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☆ Catalytic converter thefts are on the rise across the country. Russia could make it worse.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

NYC saw a rise of 5,000 cases of catalytic converter thefts in just one year. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyThere has been a stark rise in catalytic converter thefts across the country since 2019 and there's a chance Russia could make it worse. "Catalytic converters are easy to steal, but generally very difficult to trace to a specific vehicle, allowing them to be sold on the black market. The lack of traceable identifying marks makes the theft of catalytic converters difficult to curb," a NADA press release says. Catalytic converter thefts have spiked all over the world, including the United Kingdom and Japan, Insider previously reported.

☆ Alex Jones bankruptcy filing shows that he has guns that belong to Jan. 6 rioters
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Alex Jones is holding onto firearms for January 6 rioters, The Washington Post reported. Jones filed for bankruptcy after a judge ordered he pays the families of Sandy Hook victims. Among the items, Jones wrote that he's "holding firearms for certain January 6th participants," the document reads, per the Post. Before Jones was ordered to pay the families, InfoWars had also filed for bankruptcy, but only after it transferred millions to other entities. According to the bankruptcy filing, in 2021 Jones reported making a gross income of $617,143.02 and approximately $639,000 in 2020.

☆ Elon Musk cofounded the company behind ChatGPT but he's warning that unregulated AI comes with 'great danger'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

He said that regulating AI "may slow down AI a little bit," but it "might also be a good thing." "It's both positive or negative and has great, great promise, great capability," Musk said of AI, adding that "with that comes great danger." "I think we need to regulate AI safety, frankly," Musk said Wednesday. As the founder of Neuralink and CEO of Tesla, both of which utilize AI, Musk has previously spoken out about AI. Because I think by the time we are reactive in AI regulation, it's too late," he continued.

☆ DeSantis signs bill into law to expand a controversial program that would ship migrants to 'sanctuary cities'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"I can't have people all across the border coming into Florida," DeSantis said Wednesday. Ron DeSantis of Florida signed a bill into law Wednesday to expand the state's ability to move migrants to Democratic-led states. Under the expanded law, Florida could move migrants from any state and keep the details of the transportation companies secret. DeSantis' Martha's Vineyard move was viewed by critics as a cruel stunt that misled vulnerable migrants. So-called "sanctuary cities" limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities by refusing to report or hand over certain undocumented immigrants for deportation.

Biden's private lawyer disclosed on Saturday that DOJ officials turned up classified documents related both to Biden's vice presidency and even his time in the US Senate. Garland's swift announcement came after earlier news that a second batch of classified documents was found on Biden's property. Here, a timeline lays out Biden's involvement with the classified documents — and how it sometimes overlapped with the turmoil around Trump's classified documents probe. January 14: White House says more classified documents were found in Biden's homeAdditional pages of classified documents were found in Biden's Wilmington home in a storage room next to the garage, The New York Times reported. January 21: DOJ finds 6 more pages of classified documents in Biden's homeFederal investigators searched Biden's Wilmington home on Friday and found half a dozen classified documents, according to Biden's personal attorney, Bob Bauer.

☆ The College Board claps back at DeSantis, calling Florida's reasoning for banning AP African American studies 'slander'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The College Board clapped back on Saturday, defending the course. Instead, the College Board said the administration has leaned into spreading misinformation: "We need to clear the air and set the record straight." The College Board maintained that the course framework was just an outline for the pilot course. The organization also slammed the administration for taking credit for changes that the College Board made to the course and said that there have not been any negotiations between the College Board and the FDOE. "The College Board condemns this uninformed caricature of African American Studies and the harm it does to scholars and students," the statement continues.

☆ Hunter Biden warns Steve Bannon, Rudy Giuliani, Roger Stone, and 11 others to preserve records for potential litigation following laptop scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hunter Biden's attorney sent notices to 14 people at the center of the laptop scandal. Rudy Giuliani's attorney told Insider that Biden's counsel is "acting out of desperation." The personal life and business dealings of Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's middle child, have been the center of Republican criticism. Twenty days before the 2020 election, the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop became a controversial and confusing political scandal, New York Magazine reported. Rocca, Lowell, Wengui's attorneys, and an attorney for Stone, Bruce S. Rogow, did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

☆ 1870 pin meaning: What the buttons and crayon lapel pins Congress wore to the State of the Union stand for
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

President Joe Biden gave his second State of the Union address on Tuesday. Two pins — one that reads '1870' in white text atop a round black pin and various colored crayon-shaped pins with the Crayola logo — have garnered attention. 1870 PinRep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., conducts a television interview before President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. "153 years after the murder of Henry Truman, the Black community is still waiting for justice," Rep. Watson Coleman said. Crayola Crayon PinA lawmaker wears a pin of a white Crayola crayon during the State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 7, 2023.

☆ Fox News host says sickness shouldn't stop you from working: 'We just come in and cough all over each other'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"I don't think that you necessarily should have, like, the six sick days every year," one host said. On Friday's episode of "The Five," Fox News hosts expressed their disdain for employees using sick days. I don't think that you necessarily should have, like, the six sick days every year." Host Jesse Watters, a regular host on the show, said he "never" takes off when he's sick, "especially" since he appears "on TV." An immunocompromised and pro-vaccine Fox host, anchor Neil Cavuto, almost died from COVID-19 and still received death threats over his support of the vaccine.

☆ South Dakota lawmaker quotes MLK Jr. out of context during her vote to restrict health care for trans youth
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

South Dakota is seeking to restrict gender-affirming care for trans youth. The portion Schaefbauer quoted is as follows: "It may be true that you can't legislate integration, but you can legislate desegregation. The bill, House Bill 1080, would prevent transgender youth from access to gender-affirming care. South Dakota is a notably conservative state. Last year, South Dakota limited the teaching of Critical Race Theory in schools by restricting "inherently divisive concepts" such as discussing how a person can be "racist, sexist or oppressive," CNN reported.

☆ Jeff Bezos' partner Lauren Sánchez talked about being rejected as flight attendant because of her weight and becoming a pilot instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Media personality Lauren Sánchez has been publically dating billionaire CEO Jeff Bezos since 2019. Sánchez was also married to her former spouse, Patrick Whitesell, the executive chairman at William Morris Endeavor, at the time. "This is one of the only places I feel entirely in control," Sánchez told the outlet. "I don't know why more women don't do it," she told The Journal. "It's going to be women who are making a difference in the world and who are impactful and have a message to send,'" Sánchez told The Journal.

☆ The DeSantis administration's ban on AP African American studies 'is eroding traditional public education' in Florida, state school board member says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"It just feels like there's an erosion of democracy," a school board member told Insider. Ron DeSantis' administration banned the teaching of Advanced Placement African American Studies classes in Florida schools this week. Hillsborough County School Board member Jessica Vaughn, who represents District 3 in Tampa, told Insider the decision made her feel "extremely upset and horrified, but not surprised." I mean, aside from the erosion of traditional public education, it just feels like there's an erosion of democracy," Vaughn told Insider. DeSantis' office, the College Board, and the Florida Department of Education did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

☆ Trump thought an old picture of E. Jean Carroll was his ex-wife Marla Maples, despite saying the columnist suing him for sexual assault and defamation was 'not his type'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Taiyler Simone Mitchell | Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Trump mistook a woman who is suing him for sexual assault for his ex-wife during a deposition. When confronted with the photo during the deposition, Trump said, "That's Marla, yeah." "That's Marla, yeah. When Trump made the mix-up, his lawyer, Alina Habba, appeared to correct him and point out that the woman was Carroll. Trump in his deposition repeatedly doubled down on his stance that he would never have found Carroll attractive.

☆ GOP Freedom Caucus is reaping its reward for holding House speaker election ransom, with even holdout Boebert given plum committee role
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

GOP Freedom Caucus members initially held out on voting for Kevin McCarthy for House speaker. Many have now received key appointments, including Lauren Boebert on the Oversight Committee. Boebert and several other Freedom Caucus Republicans have been given seats on the House Oversight Committee, the main oversight body in the House of Representatives. Reps. Byron Donalds, Paul Gosar, and Scott Perry, other members of the Freedom Caucus, were also put on the committee, Axios reported. Members of the Freedom Caucus, which include vocal Trump supporters and 2020 election deniers, repeatedly refused to support McCarthy in his bid for House speaker.

☆ NBC News host scoffs at Sen. Ron Johnson after he said the media was biased during a charged interview: 'You can go back on your partisan cable cocoon'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Ron Johnson appeared on NBC News' "Meet the Press" on Sunday. Johnson and NBC News Host Chuck Todd repeatedly cut each other off throughout the interview. Johnson repeatedly claimed that the media was biased whenever Todd called him out. They make these things up," Johnson told Todd, later refuting the idea that the recent insurrection in Brazil looked similar to the January 6, 2021 insurrection. "Senator Ron Johnson, I look forward to our face-to-face at some point.

☆ Republicans ignored Rep. George Santos' red flags as he propelled himself to a House victory deceiving voters, NYT reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An NYT report revealed that at least some of the GOP knew of Rep. George Santos' lies. "I guess unfortunately we rely on the person to be truthful to us," the GOP Nassau County chairman told The Times. According to the Times, Santos hired an unnamed Washington research firm to conduct a vulnerability study in connection to his campaign towards the end of 2021. But the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee failed to follow up on red flags when looking into Rep. George Santos because researchers were encumbered with other researching dozens of other candidates, per the Times. Santos has faced multiple calls to resign but has remained steadfast in his conviction to complete his term despite deceiving 142,000 voters.

☆ Former GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan calls on Rep. George Santos to resign: 'This isn't an embellished candidacy, it's a fraudulent candidacy'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rep. George Santos lied about key details of his life, education, and background. Former GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan told CNN's Jake Tapper that Santos should resign. "I can't imagine the guy is going to stay very long," Ryan told Tapper. "Congressman George Santos, he's lied about apparently everything on his resumé," Tapper said to Ryan Capping off a 12-minute interview. This isn't an embellished candidacy, it's a fraudulent candidacy," Ryan added.

☆ 2 batches of classified documents found in Biden's offices: a complete timeline
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

President Joe Biden previously called out the former president for holding onto classified documents. Here, a timeline lays out Biden's involvement with the classified documents — and how it sometimes overlapped with the turmoil around Trump's classified documents probe. In September, President Joe Biden commented on the matter: "How that could possibly happen, how anyone could be that irresponsible." November 2, 2022: First batch of classified documents found at Biden's officeMonths later, Biden's team discovered about 10 classified documents at Penn Biden Center, a nonprofit think tank in DC that Biden started in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania. "He takes classified documents very seriously."

☆ An annotated look at Rep. George Santos's resume with made-up work experience and fake degrees
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Republican Rep. George Santos admitted to lying about his accolades during his campaign. He's facing calls to resign and potential legal trouble. Insider annotated a copy of his resume obtained by The New York Times. The New York Times obtained a copy of his error-riddled resume which he sent to the Nassau County Republican Committee in 2020 after showing interest in running for office. His resume offers a window into his previously unchecked deception that led to his candidacy and inauguration.

☆ GOP Rep. blasts 'backroom' deals to get Kevin McCarthy the speakership: 'Matt Gaetz is a fraud'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Kevin McCarthy became House Speaker Saturday morning after conceding to far-right lawmakers. On CBS's "Face The Nation," Rep. Nancy Mace condemned Rep. Matt Gaetz for capitalizing on the vote. "I ran out of things I could even imagine to ask for," Gaetz told CNN after the 15th vote. "We don't know what they got or didn't get," Mace told Brennan, condemning the "backroom" deals. Representatives for Mace, Gaetz, and McCarthy did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

☆ Photos show tension and mayhem on the House floor during Kevin McCarthy's final push to become speaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, sits in disappointment after his 14th loss during the House Speaker vote on Friday night. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., reacts after losing the 14th vote in the House chamber as the House meets for the fourth day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. AP Photo/Alex BrandonMcCarthy needed a majority of votes to become Speaker of the House, but 20 far-right Republicans withheld their support before the 15th and final vote.

☆ Elon Musk tweets support for the embattled Kevin McCarthy in his quest to be House speaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Twitter CEO Elon Musk tweeted his support for Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy has faced 11 unsuccessful votes in his bid to be speaker of the House of Representatives. "Kevin McCarthy should be Speaker," Musk, who considers himself "economically right of center, maybe," tweeted early Thursday morning. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican is aiming to become the next House speaker — but he has come up short in 11 votes over three days. The House currently has no active member of Congress as the speaker vote is delaying the swearing-in process and pushing back legislation.

☆ Connecticut lawmaker killed in tragic collision hours after being sworn in
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Connecticut lawmaker died hours after being sworn in as state representative. Lawmakers mourned state Rep. Quentin "Q" Williams following the announcement of his death. The collision occurred around 12:45 a.m. local time just outside of Middletown, Connecticut, on Route 9 in a town called Cromwell. The 39-year-old lawmaker, state Rep. Quentin "Q" Williams of Middletown in the 100th District, a Democrat serving in the Connecticut General Assembly, had been sworn in on Wednesday. The Connecticut State Police and Williams' office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

☆ Police officer who was injured during January 6 riots mocks McCarthy's 'trouble' gaining the majority vote for House Speaker: 'I just came here to rub it in'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A former DC police officer who suffered major injuries on January 6 took a jab at Rep. Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy has unsuccessfully sought the majority vote for House Speaker six times in two days. The ex-officer, Michael Fanone, a McCarthy critic, was at the Capitol Wednesday "to rub it in." The GOP in the House has a slim majority and far-right GOP holdouts have voted for other candidates. One of the GOP holdouts Rep. Matt Gaetz has accused McCarthy of "squatting" in the House Speaker's office without having been voted in, Insider reported.

☆ Video captures the moment Rep.-elect George Santos appeared to not hear his name multiple times before he responded during McCarthy's 5th failed speaker vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rep.-elect George Santos momentarily held up the speaker vote by not responding to his name. The video of him not responding prompted Twitter users to further question his identity. Santos," a voice said over a microphone as Santos held his head down and the person next to him appeared to be talking quietly. The video posted by The Recount prompted Twitter users to poke fun at Santos' moment of absence. A fellow congress member called Santos a liar in Portuguese on Tuesday after he cast his vote for Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Insider also reported.

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