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☆ Trump legal team lays out strategy to argue he was right to doubt results of 2020 election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Katelyn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Trump’s defense team is asking for information from several past government investigations, including around the election results and about the recent classified documents probe into his former Vice President Mike Pence. Multiple investigations have found no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. The Pence investigation ended with no criminal charges in June. Pence testified to a federal grand jury in the 2020 election investigation in the spring. Pence’s confidential testimony in the Trump 2020 election case, some of his aides testified, was under oath before a federal grand jury, and a judge decided he must answer questions under subpoena.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Mike Pence, Trump, ”, “, Biden Administration’s, ’ ‘, ’, ‘ Department of Homeland Security’s, ’ ” It’s, Pence Organizations: CNN, Trump, “, ‘, White House Attorneys, Justice Department, Intelligence, ‘ Department of Homeland, Infrastructure Security Agency Locations: Russia

☆ With crises brewing around the world, the US's diplomatic 'special agents' are sharpening old skills and learning some new ones
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The State Department relies on its Diplomatic Security Service to protect diplomats around the world. To protect those diplomats, the State Department relies on a little-known but highly capable agency — the Diplomatic Security Service. US State DepartmentAs the State Department's law-enforcement and security arm, the Diplomatic Security Service has been protecting US diplomats at home and abroad since 1916. "Through the council, the State Department can exchange information in real-time with hundreds of private businesses, faith-based organizations, and other US entities," a State Department spokesperson told Insider. Diplomatic Security ServiceFollowing a string of high-profile cyberattacks against government agencies and private businesses, US national-security officials are increasingly focused on cybersecurity.

Persons: —, Anatolii Organizations: Diplomatic Security Service, DSS, Service, UN, Assembly, US State Department As, State, State Department, Mobile Security, Mobile, Foreign Affairs Security Training Center, US Department of State Regional, US, Overseas Security Advisory Council, Publishing, Getty, Operations Command, Foreign Affairs Counter, APEC, Diplomatic Security, State Department's, Department of Homeland Security, Management, Budget Locations: Ukraine, China, Taiwan, State, Virginia, Kyiv, Russia, San Francisco

☆ Exclusive: This pizza box-sized equipment could be key to Ukraine keeping the lights on this winter
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Officials from multiple US agencies played a quiet role in getting the Cisco equipment into Ukraine, sources say. In this undated photo, an employee at Ukraine’s state-owned grid operator, Ukrenergo, works on the power grid. As the world’s largest maker of computer networking equipment, Cisco had resources to spare. The switch allows an electric substation – which has the crucial task of converting power from high to low voltage – to communicate with other parts of a power grid. Years of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s gridBehind the scenes, US officials are often coordinating the delivery of key technology to Ukraine.

Persons: CNN —, Illia Vitiuk, Biden, Palantir, Ukrenergo, Joe Marshall, intently, Marshall, he’d, ”, ” Marshall, Taras Vasyliv, ” Vasyliv, Andrew Kravchenko, Vasyliv, Ukraine “, ” NERC Organizations: CNN, Engineers, Cisco, US Air Force, Washington, SpaceX, Microsoft, Pentagon, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, Stanford University, GPS, Cisco’s, Ukrenergo, Bloomberg, Getty, GRU, US Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Locations: Austin , Texas, Ukraine, Russian, Stanford, Russia, Ukrainian, Denver, Ukraine’s, Kyiv, Silicon Valley, Alabama, East Coast, Germany, Rzeszów, Poland, California, ”, North America

[1/3] A redacted online resume of a North Korean IT worker is shown in this screenshot of a report obtained by Reuters on November 20, 2023. The documents contain dozens of fraudulent resumes, online profiles, interview notes, and forged identities that North Korean workers used to apply for jobs in software development. Some of the scripts, designed to prepare the workers for interview questions, contain excuses for the need to work remotely. North Korean developers working at U.S. companies had hidden behind pseudonymous email and social media accounts and generated millions of dollars a year on behalf of sanctioned North Korean entities through the scheme, the DOJ said. The researchers, part of Palo Alto's Unit 42 cyber research division, made the discovery when examining a campaign by North Korean hackers that targeted software developers.

Persons: Richard, Covid, Richard Lee, “, James Pearson, Ted Hesson, Daphne Psaledakis, Chris Sanders, Anna Driver Organizations: North, Reuters, Palo Alto Networks, REUTERS Acquire, Palo Alto, United Nations, United, United Arab Emirates, U.S . Justice Department, DOJ, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, North Korean, U.S, of Liberty, Palo Alto's, Constella Intelligence, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, Thomson Locations: North Korean, Korean, North Korea, United States, South Korea, U.S, Chile, New Zealand, Uzbekistan, United Arab, Singapore, Los Angeles, LA, China, Russia, Africa, Southeast Asia, Pyongyang, Palo, Britain, Japan, Spain, Australia, Washington

☆ This is what the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit shoes, bags, and other luxury items looks like
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Kylie Kirschner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Authorities in New York recently announced the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit goods in the US. The 219,000 counterfeit items seized included 219,000 bags, clothes, shoes, and other luxury products. AdvertisementFederal authorities in New York City just made the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit goods — worth an estimated $1.03 billion. Boxes full of counterfeit goods were seized from the storage facility. AdvertisementPhotos released by authorities show boxes upon boxes full of counterfeit goods, as well as units with floor to ceiling shelves absolutely overflowing with counterfeit luxury handbags, shoes, wallets, clothing, sunglasses, and more.

Persons: —, it's Organizations: Service, Southern, of, Attorney's, Southern District of New York Authorities, Southern District of, US Department of Homeland Security, Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Locations: New York, Manhattan, New York City, of New York, Southern District, NYC's Chinatown, Southern District of New York

Israel is preventing some Palestinian Americans from entering the country from the West Bank, an apparent violation of a recent agreement in which citizens from the United States and Israel can travel to the other nation without a visa. The Homeland Security and State Departments, which manage the program, said American officials were trying to resolve the issue. At the time, President Biden was making a push to broker a diplomatic deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Under the visa waiver program, Israel would lift restrictions on Palestinian Americans and other Americans of Arab or Muslim descent, easing the way for them to travel to and from Palestinian territories. For decades, Palestinian Americans have faced difficulties traveling to the Israeli-occupied West Bank to see family and friends or to do humanitarian work.

Persons: ”, Erin Heeter, Biden Organizations: West Bank, Homeland Security, State, Department of Homeland Security, Palestinian, Queen Alia International Locations: Israel, United States, Ben, Gurion, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian, Jordan, Amman, Tel Aviv

☆ U.S. political violence driven by new breed of ‘grab-bag’ extremists
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +25 min

The incidents involve violence emanating from across the political spectrum, including dozens of cases of substantial property damage by leftists at political demonstrations. Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump, didn’t respond to questions from Reuters about the former president’s remarks and the impact of his rhetoric. But those who study extremism say psychiatric problems alone rarely induce political violence. “How could I take care of a brother in arms if I couldn’t even take care of myself?” Aldrich told the court. In the summer of 2022, Aldrich told the group he wanted to build a website to “promote freedom of speech,” Arroyo said.

Persons: Anderson Lee Aldrich, ” Gilbert Arroyo, Aldrich, Arroyo, ” Arroyo, “, ” Aldrich, Ted Kaczynski, ”, Brian Hughes, Donald Trump, Michael Jensen, Trump, Mark Milley, Steven Cheung, Milley, Rory Banks, Banks, Jacob Ware, Jensen, Stephanie Clark, Ashley Paugh, Barack Obama wasn’t, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, John F, Kennedy, Matt Kriner, Troy Burke, Elwell, Burke, Jessica, Joe Biden, Sarah Huyser, John D, Cohen, Nathan Allen, Allen, Terence Delehanty, Audrey Mazzola, Allen texted Mazzola, Mazzola, Ramona Cooper, David Green, Green, “ Saint Nathan Allen, Aaron Brink, Brink, Aldrich’s, Laura Voepel, Carrie Thompson, Voepel, John Redgrave, Discord’s, ” Redgrave, “ Andy, ” Luke Simpson, Jonathan, Pamela Pullen, didn’t, Nick Brooks, Brooks, Pepe, Blacks, Simpson, ” Simpson, Michael Bowman, Joseph Archambault, Aldrich texted, Ned Parker, Peter Eisler, Joseph Tanfani, John Emerson, Paulo Prada Organizations: Reuters, Q, American University, Washington , D.C, ” Reuters, U.S, Capitol, Jan, Trump, University of Maryland’s, U.S . Joint Chiefs of Staff, ., Council, Foreign Relations, Republican, Middlebury College’s Center, Terrorism, Counterterrorism, Public Religion Research Institute, REUTERS, Central Intelligence Agency, U.S . Constitution, Department of Homeland Security, Facebook, ” Winthrop Police, Smith, Wesson, Air Force, SWAT, Prosecutors Locations: Colorado, Colorado Springs, Washington ,, United States, Nevada, Wheaton , California, Washington, Maryland, Vietnam, Mexico, mainstreaming, Monterey , California, Michigan, Gratiot County, U.S ., Winthrop , Massachusetts, California, Texas, San Diego, Ohio, Illinois, Australia, Florida, Buffalo , New York

[1/5] Protesters taunt people in suit, during a rally in opposition to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Loren Elliott Acquire Licensing RightsSAN FRANCISCO, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Protesters took to the streets of San Francisco early on Wednesday morning ahead of a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, obstructing some entrances to the APEC conference. Global leaders and CEOs of major U.S. corporations will all be at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in San Francisco, offering tempting targets to protest. Protesters supporting spiritual group Falun Gong, which is banned in China, lined motorcade entry points into the convention center area. Supporters of China also turned out near where Biden and Xi will meet, waving Chinese and U.S. flags as well as posters with both flags together.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden, Pema Doma, Xi, ”, Gong, Xi's, Ann Saphir, Peter Henderson, Josie Kao Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, APEC, Global, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, Police, Chinese Communist Party, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, U.S, Secret Service, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, San Francisco, Israel, Tibet, United States, China, Francisco

☆ Fact-Checking Haley and DeSantis in Their Race to Rival Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Angelo Fichera | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

DeSantis even voted to fast-track Obama’s Chinese trade deals.”— A pro-Haley super PAC, SFA Fund Inc., in an adFalse. There is no evidence Mr. DeSantis directly gave “millions” to Chinese companies; the ad was referring to technology purchases by state agencies. Florida used those companies before Mr. DeSantis’s tenure, too, and SFA Fund provided no evidence that Mr. DeSantis himself directly approved the purchases. Mr. DeSantis previously served as the board chairman of a public-private economic development organization known as Enterprise Florida. As governor, Ms. Haley rebuffed calls to increase South Carolina’s gas tax as a stand-alone measure.

Persons: “ DeSantis, DeSantis, ”, Obama, Haley’s, DeSantis’s, DeSantis “, Mark Wu, ” Mr, Wu, Ron, ” — Ms, Haley, Ms, JinkoSolar, Nikki Haley, I’ve Organizations: Haley, PAC, SFA, Inc, Washington Times, Lenovo, SFA Fund, Department of Homeland Security, Enterprise Florida, state’s Commerce, Cirrus Aircraft, —, Orlando Executive Airport, Kissimmee Gateway Airport, Homeland Security Department, New York Times, Council, DeSantis, State, state’s Department of Transportation Locations: China, Chinese, Florida, South Carolina, T.P.A, Asia, Europe, Kissimmee, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fla, California, Xinjiang, Jacksonville’s, Haley’s State

☆ March for Israel: Security in Washington, DC, increased for tens of thousands of expected demonstrators
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Holly Yan | Lauren Mascarenhas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Department of Homeland Security has determined the event will require “extensive federal interagency support,” according to law enforcement sources. American support for Israel is critical, said Eric D. Fingerhut, president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America. “Israel must eliminate the terrorist threat on its border and restore safety and security to its people,” Fingerhut added. But Israel has agreed to four-hour, daily pauses in military operations in Gaza to allow for evacuations. The website for the “March for Israel” event says organizers have been in touch with law enforcement in the lead-up to the rally and have “retained the services of additional security assets based on recommendations of law enforcement and our security advisors.”

Persons: Muriel Bowser, Eric D, Fingerhut, “, ” Fingerhut, Israel, ” Organizations: CNN, Israel, Department of Homeland Security, US Capitol Police, DC, National Guard, Jewish Federations of North, Conference, Major, Jewish Organizations, Jewish Federations of, Hamas, Palestinian Ministry of Health, UNICEF, Freedom Locations: Washington ,, Israel, Jewish Federations of North America, “ Israel, Gaza, Ramallah, Washington

☆ Hate groups leverage advances in artificial intelligence to stoke antisemitism amid tensions surrounding Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Donie O'Sullivan Curt Devine Allison Gordon | Donie O'Sullivan | Curt Devine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Hate groups and far-right internet trolls have seized on the tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war, while leveraging advances in artificial intelligence to further stoke antisemitism in the United States. “We’ve seen a real concerning ideological convergence between far-right communities online and pro-Hamas sentiment,” said Ben Decker, CEO of Memetica, a threat analysis company that monitors online hate. Karen Dunn, an attorney who sued the people responsible for the violence at the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, told CNN the hate groups “hate everybody, but they hate the Jews the most.”Antisemitism is a commonality that can unite multiple different and competing hate groups, which can then metastasize into hate directed at others, she said. Minadeo, the hate group’s leader, was sentenced this month to 30 days behind bars in Florida, after distributing the antisemitic fliers. Since the October 7 attack on Israel, hate groups also have attempted to latch onto the pro-Palestinian movement to push their own antisemitism-promoting agenda.

Persons: “ We’ve, ”, Ben Decker, Christopher Wray, Memetica, Decker, Karen Dunn, “, ” Dunn, ” Decker, “ It’s, I’m Jon Greenblatt, Jonathan Greenblatt, Greenblatt, ” Jon Minadeo, David Shapiro, “ Heil, Carla Hill, – Organizations: CNN, Defamation, Hamas, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Capitol, DHS, National Justice Party, 4chan, Meta, YouTube, Microsoft, Carnegie Mellon, ADL, Goyim Defense, Third, “, Extremism, CNN Center, Minadeo, Palestine Locations: Israel, stoke, United States, Charlottesville , Virginia, Charlottesville, Calabasas , California, Calabasas, council, Covid, California, Iowa , Massachusetts, Oregon, Fairfax , Virginia, Atlanta, Florida, Palm Beach, Missoula , Montana, Arizona

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas arrives to testify before the Senate Appropriations committee as lawmakers in the U.S. Congress struggle to reach a deal to head off a looming partial government shutdown less than two weeks away on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 8, 2023. REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson/File... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreWASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. House will vote on Monday whether to advance or block a Republican charge to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for allegedly failing in his duty to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. In response to the initial impeachment motion, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said lawmakers should stop "their reckless impeachment charades and attacks on law enforcement" and instead "deliver desperately needed reforms for our broken immigration system." House Republicans have also launched an impeachment inquiry into Biden himself. The probe is focused on the president's son, Hunter Biden, and the White House has denied any wrongdoing.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Julia Nikhinson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Joe Biden, Biden's, Donald Trump, Mayorkas, Biden, Trump, Hunter Biden, Moira Warburton, Ted Hesson, Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Homeland, U.S, Congress, REUTERS, Democratic, Republican, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, Biden, Trump, Republicans, White, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, Mexico, U.S, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela

☆ House Blocks Snap Mayorkas Impeachment Vote as Inquiry Continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Luke Broadwater | More About Luke Broadwater | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A small band of Republicans joined with all House Democrats on Monday to block a snap vote to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, turning back an attempt to oust him before a G.O.P.-led committee has completed its investigation into his agency’s handling of the southwest border. The impeachment vote was forced by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a hard-right Republican from Georgia. Eight Republicans, including veteran lawmakers who want to see an impeachment investigation follow traditional steps, voted with Democrats to block the vote and send the matter to the Homeland Security Committee. “Secretary Mayorkas continues to be laser-focused on the safety and security of our nation,” said Mia Ehrenberg, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security. “This baseless attack is completely without merit and a harmful distraction from our critical national security priorities.”

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mayorkas, ”, Mia Ehrenberg Organizations: Republicans, Democrats, Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security Locations: Georgia

CNN —The Chinese government has built up the world’s largest known online disinformation operation and is using it to harass US residents, politicians, and businesses—at times threatening its targets with violence, a CNN review of court documents and public disclosures by social media companies has found. Victims face a barrage of tens of thousands of social media posts that call them traitors, dogs, and racist and homophobic slurs. While tech and social media companies have shut down thousands of accounts targeting these victims, they’re outpaced by a slew of new accounts emerging virtually every day. As part of a mission “to manipulate public perceptions of [China], the Group uses its misattributed social media accounts to threaten, harass and intimidate specific victims,” the complaint states. In the past, the Spamouflage network mostly focused on issues domestically relevant to China.

Persons: –, Xi Jinping, Biden, Mike Gallagher, Chen Pokong, ”, Chen, “, Spamouflage’s, Liu Pengyu, ” Liu, Jiayang, Darren Linvill, hasn’t, Fan, Communist Party playbook, Mandiant, Nancy Pelosi, ” Ben Nimmo, George Floyd’s, Ben Nimmo, Lindsay Gorman, Gorman, ” Linvill, Linvill, Spamouflage, Jiajun Qiu, Qiu, ” Qiu Organizations: CNN, US State Department, FBI, Communist Party, Meta, Google, ”, CCP, US Department of Justice, Department, DOJ, China’s Ministry of Public Security, Group, New Yorker, telltale, Media, Clemson University, Capitol, Department of Homeland Security, Marshall Fund’s Alliance, Securing Democracy, YouTube Locations: United States, Beijing, San Francisco, China “, New York, China, New York City, America, Washington, Hong Kong, US, Texas, Virginia, Manassas , Virginia

Eight Republicans joined with 201 Democrats to vote in favor of referring the articles back to the House Homeland Security Committee, which is carrying out its own investigation into Mayorkas' alleged dereliction of duty. Mia Ehrenberg, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, accused Republicans of "wasting time" on the impeachment. "Secretary Mayorkas continues to be laser-focused on the safety and security of our nation," Ehrenberg said in a statement. The impeachment allegations stem from a Republican assertion that the Biden administration could better manage border security, rather than any criminal offense. House Republicans have also launched an impeachment inquiry into Biden.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Julia Nikhinson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Joe Biden, Mayorkas, Greene, Mia Ehrenberg, Ehrenberg, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, Hunter Biden, Moira Warburton, Ted Hesson, Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Homeland, U.S, Congress, REUTERS, U.S . House, Republican, Democratic, Eight Republicans, House Homeland Security Committee, Department of Homeland Security, Republicans, Biden, Trump, White, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, Mexico, Ukraine, U.S, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela

☆ House to vote on whether to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas looks up during a Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on the department's budget request on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 26, 2021. The House of Representatives will hold a key vote Monday on whether to move forward with a Republican-backed motion to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The vote comes as the House scrambles to negotiate a new budget resolution to avoid a government shutdown. On Monday, House lawmakers are expected to vote on a Democratic procedural effort to derail the Mayorkas impeachment. But the House vote comes amid a separate internal debate among Republicans over whether to move forward with the impeachment of a much bigger target: President Joe Biden.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Mayorkas, Joe Biden Organizations: of Homeland Security, Appropriations Homeland, Capitol, Republican, Homeland, Democratic Locations: Washington

☆ How the GOP muzzled the quiet coalition that fought foreign propaganda
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Kevin Collier | Ken Dilanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

A once-robust alliance of federal agencies, tech companies, election officials and researchers that worked together to thwart foreign propaganda and disinformation has fragmented after years of sustained Republican attacks. The most recent setback came when the FBI put an indefinite hold on most briefings to social media companies about Russian, Iranian and Chinese influence campaigns. "We're having some interaction with social media companies," Wray said. "The symbiotic relationship between the government and the social media companies has definitely been fractured." Tech companies are still sharing their findings with each other, a Meta spokesperson told NBC News.

Persons: Christopher Wray, Wray, Sen, Mitt Romney, they're, Mark Warner, Warner, Hillary Clinton's, Barack, CISA, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Hunter, Mark Zuckerburg, Hunter Biden, didn't, Biden, Nina Jankowicz, Jankowicz, Jen, Jim Jordan, Kara Swisher, we're, Elon Musk, wasn't Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Washington , D.C, GOP, FBI, Force, NBC News, Senate Homeland Security Committee, Justice Department, Committee, Republican, Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Microsoft, Senate Intelligence, Kremlin, Internet Research Agency, Facebook, Twitter, National Security Agency, Democrats, New, Digital, Republicans, Homeland Security, Wired, Rep, Tech Locations: Washington ,, Silicon Valley, R, Utah, Russia, Iran, China, U.S, Illinois, CISA, New York, Missouri, Louisiana, Ohio, Israel

☆ GOP lawmakers call for VA to slash reliance on China for medical supplies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —A pair of Republicans leading powerful House committees are calling for the Department of Veterans Affairs to speed up efforts to decrease the agency’s reliance on China for medical supplies, CNN has learned. The Covid-19 pandemic laid bare a dangerous vulnerability in America’s medical supply chains that resulted in shortages of masks, respirators and other life-saving gear. “The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the national security and public health risks of failing to guarantee adequate medical supplies. As the biggest buyer of medical supplies among federal agencies, it has considerable influence. Congress has attempted to take steps to boost the resilience of the nation’s medical supply chain by easing dependence on goods from less friendly nations like China.

Persons: Mike Gallagher, Mike Bost, Denis McDonough, Bost, Gallagher, “, ” Terrence Hayes, Joe Biden, Health Richard Stone, ” Bost, McDonough, Democratic Sen, Tom Carper, Republican Sen, Thom Tillis, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Department of Veterans Affairs, CNN, Veterans ’, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, Department of Veteran Affairs, Defense Department, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health, Human Services, Republicans, Health, World Trade Organization, Congress, Democratic, Republican Locations: New York, China, United States, America, Covid, Mexico, Malaysia

☆ High-end brothels serviced elected officials, tech and pharma execs, military brass: Feds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A network of "sophisticated" high-end brothels in greater Boston and eastern Virginia provided sex for pay to "elected officials, high tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors that possess security clearances, professors," and others, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. Three people were arrested in connection with operating the pricey sex shops, which required "interested sex buyers" to provide employer information and references before booking sessions with prostitutes, authorities said. "The investigation into the involvement of sex buyers is active and ongoing," the office said. In addition to politicians and military brass, business executives and government contractors, customers included "lawyers, scientists and accountants." About 20 "sex buyers" were interviewed by the investigators as part of a multi-year probe of the network, according to a criminal complaint.

Organizations: Attorney's, Massachusetts, Washington , D.C, Department of Homeland Security Locations: Boston, Virginia, Cambridge, Watertown , Massachusetts, Fairfax, Tysons , Virginia, The Virginia, Washington ,, U.S

☆ Where are the 12 US gov't funding bills to avert shutdown?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

But first, the House and Senate would have to agree upon the overall dollar amount of spending for the 12 bills combined. The Senate passed its version as part of a three-bill package on Nov. 1 with strong bipartisan support. DEFENSEOne of the largest of the 12 bills funds the Department of Defense - the Army, Navy, Air Force and the CIA. The Senate's version passed out of committee on July 27. The Senate's version passed out of committee on July 27.

Persons: Jon Cherry, shutdowns, Joe Biden, Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Moira Warburton, Aurora Ellis Organizations: U.S . Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic, Republican, Senate, of Veterans Affairs, Army, Navy, Air Force, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Housing, Urban, House Republicans, Amtrak, Department of Defense, CIA, Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory, of, of Indian Affairs, Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency, The, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of State, Agency for International Development, Peace Corps, Congress, Capitol Police, of Congress, Office, Treasury, of Columbia, Federal Trade Commission, COMMERCE, of Commerce, U.S . Census, U.S . Patent, Department of Justice, Republicans, HUMAN, of Education, Department of Health, Human Services, Department of Labor, Social Security Administration, National Labor Relations Board, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, New York, U.S, Washington

☆ Trump’s efforts to overshadow DeSantis in Florida take center stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Steve Contorno | Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —A Florida Republican lawmaker, after flipping his support to former President Donald Trump, is now publicly questioning Gov. Ron DeSantis’ support for the Jewish community. In the tug of war for home-state supremacy, Trump has gained the upper hand in part by exploiting rifts between DeSantis and Florida Republicans. Upstaging the governorThe personal vendettas help explain the lengths that Trump and his allies have traveled to upstage the Florida governor. “I think Ron DeSantis has been a good governor of Florida,” he told CNN.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Trump, Florida Sen, Rick Scott, Randy Fine, hasn’t, Scott, Fine, Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, ’, Trump’s, Nikki Haley, Sen, Joe Gruters, Gruters, ” Gruters, “, Paul Renner, ” Renner, ” DeSantis, Andrew Romeo, ” “, ” Romeo, —, Susie Wiles, Wiles, Justin Caporale, James Blair, Jennifer Locetta, Brian Hughes, DeSantis ’, “ He’s, Generra Peck, Marc Reichelderfer, Ken Cuccinelli, Matt Wolking, Erin Perrine, Kathleen Passidomo, ”, Stephen Cheung, Crooked Joe Biden, ” Cheung, Upstaging, Greg Steube, –, bagman, Caporale Organizations: CNN, Florida Republican, Trump, Florida Republicans, Republicans, DeSantis, GOP, Republican, Republican Party, Mar, Iran, Hamas, Sunshine State, Florida gubernatorial, South, Sunshine, “, White, Trump’s Department of Homeland Security, Capitol, Politico, Fair, Florida, House Locations: Florida, DeSantis, Orlando, Tallahassee, Miami, Hialeah, Israel, Iowa, South Carolina, ”, Washington, Lago

☆ Israel-Hamas war: What are the US MQ-9 Reaper drones that have been flying over Gaza?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone sits in a hanger at Amari Air Base, Estonia, July 1, 2020. Below is a description of the MQ-9 drone based on information from the Air Force and its maker, General Atomics. The Reaper, which entered service with the U.S. Air Force 16 years ago, can be equipped with weapons such as air-to-ground missiles. MQ-9s have also been bought by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, NASA, the UK Royal Air Force, the Italian Air Force, the French Air Force and the Spanish Air Force. According the U.S. Air Force, four MQ-9 aircraft with sensors, a ground control station and a satellite link cost about $56.5 million.

Persons: Janis Laizans, Atomics, Amelia Smith, Chris Sanders, Mike Stone, Gerry Doyle, Nick Macfie Organizations: U.S . Air Force, Base, U.S, REUTERS, Reuters, Air Force, WHO, Honeywell, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, NASA, Royal Air Force, Italian Air Force, French Air Force, Spanish Air Force, New York Times, Thomson Locations: Estonia, Baltics, Gaza, United States, GAZA, U.S

☆ Opinion | Biden Can’t Stop Immigration. Time to Embrace It.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( David J. Bier | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Joe Biden became president, he assumed a near impossible task: stopping migrants from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border amid a global displacement crisis. Despite his efforts, under his watch the number of people who crossed the border has risen sharply. The Republican-controlled committee’s report does not compare these results to what had occurred under President Donald Trump’s last two years in office. In the two years before President Biden took office, the Trump administration released nearly 713,000 immigrants, or a little over 52 percent of the 1.4 million crossers. In other words, Mr. Trump’s policies resulted in far fewer removals in absolute terms and a slightly higher percentage of released border crossers than President Biden’s.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden’s, Donald Trump’s, Biden, Trump Organizations: Republican, of Homeland Security, Cato Institute Locations: Mexico, ”

☆ The War on College Campuses
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Lauren Camera | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +16 min

College campuses have always been bastions of protest, where young, energetic students push older generations in the direction of the next social or political reform. Notably, the prevailing notions of the liberal bent of college campuses are not incorrect. According to a 2023 survey by FIRE of roughly 1,500 four-year college professors, 50% identify as liberal, 17% as moderate, and 26% as conservative. Analysts say the recent inflammatory examples that have not only riven college campuses but altered the way many Americans view them also underscore the increasing difficulty observers in the U.S. have of sitting with complex developments. Many of the country’s most elite schools actually perform the worst, according to the 2024 College Free Speech Ranking by FIRE.

Persons: Ron DeSantis –, “, ”, –, Zach Greenberg, Nikki Haley, Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Pell Grant, Donald Trump, Strawn, Davis Polk, Sarah Lawrence, Samuel Abrams, ” Greenberg, Joe Biden, Peter Coleman, Morton, Coleman, “ We’re, Tony Banout, ” Banout, ” Coleman Organizations: Hamas, National Students for Justice, Florida Gov, College, Foundation, Rights, ”, U.S ., Harvard’s, for Palestine, Palestine Solidarity Committee, George Washington University, GOP, Former South Carolina Gov, Customs, Winston, Wardwell, Harvard University, Columbia University, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, FIRE, Sarah Lawrence College, New York Times, Columbia, America – Democrats, Republicans, Jewish, Tulane University, Cornell University, FBI, White, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Morton Deutsch International, for Cooperation, Israel, University of Chicago, University of Chicago Forum, Free Locations: Israel, Palestine, America, Florida, Gaza, U.S, Former, ., Carolina, Columbia, Costa Rica

Erwin Chemerinsky, the dean of the law school at the University of California, Berkeley, said Republicans were mischaracterizing a complex, emotionally fraught issue to score political points. students, the university no doubt would crack down and make sure that this was a safe space for them on the college campuses,” Mr. Brooks said. “They’re not doing that for the Jewish students. Now they offer pathetic equivocation or, worse, deafening silence.”“They seem more offended by ‘microaggressions’ than by mass murder,” Mr. Scott said. “If this were any other minority group, hear me, the far left would be screaming from the rooftops.”

Persons: Biden, ” Jonathan Greenblatt, “, Israel ”, Erwin Chemerinsky, ”, Chemerinsky, Matt Brooks, Mr, Brooks, “ They’re, Tim Scott of, ‘ microaggressions, ” Mr, Scott Organizations: Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, Defamation League, Democrats, Republicans provocatively, University of California, Fox News, Democratic Party, Republican Jewish Coalition, American Locations: Berkeley, Israel, Tim Scott of South Carolina

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