DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

The U.S. Agriculture Department must take immediate action to secure the benefits cards from which low-income families are being robbed of grocery funds, six Democratic senators urged in a letter. But unlike consumer credit and debit cards, SNAP EBT cards lack security features such as microchips or tap-to-pay technology. “It’s unacceptable that hackers and scam artists are stealing food benefits that low-income families rely on to put food on the table,” Wyden said in a statement to NBC News. California, set to start rolling them out in early 2025, is the furthest along, an Agriculture Department spokesperson said. “We’re calling on the USDA to stop dragging their feet and modernize EBT cards with the same technology we’ve used for years on credit and debit cards.”

Persons: Tom Vilsack, ”, Ron Wyden, John Fetterman, Amy Klobuchar, Peter Welch, Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren, ” Wyden, Betsy Gwin, “, Vilsack, ” Crystal FitzSimons, hasn’t, we’ve Organizations: . Agriculture Department, Assistance, SNAP, Agriculture Department, NBC, Sens, NBC News, Agriculture, Reform Institute, Consolidated, cardholders, Food Research, Action Center, Department, USDA Locations: California, Alabama, Oklahoma, Massachusetts

☆ Elizabeth Warren is pushing Trump to establish conflict-of-interest rules for Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-17 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elizabeth Warren wants President-elect Trump to set conflict-of-interest rules for Elon Musk. Warren called any lack of rules an "invitation for corruption on a scale not seen in our lifetimes." Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Monday asked President-elect Donald Trump to set conflict-of-interest rules that would apply to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who's set to take on a high-profile role as a co-lead of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Leavitt called Warren a "career politician whose societal impact is 1/1024th of Elon Musk's" and said Trump's transition team was adhering to high ethical guidelines. Representatives for Trump's transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Trump, Elon Musk, Warren, DOGE, Sen, Donald Trump, Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Karoline Leavitt, Leavitt, Elon Musk's Organizations: Elon, Monday, Department of Government Efficiency, Massachusetts Democrat, The Washington, Trump, GOP, DOGE, Washington Post, Democratic Locations: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania

☆ Senator Elizabeth Warren says Trump needs to hold Elon Musk to ethics standards
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump walks with Elon Musk before attending a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., November 19, 2024. Senator Elizabeth Warren has asked Donald Trump's transition team to hold Elon Musk to the same ethics standards as other transition members, putting oversight of the unusually powerful presidential adviser in the spotlight. Musk spent over a quarter billion dollars to help elect Trump, and also owns interests in cryptocurrency and other ventures. The Trump transition team had no immediate comment. Asked about Musk's potential conflicts, Trump told Time magazine in an interview published on Dec. 12: "I think that Elon puts the country long before his company."

Persons: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Elizabeth Warren, Donald Trump's, Musk, Trump, Warren, Elon Organizations: Elon, SpaceX, Republican Trump, Trump, ., Department of Government, Time Locations: Brownsville , Texas, U.S, cryptocurrency

Fourteen Democratic senators will introduce an amendment Monday evening to remove language from Congress’ massive defense spending bill that seeks to ban coverage of gender-affirming care for transgender children of servicemembers, the office of Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., told NBC News. I trust our servicemembers and their doctors to make the best healthcare decisions for their kids, not politicians,” Baldwin said in a statement. In a statement following the House vote last week, Johnson said the legislation prioritizes “military lethality, not radical woke ideology. A draft of a media release shared with NBC News — and scheduled to be made public Monday evening — from Baldwin’s office said that if the transgender health care provision survives, it could affect 6,000 to 7,000 children of U.S. servicemembers. The amendment to remove the trans health provision from the defense bill will be co-sponsored by Democratic Sens.

Persons: servicemembers, Sen, Tammy Baldwin, Baldwin —, “, ” Baldwin, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Joe Biden, ’, Sarah McBride, Kamala Harris ’, Democratic Sens, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, Brian Schatz, Mazie, Jeff Merkley, Cory Booker, Andy Kim of, Dick Durbin of, Patty Murray, Chris Van Hollen, Tina Smith of, Sheldon Whitehouse, Chris Murphy of Organizations: Democratic, NBC News, Defense Department, senior, servicemembers, Modern Military Association of America, Williams Institute, Republicans, Massachusetts, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Chris Murphy of Connecticut Locations: D, Washington, Hawaii, Oregon, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Maryland, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Rhode Island

☆ Meet the Press – December 15, 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-15 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +53 min

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM:Yeah, I'm in a good place with Pete, unless something I don't know about comes out. Unless somebody is willing to come forward, I think he's going to get through. If he's, if he’s called to do something, he's going to do it, all the way. So I – I think he's going to have a hard time doing this. He was very clear, “no,” when I asked him should President-elect Trump, his administration, jail the January 6th committee members.

Persons: KRISTEN WELKER, Chris Wray, he’ll, Donald Trump's, Kash Patel, KASH PATEL, SEN, LINDSEY GRAHAM, AMY KLOBUCHAR, Biden, ANITA DUNN, Lindsey Graham of, Bernie Sanders, Bashar al, Assad, there’s, Austin Tice, PRES, JOE BIDEN, Debra Tice, Ryan Nobles, Amna Nawaz, Ashley Etienne, Harris, Peggy Noonan, It’s, Kristen Welker, Trump's, Trump, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Hegseth, Joni Ernst, PETE HEGSETH, THOM TILLIS, LISA MURKOWSKI, Hunter Biden, Anita Dunn, Christopher Wray, CHRISTOPHER WRAY, I’d, FBI Hoover, Patel, Graham, SEN.LINDSEY GRAHAM, Bashar Al Assad, “, King, Jordan, Pete, ‘, Kavanaugh, Justice Kavanaugh, we're, I've, He's, We’ll, he's, Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis, Donald Trump, LINDSEY GRAHAM Well, J, Edgar Hoover, Comey, – SEN, –, you've, Stephen Miller, President Trump, Merry, Sanders, Press . SEN, BERNIE SANDERS, It's, ? SEN, Kristen, Lindsey Graham, Biden's, Hunter, DAVID MUIR, Will, Kristen –, Putin, Brian Thompson, Elizabeth Warren, ELIZABETH WARREN, Warren, ”, Elizabeth –, There's, Am, Yep, ” KRISTEN WELKER, We're, We'll, Austin's, Tice, DEBRA TICE, Austin, NBC News's Richard Engel, Sahar, Richard, we’re, They've, they're, we've, Richard Engel, Travis Timmerman, it's Austin, it's, Travis, let's, he’s, Kristine, Bill Clinton, Roger, Joe Lieberman, JOE LIEBERMAN, there's, TIM, You'll, Kamala Harris, ” Peggy, Ryan, RYAN, Matt Gaetz, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Amna, – AMNA NAWAZ, AMNA NAWAZ, Wray, Peggy, PEGGY NOONAN, sparky, Ashley, ASHLEY ETIENNE, Tulsi Gabbard's, I'm, Joe Biden, Gaetz, – KRISTEN WELKER, – there's Organizations: FBI, Trump, White, Vermont, NBC, Capitol Hill, PBS, Wall Street, Press, Capitol, Army - Navy, Fox News, Iowa, Senate, Republican, TRUMP, ISIS, Defense, intel, United States Senate, Press ., Justice Department, ?, Biden, FDR, RFK Jr, State Department, Austin, U.S, Hostage, NBC News, Wall Street Journal, America, Republican Party, Department of Health, Human Services, RFK, Bureau, Democrats Locations: Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Syria, Washington, U.S, America, Europe, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, United States, Turkey, Afghanistan, Russia, Russian, Vermont, New Jersey, East Coast, American, Damascus, Austin, Lebanon, –

☆ Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders Want to Save You Money on Credit Cards
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-12 | by ( Emily Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Sky-high credit-card interest rates are not popular. "He said, you know what, credit-card interest rates, which in some cases right now are 20, 25%, should not be higher than 10%. The average credit-card interest rate for new card offers is 24.43%, according to LendingTree — up about 10 percentage points from a decade ago. "Obviously, the interest rates have to respond to changing market conditions, and we've definitely seen that happen. A rate cap isn't the only solution to America's ballooning credit-card-debt problem and just how expensive it is to carry debt.

Persons: everyone's, Donald Trump, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Trump, Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Matt Schulz, LendingTree, we've, Julie Margetta Morgan, Margetta Morgan, Schulz, Chi Chi Wu, Elon Musk, Wu, Banks, it's, Natasha, Janet Yellen, Aaron Klein, Barack Obama, Klein, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, they're, Warren, Carter Dougherty, Emily Stewart Organizations: White, Business, Politico, American Bankers Association, LendingTree, Consumer Financial, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Trump, Chi, National Consumer Law Center, Yale, Washington, Brookings Institution, Department, Treasury, Consumer, Financial Reform, Republicans Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Alexandria, Washington

☆ Hundreds of student-loan borrowers who applied for debt cancellation are being denied relief by a major lender, over 20 Democratic lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-12 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Elizabeth Warren led over 20 colleagues in requesting the CFPB and FTC investigate student-loan company Navient. A group of Democratic lawmakers said that a major student-loan company is denying some student-loan borrowers relief that they might qualify for. Instead, they can request a school misconduct application from Navient, and Navient would then decide whether to approve it. AdvertisementThe issue, the lawmakers wrote, is that Navient has denied relief for the majority of borrowers who applied. BI previously spoke to some borrowers who have attempted to navigate Navient's school misconduct application process.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Navient, it's, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Ron Wyden, Warren, Nick Eucker Organizations: Democratic, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, Navient, Business, BI Locations: Alexandria

☆ Senators Warren and Hawley introduce a bipartisan bill to break up pharmacy-benefit managers
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSenators Warren and Hawley introduce a bipartisan bill to break up pharmacy-benefit managersCNBC’s Bertha Coombs joins ‘The Exchange’ to discuss a bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Josh Hawley aimed at breaking up pharmacy-benefit managers.

Persons: Senators Warren, Hawley, Bertha Coombs, Elizabeth Warren, Josh Hawley Organizations: Senators

☆ Health care stocks fall as lawmakers, patients push for changes to their business models
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-11 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

PBMs have faced years-long scrutiny from Congress and the Federal Trade Commission over allegations they inflate drug costs for patients to boost their profits. The declining stocks include UnitedHealth Group , Cigna and CVS Health , which operate three of the nation's largest private health insurers and drug supply chain middlemen called pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. Shares of major health-care companies fell as much as 5% on Wednesday as investors feared pressure from lawmakers and patients could force changes to their business models. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., would force the companies that own health insurers or PBMs to divest their pharmacy businesses within three years, the Journal reported. The largest PBMs – UnitedHealth Group's Optum Rx, CVS Health's Caremark and Cigna's Express Scripts – are all owned by or connected to health insurers.

Persons: Brian Thompson, Elizabeth Warren, Josh Hawley, Warren, PBMs, —, Bertha Coombs Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street, Federal Trade Commission, UnitedHealth, CVS Health, Senate, Sens, CVS, Cigna's, FTC Locations: U.S

☆ Progressive lawmakers say the reaction to the UHC CEO killing is a 'wake-up call'
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-11 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The UHC CEO killing has led to an outpouring of frustration toward the healthcare industry. Some progressive Democrats on Capitol Hill say it's the "right time" to talk about it. "I think for people who are surprised, it's a wake-up call," said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. In the wake of the shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, some progressive lawmakers are acknowledging the frustration that many Americans feel toward the healthcare system. AdvertisementIn his view, it's simple enough to talk about the healthcare industry while not making excuses for the alleged murder.

Persons: Brian Thompson, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Luigi Mangione, Maxwell Frost of Florida, Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren of, HuffPost, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Nobody, Chris Murphy, John Fetterman of, Mangione, you've, Ro Khanna, Khanna Organizations: Capitol, United Healthcare, Democratic, Cortez of New York, Vermont, Democrats, Connecticut, NBC News, California Locations: Cortez, Alexandria, Cortez of New, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON — Key Democratic senators are demanding answers from Mehmet Oz on his "previous advocacy for Medicare privatization," referring to his call in 2020 for putting all seniors into private insurance plans under Medicare Advantage. "Indeed, private insurers that run the Medicare Advantage program drastically overcharge for care," the senators wrote, citing analysis from the nonpartisan Medicare Payment Advisory Committee. In 2022, when Oz unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Pennsylvania, he offered a more modest platform that didn’t call for ending traditional Medicare, although he maintained his support for boosting Medicare Advantage. "Your advocacy for eliminating the Traditional Medicare program and replacing it with Medicare Advantage also raises questions about your own financial conflicts of interest," the Democrats wrote in the letter. Under your plan, UnitedHealth’s revenue from Medicare Advantage would roughly double to $274 billion annually."

Persons: Mehmet Oz, Oz, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Donald Trump, Ron Wyden, Warren, Department of Justice —, Brian Thompson, he'll, didn't Organizations: WASHINGTON —, Democratic, Medicare, Medicaid Services, NBC News, Finance Committee, Congress, Finance, CMS, Republicans, Medicare Advantage, Department of Justice Locations: Pennsylvania, UnitedHealth

☆ Federal judge blocks Kroger’s $25 billion mega-merger with Albertsons
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-10 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —A federal judge in Oregon blocked Kroger’s proposed $25 billion tie-up with Albertsons, ruling that the largest merger in US supermarket history would limit competition and harm consumers. Small grocery stores strugglingIndependent grocery stores strongly opposed the merger. Yet consolidation in the grocery sector is growing, and small grocery stores are struggling. Traditional grocery stores have also lost ground to Walmart, Costco, dollar stores and online retailers during that span. “Persistently high food prices are hitting Americans hard, and a Kroger-Albertsons mega-merger would have only made it worse,” Food & Water Watch senior food policy analyst Rebecca Wolf said in a statement Tuesday

Persons: Kroger’s, Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, Kroger, Rodney McMullen, Adrienne Nelson, Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren of, Republican Sen, Mike Lee of, ”, Judge Nelson, “, Lina Khan, Judge Nelson’s, Rebecca Wolf Organizations: New, New York CNN, Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Supermarkets, Kroger, Walmart, Amazon, Costco, Unions, Democrats, Republicans, Capitol, Democratic, Republican, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, S Wholesale Grocers, Google, Agriculture Department, Water Watch Locations: New York, Oregon, Aldi, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Mike Lee of Utah

☆ Who was Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare fatally shot in Manhattan?
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-04 | by ( John Towfighi | David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Thompson was appointed chief executive of UnitedHealthcare in 2021 and had been at the company since 2004. Prior to being named chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, Thompson worked as CEO of the company’s government programs business, which includes its Medicare and retirement businesses. UnitedHealthcare is part of UnitedHealth Group, America’s largest insurance company. Prior to joining UnitedHealthcare in 2004, Thompson worked as a manager and practiced as a CPA at PwC for nearly 7 years. “We join all who are mourning in remembering Brian’s life and legacy.”Thompson is remembered as a beloved leader and friend, according to UnitedHealth Group.

Persons: Brian Thompson, UnitedHealthcare, ”, –, Thompson, Heather Holm, “, Brian, ” Holm, ” Thompson, Andrew, Stephen Hemsley, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, Gary Gensler, UnitedHealth, CNN’s Kara Scannell Organizations: New, New York CNN, Corporate, UnitedHealthcare, UnitedHealth, PwC, University of Iowa, Collegiate, Carver, Iowa, South Hamilton High School, South Hamilton Community School District, CNN, Hollywood Firefighters, UnitedHealth Group, US Justice Department, The Justice, Street, Department of Justice, Democratic, Securities and Exchange Commission, The Southern, of Locations: New York, Midtown Manhattan, Corporate America, Minnesota, Jewell , Iowa, South Hamilton, UnitedHealth, of New York

☆ Trump's Labor Secretary pick is winning Democratic praise — and GOP skepticism
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Bryan Metzger | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"Oftentimes, you'll get a nominee out of a Republican administration who has had an anti-labor record," said Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia. Advertisement"I've only heard good things," said Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Several Democratic senators have offered conditional praise for Chavez-DeRemer, indicating that they're willing to support her nomination if she commits to strengthening labor unions in her new position. And in recent years, organized labor and labor unions have enjoyed a bipartisan resurgence of support. I think the PRO Act is not good policy," said Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

Persons: Trump, Lori Chavez, She's, That's, —, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, she's, you'll, Democratic Sen, Tim Kaine, Chavez, Republicans who've, cosponsor, John Fetterman of, Sen, Bill Cassidy, Bill Cassidy of, Kayla Bartkowski, Republican Sen, Ron Johnson, DeRemer, Trump Chavez, JD Vance, Ohio, Josh Hawley, Fetterman, NLRB, Ron Wyden, Elizabeth Warren of, Warren, Hawley, Johnson, Ted Cruz Organizations: Labor, Democratic, Republicans, Republican, PRO, Senate Health, Education, Pensions, Boston Globe, Getty, Trump, GOP, National Labor Relations Board, Oregonian, Senators Locations: Oregon, Virginia, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Congress, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Sens, Missouri, America, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, cratering, Ted Cruz of Texas

☆ Democratic senators urge Biden to try to limit Trump’s ability to use the U.S. military domestically
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Courtney-Kube-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Courtney Kube | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Two Democratic senators are urging the Biden administration to issue a policy directive that could temporarily limit President-elect Donald Trump's ability to deploy U.S. military troops domestically after he takes office. “We write to urge you to issue a policy directive that prohibits the mobilization of active duty military or federalizing National Guard personnel to be deployed against their fellow Americans unless specifically authorized,” they wrote. After he takes office on Jan. 20, Trump could issue his own policy directive that would reverse the directive issued by Biden. Warren and Blumenthal, whose offices said the letter speaks for itself, apparently hope that publicly highlighting the issue might deter Trump. It allows the president to deploy military troops in cases of insurrection, rebellion or extreme civil unrest.

Persons: Biden, Donald Trump's, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Conn, Joe Biden, Lloyd Austin, “, ”, Trump, Warren, Blumenthal, ” Sen, Tom Williams, Joseph Nunn, ” Nunn, Sen, Win McNamee, ” Warren, Trump’s Organizations: Democratic, Armed Services Committee, Defense, federalizing National Guard personnel, Trump, Fox News, National Guard, Housing, Urban Affairs Committee, Getty, Constitution, U.S, Liberty and National Security, Brennan Center for Justice, NYU Law, White, Federal Locations: Sens, U.S, Washington

But more recently, Republicans have signaled plans to defang the agency, and Trump has named authors of Project 2025 — which calls for eliminating the CFPB — to influential posts. It has clawed back nearly $20 billion in consumer relief and issued a litany of rules and guidance aiming to rein in financial institutions. The financial services industry bristles at many of these efforts. Buy now, pay later protectionsAs BNPL services skyrocketed in popularity during the pandemic, the agency quickly built guardrails around them. Removal of medical debt from credit reportsThis summer, the agency proposed banning medical debt from appearing on consumers’ credit reports.

Persons: Donald Trump, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Trump, multibillionaire Trump, Elon Musk, ” “, ”, Adam Rust, Jesse Van Tol, “, Rohit Chopra, Michael A, McCoy, ” Lindsey Johnson, JD Vance, —, everyone’s, Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s, Oliver Contreras, Armen Meyer, Meyer, Chopra, Rob Bonta Organizations: Consumer Financial, Senate, White, NBC, Federal Reserve, Republicans, Consumer Federation of America, Community Reinvestment Coalition, Consumer Bankers Association, Biden, Trump, Apple, GOP, ” Agency, Agency, Consumer, overdrafts, Electronic, Washington Post, Reuters Locations: Wells, Washington, Colorado, New York, California

☆ Elon Musk wants to 'delete' a federal agency designed to prevent another financial crisis and protect people from scams
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-27 | by ( Eliza Relman | Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementElon Musk says he wants to eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB was created after the 2008 crisis to protect consumers from financial abuses. "Delete CFPB," Musk wrote on X early Wednesday of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The agency investigates consumer complaints related to credit cards, loans, bank accounts, and debt collection and enforces consumer protection laws. Earlier this year, the CFPB also limited credit card late fees to $8 a month, compared to the average $32 fee charged by issuers in 2022.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Dodd, Frank, Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Barack Obama, Warren, Wells Fargo, who've, —, Clarence Thomas Organizations: Financial, Bureau, Elon, Consumer Financial, Trump, Government, Trump Administration, Congress, Democratic, Harvard Law School, Personnel Management, Bank of America, of America, Apple, Google, Federal Locations: Wells Fargo, Wells

☆ Marc Andreessen talks DOGE and Elon Musk: 'It's time to carve this government back in size and scope'
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-27 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementMarc Andreessen discussed Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency on Joe Rogan's podcast. Cut, baby, cut, Marc Andreessen says of Elon Musk's DOGE cost-reduction effort. "It is time to carve this government back in size and scope," the Silicon Valley investor said during a recent appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast. The VC specifically referenced a text exchange that Musk sent then-CEO Parag Agrawal shortly after being appointed to Twitter's board. "Imagine that statement being applied to the government," Andreessen said, referencing Musk's "What did you get done this week?"

Persons: Marc Andreessen, Elon Musk, Joe Rogan's, Elon, Andreessen, Andreessen Horowitz, Ben Horowitz, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Rogan, Musk, Parag Agrawal, Agrawal, Jack Dorsey, … — Organizations: Department of, SEC, FTC, Elon Musk's, Musk's Department, Government, Securities Exchange Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Aviation Administration, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Republican Party, Twitter, Big Tech Locations: Silicon

☆ How tech bros bought 'America's most pro-crypto Congress ever'
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Bernie Moreno, Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Ohio, attends a campaign event in Holland, Ohio, on Saturday, October 26, 2024. In total, crypto-related PACs and other groups tied to the industry reeled in over $245 million, according to Federal Election Commission data. Crypto accounted for nearly half of all corporate dollars that flowed into the election, according to nonprofit watchdog Public Citizen. It was one of the top spending committees of any industry this cycle and exclusively gave to pro-crypto candidates running for Congress. "Welcome to America's most pro-crypto Congress ever," Armstrong wrote on X on Nov. 5.

Persons: Bernie Moreno, Moreno, Sen, Sherrod Brown, Tom Williams, Donald Trump, Coinbase, Crypto, Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, David Sacks, " Moreno, Brian Armstrong, Fred Ehrsam, Faryar Shirzad, Armstrong, Ehrsam, Coinbase's Armstrong, Gary Gensler, Brown, Elizabeth Warren, FTX, Fairshake, gunning, Republican Jim Justice, Democratic Sen, Joe Manchin, Katie Porter, Porter, he'd, Horowitz, Sacks, Coinbase's Shirzad, Moreno wasn't, Shirzad, David McIntosh, McIntosh, hasn't, JD Vance's, Sam Bankman, Gensler, Andreessen Horowitz, Cameron, Tyler Winklevoss, Ripple, Chris Larsen, JD Vance, Paul Grewal, Jesse Powell, Trump, Phil Potter, Multicoin Capital's Kyle Samani, Fred Wilson, Charles Cascarilla, Mike Belshe, Solana, Anatoly Yakovenko, Wences Casares Organizations: Republican U.S, Cq, Inc, Getty, Democratic, Banking Committee, Public Citizen, Crypto, House, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Senate, Committee, Republicans, Protect, Fairshake, Defend, Jobs, Republican, New, CNBC, Andreessen, Craft Ventures, Club for Growth, Growth, Politico, PAC, Labs, Senate Inc, Trump, Union Square Ventures, Xapo Bank Locations: Republican, Ohio, Holland , Ohio, Cleveland, Coinbase, U.S, Arizona, Michigan, West Virginia, California, Washington, FTX, Nashville , Tennessee

☆ One of Trump’s Treasury contenders hails from the most cutthroat private equity firm on Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The words “private equity” are almost poetic in their power to obfuscate in such a way that most people simply tune out when they hear them. But there’s a reason workers tend to have a negative association with private equity. Per Bloomberg, Apollo “built its name as the scrappiest private equity and distressed-debt investor on Wall Street by buying businesses and loading them up with debt that offered creditors meager protections in the face of default.”Historically, private equity deals were largely handled by big banks. Private equity firms now hold controlling stakes across an array of industries, including supermarkets, housing, health care, fashion, restaurants and vet clinics. And other efforts to force more transparency and accountability in private equity have similarly faced opposition.

Persons: CNN Business ’, Marc Rowan, Donald Trump’s, Rowan, Bill Lazonick, he’s, ”, Megan Greenwell, aren’t, ” Dennis Kelleher, Apollo “, it’s, Sen, Elizabeth Warren of, hadn’t, Scott Bessent, Kevin Warsh, “, ” Greenwell Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Apollo Global Management, Treasury, OCC, Republicans, Industry Research Network, — Bloomberg, KKR, Blackstone, Carlyle Group, Securities and Exchange Commission, “, Research, Treasury Department, Bloomberg, Financial Times, Federal Reserve Locations: New York, ”, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts

☆ There's another surge in Americans seeking secondary passports. Global citizenship firms explain what's changed.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Global citizenship firms said clients are especially concerned about LGBTQ+ rights and the economy. American interest in secondary passports has been on the rise over the last year — and global citizenship firms have reported another surge since President Donald Trump's reelection. AdvertisementThe firm said it saw a 392% increase in inquiries from US nationals during election week compared to the week prior. AdvertisementHe said people are concerned about Trump's promise to raise tariffs, and how that could impact the economy and the US dollar. Leading up to the 2020 election, Jafri said there was an increase in interest from his clientele's Republican contingent.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Judi Galst, Reaz Jafri, Dasein, Jafri, isn't, he's, Galst, Rose Emmett, she's, Emmett, Elizabeth Warren, they've, Galt Organizations: Global, Henley & Partners, New, CS Global Partners, Republican Locations: New York, Europe, London, United States

Fresh from a devastating loss to Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris may now head to Capitol Hill to defy him in what could be her last major act in office. As the president of the Senate, Harris wields the constitutional power to provide a tie-breaking vote. “We are going to use the lame duck to confirm judges. GOP senators can slow the process down, but Democrats need a simple majority to overcome any obstruction and confirm judges. The senior administration official declined to discuss whether Biden has talked to Harris or Schumer about lame-duck confirmations.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Trump, Harris, —, Chuck Schumer, Biden, ”, “, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Warren, Schumer, ” Schumer, irking Trump, ” Trump, ” Sen, Mazie Hirono, they’re, That’s, “ I’m, “ Hope she’s Organizations: Capitol, House, Senate, D.C, Biden, NBC News, Radical, Republican Senators, Trump, Republicans, Democrats, Appeals, White, Democratic, Dems Locations: Hawaii, California

☆ Meet the Press – November 17, 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +58 min

And by the way, I do believe that President Trump has the ability to pick some really, really good people. We've seen what they've done to President Trump, we've seen the attacks that they continue to go after him with. That's - that’s being taken completely out of context. And President Trump hasn't been the one that weaponized the DOJ to go after his political enemies. I think that's a pretty controversial pick, from whatever pronoun that he or he - he or she decides to use.

Persons: KRISTEN WELKER, Donald Trump’s, SEN, LISA MURKOWSKI, SUSAN COLLINS, KEVIN CRAMER, JOHN BOLTON, Trump’s, Trump, MIKE JOHNSON, JOHN, CHUCK SCHUMER, DONALD TRUMP, Hakeem Jeffries, Markwayne Mullin, Amna Nawaz, Eugene Daniels, Jen Psaki, Lanhee Chen, it’s, Kristen Welker, Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, who's, we're, Mike Johnson, Johnson, MATT GAETZ, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, he's, ROBERT F KENNEDY JR, I'm, I've, LEX FRIDMAN, Trump's, Pete Hegseth, Hegseth, ” Hegseth, SHAWN RYAN, PETE HEGSETH, Mullin, Press . SEN, MARKWAYNE MULLIN, Kristen, you've, Kristi Noem, Matt Gaetz's, they're, Matt, Here's, We've, we've, Biden, Hunter Biden, didn't, Trump hasn't, Garland, Pete, Bobby Kennedy, Bobby, Rachel, Sam, There's, Pete Buttigieg, Let's, Kristen –, there's, let's, Chuck Schumer, Obama, Canning, we'll, He's, Jeffries, HAKEEM JEFFRIES, Roe, Wade, Pelosi's, Pelosi, It's, Nancy Pelosi, Jim Clyburn, Steny Hoyer, That's, should've, Kamala Harris, it's, Matt Gaetz –, Tulsi Gabbard, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Assad, She's, Dick Durbin, Donald Trump's, Politico “ Playbook, AMNA NAWAZ, Jim Mattis, Rex Tillerson, John Kelly, Eugene, EUGENE DANIELS, –, Susan Collins, hasn't, LANHEE CHEN, aren't, Doug Burgum, Marco Rubio, Elise Stefanik, Jen, JEN PSAKI, – AMNA NAWAZ, that's, Thune, Biden's, George W, Bush, Joe Biden, JOE BIDEN, – I’ve, —, – JEN PSAKI, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, We're, We'll Organizations: GOP, Democratic, Oklahoma, PBS, White House Press, Hoover Institution, Press, NBC, Department of Justice, Mar, FBI, CDC, ATF, DOJ, NBC News, Republicans, of Health, Human Services, Defense, Fox News, Police, Republican, Pentagon, Press ., Trump, Senate, Biden, White, Justice Department, America, Senate Armed Services Committee, The Washington, HHS, of Energy, Department of Transportation, RFK Jr, ’, House Democratic, Democracy, REP, House Democrats, Social, Medicare, Democrats, Committee, of, Politico, Stanford University, Trump’s, Gaetz, Department of Defense, Office, Mr, Republican Party, Democratic Party Locations: Washington, America, Florida, Monterey , California, States, Oklahoma, Russia, United States, Afghanistan, Iraq, New York, American, Syria, Russian, Will, California, –, Trump

☆ The crypto industry plowed tens of millions into the election. Now, it’s looking for a return on that investment
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Crypto super PACs spent heavily on Republicans as well as key Democrats, including two who won open seats in the US Senate, Elissa Slotkin in Michigan and Ruben Gallego in Arizona. How Washington regulates the industry has enormous consequences for this burgeoning sector, along with the 52 million Americans who now hold digital assets. “The strategy is to have as many conversations with as many people in the Trump orbit as possible so that everyone has an understanding of what the crypto industry is most interested in,” she said. They also helped finance Fairshake, a crypto industry super PAC launched last year that was active in congressional contests. An industry super PAC spent $40 million to back to Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno in Ohio, who ousted three-term Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Persons: Donald Trump, Gary Gensler, Biden, Crypto, Elissa Slotkin, Ruben Gallego, Sam Bankman, “ Crypto, ” Kristin Smith, we’ll, that’s, ” Smith, ”, Smith, Dan Gallagher, Paul Atkins, Atkins, Gallagher, Bitcoin, Trump, –, It’s, Barron, Steve Witkoff, multibillionaire Elon Musk, Cantor Fitzgerald Howard Lutnick, Carlos Barria, Reuters Howard Lutnick, Cantor Fitzgerald, Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz –, Sergio Gor, Andreessen, “, Tyler, Cameron Winklevoss, Musk, Katie Porter, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Porter, Adam Schiff, Bernie Moreno, Democratic Sen, Sherrod Brown, Brown, Moreno, Colin McLaren, ” Robert Weissman, Andreessen Horowitz, Kara Calvert, CNN’s David Wright Organizations: CNN, Trump, Securities, Exchange Commission, Industry, Crypto, Blockchain Association, SEC, Token Alliance, Liberty, Liberty Financial, of Government, Republican, Reuters, Venture, Biden, PAC, Democratic Rep, Democratic, Banking Committee, Commodities Futures Trading Commission, Cedar Innovation Foundation, Consumer, Public Citizen Locations: Washington, Michigan, Arizona, Madison, New York City, U.S, America, Bitcoin, Massachusetts, California, Ohio

Despite its name, it won’t actually be a “department,” like the Department of Education or the Department of Homeland Security. “From the outside, will Musk and Ramaswamy be able to do a whole lot? During a late-October town hall on X, Musk suggested his ideal spending cuts could trigger economic pain for people. Democrats acknowledged they had little ability to prevent the Trump administration from enacting the changes Musk and Ramaswamy suggest. “In this second term in particular, President Trump has a better understanding of what needs to be done and how to do it,” Schatz said.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, ” —, Ramaswamy, Trump, “, ” Musk, Max Stier, ” Stier, Musk, ”, MacGuineas, Joe Spielberger, ” Ramaswamy, Tucker Carlson, ” Sen, John Fetterman, “ It’s, Trump’s, —, they’re, Elon, Vivek, ” Spielberger, he’s, Lisa Gilbert, “ Musk, ’, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Dean Phillips Organizations: Trump, “ Department, Government, Department of Education, Department of Homeland Security, White, Management, Budget, Partnership for Public Service, Social Security, Federal, Roivant Sciences, GOP, NBC News, FBI, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Education Department, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Food and Nutrition Service, Agriculture Department, Democrats, Senate, “, SpaceX, NBC, Twitter, Elon, Public Citizen, Democratic, Democrat Locations: Government

Search resuls for: "ELIZABETH WARREN"

25 mentions found