 12 people injured by police during demonstrations that erupted after a white officer killed George Floyd by pinning the 46-year-old Black man's neck to the ground with a knee, court records show. The settlement requires body cameras worn by Minneapolis police to be recording and unobstructed when they engage with protesters, court records showed. "This agreement is a big step towards keeping peaceful protesters safe from police violence. The 12 plaintiffs suffered injuries including bruising from less-lethal munitions, lingering respiratory issues from tear gas and psychological trauma, the ACLU said. The Minneapolis City Council approved the settlement on Oct. 20 and Mayor Jacob Frey signed it six days later, local media reported.

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