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☆ The House just voted 'yes' on a bill that would increase Social Security checks for some pensioners
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-13 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A bipartisan bill to change Social Security benefit rules for pensioners passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, with 327 lawmakers voting to support the measure. The proposal — called the Social Security Fairness Act — would repeal rules that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive pension benefits from state or local governments. It would eliminate the windfall elimination provision, or WEP, that reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who worked in jobs where they did not pay Social Security payroll taxes and now receive pension or disability benefits from those employers. About 3% of all Social Security beneficiaries — about 2.1 million people — were affected by the WEP as of December 2023, according to the Congressional Research Service. As of December, about 1% of all Social Security beneficiaries — or 745,679 individuals — were affected by the GPO, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Persons: Abigail Spanberger, Garret Graves, Graves, They're, they're Organizations: Social Security, Senate, U.S, Social, Congressional Research Service, Finance, GPO Locations: Washington , DC

☆ Israel launched strikes on Iran in a retaliatory attack. Here’s what we know
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-26 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu monitors the attack on Iran from an undisclosed location. By about 6 a.m. local time, the Israeli military said it has concluded its operation, saying the “mission was fulfilled” and Israeli jets “have safely returned home.”How did we get here? That missile barrage came about 24 hours after Israel launched a ground war in Lebanon, opening a new front in its war against Iranian-backed militants. Israel and Iran have been fighting a shadow war through proxies and covert actions for decades. Following the October 7 attacks, Israel declared war on Hamas and launched military operations in Gaza that have killed more than 42,000 people.

Persons: CNN — Israel, “, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ilam ”, Hassan Nasrallah, Nasrallah, Netanyahu, Biden, ” Netanyahu, ”, Daniel Hagari Organizations: CNN, Iranian, Israel Defense Forces, GPO, Reuters, Israel, Hamas, United Arab Locations: Iran, United States, Tehran, Ilam, Khuzestan, Israel, Yemen, Israeli, Tel Aviv, Lebanon, Iranian, Damascus, Syria, Beirut, Gaza, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Arab, “ Iran

☆ CVS, UnitedHealth say FTC should take Lina Khan and two commissioners off drug middlemen case
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

CVS Health and UnitedHealth Group are demanding Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan and two other commissioners recuse themselves from a lawsuit accusing the companies and other drug middlemen of boosting their profits while inflating insulin costs for Americans. In separate motions filed Tuesday night with the FTC, CVS and UnitedHealth argued that all three commissioners have an extensive track record of making public statements that indicate "serious bias" against the companies' so-called pharmacy benefit managers. CVS said those statements demonstrate that the commissioners have "prejudged this matter," so their participation in the case "violates due process." The FTC filed the suit last month against the three largest PBMs, CVS Health's Caremark, UnitedHealth Group 's Optum Rx and Cigna 's Express Scripts. The FTC has been investigating PBMs and their role in insulin prices since 2022.

Persons: Lina Khan, UnitedHealth, Khan, Alvaro Bedoya, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, PBMs Organizations: Financial Services, General Government, Federal Trade Commission, CVS Health, UnitedHealth, Federal Trade, CVS, Amazon, FTC, Zinc Health Services, GPO, Emisar Pharma, OptumRx Locations: Rayburn, U.S, Caremark

☆ Israel could launch a counterattack on Iran within days — but there's a key reason Netanyahu has less to fear this time
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Iran launched a massive missile attack on Israel on Tuesday. AdvertisementIsrael may carry out a revenge attack on Iran within days, targeting oil sites, nuclear facilities, and key political figures, according to security experts. It comes in the wake of Iran's attack on Tuesday, in which Tehran reportedly fired nearly 200 missiles at Israel. "It is likely that the Israeli leadership has already anticipated the Iranian attack and has prepared for it," Voller said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a meeting with the Security Cabinet after Iran's missile attacks on Israel in West Jerusalem on October 1, 2024.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, —, Chris Doyle, Israel, Clionadh, underestimating, Doyle, Voller, Avi Ohayon, Axios, Ameneh, who's, ACLED Organizations: Service, Business, UK's University of Kent, Council, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Getty, US Central Command, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Iran, Israel, Tehran, Israeli, Middle East, Lebanon, British, Clionadh Raleigh, West Jerusalem, Anadolu, United States, East, Raleigh

☆ The Social Security curveballs making retirement even more confusing
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The measures reduce Social Security benefits accrued during private-sector work to compensate for the state or local government pension benefits. The Social Security Administration reported the average monthly check as of July 2024 is about $1,783. Meanwhile, nearly half of WEP-affected Social Security beneficiaries had pensions above $3,000 a month in 2023. In her 20s, McLeod worked various part-time and lower-paying clerical roles, all of which paid into Social Security. "They said you get a good enough retirement from the state, so you'll be OK not getting all your Social Security."

Persons: —, Patrice Earnest, Earnest, Jane Roth, Roth, She's, she'd, it's, Karen Smith, Janis Hernandez, Critics, they've, we're, Louisiana Sen, Bill Cassidy, Republican who's, Anne McLeod, McLeod Organizations: Service, Social, Business, —, Social Security, GPO, Security, Workers, Urban Institute, Social Security Administration, Center, National Task Force, Force, Republican, Budget Locations: New Haven, Louisiana, New Orleans

☆ House may force vote on bill to eliminate rules that reduce pensioners' Social Security benefits
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

House lawmakers in Washington have the signatures they need to force a vote on a bill to eliminate rules that reduce Social Security benefits for certain retirees who also receive pension income. On Thursday morning, Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Garret Graves, R-La., marked the 206 signatures a discharge petition had thus far collected with a press conference outside the Capitol building alongside organizations representing police, firefighters, postal workers, teachers and other government employees often affected by those rules. By Thursday afternoon, the number of signatures had climbed to 218, enough to force a vote on the bill. The bipartisan bill — the Social Security Fairness Act — would repeal rules known as the Windfall Elimination Provision, or WEP, and the Government Pension Offset, or GPO, that currently reduce Social Security benefits for almost 3 million Americans. "This is a situation where you have some of the most important occupations, some of the most important contributors to our community, that are being discriminated against," he said.

Persons: Abigail Spanberger, Garret Graves, Graves Organizations: Social, Finance Locations: Washington

☆ Bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to eliminate Social Security rules affecting public employees. What could happen next.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The bill — the Social Security Fairness Act — would repeal two rules that reduce Social Security benefits for workers and spouses, widows and widowers who also receive pension income. If brought to the House floor, the Social Security Fairness Act may pass, based on the 327 co-sponsors who are currently behind the proposal. The government pension offset reduces Social Security benefits for spouses, widows and widowers who also have pension income. But if she retirees and begins collecting the pension benefits she earned, that Social Security income may disappear. Eliminating the rules through the Social Security Fairness Act would also cost the program at a time when Social Security faces looming trust fund depletion dates, he said.

Persons: Abigail Spanberger, Garret Graves, There’s, ”, Emerson Sprick, —, Sprick, Roger Boudreau, Boudreau, ” Boudreau, Paul Van de Water, Van, ” Van, Water, ” Sprick, it’s, ” Sen, Mike Braun, “ Organizations: Security, Social, Senate, Center, GPO, Social Security, Rhode Island American Federation of Teachers, Budget, Congressional, Republican

☆ Bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to eliminate Social Security rules affecting public employees. What could happen next
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Rare bipartisan momentum is growing in the House of Representatives to force a vote on a bill that would address a topic Congress typically avoids — Social Security. The bill — the Social Security Fairness Act — would repeal two rules that reduce Social Security benefits for workers and spouses, widows and widowers who also receive pension income. The petition currently has 172 signatures out of the 218 signatures required for a vote, including 25 Republicans, according to Spanberger's office. If brought to the House floor, the Social Security Fairness Act may pass, based on the 327 co-sponsors who are currently behind the proposal. The WEP, in particular, is "deeply, incredibly misunderstood," which contributes to calls to simply get rid of the rule, Sprick said.

Persons: Abigail Spanberger, Garret Graves, Emerson Sprick, —, Sprick Organizations: Security, Social, Finance, Senate, Center

☆ Tensions ramp up on Israel-Lebanon border as IDF warns decision is approaching on fresh offensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | Mike Schwartz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Israel attributed the blaze to rocket fire from southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah said it had launched a “swarm of drones” at Israeli military sites. On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the northern city of Kiryat Shmona near the Lebanese border, saying that Israel is prepared for “very intense action” in the north. Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been trading fire since the start of Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza in October. In April, the IDF said it is “preparing to move from defense to attack,” referring to operations on the northern border. Ten Israeli civilians and 18 soldiers have also been killed on the border, the Israeli military said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Staff Herzi Halevi, ” Halevi, Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s, Al, Kiryat Shmona, ” Amos Harel, of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Benny Gantz, Jack Guez, Gantz, that’s, ” Harel Organizations: Abu Dhabi CNN, Hezbollah, Israel Defense Forces, Staff, Lebanese, Gaza, GPO, IDF, Reuters, Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, CNN, Haaretz, of National Security, “, ”, Getty, Israel Locations: Jerusalem, Abu Dhabi, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Kiryat Shmona, Lebanese, “, Gaza, Al Jazeera, Israeli, Alma, Golan, Syria, AFP, An Iran, East, United States

☆ Tension between the US and Israel boil as UN ceasefire vote passes and Netanyahu vows to push ahead with Rafah offensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The UN passed a vote calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, with the US abstaining for the first time. AdvertisementThe divide between the US and Israel is deepening after the United Nations passed a ceasefire vote, a first for the international body after multiple failed attempts. Tensions began to boil over Sunday night, when Netanyahu publicly threatened to cancel the White House meetings before the UN vote, demanding the US veto the ceasefire resolution. Later the next morning, the UN Security Council passed the resolution, calling for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza. Israel continues to deploy soldiers, tanks and armored vehicles near the Gaza border in Sderot, Israel on October 14, 2023.

Persons: Netanyahu, —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Mostafa Alkharouf, John Kirby, Kirby, we've, Kamala Harris, Israel, Biden, they've Organizations: UN, Biden, Service, United Nations, White, UN Security, Washington DC, GPO, Getty, UN Security Council, US, Security, US National Security, AFP, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Israeli, Tel Aviv, Anadolu, United States, China, Russia, Sderot, Washington

☆ The 'special relationship' under pressure: Are Biden and Netanyahu on a collision course over Gaza?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

US President Joe Biden (L) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meet in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 18, 2023. "The relationship [between Biden and Netanyahu] is absolutely terrible." A report by Politico in early February cited unnamed Biden administration officials describing the president calling Netanyahu a "bad f—ng guy." Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz (L) meets US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, at the US Capitol on March 05, 2024. Gantz reportedly faced a barrage of harsh questions and critiques from the administration over Israel's handling of the Gaza war.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Israel's, Yasser Qudih, Netanyahu, Hussein Ibish, Benny Gantz, Chuck Schumer, Roberto Schmidt, Axios, Gantz, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Mostafa Bassim, Nimrod Novik, Novik, Ashraf Amra, I've, Ibish, Yonatan Freeman, Israel, Freeman Organizations: GPO, Getty Images, Anadolu Agency, Getty, White, Israeli, Biden, Palestinian, United Nations, Israel, Anadolu, West Bank, U.S, Gulf States Institute, CNBC, Politico, Capitol, AFP, Prime, Islamic Center of Detroit, Defense, Israel Policy Forum, Bank, Israel's Hebrew University, Christian Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Anadolu, Gaza, Rafah, Gaza's, Washington, New York, Michigan, United States, Palestinian, Gaza City, Jerusalem, U.S, Saudi Arabia

☆ The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and the Long Shadow of 1948
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Emily Bazelon | A Discussion Moderated Emily Bazelon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +18 min

In 1948, Jews realized their wildly improbable dream of a state, and Palestinians experienced the mass flight and expulsion called the Nakba, or catastrophe. It’s only in 1948 that the Arabs become Palestinians and the Jews become Israelis. Many Jews became lower-level officers during World War II, and they brought their new military expertise to the 1948 war. Zoltan Kluger/GPO, via Getty Images Palestinian bombers destroyed buildings on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem in March 1948. Bettmann/Getty Images A Palestinian refugee cut off from her home by the border established after the 1948 war.

Persons: Matson, —, Khalil Raad, Yaakov Ben Dov Delegates, Haj Amin al, Husseini, ”, It’s, Avraham Avinu, David, Fox, King David Hotel, David Ben, Gurion, “, Hitler, Hans Pinn, Abd al, Qadir al, Chalil, Zoltan Kluger, Ben Yehuda, Hugo H, Mendelsohn, John Phillips, Palestine ”, UNSCOP, Bettmann, Ruth Orkin, David Seymour, Jordan, Israel, Abdullah, Nadim, Leena Dallasheh, Abigail Jacobson, Moshe Naor, ” Derek Penslar, ” Itamar Rabinovich, Salim Tamari, Emily Bazelon, Herzl, Faisal Al, Hashemi, James Russell &, Bain, Jabotinsky, Abraham Pisarek, Weizmann, Heinrich Hoffmann Organizations: Congress, Institute for Palestine, Palestinian, . Institute for Palestine, Matson, Palestine, Getty, of Congress British, Peel, Zionist, Jewish, British Armed Forces, Allied, King, of Congress Women, Hulton, Biltmore, British, Agence France, Getty Images, Refugees, West Bank, Shutterstock, United Nations, League of Nations, United, United Nations Jewish, Madver, The, Palestine Studies, Columbia University, Columbia University , New York University, Rice University, Islamic, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Center for Jewish Studies, Harvard University, Tel Aviv University, Birzeit University, Institute for Palestine Studies, The New York Times Magazine, James Russell & Sons, of Congress, Israel, Ben, General Photographic Agency, Society, International Affairs Locations: Palestine, City, Jerusalem, Canadian American, Israel, British, Jaffa, Damascus, Old City, Hebron, Safed, Europe, Arab, North Africa, New York City, Middle Eastern, Haifa, Cyprus, Jenin, U.S, United Nations, Iraq, Tel Aviv’s Lod, Lebanon, Eyal, el Bared, Egypt, Syria, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Ashdod, Palestinian, United States, Qatar, Iran, Columbia University ,, Nazareth, Israeli, Husseini

☆ Pension-eligible workers face complex Social Security rules that may reduce benefits. How to more accurately estimate retirement income
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Richard Stephen | Istock | Getty ImagesWhen Joyce Debnam's husband passed away, she began receiving $1,400 a month in Social Security survivor benefits. That life change prompted Debnam's Social Security benefits to be cut to just $174 a month. Moreover, the Social Security Administration notified her she had to return $5,000 in benefits she had been overpaid. Debnam is one of millions of workers who is affected by Social Security rules related to public workers and reductions in the benefits they are eligible to receive. "We recommend that people review their Social Security Statement at least once every year, which includes important information about WEP and GPO," a Social Security spokeswoman said in a statement.

Persons: Richard Stephen, Istock, Joyce Debnam's, Debnam, Mike Carey R, Mike Carey, Carey, Mark Warshawsky, Warshawsky Organizations: Social, United States Postal Service, Debnam's Social, Social Security Administration, Social Security, Congressional Research Service, GPO, Security, American Postal Workers Union, American Enterprise Institute Locations: Debnam, Suitland , Maryland, Ohio, Baton Rouge , Louisiana

☆ Was Peace Ever Possible?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Moderated Emily Bazelon | A Discussion Moderated Emily Bazelon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +45 min

This was known as the Oslo peace process, named for the city where the secret talks took place. Micha Bar-Am/Magnum Photos Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir of Israel during the the Middle East peace conference in Madrid, 1991. Margalit: All the Israeli leaders who negotiated for peace, starting with Rabin, were in a weak political position. Dajani: With the First Intifada, and then subsequently Madrid and Oslo, Palestinians suddenly see the possibility of agency. But what’s important to understand is that the notion of peace for Rabin, and for most Israelis, is that peace is a lack of violence from the other side.

Persons: Jordan, Israel, Yasir Arafat, Bernard Frye, Arafat, Larry Towell, Abbas, Micha, Yitzhak Shamir, Jerome Delay, Saddam, Hussein, George H.W, Bush, James A, Baker III, Baker, Shamir, Yitzhak Rabin, Rabin, Shimon Peres, —, Margalit, Saddam Hussein, Hosni Mubarak of, King Hussein of Jordan, Bill Clinton, Gary Hershon, Abu Alaa, “, ” Rabin, ” Arafat, ”, Ashrawi, Yehuda, Efraim, Susan Meiselas, Baruch Goldstein, Patrick Baz, Daoud Mizrahi, Gilles Peress, Goldstein, Matti Steinberg, Netanyahu, Bazelon, Clinton, Shikaki, Manal Jamal, didn’t, Dennis Ross, Omar, Camp David, Ehud Barak, Md, Ralph Alswang, Christopher Anderson, Motasm Amir, Barak didn’t, Barak, David, Dajani, Emily, Arafat —, Ross, Mary, Nobody, Arafat didn’t, Hosni Mubarak, Mubarak, El, there’s, There’s, Robert Malley, Hussein Agha, ” Barak, Sharon, It’s, Yarden Romann, Peter van Agtmael, Khan Younis, Yousef Masoud, Khan, Ahmad Hasaballah, Ziv Koren, they’re, Dan, Avishai, Omar Dajani, Taba, Dana El Kurd, Efraim Inbar, ‘ ‘ Rabin, ’ ’, Daniel Kurtzer, Avishai Margalit, George Kennan, Van, Khalil Shikaki, Limor Yehuda, Emily Bazelon, Nabil Ismail, Pascal, Said, Ulf Andersen, Getty, Menahem Kahana, Abdel, Shafi, Maggie Ohayon, Yigal Amir, Yoav Lemmer, Jack Guez, Olmert, Moshe Milner, Ami, Dani Cardona, Awad Awad, Obama, Ben Gershom Organizations: United Nations, West Bank, Associated, Palestine Liberation Organization, U.S, Soviet Union, Palestinian, Madrid didn’t, Bank, White, Agence France, Presse, Getty Images, Oslo Accord, White House, Reuters, Israel’s Labor Party government, Bazelon, Oslo Palestinian, Getty, West, Shin, Gross, . Security, Camp, Camp David Summit, Labor Party, NPR, American, New York Times, Polaris, Labor, United, McGeorge School of Law, University of the, Israel, Camp David, University of Richmond, Arab Center Washington, Jerusalem Institute for Strategy, Security, Shalem College, Bar, Ilan University, Sadat Center, Strategic Studies, Israel’s National Security, Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Institute for, Princeton, Israel Academy of Sciences, Humanities, Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, Palestinian Center, Policy, Research, Crown Center for Middle East Studies, Brandeis University, Gaza, Hebrew University, Haifa University, Human, The New York Times Magazine, Mount Locations: Israel, Jordan, Gaza, Egypt, Jerusalem, Zion, Munich, Tunisia, Oslo, American, Oslo Gaza, Palestine, Madrid, Kuwait, United States, Soviet, Lebanon, Syria, Jordanian, America, Washington, U.S, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, U.N, Independence, Palestinian, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Iraq, Rafah, Hebron, Ibrahimi, West Bank, Judea, Samaria, Yehuda, Camp David, Jenin, Haram, Al Aqsa, Khan, Kfar Aza, Khan Younis, Ahmad, Old, Ireland, Bosnia, Tel Aviv, Iran, Athens, El, Camp, Israeli, Van Leer, Ramallah

☆ White House Says Militant Groups Operating Out of Gaza’s Hospitals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Ken Thomas | William Mauldin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden was welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon arrival on a visit to Israel in October. Photo: Avi Ohayon/Israel Gpo/Zuma PressThe White House said Tuesday that Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad are using hospitals in Gaza, including Al-Shifa, for their operations but the U.S. remains opposed to Israel conducting airstrikes against the besieged hospital. John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, told reporters traveling aboard Air Force One that Hamas and Islamic Jihad “use some hospitals in the Gaza Strip, including Al-Shifa and tunnels underneath them, to conceal and to support their military operations and to hold hostages.” Kirby’s comments represented the first time the U.S. has said that Hamas is operating out of the hospitals.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Avi Ohayon, John Kirby, ” Organizations: Israeli, Israel Gpo, Zuma, White, Al, National Security Council, Air Force One, Islamic, Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.S

☆ Alphabet-backed GoCardless considers takeovers as CEO expects a barrage of consolidation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Hiroki Takeuchi, GoCardless chief executive, on the MoneyConf Stage, attends Web Summit 2021 in Lisbon, Portugal. Last year, GoCardless acquired the Latvian open banking startup Nordigen in its first major acquisition. Open banking is one thing and definitely something we think is really important." GoCardless' technology allows firms to collect direct debit payments from consumers. What is open banking?

Persons: Hiroki Takeuchi, Harry Murphy, We're, GoCardless, Takeuchi, Rapyd, they're, we've, Nordigen Organizations: Sportsfile, Getty, GV, CNBC, Tink, PayU GPO, GoCardless Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, British, Latvian, Britain, Statista, London

☆ Public workers may receive reduced Social Security benefits. There’s growing support in Congress to change that
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The benefits were adjusted based on rules for workers who earn both pension and Social Security benefits. Today, Dave is pushing for the Social Security rules that reduced his benefits to be changed. Social Security benefits are calculated using a worker's average indexed monthly earnings, and then using a formula to calculate a worker's basic benefit amount. If two-thirds of the government pension is more than the Social Security benefit, the Social Security benefit may be zero. Part of what may create that advantage is that Social Security benefits are progressive, and therefore replace a larger share of income for lower earners.

Persons: Araya Doheny, Dave Bernstein, Bernstein, Phyllis Bernstein, Dave's, Dave, Phyllis, –, Edward Kelly, they're, Kelly, Emerson Sprick, Sprick Organizations: Getty, U.S . Postal Service, Social, Social Security, Finance, Will, New Zealand, American Postal Workers Union, GPO, International Association of Fire Fighters, Center, Budget Locations: Tampa , Florida, Australia, New, Congress

☆ Biden’s Gaza Response Frustrates Arab-Americans, Progressives
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Sabrina Siddiqui | Tarini Parti | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

During a visit to Israel, President Biden said he believed Israel wasn’t responsible for a deadly blast at a hospital compound in Gaza. Israel and militants blame each other for the explosion. Photo: Avi Ohayon/Israel GPO/Zuma PressWASHINGTON—President Biden reiterated his staunch support for Israel in the wake of attacks by Hamas militants during a visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. But back in the U.S., he’s faced criticism from progressives, Muslims and Arab-Americans, who say his sympathy for lost Palestinian lives and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is too little too late.

Persons: Biden, Israel wasn’t, Avi Ohayon, he’s Organizations: Israel GPO, Zuma Press WASHINGTON, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza . Israel, Tel Aviv, U.S, Gaza

☆ Watch: ‘We’re Not Going Anywhere,’ Blinken Tells Netanyahu on Israel Visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. Photo: GPO/Reuters

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Photo, Reuters Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv

☆ What is a kibbutz? A brief history of the communes targeted in the Hamas terror attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

This July 1938 shows workers in the orange grove of the Na'an kibbutz. Deganya, which is still inhabited today, is considered Israel’s first kibbutz. But the kibbutzniks, as kibbutz residents are known, are still largely viewed as left-leaning. Israeli forces extract dead bodies of Israeli residents from a destroyed house in Kfar Aza on Tuesday. Neta is missing from Be’eri kibbutz, a community of about 1,000 near Gaza known for its successful printing press and art galleries, where more than 100 bodies have been found.

Persons: Kluger Zoltan, Israel, Bernie Sanders –, Ilan Troen, Deborah Matias, Hayim Katsman, ”, Adrienne Neta, Be’eri “, ’, Ilia Yefimovich, Katsman, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Kfar Aza, “, Jonathan Conricus Organizations: CNN, Jewish Virtual Library, Bettmann, Volunteers, Jewish Agency for Israel, West Bank, Brandeis University, Israel Locations: Galilee, Europe, Ottoman, AFP, Israel, Thailand, Jerusalem, Gaza, Massachusetts, Kfar Aza, Be’eri

☆ Greek conservatives lead in national election-exit poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Supporters of New Democracy conservative party react at the party's main election kiosk after the announcement of the first exit polls, in Athens, Greece, May 21, 2023. REUTERS/Alkis KonstantinidisATHENS, May 21 (Reuters) - Greek conservatives were leading over the leftist Syriza in elections on Sunday, a joint exit poll by six polling agencies showed. The exit poll gave the conservative New Democracy party between 36-40% of the vote versus 25-29% for the leftist Syriza party, which governed the country in 2015-2019, at the peak of Greece's financial crisis. The projections suggested that New Democracy was not likely to win outright. EXIT POLLExit poll conducted by: ALCO, Marc, Metron Analysis, MRB Hellas, Pulse and GPO* ND: Conservative party, leader PM Kyriakos MitsotakisSyriza: Leftist party, leader Alexis TsiprasPASOK: Socialist party, leader Nikos AndroulakisKKE: Communist party, leader Dimitris KoutsoumbasMera25: Leftist party, leader Yanis VaroufakisEL: Right-wing Elliniki Lysi (Hellenic Solution), leader Kyriakos VelopoulosPlefsi Eleftherias, leftist party, leader Zoe ConstantopoulouReporting by Athens newsroomOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Ahead of an election on May 21, a cost-of-living crisis that is eroding earnings is foremost in voters' minds. For Klaoudatou it means voting for anyone but the incumbent conservative New Democracy or the opposition leftist Syriza. Reuters GraphicsThree international bailouts saved Greece from toppling out of the euro zone during a decade-long debt crisis that peaked in 2015. "Εven during the crisis - and this is the joke - I didn't think so much before spending a single extra euro," Klaoudatou told Reuters. Reuters GraphicsPAYCHECK BARELY GETS TO PAYCHECKOne in two Greek households could barely get by on their monthly income last year.

☆ Public servants like teachers and police often get reduced Social Security. Congress is weighing a bill that could change that
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Monkeybusinessimages | Istock | Getty ImagesMillions of Americans may receive reduced Social Security benefits if they worked in public roles as teachers, firefighters, police or government workers. "There just aren't that many legislative days left," said Maria Freese, senior legislative representative at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. Why public servants encounter reduced Social SecurityThe Social Security Fairness Act calls for repealing two titles of the Social Security Act that reduce or eliminate benefits for Americans who work in public service — the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. The Social Security Fairness Act would fully repeal both rules, thus making benefits more generous for those affected. 82 would need offsets not to have a huge financial impact on the Social Security trust funds, and it doesn't provide that," Sprick said.

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