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☆ Clarence Thomas took more undisclosed trips paid for by GOP megadonor Harlan Crow, Senate committee chair says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has omitted at least three private jet trips gifted by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow from his annual financial disclosures, a top Senate Democrat alleged Thursday. Those trips included private flights in 2017, 2019 and 2021 that Thomas failed to disclose, according to Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin of Illinois. The Senate probe of the Supreme Court "makes it crystal clear that the highest court needs an enforceable code of conduct, because its members continue to choose not to meet the moment," Durbin said in a statement. Spokespeople for Thomas and the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment. Thomas said in his latest disclosure that those two trips were "inadvertently omitted" at the time.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, Thomas, Dick Durbin of, Crow, Durbin, Spokespeople, ProPublica, Elliot Berke Organizations: Republican, Dick Durbin of Illinois, CNBC, Washington , D.C, D.C, Senate Locations: St, Louis , Missouri, Kalispell , Montana, Dallas , Texas, Washington ,, Savannah , Georgia, San Jose , California, Bali, Indonesia, Monte Rio , California, Crow

☆ McConnell suggests 'discipline' for Dem senators pressuring Supreme Court over Alito flags
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., suggested Wednesday that the Supreme Court should punish at least two Democratic senators over their calls for Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from key cases related to former President Donald Trump. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island are bound by court rules that "provide for discipline against those who engage in conduct unbecoming an officer of the court," McConnell said on the Senate floor. But McConnell singled out Blumenthal and Whitehouse because they are members of the Supreme Court bar. They are therefore "potentially engaged in unethical professional conduct before the court," McConnell said of Blumenthal and Whitehouse, both of whom are members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The responses from Roberts and Alito confirm that they also viewed the communication as public, Whitehouse added.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, luncheons, Samuel Alito, Donald Trump ., Richard Blumenthal of, Sheldon Whitehouse, McConnell, Alito, Blumenthal, Whitehouse, John Roberts, Leonard Leo, Roberts, Dick Durbin, Clarence Thomas, Wednesday's Organizations: Democratic, Donald Trump . Sens, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Trump, American, CNBC, Wall Street, Capitol, Durbin Locations: Ky, Washington, Rhode, Virginia

☆ Inflation seems to be cooling again. Americans aren’t buying it
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A slew of big-box retailers have lowered prices on items in recent weeks, citing moderating inflation and frugal customers. Recent economic data has also suggested that inflation is cooling, after data earlier this year spurred fears that progress had stalled. Yet Americans don’t seem convinced that inflation is moderating or that the economy is as healthy as indicators suggest. Mortgage rates have declined in recent weeks but remain near 7%. Target announced plans to cut prices on thousands of consumer basics as inflation cuts into household budgets.

Persons: aren’t, Charles Schwab’s, ”, James Kostulias, Charles Schwab, Joe Raedle, Jerome Powell, Powell, Neel Kashkari, “ I’m, Schumer, Chuck Schumer, General Merrick Garland, “, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Dick Durbin, Scott Sheffield, Read, Matt Egan, Mat Ishbia, homebuyers, refinances Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Walmart, Target, Ikea, Aldi, CPI, “ Traders, Minneapolis Federal, CNBC, Democrats, Justice Department, Oil, Big Oil, DOJ, Big, Federal Trade Commission, United Wholesale Mortgage, Phoenix Suns NBA Locations: New York, Miami , Florida, Minneapolis, Texas, Sens

☆ Schumer and Senate Democrats call for Justice Department to probe Big Oil for alleged collusion
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and nearly two dozen Democrats pressed the Justice Department on Thursday to launch an industry-wide investigation into Big Oil for alleged collusion and price fixing. The lawmakers urged the DOJ to investigate the oil industry, “hold accountable any liable actors” and halt illegal activity. Last week, congressional Democrats launched an investigation into whether other US oil companies colluded with each other and OPEC. Regulators cited hundreds of text messages Sheffield exchanged with OPEC officials discussing pricing, production and oil market dynamics. “The strategy appears to have worked,” Schumer and his colleagues wrote to the DOJ.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, General Merrick Garland, Schumer, “, ”, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Dick Durbin, Scott Sheffield, Sheffield “, ” Schumer, Sherman, Sheffield, ” Sheffield Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Big Oil, Democrats, DOJ, Big, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Sheffield, Pioneer Natural Resources, OPEC, Pioneer Locations: Texas, Sens

☆ Chief Justice John Roberts declines to meet with Democratic lawmakers about ethics flap and Alito’s flags
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday rejected a meeting request from Democratic lawmakers who wanted to discuss two provocative flags hoisted at Justice Samuel Alito’s properties. “Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances,” Roberts wrote in a letter released by the Supreme Court. “My wife is fond of flying flags,” Alito wrote. The Supreme Court is considering two appeals tied to the 2020 election and the attack on the US Capitol. Whitehouse posted on social media that “the work must continue” until the Supreme Court applies “honest fact-finding and neutral decision-making” to itself.

Persons: John Roberts, Samuel Alito’s, ” Roberts, Alito, Martha, Ann Alito, “, ” Alito, Donald Trump, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Alito’s recusal, Roberts “, Roberts, ”, Jack Smith’s, Whitehouse, ” Whitehouse, they’ve Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Supreme, Capitol, Committee, Rhode, Rhode Island Democrat Locations: New Jersey, Illinois, Rhode Island

☆ Alito tells lawmakers he will not recuse from Supreme Court cases despite flag controversy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“The two incidents you cite do not meet the conditions for recusal,” Alito wrote in a letter distributed by the Supreme Court. Supreme Court justices rarely get into a back-and-forth with lawmakers and many members of the court do not explain their reasons for recusing – or not. Video Ad Feedback See how GOP lawmakers reacted to Judge Alito's flag controversy 01:24 - Source: CNNThe Supreme Court is weighing major cases tied to the 2020 election and the attack on the US Capitol. From Google“I had no involvement in the decision to fly that flag,” Alito wrote. Justice Alito also told Fox News the neighbor used the term “c*nt” at one point during the exchanges.

Persons: Samuel Alito, ” Alito, Alito, recusing, Alito's, Donald Trump’s, Jack Smith’s, “, –, Martha, Ann Alito, Samuel Alito's, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, ” Durbin, ”, ” Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Clarence Thomas ’, —, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, John Roberts, Thomas, Hank Johnson, Alito’s, ” Johnson, Trump, Justice Alito, “ Alito, SCOTUS, Roe, Wade, CNN’s Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Kate Sullivan, Jack Forrest, Morgan Rimmer, Tierney Sneed, Holmes Lybrand Organizations: CNN, Supreme, Trump, US Supreme, Google, ’, recusal, Democratic, Illinois Democrat, Rhode Island Democrat, Connecticut Democrat, Georgia Democrat, United States Supreme, New York Times, Fox News, Times, Republicans Locations: Alexandria, Virginia, New Jersey, Long Beach, Illinois, Connecticut, Georgia, House

☆ Supreme Court Justice Alito rejects calls to recuse from Trump, Jan. 6 cases
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Associate Justice Samuel Alito poses during a group photo of the Justices at the Supreme Court in Washington, April 23, 2021. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on Wednesday rejected Democratic lawmakers' requests that he recuse himself from key cases related to former President Donald Trump and the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot following reports that flags linked to Trump's supporters were flown at his properties. "I was not aware of any connection between that historic flag and the 'Stop the Steal Movement,' and neither was my wife," Alito wrote. Trump, who is awaiting a verdict in his criminal hush money trial in Manhattan Supreme Court, applauded Alito for declining to remove himself from the case. "Congratulations to United States Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito for showing the INTELLIGENCE, COURAGE, and 'GUTS' to refuse stepping aside from making a decision on anything January 6th related," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social .

Persons: Samuel Alito, Donald Trump, Alito, Joe Biden, Rather, Jack Smith, Trump, —, Martha, Ann Alito, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse Organizations: Supreme, Wednesday, Democratic, Capitol, New York Times, Times, Alito, United States Supreme Locations: Washington, Virginia, Alexandria , Virginia, Long Beach, , New Jersey, Manhattan

☆ Supreme Court Justice Alito urged to step off Trump election case over U.S. flag controversy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Associate Justice Samuel Alito poses during a group photo of the Justices at the Supreme Court in Washington, April 23, 2021. The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday urged Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from considering cases related to the 2020 election, including the question of former President Donald Trump's immunity from criminal prosecution, because of controversy over an upside-down U.S. flag that flew outside Alito's home after the election. "Flying an upside-down American flag — a symbol of the so-called 'Stop the Steal' movement — clearly creates the appearance of bias," said Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who heads the Judiciary Committee. "Justice Alito should recuse himself immediately from cases related to the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection, including the question of the former President's immunity in U.S. v. Donald Trump, which the Supreme Court is currently considering," Durbin said in a statement. "The Court is in an ethical crisis of its own making, and Justice Alito and the rest of the Court should be doing everything in their power to regain public trust."

Persons: Samuel Alito, Donald Trump's, Sen, Dick Durbin, Alito, Durbin, Donald Trump, Justice Alito Organizations: New York Times, Illinois Democrat, Committee Locations: Washington, Virginia

☆ Justice Samuel Alito blames upside-down American flag on his wife and a flap with neighbors
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( John Fritze | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Alito said that a neighbor had posted a sign saying “F**k Trump” near a school bus stop and then a sign attacking his wife, Martha-Ann Alito. The upside-down flag was a symbol for former President Donald Trump’s supporters who falsely claimed widespread fraud in the presidential election. A spokeswoman for the Supreme Court has not respond to CNN’s requests for comment. “Flying an upside-down American flag — a symbol of the so-called ‘Stop the Steal’ movement — clearly creates the appearance of bias,” Durbin said in a statement. Renewed calls for ethics reformThe Supreme Court is weighing major cases this term tied to the 2020 election and the attack on the Capitol.

Persons: Samuel Alito, Alito, Martha, Ann Alito, Fox, Donald Trump’s, Tim Walz, “ I’m, Joe Biden’s, “, ”, “ It’s, Trump, Hank Johnson, Clarence Thomas, ” MAGA, Thomas, ” Johnson, ” Sen, Dick Durbin, ” Durbin, Sen, Tom Cotton, Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, Jack Smith’s, John Roberts, Sheldon Whitehouse, ” Whitehouse, Roe, Wade, Renee Knake Jefferson, ” Jefferson Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Trump, Democratic, Capitol, Minnesota Gov, New York Times, Times, Gadsden, Georgia Democrat, Committee, Illinois Democrat, Republicans, Arkansas Republican, Republican, Congress, Supreme, Rhode, Rhode Island Democrat, ”, University of Houston Law Center Locations: Minnesota, Alexandria , Virginia, Washington, DC, Georgia, House, Arkansas, ”, Carolina, Rhode Island

☆ Senate passes reauthorization of a key U.S. surveillance program after midnight deadline
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

After its midnight deadline, the Senate voted early Saturday to reauthorize a key U.S. surveillance law after divisions over whether the FBI should be restricted from using the program to search for Americans' data nearly forced the statute to lapse. The legislation approved 60-34 with bipartisan support would extend for two years the program known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. "If you miss a key piece of intelligence, you may miss some event overseas or put troops in harm's way," Sen. Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said. One of the major changes detractors had proposed centered around restricting the FBI's access to information about Americans through the program. "I think that is a risk that we cannot afford to take with the vast array of challenges our nation faces around the world," Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Friday.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden's, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Ayman al, Sen, Marco Rubio, shouldn't, General Merrick Garland, Garland, Schumer, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Democratic Sen, Mark Warner Organizations: Homeland, U.S, Capitol, Foreign Intelligence, White House, FISA, Republican, Senate Intelligence, Justice Department, United, Justice, Biden, U.S . Capitol, Democratic Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, harm's, United States

☆ House sends Mayorkas impeachment articles to the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Annie Grayer | Priscilla Alvarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —House Republicans have sent to the Senate two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a step that launches a trial in the Senate as GOP lawmakers seek to highlight President Joe Biden’s handling of immigration policy. House Republicans do not have the votes or concrete evidence to impeach Biden given their razor-thin majority, leaving that separate impeachment inquiry stalled. GOP arguments for impeachment and pushback from constitutional expertsWhen Johnson originally informed Schumer he would be sending the impeachment articles over to the Senate, he laid out why he believed a Mayorkas impeachment was justified. “These articles lay out a clear, compelling, and irrefutable case for Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ impeachment,” Green said in a statement provided to CNN. “I think that what the House Republicans are asserting is that Secretary Mayorkas is guilty of maladministration,” Garber said.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden’s, Mayorkas, Biden, —, impeaching Biden, ”, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Trump, Ian Sams, Johnson, Schumer, Mark Green of, Alejandro Mayorkas ’, ” Green, systemically, Samuel Alito, Ross Garber, ” Garber, “, Michael Chertoff, George W, Bush, Jonathan Turley, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, “ I’m, CNN’s Manu Raju, I’ve, –, John Thune, ” Johnson, Pro Tempore Patty Murray, Michael McCaul of, Andy Biggs of, Clay Higgins, Ben Cline of Virginia, Michael Guest of, Andrew Garbarino, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Pfluger, Harriet Hageman of, Laurel Lee, CNN’s Ted Barrett, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, Homeland, Senate, Democratic, Republicans, Homeland Security, Biden, House Republicans, DHS, ’, Louisiana Republican, Truth, White, CNN, Congress, Tulane University, Republican, Senate Democratic, Mayorkas, Pro Tempore Locations: Louisiana, Mark Green of Tennessee, Washington, Michael McCaul of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Michael Guest of Mississippi, New York, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Texas, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Laurel Lee of Florida

☆ Here's what the Credit Card Competition Act could do to your airline miles and travel rewards
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Major airlines' bottom line depends on credit card companiesThe Credit Card Competition Act , which was introduced to Congress in June 2023 would require major banks to use at least one credit card payment network that isn't Mastercard or Visa — companies that control more than 80% of US credit card transactions — to introduce more competition into the credit card market. AdvertisementSen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, is the lead sponsor of the Credit Card Competition Act. AdvertisementCredit card rewards incentivize travelersBusinesses typically make up for these credit card swipe fees by raising prices for customers. Bohorquez, however, said increased credit card competition is unlikely to lower prices in practice. "I hope that people continue to earn and enjoy their credit card points and take a lot of free trips."

Persons: —, Jess Bohorquez, Bohorquez, she's, Banks, Sen, Dick Durbin, Durbin, I'm Organizations: Service, Sydney Opera House, Business, Federal, Mastercard, Visa, Airlines, United, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, BI, Airlines for America, American Airlines, America, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, House Locations: Illinois, Delta

☆ The Capital One-Discover Deal Won’t Fix Our Broken Credit Card System - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Aaron Klein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

This is a story about you and your favorite credit card, the one that earns you points. So this rewards card, it’s really a screw-over-poor- people card. Why are swipe fees in the U.S. nine times higher than they are in Europe? But these two companies control over 80 percent of the credit card market. Dick Durbin, the senator who helped crack down on swipe fees for debit cards, has authored a bipartisan bill that would use competition to drive down credit card swipe fees.

Persons: Marty, let’s, you’ll, you’re, It’s, MJ, Dick Durbin, you’ve Organizations: Visa, Mastercard, Federal Reserve Locations: Europe, Congress

☆ Democratic senators have privately warned White House that votes aren’t there to confirm Biden’s Muslim judicial nominee
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But some allies of the White House on Capitol Hill have made clear that there is not enough support – including among Democrats – to confirm Mangi in the full Senate, those sources said. The controversy surrounding Mangi’s nomination comes at a moment of heightened political tensions across the country since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. The White House and Democratic lawmakers have pushed back, accusing Republicans of Islamophobic attacks that are based on Mangi’s ethnic background and touting support from Jewish groups. The White House has also called on senators such as Cruz to apologize to Mangi. “Treatment of this highly qualified nominee has sometimes reached an all-time low.”CNN has reached out to Durbin’s office for additional comment.

Persons: Adeel Mangi, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Mangi, –, Texas Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, Rutgers University –, Cruz, ” Cruz, ” Mangi, “, ”, Jeff Zientz, Shuwanza Goff, White, Ed Siskel, Andrew Bates, ’ ” Bates, “ Mr, Dick Durbin, ” Durbin Organizations: Washington CNN —, Democratic, CNN, US, Appeals, White, Capitol, Texas Republican, Center for Security, Rights, Rutgers University, White House, Defamation League, Senate, Committee, House Locations: New York, Israel

☆ I’m addicted to TikTok. What do I do now that the House has effectively voted to ban it?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The bill would prohibit TikTok from US app stores unless the social media platform is quickly spun off from ByteDance. Some TikTok users posted videos ahead of Wednesday’s vote showing them calling their representatives and threatening to vote for alternate candidates if they voted to pass the bill. “This process was secret and the bill was jammed through for one reason: it’s a ban,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement following the Wednesday House vote. That may be even more true after Biden’s likely opponent in November, former President Donald Trump, said he opposed a TikTok ban, a reversal from his stance as president. App stores that violate the legislation could be fined based on the number of users of a banned app.

Persons: …, Princess, Wales, TikTokkers, ByteDance, Chuck Schumer, “, ”, Dick Durbin, Joe Biden, ” Durbin, Donald Trump, TikTok, Dan Ives Organizations: New, New York CNN, Foreign, House Energy, Commerce, Senate, Apple, Google Locations: New York, ByteDance, It’s, Montana, United States

☆ Inside a prison healthcare company's ownership shell game
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has criticized Corizon successor company YesCare for its opaque corporate structure. Yet Geneva's track record is scant; it only incorporated in November 2021, six months before it got the YesCare contract. AdvertisementOnly one agency with a YesCare contract told BI it was aware of the extent to which YesCare had outsourced its operations. AdvertisementAn October 2022 YesCare bid document, submitted to the Alabama Department of Corrections, says PharmaCorr will dispense all prescription medications for YesCare. AdvertisementThe agreement between Geneva and prison healthcare provider YesCare requires YesCare to pay at least $500,000 a month to Geneva.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Corizon, YesCare, —, Dick Durbin, Raphael Prober, Prober's nonanswer, Warren, Christopher M, Lopez, Robert Green, Corizon —, Green, Lori Mayer, Aaron Kaufman, Chris Atkinson, Joel Landau, Tehum, Martin Horn, Alabama Department of Corrections YesCare, Thomas Mailey, Bryan Baker, Isaac Lefkowitz, Perigrove, — Lefkowitz, Lefkowitz, David Gefner, Gefner, Storm Harper, PharmaCorr, Jeff Sholey, Steven Weiss, Atkinson, Sara Tirschwell, Zalman Shapiro, Tirschwell, Michael Farrier, Jeffrey Sholey, Judge Lopez Organizations: Service, Corizon Health, Business, Getty, YesCare Holdings, Justice Department, Tehum Care Services, Geneva Consulting, Genesis Healthcare, BI, Geneva, American Correctional Association, . Maryland Department of Public Safety, Correctional, CHS, PharmaCorr, University of West, of Health, Allure, New York State Department of Health, Public, New York City Department of Correction, Alabama Department of Corrections, Alabama, New York State Department of Corrections, Community Supervision, Doña, Okaloosa, LinkedIn, YesCare, YesCare . Alabama Department of Corrections, Gefner, Court, Western, of, Corizon's, Florida's, Florida's Hillsborough County Sheriff's, Tehum's Locations: Missouri, Houston, Texas, Geneva, Florida, Alabama, New Jersey, YesCare, University of West Florida, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Riker's, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, Okaloosa County , Florida, Wyoming, Maryland, Colorado , Florida, North Carolina, Suffern , New York, YesCare's Alabama, of Missouri, Florida's Hillsborough County

☆ No. 2 Senate Democrat says ‘killing has to stop’ in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Aileen Graef | Michelle Shen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

2 Democrat in the Senate, said Sunday that the killing of innocent people in Gaza “has to stop” and that the United States needs to focus on securing a ceasefire and, eventually, an end to the conflict. “This killing has to stop of the innocent people there. More than 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel’s war with Hamas began in October, according to the health ministry in Gaza. Durbin’s comments came a day after news that Israelis have “basically accepted” a six-week ceasefire proposal in Gaza, according to a senior Biden administration official. People mourn as they receive the bodies of victims of an Israeli strike on March 3, 2024, in Rafah, Gaza.

Persons: CNN — Sen, Dick Durbin of, it’s, ” Durbin, CNN’s Dana, ”, Durbin, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy of, ” Murphy, it’s “, Joe Biden, Benjamin, Durbin’s, “, Israel, “ We’re, ” Biden, Ahmad Hasaballah, Biden, uncommitted ”, Bash, Donald Trump, Jack Smith’s Organizations: CNN, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Union, Hamas, United Nations, Democratic, Washington Post, US Central Command, Biden, White House, Arab, Supreme Locations: Gaza, United States, “ State, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, U.S, Israel, Cairo, Rafah, Michigan

☆ Opinion: Mitch McConnell’s unconditional surrender
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Julian Zelizer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Mitch McConnell has bowed to political reality and announced that he is relinquishing his role as leader of Senate Republicans. (Chao served as transportation secretary under former President Donald Trump, before quitting the post following the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.) The anti-Trump coalition within the Republican Party is small and hanging on by a thread, and there is little chance of that changing in the short term. Now, one of Haley’s most generous benefactors, the conservative political action committee Americans for Prosperity, funded by the Koch network, has withdrawn its funds. And now, like other Trump opponents, Romney finds himself heading for the exit at the end of his current term.

Persons: Julian Zelizer, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Elaine Chao, Chao, Donald Trump, ”, It’s, he’s, invectives, MAGA, Trump, Merrick Garland, Barack Obama’s, — McConnell, SCOTUS, Roe, Wade, Dobbs, Lindsey Graham, Sen, Dick Durbin, —, that’s, Gingrich’s, Nikki Haley, Haley, couldn’t, Koch, Mitt Romney, Romney, convicting Trump, Trump’s, Romney’s Organizations: CNN, Princeton University, The New York Times, America, Republicans, Julian Zelizer CNN, Trump, Ukraine, GOP, Republican Party, Republican, NATO, Tea Party, MAGA, UN, Prosperity, Old Party Locations: Washington, life’s, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Kentucky, South Carolina, Utah

☆ Justice Department calls for dismissal of the Corizon bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewIn the latest blowback to the correctional healthcare company formerly known as Corizon Health, the Department of Justice's US Trustee Program — the watchdog of the federal bankruptcy system — called for the dismissal of its contentious bankruptcy. In a mid-January motion, a committee representing prisoners who filed suit against Corizon alleging medical neglect requested that Judge Christopher Lopez dismiss the bankruptcy outright. In that letter, Warren lauded the Trustee for filing its October objection to Corizon's bankruptcy plan. While Corizon recently offered a larger, $54 million settlement proposal, the committee representing the current and former prisoners opposed it. "The federal government's bankruptcy watchdog has taken a strong stand to protect against big corporations' abuse of our bankruptcy system," she said in her statement.

Persons: —, Christopher Lopez, Ha Ngyuen, Andrew Jiménez, Corizon, Elizabeth Warren, Dick Durbin, Bernie Sanders, Warren, Isaac Lefkowitz, Lefkowitz, Nguyen, Jason Brookner Organizations: Service, Department of Justice's, Business, U.S, Department of Justice, Tehum Care Services, M2LoanCo, Geneva Consulting Locations: Texas, Tehum

☆ What Navalny Can Teach Americans About Bravery - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Nicholas Kristof | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Vladimir Putin’s Russia has just become even more bleak and soulless with the reported death in an Arctic prison of Aleksei Navalny, the 47-year-old dissident who showed immense bravery and humor as he tried to bring democracy to his homeland. Navalny’s strength, resilience and courage contrast with the fecklessness of so many Americans dealing with Putin. From Donald Trump to Tucker Carlson, a remarkable number of American leaders and their mouthpieces roll over before the Russian president. “Why do Trump and his congressional enablers want to further appease this Russian tyrant?” Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, asked after the news broke of Navalny’s death. I hope Navalny’s example will fortify Americans and Europeans alike, for despite all our resources we have not shown a sliver of the strength that he did.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Aleksei Navalny, Putin, Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, Trump, Dick Durbin Locations: Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Russian, Illinois

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that the apparent death of Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny brings new urgency to the need for Congress to approve tens of billions of dollars for Ukraine to stave off Moscow's invasion. Speaking at the White House, Biden said that no matter the cause, he holds Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible for Navalny's death. He added, “I hope to God it helps” push U.S. lawmakers to send more aid to Ukraine. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesThe president sharply criticized House Republicans for letting the chamber enter a two-week recess without moving on the Ukraine funding. “President Biden pledged ‘devastating’ consequences should Navalny die in prison; now he must follow through.

Persons: Joe Biden, Alexei Navalny, Biden, Vladimir Putin, hasn't, ” Biden, ”, Mike Johnson, “, Putin, ” Johnson, Donald Trump, Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, ” Jeffries, Vladimir Putin’s, Republican Sen, Tom Cotton of, Trump’s Putin, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, Carolina Sen, Thom Tillis, Navalny, ” Tillis, eyeing, Harry Truman Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, Republicans, Ukraine, GOP House, Democratic, Senate, Republican, America, ” Lawmakers, Trump, NATO Locations: Russian, Ukraine, U.S, United States, Baltic, Russia, Israel, Taiwan, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Illinois, ., Carolina, America

☆ Senators demand Mark Zuckerberg produce details on Instagram's 'warning screens' that allowed users to see potential child sex abuse material
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Emily Wilkins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — The Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and one of its most senior Republicans escalated their demands Monday for information from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about Instagram's now-shuttered "warning screens" for child sexual abuse material, according to a letter first obtained by CNBC. The letter from Durbin and Cruz follows a contentious and emotional Judiciary Committee hearing in January about social media and child sexual abuse material. There, Zuckerberg was repeatedly pushed into the spotlight by Republicans and Democrats alike. The warning screen option was removed in June of last year, but only after The Wall Street Journal reported on it and pressed the company for details about why it permitted the abusive content on the platform in the first place. At the time, Instagram refused to tell the Journal when the warning screen option was first created, or why, or by whom.

Persons: Sen, Ted Cruz, Dick Durbin, Ketanji Brown Jackson, WASHINGTON —, Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram's, Republican Sen, Zuckerberg, Durbin, Cruz, Instagram Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Capitol, WASHINGTON, Democratic, Republicans, CNBC, Republican, Democrats, Street Locations: Ted Cruz of Texas, Illinois, Texas

☆ Loss, pain, harm: Grieving parents set the tone at this week’s tech CEOs hearing. It could change things
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Wednesday’s online youth safety hearing with some of the world’s leading social media CEOs was unlike the many that came before it in recent years. During the hearing, Zuckerberg and Spiegel, along with the CEOs of TikTok, Discord and X, also faced calls to meet with the families affected by their platforms. And Wednesday night, after the event, some parents said the apologies did not go far enough. X CEO Linda Yaccarino thanked the “parents, families, and young people” who attended the hearing in a post on the platform. “We just saw yesterday the extent of the damage that this has done, these platforms have done,” he said.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Evan Spiegel, Zuckerberg, Spiegel, Bridget Norring, “, Joe Benarroch, Linda Yaccarino, ”, ” Clint Smith, ” Snap’s Spiegel, Charlie, Connecticut Democrat Sen, Richard Blumenthal, ” Minnesota Democrat Sen, Amy Klobuchar, they’d, New York Democrat Sen, Chuck Schumer, …, Schumer, ” Sam Chapman, Missouri Republican Sen, Josh Hawley, Dick Durbin, Hawley, we’re, –, Brian Fung, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, ”, Meta, Connecticut Democrat, ” Minnesota Democrat, New York Democrat, Missouri Republican, Democratic Locations: New York, Snapchat, Connecticut, ” Minnesota

☆ Sen. Warren asks Justice Department to consider nixing Corizon's bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewSenator Elizabeth Warren is bringing fresh scrutiny to the controversial bankruptcy of private prison healthcare company Corizon Health. Warren applauded the US Trustee Program, which oversees the federal bankruptcy system, for making a rare decision last year to file an objection in court to Corizon's bankruptcy plan. Corizon's current bankruptcy plan, she wrote, "will deny Corizon's creditors, including incarcerated individuals, adequate restitution for the company's serious harms." This is the second time Warren has weighed in on the Corizon bankruptcy. "Corizon's bankruptcy is premised on the fact that it does not have sufficient resources to pay victims and other creditors," she wrote.

Persons: —, Elizabeth Warren, Warren, Corizon, Jason Brookner, YesCare didn't, Emma Dulaney, Dick Durbin, YesCare, Raphael Prober, Corizon's, plan's Organizations: Service, Corizon Health, Department of Justice's U.S, Business, Tehum Care Services, Department of Justice, US, Corizon, YesCare Holdings Locations: Texas, Tehum, YesCare

☆ FBI: 'Financial sextortion' of teens is a 'rapidly escalating threat.' How parents can protect their kids
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Cavan Images | Cavan | Getty Images"Financial sextortion," a type of cybercrime that targets teens and tweens, is on the rise. "Sextortion is a rapidly escalating threat," FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee in December. Financial sextortion is the fastest-growing crime targeting children in North America and Australia, according to the Network Contagion Research Institute. Wealthy parents are more likely to be lenient about social media use. How to protect your kids from sextortion

Persons: Christopher Wray, Sen, Dick Durbin, Criminals, Tracy Kitten, Kitten, didn't, Oladosu, sextortion Organizations: Getty, FBI, Finance, Network, Research, Yahoo Boys, Meta, Strategy, U.S, YouTube Locations: Cavan, North America, Australia, African, U.S, Nigerian, bitcoin, sextortion

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