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☆ How many people work for the federal government?
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-14 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Cut federal workers? The current effort, run by Ramaswamy and Musk, has made a show of eyeing the size of the federal workforce. Hold on a secIn those 40 years of explosive population, spending and debt growth, the size of the federal workforce – this is actually kind of shocking – has stayed pretty much the same, confounding the popular presumption that the number of federal workers must have skyrocketed with federal spending. In fact, the number of full-time federal workers has been relatively static, within a few hundred thousand civilians, since the 1960s. Bush administration and of the federal workforce by hundreds of thousands during the Clinton administration did not markedly change the size of the federal workforce, which has hovered within a few hundred thousand of 3 million workers for decades.

Persons: Vivek Ramaswamy, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Ramaswamy, –, James Comer, CNN’s Pamela Brown, George H.W, Clinton, Peter Morrissey, ”, Jenny Mattingley, Elaine Kamarck, ” “, Musk, Biden, Comer, it’s, ” Comer, Brown, don’t, John DiIulio, Barack Obama, George W, Bush, DiIulio, ’, Volcker, Paul Light, ” Morrissey, Sen, Bernie Sanders Organizations: CNN, Government, Elon, Department of Government, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Management, Pentagon, Volcker Alliance, gov, Social Security, Republicans, Department of Education, Veterans Affairs, Partnership for Public Service, Center, Public Management, Brookings Institution, stoke, SpaceX Locations: Bush, Washington, DC, California , Texas , Colorado , Alabama, Vermont

☆ Her flight was delayed and she missed her train home for Christmas. Then she met her future husband on the platform
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-13 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +24 min

“And not only that, there were two trains on the platform as well.”It wasn’t clear which was the right train. Jennea felt herself start to panic. “Because of this, I had missed my plan A train, my plan B train, my plan everything train… It was 2013 and I didn’t have an iPhone yet. “Excuse me, is this the train to Cambridge?”A train station conversationJennea and Arthur immediately hit it off at King's Cross railway station in December 2013. JenneaOver a decade later, Jennea says she still thinks “meeting at a train station is romantic.

Persons: frazzled, Jennea, Carol, who’d, she’d, hadn’t, It’s, I’ve, ” Jennea, “, ”, Arthur, Dreamcapture Fotografie Jennea, ‘, I’m Arthur, Arthur —, —, he’d, I’d, ” Arthur, God, ’ ”, they’d, You’ve, you’ve, Jennea didn’t, Jennea’s, she’s, Jenna, “ I’d, ’ ” Jennea, ‘ You’re, ’, that’s, We’d, ‘ Will, Claudia Sanches, “ Arthur, ’ ” Arthur, — there’s, we’re Organizations: CNN, US Peace Corps, CNN Travel, Cambridge, Peace Corps, Facebook, “, Ireland, USA, Battersea Cats, Corps, London, Britain, European Union Locations: Mozambique, Cambridge, England, King’s, London, Malawi, Kenya, King's, That’s, Ireland, Jennea, United States, Minnesota, Poplar, Curacao, Bruges, Belgium, Dutch Caribbean, Netherlands, Hague, Amsterdam

☆ Tech companies most threatened by Trump are donating to his inauguration fund
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-13 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have a particularly sketchy past with President-elect Donald Trump. Meta donated $1 million to the inauguration, the company confirmed to CNBC, weeks after Zuckerberg dined with Trump privately at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump has been a vocal critic of tech companies, and he signaled earlier this month that he won't shy away from antitrust enforcement. The incoming president nominated Gail Slater, who advised Trump on tech policy during his first term, to head the Department of Justice's antitrust arm. In his first term, Trump repeatedly attacked Bezos and his companies, Amazon and The Washington Post, accusing them of dodging taxes or publishing "fake news," among other things.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Trump, " Altman, Altman, Meta, Zuckerberg, Gail Slater, Bezos, Trump's Organizations: National Guard Association of, United States, 146th General Conference & Exhibition, Place, Amazon, America, CNBC, Trump, Wall Street, Tech, Little Tech, Truth, Meta, Washington, U.S . Postal Service, Department of Defense, Musk's SpaceX Locations: United, Detroit , Michigan, Lago, Little

☆ Anyone can give Donald Trump $1 million. The pros do it in public.
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-13 | by ( Peter Kafka | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It's not new for rich people and big companies to donate to presidential inaugurations. That's at least in part because it's so public — the money is less important than the message. They're all donating $1 million to Donald Trump's inauguration fund. Which is why we can see it's also not unheard of for Big Tech companies to make inaugural donations. AdvertisementThere's also the fact that while Trump and his allies continue to insist that they want to cut regulations, they also insist that they'll be cracking down on Big Tech.

Persons: It's, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckberg, Sam Altman, Donald Trump's, Sundar Pichai, wouldn't, Trump's, Joe Biden's, Uber, Altman, Trump, —, Zuckerberg, Bezos, There's, Donald Trump, Tim Cook, I've, Cook Organizations: Trump, Big Tech, Microsoft, Google, Washington, Apple

☆ From Chili's to burger chains, here are the restaurant industry winners and losers in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-13 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +17 min

A "location closed" sign hangs in the window of a closed Red Lobster restaurant in Torrance, California on May 14, 2024. Here are the winners and losers of the restaurant industry in 2024:WINNER: ValueValue became restaurant CEOs' new favorite word this year as they sought to reverse falling sales and appeal to inflation-weary consumers. The privately held chain, known for its chicken tenders, is the fourth-largest chicken chain in the U.S., with a market share of 7.8%, according to Barclays. The chain could soon overtake KFC, the rare chicken chain that's struggled to resonate with U.S. consumers this year. Scott Olson | Getty ImagesThose chicken chains are stealing market share from burgers.

Persons: Patrick T, Fallon, Jennifer Jennings, RJ Hottovy, McDonald's, David Portalatin, Circana, Michael Zuccaro, Hottovy, Mookie Betts, Phillip Faraone, Scott Olson, Burger, Gordon Haskett, Burger King, Josh Kobza, Wendy's, Spongebob, Patty, Taco Bell, Paul Weaver, Yum, Selena Gomez's, Brian Niccol, Circana's, Roti, John Bringardner, Chipotle's, Chipotle, Scott Boatwright, Niccol, Piper Sandler, BTIG, Wingstop, They've, Circana's Portalatin, Chili's, Brinker, Kevin Hochman, Applebee's, Olive Organizations: AFP, Getty, Labor, Intelligence, Debtwire, CNBC, Yum Brands, Bell, LA Dodgers, Barclays, KFC, Rivals, for Disease Control, Prevention, Gordon Haskett Research, Burger King, Restaurant, Burger King's, Wolfe Research, Taco Bell, Taco, Starbucks, Street, Niccol, Dine Brands, Olive Garden, Darden, Brinker International, Triple Locations: Torrance , California, Tulsa , Oklahoma, Cane’s, Alhambra , California, U.S, Effingham , Illinois, Burger King's U.S, San Diego, Niccol, Wall, Texas, Olive

☆ Top U.S. liquor distributor favored Costco, Kroger, other chains over small businesses: FTC
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-12 | by ( Dan Mangan | Dan Mangan Is A Reporter Covering Politics For Cnbc.Com. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Federal Trade Commission in a new lawsuit accuses the largest U.S. distributor of wine and spirits of illegal price discrimination that gave large chains — among them Costco, Kroger and Total Wine & More — much better prices than those offered to neighborhood grocery stores, convenience shops and independent liquor stores. The distributor, Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, is the tenth largest privately held company in the United States, generating about $26 billion in revenues from sales to retail customers in 2023, the FTC said Thursday in announcing the suit. The suit alleges the distributor violated the Robinson-Patman Act by providing “steep discounts” without any market justification to a certain set of retailers. “When local businesses get squeezed because of unfair pricing practices that favor large chains, Americans see fewer choices and pay higher prices — and communities suffer,” said FTC Chair Lina Khan in a statement. “The law says that businesses of all sizes should be able to compete on a level playing field,” Khan said.

Persons: Robinson, ”, Lina Khan, ” Khan, Pernod Ricard, Silver Tequila, Jim Beam Bourbon, Mark Whiskey Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, U.S, Costco, Kroger, Southern, “ Enforcers, CNBC, Central, Central District of, Jameson, Bacardi U.S.A, Bacardi, Diageo, Smirnoff, Beam Suntory Locations: United States, Southern, U.S, Central District, Central District of California

☆ Why hasn’t the US been trying to fix its health insurance problems?
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-12 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The cold-blooded assassination of a health care CEO has uncorked a torrent of public anger at the health insurance industry. Satisfaction with health care coverage has never been high in the more than two decades during which Gallup has tracked it. Here, the government only provides health care for the neediest, through Medicaid, and older Americans, who generally qualify for government-run health coverage in Medicare. Dropping satisfaction with a notable government-run systemStruggles with health insurance are not unique to the US. Yet, the US political conversation barely turned to health insurance during the recently concluded presidential campaign, and the health care system was not at the top of voters’ concerns in public opinion polling.

Persons: Luigi Mangione, CNN’s Tami Luhby, Brian Thompson, it’s, Gallup, Barack Obama, Obamacare, Peter G, That’s, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Biden, Trump Organizations: CNN, Affordable, Gallup, Peterson Foundation, Commonwealth Fund, Medicaid, Medicare, National Health Service, Democrats, Representatives Locations: New York, United Kingdom

☆ Sake made in space could sell for $500,000 a glass
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-12 | by ( Chris Lau | Lisako Neriki Ancheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Tokyo CNN —A Japanese sake maker is going where no sake maker has gone before: space. Asahi Shuzo, the company behind popular Japanese sake brand Dassai, plans to blast sake ingredients to the International Space Station (ISS) to ferment a very special brew. Asahi Shuzo’s foray into space is more than just another attempt to make another rare sake, according to the brewer. Uetsuki said the company hoped the project would offer insights into how fermentation works in space, so perhaps one day they can make sake on the moon. This project aims to create sake that can be enjoyed on the moon, allowing visitors to have delightful moments there,” he said.

Persons: Asahi Shuzo, ”, Souya Uetsuki, Uetsuki, ” Uetsuki Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Asahi, International Space, Asahi Shuzo, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Locations: Japan

☆ Private Equity Is Pouring Billions of Dollars Into Restaurants. Yikes.
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-12 | by ( Corey Mintz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Between 2009 and 2018, the number of fast-casual restaurants in America doubled, while sales have nearly tripled. When the gravy train stops, fast-casual restaurants are going to be in trouble. To understand why private equity is pouring money into restaurants, we have to start with the appeal of the fast-casual model. The limited menu enables both fast-food and fast-casual restaurants to be efficient, keep costs down, and avoid losses from food waste and labor. Because a lot of the weaker players have been weeded out," Susskind says about fast-casual restaurants.

Persons: Charles Grodin, Robert DeNiro, I've, Blackstone, Cava, Alex M, Susskind, that's, Chris Macksey, Olive Garden, Smokey Bones —, Tracy Goh, Damaran Sara, Goh, Talia Berman, Levy, Berman, Moshe Batalion, Thomas Crosby, Crosby, they've, It's Organizations: Sycamore Partners, Bowls, Lobster, Taco Bell, Cornell University, Prix Fixe, Nabisco, Darden, Investment, RioCan, Independent, Pal's, Harvard, University of Chicago's Booth School, Business, Cornell, Rubio's, Mill, Capital Locations: Jersey, America, Manhattan, Taco, Olive, Cava, San Francisco, New York's, Tennessee, Florida, United States, California

☆ Amazon plans to donate $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-12 | by ( Kaitlan Collins | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Amazon is planning to donate $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, a person familiar with the matter told CNN. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is expected to visit with Trump in person in the coming days, as he and other tech founders seek closer relationships with the incoming president. “Our former President showed tremendous grace and courage under literal fire tonight,” Bezos wrote on X at the time. Bezos joins other tech leaders in looking to foster a closer relationship with the president-elect. Meta confirmed Wednesday that it donated $1 million to the inaugural fund, two weeks after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Jeff Bezos, Trump, Bezos, “, ” Bezos, Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, CNN’s Elisabeth Buchwald Organizations: CNN, Amazon, Trump, Street Journal, Mar Locations: It’s

Elon Musk's estimated net worth has now surpassed $400 billion, according to an estimate from Bloomberg News — the first person ever to reach such a milestone. As Tesla shares hit a new all-time high Wednesday, Musk's wealth leapt to some $440 billion, according to Bloomberg. A separate billionaire index tracked by Forbes pegs Musk's net worth at about $369 billion, with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos at No. Yet Musk's net worth has climbed even without that compensation deal, which is now worth $100 billion. Musk spent much of the year focused on the 2024 election: Federal Election Commission filings show he spent nearly a quarter of $1 billion on helping elect Donald Trump to a second term as president.

Persons: Elon, Tesla, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Musk, Kathleen McCormick's, Donald Trump Organizations: Bloomberg News, SpaceX, Bloomberg, Forbes, Amazon, Oracle, Tesla Locations: Delaware

☆ Trump to be named Time’s ‘Person of the Year’ for second time
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-11 | by ( Steve Contorno | Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Donald Trump once publicly speculated that Time would never name him the news magazine’s “Person of the Year.”Now, the honor will be bestowed on him twice. Trump’s 2024 selection mirrors his first recognition in 2016, when Time named him Person of the Year after his unexpected rise to the presidency. Despite the magazine’s dwindling circulation, Time’s Person of the Year remains an annual cultural touchstone and the distinction has become an obsession of sorts for Trump throughout the years. Despite his regular criticism of the media, Trump has regularly granted access to legacy outlets – including Time. Every US president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt, except Gerald Ford, has been named Person of the Year at least once.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Taylor Swift, Kamala Harris, Angela Merkel, “, ”, –, Harris, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Gerald Ford, Joe Biden, Ivanka Trump, Betsy Klein, Hadas Gold Organizations: CNN, New York Stock Exchange, Time, Trump, The Washington Post, Occupy, Twitter Locations: Germany, Beach

☆ Jim Cramer looks at why Big Tech keeps going up, sees 2 drug stocks as buys on weakness
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-11 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. A major reason for the uptick in tech, according to Jim Cramer, is there is "no longer an existential crisis at the FTC." As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m.

Persons: Jim Cramer, Stocks, Jim, Donald Trump's, Andrew Ferguson, Apple, Eli Lilly, Ro, Lilly, Myers, Jim Cramer's Organizations: CNBC, Nasdaq, FTC, Biden, Broadcom, Club, Bristol, GE Vernova, Boeing, General Motors, Kroger, Albertsons

☆ Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund in latest step to mend relationship
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-11 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Meta has donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, the company confirmed to CNN. The news comes two weeks after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. It’s a major reversal from nearly four years ago when Meta banned Trump from its platforms after the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Leading up to the election, Zuckerberg had been gradually showing a closer affinity with Trump. Trump has also previously threatened to imprison “election fraudsters,” including Zuckerberg, whom he seemed to reference in a July post on his Truth Social platform.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, Trump, Donald Trump, ”, Tim Cook, Google’s Sundar Pichai, Andy Jassy —, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Meta, CNN, Trump, Mar, Wall Street Journal, Facebook, titans, Republican, CNBC Locations: New York, Menlo Park , California, Meta

☆ SpaceX valuation surges to $350 billion as company buys back stock
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-11 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The valuation of Elon Musk's SpaceX hit $350 billion based on a secondary share sale, CNBC confirmed on Wednesday. SpaceX, as well as investors, agreed to buy stock from insiders in a $1.25 billion purchase offer at $185 a share, according to copies of the offer obtained by CNBC. The company routinely performs these secondary rounds — about twice a year — to give employees and other shareholders a chance to sell stock. The latest valuation represents a 67% surge from SpaceX's previous high of $210 billion, which the company hit through a June secondary share sale. SpaceX's soaring valuation comes as the company furthers its dominant position in the space industry, all while Musk has become an influential figure in the coming presidential administration.

Persons: SpaceX's, Musk Organizations: Boca Chica, Elon, SpaceX, CNBC, U.S ., Falcon Locations: Brownsville , Texas, U.S

The man arrested Monday in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is alleged to have had a type of homemade weapon known as a "ghost gun." Provided to NBC NewsWhat are ghost guns? "Ghost guns" are firearms that can be assembled at home from parts that are bought online. The number of ghost guns recovered rose steadily each of those years, from 1,758 in 2016 to 19,344 in 2021, according to the Justice Department. Over a dozen states have also passed laws regulating ghost guns, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun violence prevention organization.

Persons: Brian Thompson, Luigi Mangione, ”, Joseph Kenny, Kenny, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Biden, Trump Organizations: New York Police Department Chief, NBC News, NBC, of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Justice Department . Technology, Justice Department, ATF, Safety Locations: Altoona , Pennsylvania, Manhattan, Altoona, Pa, Texas

☆ What is a ghost gun? Here's what's being done about the firearms that can be 3D printed and assembled at home.
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-10 | by ( Jordan Hart | Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Police said they found a "ghost gun" on the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect. Ghost guns are untraceable firearms that can be assembled at home, raising safety concerns. Police say a weapon they found on UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect Luigi Mangione could be a 3D printed ghost gun. AdvertisementIn 2022, New York City officials filed a lawsuit against five ghost gun retailers over their sales to residents. In 2023, there was a drop in ghost gun recoveries by police nationwide, Mark Collins, Brady's director of federal policy, said.

Persons: Luigi Mangione, Joe Kenny, Brian Thompson, Mangione, Eric Adams, Kris Brown, Brady, They'll, Brown, Harris, Mark Collins Organizations: Police, New York Police, DOJ, New York City, Business, Biden, Untraceable Firearms Locations: New York

☆ GM is pulling the plug on its robotaxi efforts
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-10 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —General Motors is pulling the plug on its efforts to develop a fleet of driverless taxis and will focus on driver-assistance features that require a driver to be ready to take control of the car, the company said Tuesday. GM faces competition in the robotaxi market from Google’s Waymo unit in partnership with Uber, let alone ride-hailing and taxi services that use human drivers. But GM has decided that’s no longer a sector in which it makes sense to compete. GM CEO Mary Barra told investors Tuesday that the company decided the robotaxi service was not part of GM’s core business, and that shifting its self-driving technology efforts to driver assist features available on privately-owned cars will help with the products it offers to car buyers. “GM is committed to delivering the best driving experiences to our customers in a disciplined and capital efficient manner,” said Barra in a statement.

Persons: “, Uber, Tesla, Mary Barra, ”, “ We’re, Dave Richardson Organizations: New, New York CNN —, Motors, GM Locations: New York, Barra

☆ Rupert Murdoch loses bid to change family trust
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-09 | by ( Brian Stelter | Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Rupert Murdoch cannot amend his family trust to put the power of his media companies in the hands of his chosen successor, a Nevada commissioner has ruled. Rupert Murdoch had wanted to amend his irrevocable family trust, which gives his four eldest children equal voting shares upon his death. Disputes over the family trust have been tearing the family apart, sources previously told CNN. The family trust that Rupert designed a quarter-century ago has been viewed in recent years as a pathway toward potential political change. Rupert Murdoch also decided to petition the Nevada probate trust to amend the trust.

Persons: Rupert Murdoch, Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, Edmund J, Gorman Jr, Rupert, Lachlan, Lachlan –, Prudence, Elisabeth, James, Gorman, Lachlan Murdoch’s, Rupert Murdoch’s, ”, Logan Roy, James ’, Prue, dethrone Lachlan, Bill Barr –, –, Prue Murdoch Organizations: CNN, New York Times, Times, HBO, Fox News, Fox Corp, News Corp Locations: Nevada, Reno , Nevada

In an interview with Kristen Welker, moderator of NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Trump also said he’ll work to extend the tax cuts passed in his first term. Trump said he would fulfill a campaign promise to levy tariffs on imports from America’s biggest trading partners. “Well, I don’t know that you’ll see it at all,” Trump said, adding that health care experts are studying possible alternatives. Foreign policyLater Friday after the interview, Trump flew to Paris for a ceremony marking the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral, which had been devastated by a fire. On another foreign policy front, Trump expressed doubt that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will be able to remain in power.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kristen Welker, ” Trump, Jan, ”, Trump’s, Trump, Welker, “, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, “ I’m, ” He’s, Jeff Bezos, ’ Trump, Joe Biden, Adam Schiff, he’s, Biden, Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Jack Smith, I’m, Jerome Powell, won’t, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, “ I’ll, Melania Trump, flinch, ” It’s, we’ve, who’ve, “ We’re, Kamala Harris, Barack Obama, It’s, Obamacare, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Bashar al, Assad, hasn’t, ‘, ” Welker, MAGA Organizations: U.S . Capitol, NBC, Press, Trump, Social Security, Amazon, The Washington Post, White, FBI, Justice Department, Truth, Federal, West Wing, Democrats, Notre Dame Cathedral, “, NATO Locations: Manhattan, California, U.S, Paris, “, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Democrats and Republicans in Congress worried that Gabbard might leak information to Syria
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-07 | by ( Dan De Luce | Dan De Luce Is A Reporter For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +15 min

The aides were concerned Gabbard might leak the name of the defector, who had hidden his identity out of fear of reprisals from the Assad regime. In the past, Caesar had spoken privately to members of Congress without his face covered when Gabbard was not present. The Assad regime brutally crushed peaceful political protests in 2011, firing on unarmed demonstrators and carrying out mass arrests and torture. As the war intensified, Gabbard’s sympathetic statements about the Russian-backed Assad regime raised eyebrows and alarmed her colleagues. “She basically completely adopted the Assad regime propaganda, where she suggested falsely that the U.S. was supporting terrorist extremists in Syria, and didn’t mention that the Assad regime had been slaughtering fellow Syrians there,” the former official said.

Persons: Assad, Tulsi Gabbard, Bashar al, Caesar, ”, Gabbard, Tulsi doesn’t, Mouaz Moustafa, Donald Trump, Alexa Henning, Donald Trump’s, Henning, Seth Moulton of, nodded, Moustafa, “, ” Moustafa, Josh Rogin, Drew Angerer, ” Henning, Obama, Ryan Grimm, Trump, Republican Sen, James Lankford of, Bashar Assad, we’ll, ” Lankford, Nikki Haley, Gabbard’s, that’s, ” Haley Organizations: House Foreign Affairs, Democratic, Republican, Syrian Emergency, Force, NBC News, Trump, Army Reserve, U.S . House, Representatives, Gabbard, Capitol, Democratic Party, Army National Guard, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Moustafa, ISIS, Washington, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Lebanese Hezbollah, Capitol Hill, U.S, Ambassador, United Nations, Organization for, Chemical Weapons, CNN, United, Republicans, Senate Intelligence, NATO, Sirius XM Locations: Syrian, Damascus, U.S, Russia, Syria, Iranian, Iraq, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Turkish, Gaziantep, Gabbard, Lebanese, Lebanon, United States, Washington, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Carolina, Ukraine

☆ 4 people who bought and sold homes without a traditional real-estate agent break down how and why they did it
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-07 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Some predicted more people would forego hiring traditional real-estate agents for their deals. AdvertisementA 2023 court ruling against the country's biggest association of real-estate agents was expected to transform how Americans buy and sell homes. The majority of Americans hire a traditional real-estate broker to facilitate their transactions. Read on to hear from the four people who bought or sold homes this year via big companies or real-estate startups instead of a traditional agent. According to Kenneth Bloom, who's already sold two properties with Redy, the savings are significant compared to using a traditional real-estate agent.

Persons: brokerages, RISmedia, Redfin, it's, Chelsea Hutchison, Read, Hutchison, Melissa Gonzales, Opendoor, Josh Altman, Redy, Kenneth Bloom, who's, Bloom, he's, —, Sergio Rodriguez, Rodriguez, they'll, TurboHome Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Business, NAR, Opendoor, Realtors Locations: homebuyers, Canby , Oregon, Vegas, Waterford , Michigan, West Bloomfield , Michigan, Atlanta, Dallas, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego, California, California , Texas, Washington

President-elect Donald Trump voiced complete confidence Friday in his pick for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, as he's faced some skepticism from Republican senators concerned with a myriad of allegations against him. “He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense," Trump wrote, adding that Hegseth will be "one who leads with charisma and skill. “Led by President Trump, we’re fighting for Pete Hegseth," Vance posted to X. "And we’re doing so because Pete Hegseth will fight for our troops. But Trump spoke with Hegseth Thursday morning by phone, according to Hegseth, who said the president-elect told him he’s “behind us all the way” and to keep going in the process.

Persons: Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, he's, Trump, Pete, Sen, JD Vance, Ohio, “, President Trump, Vance, Hegseth, ”, haven't, Joni Ernst, Megyn Kelly, Kelly, Ron DeSantis, Ernst, he’s Organizations: Princeton, Harvard University, Defense, Pentagon, Fox News, Trump, Senate, Florida Gov, Mar Locations: Iowa

The board did not directly say it would not vote on disbanding its DEI program, which has reportedly spent $250 million on diversity initiatives since 2016. But members spoke in general terms, warning, “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.”“There are no plans to make any cuts to these programs,” board member Michael Behm said. While there was no vote to defund the program, the decision on faculty diversity statements did alarm proponents of the program. Some states, like Texas and Florida, have banned DEI programs at state-funded universities. Keith Riles, a physics professor at Michigan, said he would like all DEI programs eliminated.

Persons: Michael Behm, University President Santa J, Ono, Mark Bernstein, Sandra Hubbard, “, Yasin Lowe, Nicholas Love, Donald Trump, Keith Riles, ”, Elon Musk, ” Riles Organizations: University of Michigan, Regents, Blue Guarantee, University President Santa, Fox News, New York Times, Michigan Daily, Faculty Senate, DEI, Movement Locations: Michigan, Texas, Florida

WASHINGTON — House lawmakers are expected to vote Thursday whether to compel the Ethics Committee to release its report on an exhaustive, yearslong investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. Two Democrats — Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois and Steve Cohen of Tennessee — on Tuesday offered resolutions focused on the Gaetz report. But no Republicans have stated they want the report released, arguing that the Ethics Committee only has jurisdiction over sitting members of Congress — not ex-members. House Democrats tried to do the same thing in September 1996, pressing the Ethics Committee to release a report from an outside counsel about its investigation of then-Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga. The Ethics Committee released an initial staff report the following December examining allegations that Boner misused campaign funds, failed to disclose gifts and accepted bribes.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, —, Gaetz, Donald Trump's, Trump, Michael Guest, Sean Casten, Steve Cohen, Tennessee, “, Cohen, Newt Gingrich, Bill Boner, Boner, Mark Foley, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republicans, Justice Department, — Rep, Tennessee —, Florida, Trump White House, Senate, GOP Locations: Gaetz, Illinois, Nashville

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