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☆ Dianne Feinstein claimed she hasn't 'been gone' when asked about her lengthy absence from the Senate: 'No, I've been here. I've been voting'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Feinstein insisted to reporters on Tuesday that she hasn't been absent from the Senate. I've been voting," she told LA Times' Ben Oreskes at the Capitol on Tuesday. The 89-year-old senator returned to Washington last week after a nearly 3-month-long absence. "No, I haven't been gone," she told the Times' Ben Oreskes on Tuesday when asked how her Senate colleagues have responded to her return. Feinstein then reportedly deflected a question about lawmakers calling for her to resign before an aide wheeled her away.

☆ One awkward photo sums up how the debt ceiling negotiations are going
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

McCarthy seemed stony-faced during discussionsSpeaker of the House Kevin McCarthy sits in the Oval Office on Tuesday, May 16. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images"Lot of work to do in a short amount of time," McCarthy told reporters following the meeting. Sen. Chuck Schumer offered a slightly more positive spinSen. Chuck Schumer sits in the Oval Office on Tuesday, May 16. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images"We also agreed we have to pass a bipartisan bill with bipartisan support in both chambers," Schumer said. Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesA White House readout on the Tuesday debt ceiling talks offered little concrete evidence as to how close the administration is to reaching a deal.

☆ Trump's advisor showed him a tweet from AOC to fire him up during the commercial break of CNN's town hall: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Chris Panella | Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Trump's advisor reportedly showed him an AOC tweet during the CNN town hall to fire him up. Axios reported that Trump advisor Jason Miller showed Trump Ocasio-Cortez's tweet during the first commercial break of the night. Axios reported that Trump was also shown a tweet from The Lincoln Project calling the town hall "a CNN sponsored Trump 2024 fundraiser." During and following the town hall, several media experts and professionals publicly denounced the event. According to the former president's advisor, Miller, in the eyes of Trump's team, the CNN town hall "was fantastic."

☆ An Irish newspaper published a hoax article calling false tan 'problematic' generated using ChatGPT by a fake journalist with a profile picture made on DALL-E
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Last Thursday, The Irish Times removed an opinion article which called fake tan "problematic." It was 80% generated by GPT-4, and the hoaxer used an AI profile picture, per The Guardian. A hoax newspaper article which was generated with AI by a troll using a DALL-E profile picture has prompted an apology from the editor, The Guardian reported. The Irish Times published the piece, titled "Irish women's obsession with fake tan is problematic," on Thursday. And the profile picture was created with DALL-E to show a stereotypically "woke" journalist with the prompt "female, overweight, blue hair, business casual clothing, smug expression."

☆ Dianne Feinstein's staff makes sure the senator never walks around the Capitol by herself out of concern for what she might say to reporters amid her declining health and old age, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

As her health declined, her staff began to follow her wherever she goes in the Capitol, per Rolling Stone. Feinstein returned to the Senate on Wednesday after spending nearly three months away from Washington due to a shingles infection. For the past few years, Feinstein's staff felt it necessary to ensure the senator is never alone when she walks around the Capitol, sources told Rolling Stone. Jamarcus Purley, a former staff member fired last February for work performance issues, told the magazine that Feinstein's office developed the system without her knowing. Feinstein's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

☆ Elon Musk is handing a truckload of mess to Twitter's new CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk is finally ready to share his Twitter mess with someone else. The billionaire has found a new CEO to succeed him, but the mess they'll need to address is huge. It's been a long time coming but Elon Musk is finally ready to do it: he's about to hand over his Twitter mess to someone else. Twitter's finances are a messThe first challenge Musk's decidedly bumpy reign has left for his successor is Twitter's financial mess. If news organizations are continuously maligned, Twitter's new CEO will need to solve an identity crisis.

☆ Sex-assault survivors unleash firestorm after CNN let Trump try to re-victimize E. Jean Carroll at town hall
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Laura Italiano | Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A day after a jury found Trump sexually violated E. Jean Carroll, he mocked her as a "whack job" on CNN. CNN let Trump try to re-victimize his own sex-assault victim in front of millions, victim advocates said. Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault, slammed CNN's town hall with Trump as "shameful." "As a sexual assault survivor I'm disgusted with @CNN," tweeted @Irishrygirl. She explained how for many survivors of sexual assault the "pain" that comes with being disbelieved "is deeply harmful over and above the harms of sexual assault itself."

☆ Dianne Feinstein once mistook GOP Sen. Tim Scott for Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, book says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Dianne Feinstein once mistook two different Black senators, according to a story relayed in a new book. She confused GOP Sen. Tim Scott for Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, saying she'd been rooting for him. Scott reportedly played along, telling Feinstein that her "support means a lot." Scott, a Republican who's served in the Senate since 2013, is said to have played along with Feinstein's apparent confusion. Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 🟧 (@RepDeanPhillips) April 12, 2023But on Wednesday, Feinstein finally returned to the Capitol, continuing to suffer balance and vision impairments.

☆ Dianne Feinstein returns to the Senate following a nearly 3-month absence and calls for her resignation from fellow Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein returned to the US Senate on Wednesday. Several fellow Democrats called for her to resign, arguing her absence imperiled their party's agenda. The 89-year-old California Democrat returned this week after spending nearly 3 months away from Washington due to complications from a shingles infection. But her prolonged absence created a deadlock on the Senate Judiciary Committee, preventing Democrats from swiftly advancing nominees to the floor that lacked Republican support. Feinstein arrived at the Capitol just before 3pm on Wednesday and was greeted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

☆ Matt Gaetz slams 2 Fox News hosts for over-sexualizing AOC and joking that he might divorce his wife and marry her instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gaetz spoke out against Fox News and accused two of its hosts of over-sexualizing Ocasio-Cortez. Two hosts on "The Five" joked last week about how Gaetz could divorce his wife and marry Ocasio-Cortez. Gaetz also slammed Pirro, saying: "And then Judge Jeanine — Judge Jeanine, who starts out saying I am happily married. Judge Jeanine, who was sitting at my table at Mar-a-Lago the night I proposed to my wife. Representatives for Fox News, Gaetz, and Ocasio-Cortez did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular working hours.

☆ Dianne Feinstein returning to U.S. Senate after health-related absence
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Richard Cowan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Dianne Feinstein, 89, will return to Washington on Tuesday after a months-long absence due to illness, her spokesman said, restoring Democrats' 51-49 majority to full strength. The trailblazing lawmaker had been sidelined since February as she recovered from a bout of shingles, which had led to calls from some fellow Democrats to step aside and allow someone else to take her place. “I’m glad that my friend Dianne is back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a written statement. Democrats' worries were further heightened as lawmakers have been spending 2023 arguing over raising the nation's borrowing authority. Feinstein could provide crucial support for whatever debt limit bill comes before the Senate that would avert a first-ever default on U.S. debt.

☆ Dianne Feinstein is on her way back to Washington after being sidelined with shingles: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein is traveling back to Washington, DC. Feinstein had been away from the Capitol for several months after she contracted shingles. Feinstein, who's 89 years old, hasn't cast a vote in the Senate since her diagnosis in mid-February. Feinstein ultimately asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to find a temporary replacement for her on the Judiciary Committee, but Schumer's attempts were rebuffed by Senate Republicans. In February, Feinstein announced that she will not be running for office again in 2024, and will retire at the end of her term.

CNN —Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who has been away from the Senate since February while recovering from shingles, will return to Washington on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson. Feinstein sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and without her vote on the panel, Democrats said that they would have to delay some of President Biden’s key judicial nominees. In April, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California became the first member of Congress to call on Feinstein to resign. In April, the California senator asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee, and he proposed that Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin take her spot. She needs to get well so she can get back to work,” Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who is also 89, said.

☆ What to know about Bluesky, the Twitter alternative that some celebrities and journalists are joining
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Kalhan Rosenblatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

While Bluesky's beta was made public in February, buzz surrounding the platform grew in April as more Twitter users began posting about flocking there. Although the Bluesky app has many similarities to Twitter, its key difference is that it is organized around a decentralized system. One person even claimed to sell Bluesky invite codes for more than $190 on eBay. The Bluesky app racked up 375,000 downloads on iOS worldwide as of Wednesday, according to analytics firm Data.ai. Jordan Uhl, a progressive activist with more than 271,000 followers on Twitter, joined Bluesky on April 14.

☆ Jack Dorsey encouraged the student who tracks Elon Musk's jet to keep posting on Bluesky after his Twitter ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jack Dorsey encouraged the college student who tracks Elon Musk's private jet to keep on posting. Twitter cofounder Jack Dorsey has doubled down on his explicit and implicit criticism of Elon Musk, encouraging the college student who tracks Elon Musk's private jet to keep posting on rival apps Bluesky and Nostr. Dorsey, who has given money to both platforms and sits on Bluesky's board, got into a brief exchange on Bluesky with college student Jack Sweeney Saturday about the jet-tracking account. the college student asked Dorsey. Sweeney created the original @ElonJet account in 2020, using public flight data to monitor the whereabouts the of billionaire's private jet.

☆ After the killing of Jordan Neely, New York City Mayor Eric Adams faces backlash over his approaches to subway safety and mental illness
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

NYC Mayor Eric Adams is being blasted by progressives over his response to Jordan Neely's killing. Neely's death has now placed an even brighter spotlight on Adams' policies regarding homelessness, which the mayor defended during a press conference last Thursday. "People who are dealing with mental health illness should get the help they need and not live on the train. The chief medical examiner's office last Wednesday said that the cause of Neely's death was compression of the neck and ruled his death as a homicide. Meanwhile, protestors are demanding that Penny face charges in Neely's death.

☆ No Bluesky invite? You're not alone: Biden can't get one either.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Jack Dorsey's latest social media venture, Bluesky, aims to compete with Twitter. The fledgling app is currently completing beta testing and has an extremely exclusive waitlist. The company says Biden and other heads of state are among those who can't yet create an account. Bluesky began beta testing and launched its waitlist, now nearly 2 million strong, just days after Elon Musk announced he had completed the purchase of Twitter for $44 billion. Dorsey and representatives for Bluesky did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

☆ Democratic lawmakers are having a blast on 'Bluesky,' the latest alternative to Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some Democratic lawmakers have begun posting on "Bluesky," the latest alternative to Twitter. And for the Democratic lawmakers who use the platform, it's a place that feels safer and more gentle than Twitter. "The invite tree accountability makes people more judicious about bringing in solid people," wrote Ocasio-Cortez in a "skeet" this week. But I've [posted] triple digits in less than a week [on Bluesky]," she wrote in an earlier post. In a "skeet" on Bluesky, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez declares the platform to be "safer and more fun" than Twitter.

☆ New York Times editorial board says Chuck Schumer should pressure Dianne Feinstein to 'return or resign'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The New York Times editorial board said that Chuck Schumer should pressure Dianne Feinstein to "return or resign." "If she cannot fulfill her obligations to the Senate and to her constituents, she should resign and turn over her responsibilities to an appointed successor," the board wrote. According to its website, the New York Times editorial board comprises opinion journalists "who rely on research, debate and individual expertise to reach a shared view of important issues." A group of women Democratic senators, however, told Insider that the calls for Feinstein to resign were sexist and "unprecedented." Noting this point, the New York Times editorial board agreed that in its history, the historically predominately male Senate has had several instances of its male members missing years of legislative session time due to illness.

☆ New Yorkers to protest chokehold killing on subway, demand criminal charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Julia Harte | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The examiner's homicide finding alone does not imply intent or culpability, which are issues that prosecutors will consider in deciding whether to bring criminal charges. The 24-year-old former Marine, who was white, was questioned by police and released on Monday, local media said. A video of the incident that has circulated on social media showed an unidentified passenger applying a chokehold to a man identified as Neely on the floor of a subway train for more than three minutes. Democratic U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district includes neighborhoods in the New York City boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, said Neely was murdered and called for his killer's arrest. Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago and Julia Harte in New York Editing by Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ House Republicans are planning the first vote to overturn Biden's student-loan forgiveness next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In March, Republican lawmakers introduced a resolution to overturn Biden's student-debt relief. The House education committee is planning to vote on the bill next week, a spokesperson confirmed to Insider. Even if the resolution passes the House, it likely won't progress in a Democratic-controlled Senate. That hasn't stopped Republicans from coming up with their own plans to block debt relief from happening. Along with the CRA, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy's bill to raise the debt ceiling — which passed the House last week — including banning Biden's student-loan forgiveness and blocking any future relief.

☆ Chokehold death of homeless man on New York subway ruled a homicide
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

May 4 (Reuters) - The death of a man who was placed in a chokehold by a fellow passenger on a New York City subway train earlier this week has been ruled a homicide by the city's medical examiner as calls for an arrest in the incident have intensified. A video of the incident that has circulated on social media showed an unidentified passenger applying a chokehold to a man identified as Neely on the floor of a subway train for more than three minutes. The altercation occurred after he boarded the train and began saying he was hungry and ready to die, the New York Times reported, citing police. The 24-year-old former Marine who placed Neely in the chokehold was questioned by police and released on Monday, local media reported. Democratic U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district includes neighborhoods in the New York City boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, said Neely was murdered.

☆ Matt Gaetz says AOC is 'wrong a lot' but 'she's not corrupt' as the pair joined forces to block Congress from trading stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Both congressional lawmakers formed an unlikely team-up on Tuesday to introduce a new bill. "AOC is wrong a lot, she'd probably say the same thing about me, but she's not corrupt," Gaetz told Fox News host Jesse Watters on Tuesday. They and several other congressional leaders warned that congressional trading erodes trust in the government and presents conflicts of interest. Gaetz told Watters on Tuesday that Congress should "disallow congressional stock trading for the same reason we don't allow the referee to bet on the game." Representatives for Gaetz, Ocasio-Cortez, and Frankel did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

☆ AOC and Matt Gaetz introduce a bipartisan bill to ban Congress members from trading individual stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill that would ban Congress members from trading individual stocks. Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi has long been scrutinized for his extensive history of trading stocks. The Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act would prohibit Congress members and their spouses and any dependents from trading individual stocks. The bill would prevent Congressional lawmakers and their spouses and dependents from trading individual stocks. Instead of owning individual stocks, Congress members would be allowed to buy and sell baskets of stocks via mutual funds or ETFs, as well as Treasury securities.

☆ AOC says Feinstein should resign, won’t primary Gillibrand in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Haley Talbot | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

I think criticisms of that stance as ‘anti-feminist’ are a farce,” Ocasio-Cortez posted on Bluesky, a new social media app. Feinstein, who has been away as she recovers from shingles, is a member of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee where her absence has created issues for Democrats as the panel works to process judicial nominees. Several other House Democrats have also expressed support or called for Feinstein to resign as a result. The spokeswoman also told CNN that Ocasio-Cortez will not primary New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in 2024. Not long after, however, Republicans formally blocked a request from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace Feinstein on the committee.

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