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☆ Opinion: RFK Jr. is poised to be a chaos factor in November
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Opinion Lee Drutman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

With the announcement of his running mate, Silicon Valley attorney and entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy’s campaign will expand its ballot access. On the surface, this double dislike seems puzzling: Shouldn’t one of the two parties have figured out how to elevate a more popular general election candidate? Americans overwhelmingly want more than two political parties. But in a close race between the two unpopular frontrunners, Kennedy will almost certainly be a chaos factor. Kennedy — whose campaign is in many respects a product of this doom loop — is a deeply flawed messenger for change.

Persons: Lee Drutman, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy’s, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Hillary Clinton, Kennedy, It’s, Biden, “, ” Kennedy, swindled, it’s, haters, —, frontrunners, James Weaver, George Wallace, ’ “, I’ve, Kennedy — Organizations: New America, Democracy, CNN, Biden, Gallup, Young, Trust, ”, Trump, Republicans, Democratic Party Locations: New, America, Silicon Valley, —, Washington , DC, Alaska

☆ In Saga of NBC and Ronna McDaniel, Perks and Perils of Partisan Talk on TV
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Michael M. Grynbaum | John Koblin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Trying to juice ratings in an election year, a major TV network hired a pair of provocative commentators from the political establishment to inject some spiky opinion into its otherwise-staid campaign coverage. These days, the role of the “paid contributor” — a commentator on contract, to bloviate on demand — is fully baked into the TV news ecosystem. Or, in the case of Ronna McDaniel, as the former chairwoman of the Republican Party. Ms. McDaniel’s tenure as a paid contributor at NBC News was less successful than those of many of her peers. (Her two immediate predecessors as Republican leader, Michael Steele and Reince Priebus, work for MSNBC and ABC News.)

Persons: Gore Vidal, William F, Buckley Jr, —, ”, Ronna McDaniel, McDaniel’s, Michael Steele, Reince, McDaniel, Donald J Organizations: ABC News, West Wing, Republican Party, NBC, MSNBC, ABC

☆ Almost half of voters say student loan forgiveness is a key issue in 2024 election, survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Jim Watson | AFP | Getty ImagesAlmost half of all voters, or 48%, say canceling student loan debt is an important issue to them in the 2024 presidential and congressional elections, a new survey finds. Debt forgiveness has historically been a highly partisan issue, with supporters and detractors split down party lines. Almost a quarter, 23%, of Gen X voters surveyed said they or someone in their household had student loan debt. The Supreme Court last June struck down the president's $400 billion plan to deliver student loan forgiveness to as many as 40 million Americans. Meanwhile, the popularity of loan forgiveness among voters may prove a challenge for Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee for president.

Persons: Jim Watson, Gen, John Della Volpe, Biden, millennials, Z, X, boomer, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Mike Pierce, Biden's Organizations: Royal Missionary Baptist, AFP, Getty, Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, Finance, Republican, GOP, Supreme Locations: North Charleston , South Carolina, California, U.S

☆ Opinion: Trump catches a bond break, and maybe Democrats do, too
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Opinion W. James Antle Iii | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The action may also spare Democrats backlash from voters who would be incensed at the potential seizure of Trump’s assets. W. James Antle III Courtesy W. James Antle IIITrump became an A-list celebrity as a symbol of extreme, almost gaudy wealth. The New York civil fraud case raises questions about how Trump acquired much of his wealth in the first place. My inbox is filled with fundraising appeals asking donors to help stop James from taking Trump Tower. If so, Trump could once again turn a legal and personal setback into a political windfall.

Persons: James Antle III, Donald Trump, James Antle, James Antle III Trump, Trump, stoked, Letitia James, Republican nominee’s, James, isn’t, ”, Ruth Marcus, “, Cenk Uygur Organizations: Washington Examiner, CNN, White, The New, Republican, Republican Party, Democratic, New, Associated Press, GOP, Trump, Trump’s, Washington Post, Turks Locations: The New York, New York, Trump’s New York, Washington, York

☆ Some in Congress don’t like extreme partisanship either
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —There was an interesting and telling exchange recently between Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the Alaska Republican, and CNN’s Manu Raju. In the hallway exchange, Murkowski expressed frustration that former President Donald Trump is her party’s presidential nominee. CNNWhen Raju pushed Murkowski about whether she might leave the Republican Party, she said this: “I am navigating my way through some very interesting political times. Moreno won the Republican nomination in last week’s primary and he did so by aligning himself with Trump. Gallagher follows Rep. Ken Buck, the hardline Colorado Republican who resigned early in frustration over Republican election denialism and because House lawmakers are unable to set aside differences to get much done.

Persons: Sen, Lisa Murkowski, CNN’s Manu Raju, Murkowski, Donald Trump, “, ”, Raju, ’ Murkowski, Trump, ” Sen, Raju, Let’s, Bernie Moreno, Moreno, “ We’ve, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, it’s, Kyrsten, Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, Sinema, Manchin, Jon Tester, Sherrod Brown, CNN RAJU, Mitt Romney, Joe Biden –, Rob Portman, Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker, Mitch McConnell’s, Mike Gallagher, Alejandro Mayorkas, Gallagher, Ken Buck, CNN’s Dana Bash, he’d Organizations: CNN, Alaska Republican, Capitol, Republican Party, Trump, Republican, Capitol Hill, GOP, Republicans, Kentucky Republican, Democratic, Senate, Getty, Democratic Party, Montana Democrat, Sen, Homeland, Colorado Republican Locations: Alaska, Cleveland, Ohio, Sens, Arizona, West Virginia, Montana, Wisconsin

☆ Chuck Todd rips NBC News for hiring former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Former “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd delivered a stunning rebuke of NBC News on Sunday, blasting the network for hiring former Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel as a paid political analyst. As RNC chair, McDaniel was a prominent election denier, working to help disgraced former President Donald Trump subvert the 2020 vote. Asked why she didn’t offer such condemnation as RNC chairwoman, McDaniel responded, “When you’re the RNC chair, you kind of take one for the whole team. But Todd noted that because McDaniel was a paid network contributor, it was not clear whether she was being genuine. But Todd disagreed with NBC News’ decision, adding that McDaniel has “credibility issues.”Others on the Sunday broadcast panel agreed with Todd’s assessment.

Persons: Chuck Todd, Ronna McDaniel, Todd, McDaniel, Kristen Welker, “, ” Todd, Donald Trump, Welker, ”, ” McDaniel, Joe Biden, CNN’s Chris Wallace, Wallace, I’m, Biden, Kimberly Atkins Stohr, ” Stohr, Stephen Hayes, she’s Organizations: CNN, “, Press, NBC, Republican National Committee, NBC News, RNC, MSNBC, Capitol, Trump, ”, Republican Party, Boston Globe, Trump’s RNC Locations: Trump

☆ Biden signs $1.2 trillion spending package for government funding until October
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

President Joe Biden on Saturday signed Congress' $1.2 trillion spending package, finalizing the remaining batch of bills in a long-awaited budget to keep the government funded until Oct. 1. The Senate passed the budget in a 74-24 vote at roughly 2 a.m. However, the White House said that it would not begin official shutdown operations since a deal had ultimately been secured and only procedural actions remained. Hours before the House passed the spending package Friday morning, hardline House Republicans held a press conference to lambast the bill. If ousting a House speaker for budget disagreements feels like a familiar story, that's because it is.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: White, Saturday, Department of Homeland Security, Republicans, Georgia Republican, Republican, Freedom Caucus Locations: Washington , DC

☆ Biden signs government funding bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Clare Foran | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law the $1.2 trillion legislation that completes the funding of federal agencies through the fiscal year, which ends September 30. The House passed the package on Friday, and the Senate passed it early Saturday morning. The bill addresses a slate of critical government operations, including the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, State and the legislative branch. This legislation is the second part of a two-tiered government funding process. A separate six-bill funding package, which was signed into law earlier this month, included funding for the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Interior, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Food and Drug Administration, military construction and other federal programs.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden —, —, ” Biden, Republicans ”, isn’t, ”, Kevin McCarthy, Samantha Waldenberg Organizations: CNN, Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health, Human Services, Education, State, Republicans, Administration, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Housing, Urban, and Drug Administration Locations: Wilmington , Delaware, “, Transportation

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted 74-24 early Saturday morning to pass a sweeping $1.2 trillion government funding bill after heated last-minute negotiations caused senators to breach the midnight deadline to avert a shutdown. The legislation, which passed the House on Friday morning by a vote of 268-134, now goes to President Joe Biden, who has said he'll sign it into law. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said it was "typical" and "juvenile" for the Senate to wait until the 11th hour to act on the bill. And at nearly six months into the fiscal year, it's unusually late in the game to be haggling over the funding measures. The latest bill was released Thursday and passed by the House on Friday morning, leaving little time for the Senate to act.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Joe Biden, Biden, Sen, Chris Murphy, Conn, Murphy, John Kennedy, Chuck Schumer, It's, Schumer, it's Organizations: U.S . Capitol, WASHINGTON, White, NBC News, State , Defense, Labor, Health, Human Services, Homeland Security, Senate Locations: Washington , DC, Congress

☆ Rose Dugdale, Heiress Turned Irish Independence Fighter, Dies at 82
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Clay Risen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Rose Dugdale, an Oxford-educated Englishwoman who left a life of wealth to become a partisan activist fighting for Irish independence, in a career that included bomb making, hijacking and art theft, died on March 18 in Dublin. Her death, in a nursing home, was confirmed by Aengus O Snodaigh, a friend and a member of the Irish Parliament. Throughout the 1970s, Ms. Dugdale, whose family owned a large share of the insurance company Lloyd’s of London, captivated the British and Irish news media with her exploits. She and an accomplice were arrested in 1973 for stealing thousands of dollars in art and silverware from her parents’ home, with plans to sell it and give the proceeds to the Irish Republican Army. Her father, Eric, appeared as a witness at her trial, and under British law she was allowed to cross-examine him herself — an opportunity she used to make political statements.

Persons: Rose Dugdale, Aengus O, Dugdale, Patricia Hearst, ’, Eric, — Organizations: Irish, Irish Republican Army Locations: Oxford, Dublin, London, United States

☆ Lawmakers release text of $1.2 trillion spending bill as shutdown deadline nears
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Sahil Kapur | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers early Thursday morning released the text of a $1.2 trillion government funding bill negotiated by the White House and leaders of both parties to avoid a partial government shutdown this weekend. Those federal agencies are scheduled to shut down on Saturday if the funding package is not passed by Friday night. President Joe Biden has said he'll sign the bill, but it's unclear whether Congress has enough time to pass it before the deadline. It is the last remaining funding package that Congress has to pass this fiscal year, which ends after September. After the House passes the bill, the Senate will require unanimous consent to vote quickly.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Mitch McConnell, — Frank Thorp Organizations: WASHINGTON — Lawmakers, White, Homeland Security, Defense, State, Labor, Health, Human Services, DHS, Internal Revenue Service, Republicans, House Republicans, House, Department of Homeland Security Locations: Washington, Washington , DC, D, Ky

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. weather agency is sounding a “red alert” about global warming, citing record-smashing increases last year in greenhouse gases, land and water temperatures and melting of glaciers and sea ice, and warning that the world's efforts to reverse the trend have been inadequate. “The latest State of the Global Climate report shows a planet on the brink. Fossil fuel pollution is sending climate chaos off the charts.”The latest WMO findings are especially stark when compiled in a single report. WMO said the impact of heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires and tropical cyclones, exacerbated by climate change, was felt in lives and livelihoods on every continent in 2023. And so, nothing gets done.”___Borenstein reported from Washington, D.C.___The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations.

Persons: ”, Celeste Saulo, “, ” U.N, Antonio Guterres, Topping, Jonathan Overpeck, wasn’t, Saulo, Kathy Jacobs, Andrew Weaver, ’, ___ Borenstein Organizations: GENEVA, World Meteorological Organization, WMO, Service, University of Michigan School for Environment, Sustainability, University of Arizona, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Washington , D.C, Associated Press Locations: “ State, Paris, Copenhagen, British, Washington ,, AP.org

Four years ago this month, schools nationwide began to shut down, igniting one of the most polarizing and partisan debates of the pandemic. Some schools, often in Republican-led states and rural areas, reopened by fall 2020. Others, typically in large cities and states led by Democrats, would not fully reopen for another year. A variety of data — about children’s academic outcomes and about the spread of Covid-19 — has accumulated in the time since. Today, there is broad acknowledgment among many public health and education experts that extended school closures did not significantly stop the spread of Covid, while the academic harms for children have been large and long-lasting.

Organizations: Republican, Democrats Locations: Covid

☆ Trump says any Jewish person who votes for Democrats ‘hates their religion’ and ‘everything about Israel’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Kate Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump said in an interview aired Monday that any Jewish person who votes for Democrats “hates their religion” and hates “everything about Israel,” again playing into an antisemitic trope that Jewish Americans have dual loyalties to the US and to Israel. “I actually think they hate Israel,” Trump said. “I don’t think they hate him, I think they hate Israel. And the Democrat Party hates Israel.”“Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion,” Trump said. While Orthodox Jews lean heavily Republican, American Jews of other denominations, including the Reform and Conservative branches, have identified with or leaned toward the Democratic party.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, ”, Trump, White, Sebastian Gorka, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, ” Trump, Schumer, I’m, Joe Biden’s, ” Andrew Bates, ” Biden, James Singer, Adolf Hitler ‘, Jonathan Greenblatt, Karoline Leavitt, ’, CNN’s Jack Forrest, Nicole Chavez, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN, White House, Israeli, Democrat Party, Israel, Democrats, New York Democrat, White, Defamation League, State, Jewish, Republican Jewish Coalition, American Jewish Committee, Democratic, Republicans, Pew Research, Conservative Locations: Israel, Gaza, America, U.S

☆ Border funding battle snags budget talks in Congress with shutdown days away
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Congress is back at the budget negotiation table this week and border security disputes again are threatening to torpedo talks as a weekend government shutdown inches closer. Congress successfully struck a deal on the first six appropriations bills in February, but the remaining half relate to thornier agencies like labor, homeland security, education and more. "This second batch, they're tougher because they're more partisan," said Bobby Kogan, a former budget advisor under President Joe Biden. The border is a top voting issue in the 2024 election and amid the heat of the border controversy, House Republicans impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in February after several failed attempts. In early February, Republicans killed a foreign aid package that would have provided $20 billion in funding for the U.S. southern border.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Biden administration's pushback, Bobby Kogan, Alejandro Mayorkas Organizations: White, White House, Department of Homeland Security, GOP, Politico, DHS, CNBC, Democratic, NBC News, Congress, Republicans, Homeland, Senate Locations: WASHINGTON, DC, Washington , DC, U.S

☆ Border policy a key sticking point in Congress with shutdown deadline just days away
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Clare Foran | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Lawmakers are scrambling to avert a partial shutdown ahead of a federal government funding deadline at the end of the week. The Department of Homeland Security has proven to be a particularly thorny issue in the funding fight amid partisan disagreements over border policy. Since then, lawmakers have faced a series of fiscal cliffs as a result of funding deadlines created by short-term extensions. In the Senate, lawmakers will need to reach a time agreement to pass the legislation before Friday’s shutdown deadline. The objection of any one senator could slow the process down and threaten to take lawmakers right up to, or past, the deadline.

Persons: Mike Johnson, –, Joe Biden, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health, Human Services, Education, State, Department of Homeland Security, Senate, Republican, Democratic, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Housing, Urban, and Drug Administration, Republicans Locations: Transportation

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

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

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

☆ Opinion: What to make of Schumer’s scathing speech on Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Opinion Aaron David Miller | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

So, is Schumer’s speech likely to have a major impact in Israel or on Biden administration policy? One way to read the impact of Schumer’s speech is that it will give the administration the political space to toughen up its policies toward the Netanyahu government. How Schumer’s speech will impact Israel and the US-Israeli relationship is hard to predict. Just look at the Republican reaction to Schumer’s speech. In an interview with CNN, Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell said Schumer’s speech was a contradiction of US policy.

Persons: Aaron David Miller, ” Miller, Chuck Schumer, ” that’s, Howard Beale, Benjamin Netanyahu, ‘, Schumer, Biden, Netanyahu, “ atta, Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett, ” Benny Gantz, Schumer “, “, ” Gantz, We’re, Donald Trump, Trump, Will Biden, Joe Biden, It’s, that’s, he’s, Israel –, Schumer won’t, George H.W, Bush, State James Baker, Yitzhak Rabin’s, Yitzhak Shamir, Rabin, Bill Clinton, Shimon Peres, Peres, John Boehner, Sen, Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Mitch McConnell, can’t, ” Organizations: Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Democratic, Republican, CNN, “, Likud, State, Republican Party, Democrat, Hamas, Biden, Israel, White, GOP, Republicans, West Bank Locations: East, Israel, Washington, “, Gaza, Arab, Michigan, Qatar, Iran, Jerusalem, America

☆ A speech that sent shockwaves from Washington to Jerusalem
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Schumer’s rebuke of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday contained extraordinarily strong language for a senior US politician criticizing the Israeli government. He also voiced support for a two-state solution to the long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, a position that Netanyahu has rejected. He was almost immediately accused of deserting a US ally in a time of war and of trying to interfere in Israeli politics. McConnell added: “Israel is not a colony of America whose leaders serve at the pleasure of the party in power in Washington. Biden himself last week warned Netanyahu was “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” with his assault on the Palestinian enclave.

Persons: Chuck Schumer’s, Israel, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden’s, Schumer –, –, Netanyahu, “, ” Schumer, Schumer, Israel’s, United States Michael Herzog, Mitch McConnell, doesn’t, McConnell, Obama, Donald Trump, Biden’s, Biden, Kamala Harris, Israel ”, Biden – Organizations: CNN, New York Democrat, Hamas, Likud, Democratic, Kentucky Republican, Senate, Progressives, Democrats, Biden, White, Israel, Israel Democrats Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Ukraine, America, Washington, Iran, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Michigan

☆ Mitch McConnell ramps up his criticism of Chuck Schumer in CNN interview
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Manu Raju | Ted | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In an interview with CNN, McConnell said Schumer’s speech was a direct contradiction of US policy and called on the White House not to go down that road. McConnell rejected calls for conditions on military aid to Israel – something some Democrats have called for in an effort to tamp down civilian deaths. In his speech, Schumer explained his deep misgivings about the toll on innocent people in Gaza. “I am anguished that the Israeli war campaign has killed so many innocent Palestinians,” he said. McConnell blamed the Biden administration for micromanaging the war in Gaza and said Schumer’s calling for “regime change” in the wrong country.

Persons: Mitch McConnell ramped, Chuck Schumer, Israel –, McConnell, can’t, ” McConnell, “ It’s, Schumer, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ” Schumer, –, that’s, ”, “, “ I’m, Biden, “ They’ve, Yair Lapid, ” CNN’s Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN, Capitol, Democratic, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, “, Iran

☆ Come on, everyone, let's buy TikTok!
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Henry Blodget | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

So, in the wake of the (notably bi-partisan) House bill, some Americans are already volunteering to buy TikTok — such as former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. These investors would include private equity funds, hedge funds, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, mutual funds, and, of course, banks. That's what Steven Mnuchin and everyone else who wants to buy TikTok are planning to do. That's why Mnuchin made his announcement on CNBC this morning — to let every investor on the planet who might give him money to buy TikTok know that he's raising money to buy TikTok. ("Wait — he's putting together a group to buy TikTok and he hasn't called us yet?

Persons: —, Let's, Steven Mnuchin, Mnuchin, Goldman Sachs, there's, Elon Musk, ByteDance, Steven Mnuchin's, hasn't Organizations: Service, Twitter, CNBC Locations: America, China, American, Banks

☆ If the US bans TikTok, China will be getting a taste of its own medicine
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But American apps have long been barred in China. “The TikTok bill appears likely to become law and China’s displeasure seems ironic, if not hypocritical, given its stance toward American social apps,” said Brock Silvers, managing director at Kaiyuan Capital. The Chinese government has said it strongly opposes a forced sale of TikTok, and it has the legal ability to do so. A man walks past the headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, in Beijing. “While China has completely banned [these] American apps, TikTok enjoys all the benefits of America’s free and open legal and political systems,” he said.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — TikTok, ByteDance doesn’t, Wang Wenbin, ”, Brock Silvers, Wang, Joe Biden, TikTok, CNN Beijing’s, Trump, Greg Baker, “, Winston Ma, Silvers, Alex Capri, Craig Singleton, “ We’ve, ” Capri Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, US, Foreign Ministry, Google, Kaiyuan, Chinese Commerce Ministry, ByteDance, Trump, CNN, Commerce Ministry, Getty, New York University School of Law, Foundation, National University of Singapore Business School, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Weibo, Twitter, Facebook Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Beijing, TikTok, ByteDance, AFP, Washington, Washington , DC

☆ Is the End of the Filibuster Near?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Time may be finally running out on the filibuster, the signature dilatory tactic in the Senate embraced by some as a protector of minority rights and reviled by others as an outdated weapon of partisan obstruction. With the announcement by Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona that she will not seek re-election, the filibuster is now on track to lose the two senators who preserved it in 2022 over the objections of the rest of their party. She and her fellow filibuster defender, Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, who is also retiring, left Democrats just two votes short of ending the filibuster when it came to voting law changes that were backed by a majority. Perhaps just as significantly, Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican who has enthusiastically deployed the filibuster to his advantage for decades, is stepping down from his top party leadership post, reducing the influence of one of the chief practitioners and defenders of filibuster maneuvering. Depending on how the November elections shake out, the pressure to reduce the power of the procedural tool — which effectively requires 60 votes to move any legislation forward in the Senate — could be substantial.

Persons: Kyrsten Sinema, Joe Manchin III, Mitch McConnell Organizations: Kentucky Republican Locations: Arizona, West Virginia

☆ Transcript of Biden's interview with Robert Hur shows the president cracked jokes about his wife and mimicked car sounds
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The transcript suggests critiques of his memory may be overblown and shows Biden's sense of humor. "I just hope you didn't find any risqué pictures of my wife in a bathing suit," The Washington Post reported the president told federal prosecutors. The Post reported he mimicked the sound of a car twice during the discussion, with the transcript reading "(Makes car sound)" and "(Laughter)." "Remember, in this timeframe, my son is — either been deployed or is dying," NBC reported Biden said. "No," the Post reported Biden said, explaining the significant effect Beau's 2015 death from a brain tumor had on him.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Robert Hur, Biden, —, South Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, Hur, Beau Organizations: Service, Washington Post, Post, South Carolina, Business, Biden, NBC, Trump Justice Department, The New York Times

☆ Opinion | Mitch McConnell Doesn’t Wear a MAGA Hat. I’m Not Fooled.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Jamelle Bouie | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Late last month, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky announced that he would leave his position as Republican leader after the November elections. McConnell is not consequential for what he accomplished as a legislator or legislative leader — he’s no Robert F. Wagner or Everett Dirksen. He’s consequential for what he’s done to degrade and diminish American democracy. McConnell, as the journalist Alec MacGillis noted in “The Cynic: The Political Education of Mitch McConnell,” was never driven by ideology. “At some point along the way,” MacGillis wrote, “Mitch McConnell decided that his own longevity in Washington trumped all — that he would even be willing to feed the public’s disillusionment with its elected leaders if it would increase his and his party’s odds of success at the polls.”

Persons: Mitch McConnell, He’ll, McConnell, — he’s, Robert F, Wagner, Everett Dirksen, Alec MacGillis, ”, ” MacGillis, “ Mitch McConnell Organizations: Kentucky, “ Locations: Kentucky, Washington

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