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☆ Why auction houses are embracing luxury — and celebrity — fashion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Joan Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

(CNN) — There’s a lot of talk about luxury’s rising prices, but it’s at auction that fashion is selling for the most eye-popping of sums. Fashion items from the sets of TV, film and even commercials can also garner high prices. Frank Augstein/APWhile selling prices are widely publicized, auction houses maintain something akin to attorney-client privilege when it comes to the identities of their bidders. In fact, much of the archival fashion seen on stars today has passed through auction. “That dress would now sell for $10 million because of that double whammy connection of a celebrity,” said Nolan.

Persons: —, Celine, Joan Didion, Levi’s, Kurt Cobain, Elton, Burberry, ”, Nicole Kidman, Lucy Bishop, Frank Augstein, Bishop, Audrey Hepburn, Diana —, Victoria, they’re, Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Michael Jackson’s, Laverne Cox, Jordan Strauss, ’, Shannon Hoey, Hoey, Dior, Elizabeth Debicki, Diana, “, Meg Randell, Leigh Anne Clark —, Valentino, Saint Laurent, Chanel, Andre Leon Talley’s Birkin, Christie’s, Anna Wintour, Clark, Talley, would’ve, Andre Leon Talley's, Meghan McCarthy, Renae Plant, Diana’s, It’s, Carrie Bradshaw, Martin Nolan, Carrie Bradshaw's, Craig Blankenhorn, Barbie, Marilyn Monroe, John F, Kennedy, Nolan, Read Organizations: The, Fashion, CNN, AMC, Albert Museum, York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, Vogue, USA, Plant, City, Julien’s, HBO Locations: London, Dallas, Palm Beach , Florida, California, Paris, Australia

☆ How Billie Eilish has transformed her style with colorful hair, from green roots to a blonde bob she regrets
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Amanda Krause | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Eilish debuted a blonde bob in 2021 but later revealed she wasn't happy with the color. Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesSpeaking with Elle in September 2021, Eilish said she chose the color because she "couldn't go anywhere" with her green roots. But despite the freedom she originally felt, Eilish later said the color wasn't the best choice for her. I didn't feel sexy for one second of being blonde," she told Highsnobiety during a 2022 interview. She then told Rolling Stone in April that she also didn't recognize herself with the light hair color.

Persons: Eilish, Billie Eilish, Jamie McCarthy, Elle, I've, Highsnobiety, Rolling Stone Organizations: MTV

☆ How the House GOP’s Biden impeachment effort fell apart
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Annie Grayer | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

“To me, success is impeachment from the House,” GOP Rep. Brian Mast said. Comer’s co-leads, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, are also fully behind the work. I don’t think that’s an impeachable offense,” GOP Rep. Jodey Arrington said. Even GOP Rep. Darrell Issa remarked after the first hour of questioning that Hunter Biden was prepared for the interview. There’s an election in seven months from now,” GOP Rep. Nick LaLota, who represents a New York district Biden won in 2020, told CNN.

Persons: James Comer, Joe Biden, –, Comer, Biden, “ Comer, Jesus, Alejandro Mayorkas, Comer –, “, Anna Paulina Luna –, Hunter Biden, it’s, ” Luna, ”, missteps, Brian Mast, Mike Johnson, Comer’s, Jim Jordan, Jason Smith, ” Johnson, Steve Scalise, Elise Stefanik, Kevin McCarthy, ” Bruce Dubinsky, McCarthy, Samuel Corum, Johnson, Jodey Arrington, Darrell Issa, …, Doug LaMalfa, Mayorkas, Tony Gonzales, Austin Scott, ” Comer, Donald Trump, Jordan, doesn’t, There’s, Nick LaLota, Jamie Raskin, Raskin Organizations: Washington CNN —, Republican, CNN, Kentucky Republican, Homeland, Biden, GOP, Republicans, Getty, White, Democratic, ”, Department of Justice Locations: Kentucky, ”, Washington , DC, –, Texas, New York

☆ A complete timeline of Karlie Kloss and Taylor Swift's friendship
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Claudia Willen | Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +40 min

Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss became inseparable after meeting at the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. AdvertisementThe friendship of Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss dates back to 2013, when the musician and the supermodel met backstage at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. AdvertisementApril 2014: Kloss and Swift are spotted together in New York CityTaylor Swift and Karlie Kloss often spent time together in New York City. November 23, 2014: Swift brings Kloss as her date to the American Music AwardsTaylor Swift and Karlie Kloss at the 2014 AMAs. July 11, 2015: Kloss appears at another of Swift's concerts in New JerseyTaylor Swift's friends went to her concert in New Jersey.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Karlie Kloss, Kloss, —, Swift, didn't, Katy Perry, Scooter Braun, Karlie, Michael Kovac, Jamie McCarthy, Milk, Christina Tosi, Randy Brooke, we're BFFs, I'd, Raymond Hall, Kate Bosworth, Harry Josh, Charles James, Oscar de la, They're, Alo Ceballos, She's, Rolling, James Devaney, Ben Stiller, Quinlin, SoHo Taylor Swift, Jeff Kravitz, Dick Clark, Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho, WireImage Kloss, Lily Aldrige, Martha Hunt, taylor, it's, Taylor, Matty Healy, Marie Claire, Beyonce, Jay, Justin Timberlake, Sam Smith, Michael, r was, els, rais, hou, "I, ove, stor, ste, "(M, bro, K, Ma y, orr, "B, Perry, tim e, oe Jonas, maki, J ohn Shea, dow, deo, cele, Jo, hatta, lia, nce, e, hough, lor h, 2016:, Joh, Delilah, L orde, Conn, Loo, ned the photo,, y, as well, loss and Swift, Augu, rld, kee, mus, raun, cate, rau, hite, theo, abou, ody, ted in a, ike H, Derek Bl Organizations: Big, Service, Vogue, Twitter, Hollywood Life, Big Sur, daisies, Surrey, Costume, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Getty, Swift, Apple, New York Knicks, Garden, Chicago Bulls, Madison, American, New York City's, Yahoo, New, YouTube, the de, acc, Adv, ober, Wil, unc, ift, who's known Locations: Big Sur, Swift's New York, New York City, Big, Instagram, New York, Manhattan, brunching, SoHo, Madison, SoHo Taylor, June., ber

☆ Disney technology executive Aaron LaBerge to leave company for personal reasons
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Walt Disney company logo is displayed on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on Dec. 1, 2023. Aaron LaBerge, the chief technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, is leaving the company, according to an internal memo. LaBerge is leaving for personal reasons related to his family and will stay on at Disney until June, the memo said. At ESPN, LaBerge has been a central figure behind the company's streaming services, including ESPN+, the upcoming sports streaming application co-owned by Disney, Warner Bros. They include former CEO Bob Chapek, former head of streaming Kevin Mayer, ex-finance chief Christine McCarthy, former Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn, former Disney general counsel Alan Braverman, ex-head of communications Zenia Mucha, and former president of Walt Disney Pictures, Sean Bailey.

Persons: Aaron LaBerge, LaBerge, He'll, He's, Bob Chapek, Kevin Mayer, Christine McCarthy, Alan Horn, Alan Braverman, Zenia Mucha, Sean Bailey, Aaron, Jimmy Pitaro, Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, Chris Lawson, Paul Allen Organizations: Walt Disney, New York Stock Exchange, Disney Entertainment, ESPN, PENN Entertainment, ESPN Bet, Disney, Hulu, Warner Bros . Discovery, Fox, Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, ESPN BET, Company, Starwave

☆ Nancy Pelosi says she respects Mike Johnson and hopes Trump isn't 'his puppeteer'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Nancy Pelosi offered muted praise for Speaker Mike Johnson. Pelosi had a famously fraught relationship with fellow Californian and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. AdvertisementFormer Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she respects Speaker Mike Johnson even if she strongly disagrees with his politics, a sign that the top Republican holds some sway with congressional Democrats. AdvertisementThe former speaker told The Atlantic that she viewed Johnson as "a person of integrity," adding she was "not here to criticize him." The expectation is that if Greene follows through with her threat to force a vote on Johnson, standing Democrats will help protect him.

Persons: Nancy Pelosi, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, —, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Donald Trump, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, Greene, Paul Gosar of, Thomas Massie of Organizations: Service, Republican, Rep, Georgia Republican, New York Times, Florida Republican, Reps Locations: Georgia, Florida, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Ukraine

☆ Live updates: Tensions simmer between Iran and Israel as war devastates Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

A West Bank-wide labor strike has been called for Sunday, a working day, over Palestinian deaths in Tulkarem in the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinian political faction Fatah said on Saturday, according to official Palestinian news agency WAFA. The strike calls on people "to unite in support of our people," Fatah said, according to WAFA. The Palestinian Teachers Union said that a general strike will be adhered to at all schools, educational facilities, and the ministry, WAFA reported, adding that the General Union of Transport Workers also said it is committed to adhering to the strike. Some context: The call for a general strike was announced after 14 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli military operation in Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarem, in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Persons: Fatah, WAFA Organizations: Bank, West Bank, Palestinian, Palestinian Teachers Union, General Union of Transport Workers, Palestinian Ministry of Health Locations: Tulkarem, Gaza, Nur Shams

I think providing aid to Ukraine right now is critically important,” the speaker added. House TVThe speaker’s embrace of Ukraine aid represents a remarkable evolution for Johnson, who voted against funding for the country as a rank-and-file member. Johnson drags his feetJohnson did not come to his decision on how to handle foreign aid quickly. “Slow,” New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said when asked how Johnson handled Ukraine aid. In recent weeks, allies counseled Johnson to keep the former president in the loop on his potential foreign aid plans.

Persons: Manu Raju ”, Johnson, Mike Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, Jeffries, Taiwan –, Michael McCaul, “, ” Johnson, Derrick Van Orden, Matt Gaetz, ”, Johnson –, Kevin McCarthy, –, Joe Biden, Donald Trump’s, Mike Pompeo, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Bill Burns, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ” Jeffries, Biden, Mitch McConnell, Gregory Meeks, Patrick McHenry of, Trump, Johnson’s, ” Trump, Eli Crane, McCarthy, Bob Good, Johnson “, Greene, Al Green, Van Orden, Gaetz, I’m, ” Van Orden, Chip Roy’s, Bob Good’s, Kent Nishimura, Paul Gosar, Johnson’s speakership, We’re, we’ve, Tom Cole of, ” Cole, “ There’s, Warren Davidson, CNN’s Haley Talbot, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: GOP, CNN, Democratic, Louisiana Republican, Foreign, ”, Florida Republican, Senate, Republican, Ukraine, CIA, Naval Academy, Israel, Internal Revenue Service, New York Rep, House Foreign Affairs, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, Lago, Arizona, Democratic Rep, Navy, Navy Seals, Wisconsin Republican, Capitol, Democrats, Republicans, GOP Rep, ” Veteran GOP Locations: Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Washington, Louisiana, Taiwan, Florida, American, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Patrick McHenry of North, Iranian, Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, House, Arizona, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Ohio

☆ Opinion: Shaking off the Trump effect
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. CNN —“We are most deeply asleep at the switch,” wrote Annie Dillard, “when we fancy we control any switches at all. When the Senate voted to send new aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan two months ago, House Speaker Mike Johnson took no action. With the help of Democrats, the House approved aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan on Saturday. Writing for CNN Opinion, he emphasized that there are legal principles that require universities to prohibit expressions of antisemitism.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Annie Dillard, “, time’s, —, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Biden, Sleepy Joe ”, Israel, Johnson, MAGA, Julian Zelizer, Walt Handelsman, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s, Kevin McCarthy’s, Clay Jones, Fareed Zakaria, Alejandro Mayorkas, “ Biden, ” Zakaria, Bill Clinton, ” Trump, Jack Ohman, Agency Donald Trump’s, dozed, Elliot Williams, Patrick T, Brown, …, ‘, ’, Attorney Alvin Bragg, ” Will, Jeffrey Abramson, ” “, Norm Eisen, Stormy Daniels, ” Eisen, Michael Cohen, Elie Honig, Frida Ghitis, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Lisa Benson, GoComics.com Peter Bergen, Daniel R, DePetris, Dean Obeidallah, Susanne DeWitt, ” David Schizer, ” Schizer, Danielle Campoamor, Caitlin Clark, Simone Biles, Campoamor, Latika Bourke, John Howard, Justin J, Pearson, Winston Churchill, Holly Thomas, Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak’s, It’s, ” Thomas, YouGov, ” Don’t, Drew Sheneman, Agency David M, Perry, Frankie de la, Angel Reese, Roy Schwartz, Joni Mitchell —, Raul A, Reyes, Sonia Sotomayor, Jules Boykoff, Jaime M, Valiathan, Ed Manning, Sara Stewart, Noah Berlatsky, Taylor Swift Amy Bass, Taylor Swift, Swift, Department ”, ” Bass, “ Swift, Joe, Alwyn, Diana, they’re, Clara Bow, Dylan Thomas, Patti Smith — Organizations: CNN, Republicans, MAGA Republicans, Agency, Congress, Biden, Homeland, National Guard, ‘, Manhattan, Attorney, New York Democrats, Twitter, Facebook, New York Times, Trump, Berkeley, Nazism, Columbia, Nike, Team USA, Sydney, Port, Conservative, Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Central Press, Hulton, National Health Service, WNBA, Ungentlemanly, Department Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Manhattan, Iran, Russia, China, ‘, New, CNN Iran, “ Israel, Gaza, Israeli, Damascus, Iraq, America, Dearborn, Nazi Germany, Berkeley , California, Berkeley, East Bay, Sydney, Port Arthur, Tennessee, Surrey, Croydon, Quebec, Britain, Vancouver, London, Welsh

☆ World Anti-Doping Agency defends handling of elite Chinese swimmers who tested positive for banned drug
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Global sport’s anti-doping watchdog has slammed as “outrageous” and “completely false” allegations that it mishandled a 2021 case in which more than 20 elite Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) made the comments after US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) chief Travis Tygart accused the agency and Chinese officials of having “swept these positives under carpet” and failing to follow the rules around drugs in sport. The China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) said recent media reports about the cases were “misleading,” according to Chinese state agency Xinhua, citing a statement Saturday. In its statement Saturday, WADA said it was notified in June 2021 of CHINADA’s ruling on the swimmers who had tested positive earlier that year. “These are egregious failures even if you buy their story that this was contamination and a potent drug ‘magically appeared’ in a kitchen and led to 23 positive tests of elite Chinese swimmers,” Tygart said, referencing details included in The New York Times’ article citing a report from Chinese investigators.

Persons: “, WADA, Travis Tygart, CHINADA, Kamila Valieva, “ WADA, ” Tygart Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Global, Doping Agency, New York Times, Tokyo Olympics, ARD, Tokyo Games, CNN, Chinese Olympic, Testing Agency, Xinhua, trimetazidine, “, TMZ, The New York Times Locations: Hong Kong, China, USADA, Xinhua, Russian

☆ By passing Ukraine aid, the accidental speaker became an unlikely Churchill
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Republican Speaker Mike Johnson showed political courage that is rare in Washington and notable legislative skill for an inexperienced leader in forcing a long-delayed $60 billion aid bill for Ukraine through the House of Representatives on Saturday. And 112 Republicans — a majority of the conference — voted against the Ukraine bill. And any Republican speaker propped up by Democrats might hemorrhage support among GOP lawmakers and be forced to resign. “As we deliberate on this vote, you have to ask yourself this question: Am I Chamberlain or Churchill?” he said. The accidental speaker makes an unlikely Churchill, but on Saturday he proved to be a far more daring and substantial figure than many of his Republican and Democratic critics previously believed.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Vladimir Putin, Ronald Reagan, Joe Biden’s, “, Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, ” CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen, Putin, —, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, Johnson —, Kevin McCarthy’s, Marc Molinaro, CNN’s Manu Raju, Trump, Zelensky, Trump’s, Hakeem Jeffries, Mike Quigley, It’s, ” Quigley, Chuck Schumer, Jeffries, Mike McCaul, ‘, it’s, McCaul, Chamberlain, Churchill Organizations: CNN, West, GOP, America, MAGA, United States House, Representatives, Ukraine, Republican Party, Trump, Republicans, Georgia, Mar, Democratic, Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Illinois Democrat, Foreign, Texas Republican, Republican Locations: Washington, Ukraine, Russian, Louisiana, United States, Russia, Europe, Iran, China, Israel, Taiwan, Mexico, Georgia, New York, Kyiv, Texas, Nazi Germany

☆ Kevin McCarthy is haunting Mike Johnson
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

House Speaker Mike Johnson can blame his problems on his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Anyone may have struggled to wrangle this slim Republican majority. He offered three seats on the powerful House Rules Committee to more conservative members. The Rules Committee keeps the House moving, but Johnson has been forced to maneuver around it in the face of likely opposition to major bills. AdvertisementFormer House Speaker Newt Gingrich summed up Johnson's reality rather grimly.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Johnson, Matt Gaetz, McCarthy's, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tom Cole, Cole, We've, George Santos, Santos, Newt Gingrich, it's, he's, Gingrich Organizations: Republican, California Republican, Caucus, Florida Republican, Georgia Republican, Speaker's, Democrats, Pentagon, Oklahoma Republican, Politico, GOP, CNN, Republicans, Rep Locations: California, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma

☆ US House to vote on long-awaited $95 billion Ukraine, Israel aid package
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday is set to vote on, and expected to pass, a $95 billion legislative package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, over bitter objections from party hardliners. The Administration urges both chambers of the Congress to quickly send this supplemental funding package to the President's desk." A bipartisan 316-94 House majority on Friday voted to advance the bill to a vote, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told senators to be ready to work over the weekend if it passes the House as expected. "It's not the perfect legislation, it's not the legislation that we would write if Republicans were in charge of both the House, the Senate, and the White House," Johnson told reporters on Friday. The bills provide $60.84 billion to address the conflict in Ukraine, including $23 billion to replenish U.S. weapons, stocks and facilities; $26 billion for Israel, including $9.1 billion for humanitarian needs, and $8.12 billion for the Indo-Pacific.

Persons: Joe Biden, Republican Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Chuck Schumer, It's, it's, Kevin McCarthy, Bob Good, Biden, Schumer, Hakeem, Jeffries, Donald Trump Organizations: Republican, House, Democratic, White, Administration, Senate, Republicans, Caucus, U.S Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, U.S, America

How the House Voted on Foreign Aid to Ukraine, Israel and TaiwanVotes on the Foreign Aid Bills Source: Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of RepresentativesThe House passed a long-stalled foreign aid package on Saturday that gives funding to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, with a majority of lawmakers backing money for American allies across the globe. A majority of Republicans voted against Ukraine aid on Saturday, in a reflection of the stiff resistance within the G.O.P. to continuing to aid Ukraine against President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia’s invasion. While all Democrats voted in favor of aid to Ukraine and all but Ms. Tlaib supported funding to Taiwan, 37 left-leaning Democrats defected to vote against the Israel aid bill. The opposition to the Israel aid represented a minority of Democrats, but reflected the deep resistance to unconditional aid and the divisions in the party on Gaza.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy’s, Mr, McCarthy, Vladimir V, Putin, Elise Stefanik, Rashida Tlaib, Bob Good, Good, “, Tlaib, Jamie Raskin, Donald S, Beyer Jr, Earl Blumenauer of, John Garamendi of Organizations: Foreign Aid, Foreign, House, Senate, House Progressive Caucus, Fund, Caucus, Republican, Republicans, ”, Maryland, Democrats Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, New York, Michigan, Virginia, Gaza, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, John Garamendi of California, United States

☆ These House Republicans want to boot Mike Johnson from the speakership
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a "motion to vacate" against Speaker Mike Johnson in March. She argues that Johnson has betrayed the GOP, in part by allowing more Ukraine aid to pass. Since then, more Republicans have signed onto her effort, but Democrats could protect Johnson. AdvertisementRep. Marjorie Taylor Greene doesn't think Mike Johnson deserves his job anymore. The Georgia congresswoman is getting back-up on the so-called "motion to vacate" she filed against the GOP speaker of the House in March: two more Republicans signed on this week.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mike Johnson, Johnson, —, Marjorie Taylor Greene doesn't, Kevin McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, McCarthy, Greene, Bill Clark, Johnson Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie, Massie, Paul Gosar Organizations: GOP, Service, Rep, Louisiana Republican, Inc, Getty, Republicans, Kentucky, Arizona, America Locations: Ukraine, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana

☆ Democrats build financial edge in battle for the House
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( David Wright | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Meanwhile, a pair of super PACs aligned with the House leadership of both parties also announced their most recent quarterly fundraising totals this week, showing Democrats with another advantage. House Majority PAC, the Democratic super PAC, said that, along with its affiliated organization, House Majority Forward, it had raised $37 million in the quarter for Democrats’ House effort. Adding to the pressure, House Republicans are still dealing with the fallout from leadership fights as they seek to defend their razor-thin majority. Meanwhile, a conservative dark money group, American Prosperity Alliance, launched new ads this week targeting three House Republicans who had voted to oust McCarthy, slamming their voting records. House Majority PAC, the lead Democratic super PAC, announced earlier this month plans to spend $186 million on advertising campaigns targeting a series of key battleground races.

Persons: outraising, outraised, Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Johnson, McCarthy, – Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene Organizations: CNN, US, Representatives, GOP, Democrats ’, Democratic Congressional, Committee, Republican, National Republican Congressional Committee, PAC, Democratic, Congressional, Fund, American Action Network, Republicans, House Republicans, Capitol, Capitol Hill . Rep, Marjorie Taylor Greene of, American Prosperity Alliance Locations: California, New York, Capitol Hill, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Why was Iran struck by drones?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Israel carried out the strike inside Iran Friday morning, a US official told CNN. There were no reports of a missile attack, Iran’s National Cyberspace Center spokesperson Hossein Dalirian said on social platform X. The US “didn’t green light” an Israeli response, another senior US official told CNN. Video Ad Feedback Iranian journalist on how Iranian media reported the Israeli attack 02:19 - Source: CNNWhy is this happening now? Israel last week pledged, however, that it would “exact a price” from Iran in response to that aerial barrage.

Persons: Hossein Dalirian, ”, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, “, Mohammed Reza Zahedi, Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, Israel, Beshara, ’, Yemen’s, Joe Biden, What’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir, ” Amir, Maha Yahya Organizations: CNN, National Cyberspace Center, United Nations, Islamic, Palestinian, Hamas, Israel, Iranian, Revolutionary Guards, Pentagon, Getty, Wednesday, Carnegie Middle East Locations: Iran, Israel, Tehran, Isfahan, Iranian, Syria, Islamic Republic, United States, Gaza, Israeli, Damascus, Quds, AFP, Red Sea, Tabriz

☆ Opinion: Mike Johnson is testing to see if the MAGA Republican fever can be broken
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Julian Zelizer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —House Speaker Mike Johnson is moving forward with a legislative package to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been beating the drums to vote Johnson, who is himself also an extreme right-wing Republican, out of office. When GOP House members adopted this lower threshold in exchange for accepting McCarthy, experts understood that the rule would create extreme instability within the Republican caucus. On July 28, 2015, Tea Party Republican Rep. Mark Meadows from North Carolina filed a motion to vacate but the House never voted on the resolution. The time of Republican speakership keeps shrinking as right-wing ousters have become increasingly common.

Persons: Julian Zelizer, Mike Johnson, MAGA, Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kevin McCarthy of, “, McCarthy, can’t, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Donald Trump, Newt Gingrich, Jim Wright, Wright, Gingrich, Bill Clinton, Gingrich’s, Robert Livingston, Dennis Hastert, John Boehner of Ohio, Jim Jordan, Mark, Boehner, ”, Paul Ryan, Ryan, Michael Kerr, Theodore Pomeroy, Republican speakership Organizations: CNN, Princeton University, New York Times, America, Twitter, CNN —, MAGA Republicans, Congress, Georgia Republican, Republican, House Republicans, Rep, GOP House, Republicans, Republican Party, GOP, Democrats, Democratic, Louisiana’s, Tea Party Republicans, Tea Party Republican Rep, Wisconsin Rep Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Russia, Iran, China, Kevin McCarthy of California, New, Illinois, Ohio, Mark Meadows, North Carolina

Gosar huddled on the House floor earlier in the day with GOP Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie, the other two co-sponsors of the motion to vacate the speakership. The House adjourned for the rest of the day on Friday afternoon, meaning the earliest Greene could move to oust Johnson is Saturday. A floor vote to oust Johnson would require a majority to succeed. “My position is that I’m open, and I’m not going to tell you guys what I’m going to do. The speaker was surrounded on the House floor on Thursday by a number of far-right lawmakers in a heated discussion.

Persons: Paul Gosar, Mike Johnson, Gosar, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie, Greene, Johnson, Chip Roy, “ I’m, ”, “, Eli Crane, Kevin McCarthy, I’m, ” Crane, ’, Dan Bishop, we’ve, Bishop, Gosar’s, Bob Good, CNN’s Manu Raju, Johnson “, Ralph Norman, hardliner, “ We’ve, We’ll, Mike, Norman Organizations: Washington CNN —, Arizona Republican, GOP, Conservative, The Arizona Republican, Washington, ’ ”, Republican Conference, North Carolina Republican, CNN, Louisiana Republican Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Louisiana

☆ Hossein Amir-Abdollahian: Iran’s response will be “immediate and at a maximum level,” foreign minister warns Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Iran’s response if Israel takes any further military action against it would be “immediate and at a maximum level,” Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN Thursday, as fears rise of an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. The tit-for-tat strikes have brought a decades long shadow war between Israel and Iran out in the open and sent fear coursing through the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said Israel will make its “own decisions” when responding to Iran’s airstrikes. The details of a potential “maximum response” have been planned by Iran’s armed forces, he added. “Our operations in response were carried out at a minimum because we were not seeking to hit multiple targets,” he said.

Persons: Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, adventurism, ” Amir, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, ”, Amir, “ Organizations: CNN, Amir, Palestinian, Hamas, Wednesday, Iranian, United Nations, White, Swiss Embassy Locations: Israel, Iran, New York, Tehran, Syria, Iranian, Isfahan, Iran’s, FARS, Damascus, United States, Gaza, Israeli, “, America

☆ Johnson Has a Tough Job. McCarthy’s Concessions Are Making It Tougher.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Catie Edmondson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Speaker Mike Johnson’s push to advance an aid package for Ukraine in the face of vehement opposition from his own party was never going to be easy. Both of those concessions, agreed to by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy more than a year ago, are now tormenting Mr. Johnson as he tries to push through a $95 billion aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. They have hemmed him in to having to rely heavily on Democrats — not only to clear the way for the legislation and drag it across the finish line, but potentially to save his job. Mr. Johnson’s predicament was on vivid display on the House floor on Thursday as a group of ultraconservatives huddled around him in a heated back and forth. One after another, they urged the speaker to tie the foreign aid package to stringent anti-immigration measures, but Mr. Johnson pushed back, replying that he would not have enough Republican support to advance such a measure, according to people involved in the private conversation.

Persons: Mike Johnson’s, Kevin McCarthy, Johnson, — Locations: Ukraine, ultraconservatives, Israel, Taiwan

☆ House conservatives have a special group dedicated to preserving their power. Of course, it's called the FART team.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

House conservatives have organized a crack team to monitor to potential ways to undermine their power. The House Freedom Caucus has formed a Floor Action Response Team. AdvertisementThe far-right House Freedom Caucus has formed a crack team of conservative lawmakers to monitor the House floor lest Speaker Mike Johnson or other Republicans try to limit their power. Massie is also not a member of the Freedom Caucus, whose membership is technically secret, but he does support many of the caucus' broader aims. Gaetz teamed up with seven other House Republicans and House Democrats to boot McCarthy from power.

Persons: —, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, Thomas Massie, Massie, Lauren Boebert, Boebert, I'm, Kevin McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, McCarthy's, Gaetz, McCarthy, Chip Roy, Ralph Norman, Mike Lawler, Lawler Organizations: Service, Politico, Caucus, Freedom Caucus, Georgia Republican, Kentucky Republican, Republican, Colorado Republican, Blaze Media, Republicans, House Democrats, GOP, New York Republican Locations: Georgia, Ukraine, Kentucky, Colorado, Florida

Right-wing lawmakers are ramping up their threats to remove Speaker Mike Johnson from his role after Johnson’s supporters pushed him to make it harder to oust him from the speakership. The House is finished with floor action for the day, which means that the earliest that Greene could make a motion to oust Johnson would be on Friday. At one point, Johnson was surrounded on the House floor by a number of far-right lawmakers in a heated discussion. Democrats weigh how to proceedThe House Rules Committee is meeting Thursday morning to begin considering the foreign aid bills. One thing that is hanging over discussions is that many Democrats view Johnson as a more honest broker than McCarthy.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson’s, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, “, Matt Gaetz, Derrick Van Orden, Gaetz “ tubby, ”, Van Orden, ” Greene, “ Mike Johnson, CNN’s Manu Raju, “, it’s, Anna Paulina Luna, ’, Luna, Dan Kildee, Pramila, ” Jayapal, Mike Quigley, ” Quigley, Jared Moskowitz, McCarthy, he’s, CNN’s Haley Talbot Organizations: CNN, Louisiana Republican, Georgia Rep, Republicans, Punchbowl News, GOP, Republican, Conservative, House Democratic Caucus, ” Democratic, Democrat, Democratic Locations: Louisiana, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Washington, “

☆ Mike Johnson: Doing ‘the right thing’ may cost the speaker his gavel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —It took less than six months for Speaker Mike Johnson to reach his existential moment. His tiny majority means he can’t afford to lose more than one GOP vote to pass a bill on a party-line vote. But a GOP speaker dependent on Democratic votes will be seen by many Republicans as a tool of the minority party and would be on borrowed time. In this way, those who oppose Ukraine aid on principle could vote against it, allowing Democrats who support it to ensure its passage. These are important responsibilities,” Johnson told Tapper.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ryan, John Boehner –, Johnson, ” Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie of, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Greene, Chip Roy, Roy, ”, –, CNN’s Manu Raju, ’ Johnson, he’s, Tapper, “, Dan Crenshaw, CNN’s Raju, Johnson “, ” Trump, hasn’t, bankrolling, Dwight Eisenhower, George W, Bush, Vladimir Putin doesn’t, We’re, Putin, Xi, Lloyd Austin, Biden, he’d Organizations: CNN, Louisiana Republican, Republicans, Texas Rep, Democratic, GOP, White, Texas GOP, Lago, Trump, Senate, “, ”, House Defense Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Mexico, Kyiv, Washington, Texas, Mar, Trumpism, Europe, Iran, North Korea, British, Jordanian, Russia, Russia’s, United States

☆ Opinion: The basic problem with putting Trump on trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Opinion Patrick T. Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In this week’s mammoth New York trial of former President Donald Trump on charges of falsifying business records in connection to hush money paid to an adult film star, the yawning gap between “Us” and “Them” is along partisan lines. After all, making hush money payments, as Trump is alleged to have done with former adult film actress Stormy Daniels, isn’t illegal. For decades, Trump has been a fixture on our airwaves, social media sites and political coverage. But they didn’t, and now many are feeling a rally-round-the-flag effect in what is likely the first and potentially only Trump criminal case that’s going to trial before Election Day. Bragg’s decision to bring this case, with its attenuated connection to an actual crime, can’t be taken out of its political context.

Persons: Patrick T, Brown, CNN —, Tom Wolfe, Larry Kramer, ” Patrick T, Donald Trump, –, Trump, “, Attorney Alvin Bragg, it’s, Stormy Daniels, ” Michael Cohen, Daniels, Bragg, Cohen, Andrew McCarthy, can’t, maneuverings Organizations: Public Policy Center, Economic, Twitter, CNN, Manhattan, Attorney, New York Democrats, New York Times, Commission, Trump Locations: Washington , DC, New York City, York, “, New, New York, Georgia

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