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Once he was sworn in as president, Mr. Trump reimbursed Mr. Cohen. Rather than publish her account, the tabloid suppressed it in cooperation with Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen, prosecutors say. Legal experts say that Mr. Trump and others appear to be at “substantial risk” of prosecution for violating a number Georgia statutes, including the state’s racketeering law. But if she were to prevail at trial, a judge could impose steep financial penalties on Mr. Trump and restrict his business operations in New York. Ms. James’s investigators questioned Mr. Trump under oath in April, and a trial is scheduled for October.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Trump’s, Jack Smith, Alvin L, Bragg, Stormy Daniels, Michael D, Cohen, Daniels, Karen McDougal, McDougal, Brad Raffensperger, Biden’s, —, Emily Kohrs, “ You’re, ”, “, Willis, Jan, Mr . Biden, Smith, Mike Pence, Mark Meadows, Letitia James, Mr, James, Donald Jr, Eric, Jonah E, Rebecca Davis O’Brien, Michael Gold, Michael Rothfeld, Ed Shanahan, Richard Fausset, Ashley Wong Organizations: Capitol, Manhattan, National Enquirer, Mr, ., The New York Times, Justice Department, Trump, Prosecutors, White House, Trump White House, New York, Civil, New Locations: Manhattan, Georgia, . Georgia, Fulton County, United States, Washington, Trump’s, New, New York, Bromwich

☆ Indictment Brings Trump Story Full Circle
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

There was a time, not that long ago really, when Donald J. Trump said he cared about the sanctity of classified information. That, of course, was when his opponent was accused of jeopardizing it and it was a useful political weapon for Mr. Trump. “I’m going to enforce all laws concerning the protection of classified information,” he declared. Even in the what-goes-around-comes-around department of American politics, it is rather remarkable that the issue that helped propel Mr. Trump to the White House in the first place now threatens to ruin his chances of getting back there. The indictment handed up by a federal grand jury at the request of the special counsel Jack Smith effectively brings the Trump story full circle.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Hillary Clinton, “ I’m, ”, ” Mrs, “ disqualifies, Jack Smith, “ Organizations: “, ”, White House, Mr, White

☆ Pence Seeks to Go Where No Vice President Has Gone Before
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“Having a former vice president contest the president he served for their party’s nomination in contested primaries is like a 234-year flood,” said Joel K. Goldstein, a specialist on the vice presidency at the St. Louis University School of Law. The broken relationship between Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence is itself a historical anomaly, of course. “The reason why no other vice president appears to have run against his president is that he was selected by the president, and there is almost always a personal bond stemming from a sense of loyalty and gratitude,” said Richard Moe, who was the chief of staff to Vice President Walter F. Mondale. In 1800, Vice President Thomas Jefferson challenged President John Adams, defeating the incumbent’s bid for a second term. Adams and Jefferson had run against each other in 1796, with Adams prevailing and Jefferson becoming vice president because he was the runner-up.

Persons: ”, Joel K, Goldstein, ” “, don’t, “, Pence, Trump, Joseph R, Biden, Mike Pence ”, Richard Moe, Walter F, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Adams, Jefferson Organizations: St, Louis University School of Law, Electoral College, Mondale, Trump

Within hours in the middle of the night, Mr. Biden consulted his top advisers, called the president of Poland and the NATO secretary general, and gathered fellow world leaders to deal with the crisis. You’re confusing me.” He also drew a blank when asked the last country he had visited and the name of a favorite movie. The complicated reality of America’s oldest president was encapsulated on Thursday as Congress approved a bipartisan deal he brokered to avoid a national default. Even Speaker Kevin McCarthy testified that Mr. Biden had been “very professional, very smart, very tough” during their talks. Yet just before the voting got underway, Mr. Biden tripped over a sandbag at the Air Force Academy commencement, plunging to the ground.

Persons: Biden, “, Joe Bidens, Sharp, Kevin McCarthy, Mr, cringed, pounced Organizations: NATO, Mr, Air Force Academy Locations: Asia, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, NATO, New York, Philadelphia

“Why would Biden say what a good deal it is before the vote?” he asked reporters at one point, referring to himself in the third person. From the start of the clash with Mr. McCarthy’s Republicans, Mr. Biden has followed the instincts he has developed through long, hard and sometimes painful experience. The agreement crafted by Mr. Biden and Mr. McCarthy in the end was a whittled-down version of the original proposals on the table. Image The agreement crafted by Mr. Biden and Mr. McCarthy in the end was a whittled-down version of the original proposals on the table. Even as his allies and even his own White House issued incendiary statements, Mr. Biden acted like the person who has been there before.

Persons: Biden, ”, reticence, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, McCarthy’s, Mr, Jamaal Bowman, Kenny Holston, Biden’s, Ro Khanna, shrugged, —, “, Doug Mills, “ I’ve Organizations: Capitol, White, Democratic, McCarthy’s Republicans, Republicans, Republican Party, ”, New York Times, Congressional, Internal, Service, Twitter Locations: Washington, New York, reining, California

☆ Australia's most decorated soldier loses multiple defamation claims against media who alleged war crimes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In some cases, he found the papers established contextual truth, which is also a defense under Australia’s Defamation Act. “Today is a day of some small justice for the Afghan victims of Ben Roberts-Smith,” said McKenzie. Ali Jan was a husband … He was kicked off a cliff by Ben Roberts-Smith, and he was murdered with Ben Roberts-Smith’s participation. Claims of violent acts committed by elite troops were echoed in the Brereton Report, a four-year investigation into the alleged war crimes in Afghanistan released in November 2020. The responsibility for these atrocities does not end with Ben Roberts-Smith,” he said.

Persons: Australia CNN —, solider, –, Anthony Besanko, Besanko, Ben Roberts, Smith, Roberts, ”, James Chessell, newsrooms, ” Chessell, Peter Bartlett, MinterEllison, “, Nick McKenzie, Chris Masters, McKenzie, “ Ali Jan, Ali Jan, …, ” Besanko, Angus Campbell, Campbell “, unreservedly ”, It’s Organizations: Australia CNN, Federal Court, Sydney Morning Herald, Canberra Times, Australia’s, Cross, SAS, Nine, CNN, Australian, Australian Defence Force Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Afghanistan, Bali , Indonesia, Sydney, “

☆ The Calm Man in the Capital: Biden Lets Others Spike the Ball but Notches a Win
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The president’s approach to the negotiations — and especially their aftermath — reflects a half-century of bargaining in Washington. When someone has been around the track as long as Mr. Biden has, resisting the temptation to spike the ball and claim victory can be critical to actually securing the victory in the first place. From the start of the clash with Mr. McCarthy’s Republicans, Mr. Biden has followed the instincts he has developed through long, hard and sometimes painful experience. In their view, Mr. Biden was too eager to get an accord even at the expense of policy concessions they found anathema and too passive in making the case for the pact once he signed off on it. The who-won debate now raging in Washington could shape the narrative for both parties as they navigate this new era of divided government.

Persons: Biden, McCarthy’s, Mr, ”, Jamaal Bowman Organizations: Senate, McCarthy’s Republicans, Republicans, Republican Party, ” Locations: Washington, New York

☆ New Oral History Peers Back at Obama, His Era and the Tradeoffs He Made
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The first tranche of interviews being made available does not include those of the former president, first lady or other major recognizable figures from the Obama era. Instead, it is tightly focused on one issue that the researchers deemed vital to his presidency, a wonk’s feast of policy discussion rather than a broader look at Mr. Obama himself or his overall eight years in power. As he sucked down his favorite Fiji water, Mr. Obama would tease scientists and engineers. We don’t need to look at any more of those.”The focus on climate change in the first set of interviews also highlighted the larger trade-offs Mr. Obama made between competing priorities. At one point as he was expending all of his influence to pass the Affordable Care Act, he ruefully explained his priorities to Mr. Chu.

Persons: Obama, “, ”, I’m, Steven Chu, Steve, we’ve, We’ve, ruefully, Chu Organizations: “ Energy Locations: Fiji

☆ 'I think the Fed is pausing' rate hikes regardless of jobs report, says Bleakley's Peter Boockvar
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email'I think the Fed is pausing' rate hikes regardless of jobs report, says Bleakley's Peter BoockvarPeter Boockvar, Bleakley Financial Group CIO, joins 'Fast Money' to discuss the upcoming jobs report and a possible pause in rate hikes from the Federal Reserve.

Persons: Bleakley's Peter Boockvar Peter Boockvar Organizations: Bleakley Financial, Federal Reserve

☆ Opinion | The Twists in the Long Debt Drama
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Robert S. CarrollStaten IslandTo the Editor:Once again, we have been subjected to last-minute brinkmanship in the debt limit drama series that never seems to end. Many have argued for the elimination of the debt limit. Why not place a cap on the amount of the debt limit increase? Anything above that would require congressional approval and would have to be considered at the time of approving the budget. Subir MukerjeeOlympia, Wash.To the Editor:Re “Biden Seeks to Woo Allies on Debt Deal,” by Peter Baker (news analysis, front page, May 29):President Biden was faced with a hostage negotiation.

☆ In Pursuit of Consensus, Did Biden Find the Reasonable Middle or Give Away Too Much?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

This is not a moment, however, in which bipartisanship is valued in the way it was when Mr. Biden came up through the Senate in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. “The agreement represents a compromise, which means not everyone gets what they want,” Mr. Biden said in a written statement issued late Saturday night as the deal was being announced. He is banking on the assumption that Americans will appreciate mature leadership that does not gamble with the nation’s economic health. But many on the political left are aggravated that Mr. Biden in their view gave into Mr. McCarthy’s hostage-taking strategy. The president who said the debt ceiling was “not negotiable” ended up negotiating it after all to avoid a national default, barely even bothering with the fiction that talks over spending limits were somehow separate.

☆ Initial Takeaways From the Spending and Debt Ceiling Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached an agreement on Saturday to raise the debt ceiling while imposing new restraints on federal spending. If approved by Congress, it will end a partisan deadlock and avert a potentially devastating national default. The deal will not only resolve the high-octane dispute over debt and spending issues that has gripped Washington for weeks but also enact important changes in environmental permitting, work requirements for social safety-net programs, and Internal Revenue Service tax enforcement. The debt ceiling would be increased until 2025, after the next election. The federal government reached the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling set by law in January, but the Treasury Department has been using various accounting tricks to avoid breaching it.

☆ Wes Anderson, Ken Loach among contenders for Cannes Film Festival's top prize
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] The 76th Cannes Film Festival - Press conference for the film "Asteroid City" in competition - Cannes, France, May 24, 2023. Director Wes Anderson speaks. REUTERS/Yara NardiCANNES, May 27 (Reuters) - Veteran directors Wes Anderson, Ken Loach and Wim Wenders are among those in the running for the Cannes Film Festival's coveted Palme d'Or at Saturday's closing ceremony, with 21 films in competition for the top prize. This year has a record seven female directors in the running for the top prize, which only two women have previously won - Jane Campion in 1993 and Ducournau in 2021. More than 14,000 participants from over 120 countries crowded the film market this year, surpassing 2019's previous peak of 12,500.

President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy spoke by telephone on Saturday evening as White House and congressional Republicans worked feverishly to cement a deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and avert a fiscal crisis. The call took place after Representative Patrick T. McHenry, Republican of North Carolina and one of the lead negotiators, told reporters on Capitol Hill earlier Saturday that the parties were either “hours or days” away from an agreement. Two people close to the talks who insisted on anonymity to discuss the state of play said the conversation between Mr. Biden and Mr. McCarthy — who have not spoken directly since they met at the White House six days ago — would determine whether a final agreement could be reached later Saturday or negotiations would have to continue. “Big, thorny issues remain — some that the president and the speaker have to resolve at that level,” said Mr. McHenry, who has been involved in negotiations for 11 days.

☆ At West Point Commencement, Kamala Harris Says Military’s Strength Lies in Diversity
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday became the first woman to address a graduating class at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and used the opportunity to extol the diversity of the American armed forces at a time of struggle over the military’s identity. In an 18-minute speech, Ms. Harris noted that the nation’s military had evolved in the last 75 years from an institution once dominated by white men to one more open to women and minority groups. While she did not mention the significance of her own historic appearance, her presence at the microphone on the field at West Point in New York spoke for itself. “To the class of 2023 and to all the cadets here today: You stand on the broad shoulders of generations of Americans who have worn the uniform, including many barrier breakers and trailblazers,” Ms. Harris told the graduating cadets in their gray-and-white dress uniforms. “In fact, this year, you celebrate the 75th anniversary of the integration of women in the military, as well as the desegregation of our military.”“These milestones are a reminder of a fundamental truth: Our military is strongest when it fully reflects the people of America,” she continued.

Deutsche swapped billions of euros in securities for cash and government bonds, the sources told Reuters, which count towards its liquidity coverage ratio (LCR). This is meant to determine the extent of a bank's access to ready cash to fund outflows such as depositor withdrawals. The trades caught the attention of European Central Bank (ECB) supervisors, who questioned Germany's largest lender about them during routine exchanges, the sources said. Even without the trades, Deutsche would have far exceeded a 100% LCR regulatory requirement and overshot its own target, the sources said, adding that its liquidity is not a concern. Deutsche's trades helped it raise its LCR to 143% at March 31, its first-quarter earnings report published in April showed.

☆ Streaming services like Hulu, Discovery+, and Disney+ have been ramping up the amount of ads in their shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But in the past year, ad loads have crept up on almost all the top services, per MediaRadar. Now that streaming companies have fallen in love with ads, viewers can expect to see a lot more of them. Discovery+'s ad load grew 69%, to about 5 minutes per hour, while Hulu's jumped 38%, to 7.3 minutes per hour. MediaRadar shared numbers for standard commercial spots, which are the most common form of ads on streaming services. Disney+ Basic and Netflix's Basic with Ads are also increasing their ad loads — which is to be expected, as they're still ramping up.

☆ Biden Sees Coming ‘Thaw’ With China, Even as He Rallies Allies Against Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Peter Baker | David E. Sanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden and his allies spent much of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, announcing new arms packages for Ukraine, including a pathway to providing F-16 fighter planes. They spent hours discussing strategy with President Volodymyr Zelensky for the next phase of a hot war started by Russia. It is far too early to say whether the president’s optimism is based on the quiet signals he has received in behind-the-scenes meetings with the Chinese government in recent weeks. Mr. Biden’s own aides see a struggle underway in China between factions that want to restart the economic relationship with the United States and a far more powerful group that aligns with President Xi Jinping’s emphasis on national security over economic growth. As this weekend showed, China is enormously sensitive to any suggestion that the West is organizing a challenge to Beijing’s growing influence and power.

Mr. Zelensky, American and British officials say, seems to sense that when he shows up in person, he can both break through American resistance to sending more powerful weapons and pressure nations like India and Brazil that have stayed on the sidelines. Even before he arrived, Mr. Zelensky had won a significant victory. Mr. Biden met with the other leaders of the so-called Quad — Australia, India and Japan — on Saturday night. Mr. Zelensky will also meet with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan on Sunday, the Kyodo News agency reported. The G7 leaders have already pledged at the summit to toughen punishments on Moscow and redouble efforts to choke off funding for its war.

HIROSHIMA, Japan — President Biden and other leaders of the world’s major industrial democracies rallied around Ukraine on Sunday with vows of resolute support and promises of further weapons shipments even as Russian forces claimed to have seized full control of a bitterly contested city. Mr. Biden and his counterparts figuratively and, in some cases, literally wrapped their arms around President Volodomyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who made an audacious journey halfway around the world from his ravaged homeland to Hiroshima, Japan, to solicit aid for the first time in person from the Group of 7 powers at their annual summit. “Together with the entire G7, we have Ukraine’s back, and I promise we’re not going anywhere,” Mr. Biden told Mr. Zelensky while announcing another $375 million in artillery, ammunition and other arms for Ukraine. At a later news conference, Mr. Biden voiced defiance of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. “I once more shared and assured President Zelensky, together with all G7 members and our allies and partners around the world, that we will not waver,” he said.

Russia’s claim of victory in Bakhmut suggests that the brutal urban combat that marked the deadliest battle of its war in Ukraine might be over. Those gains will allow Ukrainian troops to continue raining artillery on Russian forces trying to hold Bakhmut, according to Ukrainian officials. A battle on May 6 breached Russian lines south of the village of Ivanivske and forced Russian soldiers into a disorganized retreat. Image Ukrainian soldiers west of Bakhmut after rotating out of the city, this month. A Russian capture of Bakhmut “will mean nothing, actually,” predicted Colonel Serhiy Hrabsky, a commentator on the war for the Ukrainian news media.

☆ Russia’s Latest Sanctions on U.S. Officials Turn to Trump Enemies
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Russia has expanded its list of sanctioned Americans in a tit-for-tat retaliation for the latest curbs imposed by the United States. But what is particularly striking is how much President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia is adopting perceived enemies of former President Donald J. Trump as his own. Brad Raffensperger, the secretary of state of Georgia who rebuffed Mr. Trump’s pressure to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election, also made the list. None of those three has anything to do with Russia policy and the only reason they would have come to Moscow’s attention is because Mr. Trump has publicly assailed them. He also refused to commit to supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia if he is elected president again, saying instead he would seek to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow.

☆ Roberto Firmino: Liverpool great in tears after final match at Anfield
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

But even a draw couldn’t dampen the emotion of the occasion as Firmino was reduced to tears by the crowd’s tribute to him. Liverpool fans waved jerseys and cries of “Si Senor” reverberated around Anfield while Firmino’s teammates formed a guard of honor for him and other departing players, including James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita. Peter Byrne/PA Images/Getty Images“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win, it wasn’t the result that you want,” Firmino said afterwards, according to Liverpool’s official website. As for every player, it’s the same,” Firmino said, according to the club’s website. Without my teammates, my family, the manager, you cannot do this.

☆ After a Show-Stopping Entrance at the G7, Zelensky Pleads for More Aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( David E. Sanger | Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine landed in Japan on Saturday determined to urge the wealthiest democracies in the world to stick with him as Moscow bets on the West growing fatigued by the cost and consequences of the war. He was dressed in his signature hoodie, standing out from the coat-and-tie diplomatic crowd of this annual summit meeting. Mr. Zelensky, American and British officials say, seems to sense that when he shows up in person, he can both break through American resistance to sending more powerful weapons and pressure nations like India and Brazil that have stayed on the sidelines. His presence could make it more difficult for them to maintain their stance as fence sitters, several officials said. And even as Mr. Zelensky consulted with countries already in his corner, he sat down with Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, to make his case for support, much as he had done earlier in the week in Saudi Arabia.

☆ Biden Voices Optimism on Debt Talks Despite Sharp Statements by Both Sides
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Each side, he indicated, needs to take a firm stand in order to extract the best deal for itself. That, he added, did not mean they could not eventually get to a consensus. The White House has essentially cleared the president’s schedule for next week, presumably to allow for further talks. But his comments to reporters on Saturday left a mixed set of messages in just a matter of hours. But she denied that the White House was more pessimistic, using the word “optimistic” 14 times during her briefing.

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