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☆ Treasury investigates whether Florida used Covid aid to fly migrants to Martha's Vineyard
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Migrants gather after being flown in from Texas on a flight funded by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at Edgartown, Massachusetts, September 15, 2022. Treasury's Office of Inspector General is investigating whether Florida improperly used pandemic relief funds to fly Venezuelan migrants to the haughty resort island of Martha's Vineyard. They said the Florida Republican's $12 million relocation program is funded in part by interest earned off of the aid. Treasury's Deputy Inspector General, Richard Delmar, told the state Democratic members his office has already asked Florida for information about the state's use of that money. "I applaud the swift response from the Treasury's Office of the Inspector General," he said.

☆ The Treasury Department’s internal watchdog is looking into how DeSantis paid for migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

An internal government watchdog is looking into whether Florida misused federal funds to pay for migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, last month under a program backed by Gov. Delmar also said the inspector general’s office would review what restrictions are in place for using the money, including interest earned, for immigration-related activities. Markey, who was among the group that signed on to the Sept. 16 letter demanding a probe, applauded the inspector general in a statement Wednesday. DeSantis has insisted that no laws were broken and pledged to continue his administration’s $12 million program to relocate migrants. "Reviews by Treasury are typical and, as stated by the OIG, are ‘part of its oversight responsibilities.’”NBC News has asked the Treasury Department for comment.

☆ U.S. Treasury probing misuse of federal funds for DeSantis's migrant flights
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury is investigating whether Florida Governor Ron DeSantis improperly used federal funds to pay for flights transporting migrants from Texas to Massachusetts, the department confirmed in a letter to U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday. Democratic Senator Ed Markey and other federal lawmakers from Massachusetts sent a letter to the Treasury shortly after the flights, asking it to examine whether DeSantis used interest from federal COVID-19 loans to pay for the flights. Investigators will rule on whether Florida used interest from the fund for the flights and whether this is permitted, Delmar said, adding they "will get this work underway as quickly as possible." A Texas county sheriff last month opened a criminal investigation into the flights. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Moira Warburton in Washington; Editing by Scott Malone and Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Fact Check-Long, unrelated video provides no evidence Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Biden should be impeached
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

There is no evidence that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said U.S. President Joe Biden should be impeached, contrary to a video posted on Facebook. Its description reads: "’Biden Should Be Impeached’: Congress ERUPTS As DeSantis HUMILIATES Hunter Biden to his Face.” Another version was shared on YouTube (here). The first clip shows DeSantis speaking on Sept. 16, 2022 about migrants in Martha’s Vineyard. Neither clip shows DeSantis calling for Biden to be impeached and Reuters did not find any evidence that he said this. There is no evidence that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said U.S. President Joe Biden should be impeached.

☆ Minnesota candidate on coming out as queer midcampaign: 'I felt it was important'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Julie Moreau | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Moriarty, a candidate for Hennepin County attorney — whose jurisdiction includes Minneapolis — came out as queer on the campaign trail in January. “It could be a risky thing, coming out publicly during the campaign, but I felt it was important,” Moriarty told NBC News. She spent over three decades as a public defender in Hennepin County, and in 2014 she became the county’s first female chief public defender. “I had been talking about race and the policies of the current public attorney. I got accused of calling a justice partner a racist in public.”Moriarty wasn’t reappointed as chief public defender after that, she said.

☆ Tens of thousands likely jobless after Hurricane Ian, economists say
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Martha C. White For Cnn Business | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Although the damage is still being tallied, early estimates indicate that Ian could be the most costly hurricane to make landfall in Florida. In the short term, a spike in jobless claims is almost inevitable, economists say: “Hurricane Harvey in Texas prompted a rise of about 50,000 in August of 2017,” noted Mike Englund, chief economist at Action Economics. A view of the destroyed road between Florida's Matlacha and Pine Island after Hurricane Ian. “Katrina was a much more damaging storm, and impacted Louisiana, which is much less affluent than Florida,” Zandi said. A powerboat lies atop a pile of debris two days after the passage of Hurricane Ian, in Fort Myers, Florida.

☆ Anxiety: Influential task force recommends screening kids 8 and older
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Naomi Thomas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —For the first time, the US Preventive Services Task Force has recommended screening for anxiety in children 8 and older. In its final recommendations, published Tuesday in the medical journal JAMA, the task force also urged screening for depression in children 12 and older, consistent with recommendations from 2016. The members considered recommendations on screening for suicide risk in children and adolescents but said there’s not enough evidence on its harms and benefits. Last month, the task force posted draft recommendations that for the first time said adults under 65 be screened for anxiety. “It is not coincidental that the USPSTF considered evidence for suicide and depression screening in the same updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review,” he wrote.

☆ GOP makes push to weaken Democrats’ grip on Texas border
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Greg Abbott, kicking off a rally in the Texas border city of Harlingen. Border Democrats say dramatic moves to bus and fly migrants across the country will backfire with voters, but also acknowledge they can no longer coast into office. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, a South Texas Democrat, switched districts to more favorable territory and is hoping to unseat her for a full term in November. Nikki Haley is set to campaign with Flores and de la Cruz on the border Monday — an unusual display of national GOP political force for South Texas. It also has a record 32 Hispanic Republican nominees on House ballots around the country, although many are underdogs.

☆ In a new ad, Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis attempts to share a softer, rarely-seen side of Ron DeSantis, skipping any mention of Trump, a potential 2024 rival
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis starred in a new ad for her husband's campaign. She details how her husband took care of her when she had breast cancer. The ad is a sharp contrast to DeSantis' gubernatorial bid six years ago when Casey DeSantis and the DeSantis children starred in a cheeky campaign ad highlighting then-President Donald Trump's support. Casey DeSantis is widely known among political circles to be her husband's top confidante and to have a significant impact on his career. The new ad featuring Casey DeSantis attempts to show a softer side of the governor that is rarely on public display.

“This looks and smells like human trafficking,” said Ariadna Phillips, a New York community organizer with South Bronx Mutual Aid. On Tuesday, DeSantis said at a news conference that three of four people arrested last week for "ransacking" communities following Hurricane Ian were illegal immigrants who should be immediately deported. Remembering "horror stories" of immigrants not being paid for work or being deported following previous natural disasters, Phillips rushed to Queens. "Promises are often not kept to these workers," said Saket Soni, executive director of Resilience Workforce, a New Orleans group that advocates for and monitors migrant workers following natural disasters. In the days following Ian, Resilience Workforce deployed staff members to Florida to observe work conditions on the ground.

☆ GOP Gov. Larry Hogan called Republican governors DeSantis and Abbott busing migrants a 'terrible idea' and a stunt to 'get on TV'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-09 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Larry Hogan criticized southern governors who have sent migrants to other states. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Larry Hogan criticized Governors Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott for their "terrible idea" of relocating migrants from southern states. Hogan added that DeSantis was inspired to fly migrants to northern states after Abbott started busing them in April. Abbott was doing it in Texas, he went to Texas and grabbed 50 people and sent them to Martha's Vineyard as a publicity stunt," Hogan said.

☆ A former Shopify exec is taking a page out of the e-commerce company's playbook to build planning software for parents
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-05 | by ( Madeline Stone | Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

With Maple, parents can create and assign tasks like paying the bills, planning a family trip or birthday party, and doing chores. "The next Martha Stewart is going to be made on Maple," Perry said. For example, a Disney aficionado created a guide for visiting Disneyland that parents planning a trip could find within the Maple app's browser. "Planning the trips, planning for summer camp, planning for Disneyland, planning the week's meals, the college financial planning — whatever they're planning, there is a family in need of that same exact information." The Shopify App Store, which has more than 7,000 apps geared toward online sellers, also provided some inspiration for Perry.

☆ Our lawsuit against DeSantis over his migrant political stunt is a chance to reflect
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Oscar Chacón | Oscar Chacón Is The Executive Director Of | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Ron DeSantis flew to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, in a political stunt. Our organization is a network of groups that help immigrants achieve a sustainable way of life throughout the Americas. Ultimately, the Martha’s Vineyard case is an opportunity to reflect on how we can do better, honoring the critical role migrants play in bettering our nation. Overall, our immigration laws are obsolete and impractical. The Martha’s Vineyard lawsuit is a chance for us to revisit the conversation about whether we are truly prepared to honor our promise of being a country that welcomes immigrants.

☆ Gavin Newsom says Ron DeSantis broke state laws by flying migrants to Martha's Vineyard: 'It's sick'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gavin Newsom said Ron DeSantis broke state laws "by every definition" when he flew migrants to Martha's Vineyard. DeSantis transported the migrants in a political stunt to protest President Joe Biden's border policies. Ron DeSantis broke state laws "by every definition" when he flew migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard as part of a political stunt to protest President Joe Biden's border policies. Newsom, who has a long-running feud with DeSantis, said the Florida Republican broke laws relating to the use of state dollars for that purpose. Newsom asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate whether the transport of migrants to Martha's Vineyard "under false pretenses" broke federal laws.

☆ Analysis: Gaffe or insight? Deciphering Biden's unguarded answers
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to reporters as he departs for Boston from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., September 12, 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden's tendency to ad-lib in impromptu press situations is often referred to in Washington as his "gaffe" problem. After Biden spoke on defending Taiwan in a CBS News "60 Minutes" interview this month, officials quickly said that U.S. policy towards Taiwan is unchanged. His apparent willingness to commit U.S. forces to a battle in Taiwan clears up a long-standing disconnect in U.S. policy towards Taiwan. While Biden's off-the-cuff remarks sometimes reveal deeper truths about his policy or opinions, other times they are simply misleading.

☆ From DeSantis to Trump, last week defined Republican Party in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Kurt Bardella | Kurt Bardella Is An Adviser To The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee | A Member Of The Korean Americans For Political Action Board Of Advisers. He Is A Former Spokesperson | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Ron DeSantis, using human beings as political props for a craven publicity stunt designed to stoke right-wing outrage toward migrants. Then, the current Republican Party standard-bearer found himself in even more legal hot water after the New York attorney general's lawsuit alleging Trump and his eldest children committed fraud. During climate week, Democratic Govs. The GOP has had other bad weeks in the past — and so has the Democratic Party. I left the ranks of the Republican Party because I was worried it had fundamentally lost its way.

☆ A man who helped get migrants on DeSantis flights to Martha's Vineyard says he feels betrayed: 'I never ever, ever knew it was a governor' behind the stunt
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A man who helped recruit migrants to get on flights bound for Martha's Vineyard says he feels betrayed. "I have nothing to do with the deception," the man, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told CNN. Dozens of migrants were flown to Martha's Vineyard in a move planned by Florida Gov. She also gave the man $10 McDonald's gift certificates to give to those who agreed to get on the planes, the man told CNN. An attorney representing a group of the migrants told Insider last week that the immigrants have been left "traumatized" by the stunt.

☆ Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's aides were 'annoyed' by DeSantis' migrant stunt: NYT
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Aides to Greg Abbott were annoyed by Ron DeSantis' migrant stunt, according to The New York Times. DeSantis reportedly didn't tell anyone in Abbott's office about the plan ahead of time. Ron DeSantis ticked off more than just Democrats with his Martha's Vineyard migrant stunt earlier this month. The Sunshine State leader's scheme left several Texas Republicans peeved, according to The New York Times — including members of Texas Gov. Abbott's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

☆ Gov. Ron DeSantis says 'my phone line is open' if Biden wants to call about Hurricane Ian: 'We don't have time for pettiness'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyMIAMI, Florida — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that he would be receptive to a phone call from President Joe Biden about the Hurricane Ian as it closes in on his state. The White House confirmed earlier in the day that Biden hadn't called, but repeatedly dodged questions about why. Biden raised the calls during an event in the White House the Rose Garden but did not mention DeSantis. It's possible he will challenge Biden for president in 2024, particularly if former President Donald Trump doesn't seek the White House again.

☆ Biden has called three Florida mayors — but not Gov. Ron DeSantis — to talk about Hurricane Ian
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The federal government is providing aid, but Biden hasn't called DeSantis. Ron DeSantis of Florida about the state's forthcoming hurricane. Criswell on Tuesday repeatedly dodged questions about why Biden hadn't called DeSantis, instead stressing that FEMA worked quickly to support Florida. Presidents and governors typically hold a phone call at a time of natural disasters so presidents can offer federal support and bipartisanship. DeSantis said Sunday that the Biden administration had been supportive regarding hurricane preparation measures.

☆ Consumers are growing more optimistic about the US economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Martha C. White For Cnn Business | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Consumer confidence rose for a second straight month in September, as moderating gas prices and the hope that inflationary pressures might be easing helped lift the nation’s collective mood. The Conference Board reported on Tuesday that its baseline index rose to 108 from a revised 103.6 in August. The reading comes as welcome news, since the consumer outlook lately has been buffeted by the growing fear of an economic downturn. The consumer confidence index is just one constellation of data points economists and investors will have to digest this week. Barring an upward revision that finds the economy expanded instead of contracted, American economic activity will have fallen for two consecutive quarters, a commonly used — although unofficial — yardstick to indicate that the country is in a recession.

☆ GCash, other Asian e-wallets to expand into S.Korea with Ant's Alipay+
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/BEIJING, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Ant Group (688688.SS) said on Monday it would help four Asian e-wallets, including the Philippines' GCash and Malaysia's Touch'n Go expand into South Korea with its cross-border payment service Alipay+, as travel restrictions begin to lift across Asia. Launched in 2020, Alipay+ provides services and technology tools to global merchants and e-wallets that enable them to offer their users the ability to make payments in overseas markets with their local e-wallets. Earlier this month, south korea ended pre-departure COVID-19 test requirement for overseas travellers, in step with Japan and other countries that also removed it. In June, Alipay+ had enabled Malaysia's Touch'n Go users to pay with the e-wallet in Singapore. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Yingzhi Yang and Brenda Goh; Editing by Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The UK’s ‘Trussonomics’ crashes the pound and leaves investors shaking their heads
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Here’s the deal: The British pound tumbled to a record low against the US dollar on Monday as investors around the world dumped UK assets. For the first time in history, the pound is on track to hit parity with the dollar before the end of the year. Part of the pressure on the pound comes from the strong dollar, which has gotten a boost from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes. But the pound is also falling against the euro, signaling broader concerns about the UK’s financial health. “This is a painful reminder that economic policy is not a game,” said Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, a think tank that focuses on boosting living standards for low- to middle-income households.

☆ Hurricane Ian barrels toward Florida's Gulf Coast, canceling Biden rally and bringing Ron DeSantis his biggest storm test as governor
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency in Florida as the response kicks into high gear. "We know we are going to have some major impacts throughout the state of Florida," said DeSantis, a Republican. DeSantis' emergency declaration also allows Floridians to bypass typical time limits on prescriptions and stock up early. In a press conference Monday afternoon in Largo, Florida, state Attorney General Ashley Moody reminded businesses that Florida law prohibits them from price gouging supplies people will need. "Our entire county is going to feel some type of impact," Cathie Perkins, director of Pinellas County Emergency Management, said at the Largo press conference.

☆ While DeSantis was flying legal asylum seekers to Martha's Vineyard, business owners in his state are struggling for workers
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Which is why some business owners in Florida were perplexed when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sent legal asylum seekers from San Antonio, Texas, to Martha’s Vineyard on two flights earlier this month. Asylum seekers are legally able to work in the United States while they await their asylum cases. Whether the asylum seekers intended to go to Florida or not, business owners there are signaling they would welcome them. Florida granted 7,101 asylum seekers permanent political asylum status between 2018-2020, just behind California and New Jersey. Gautam believes if more asylum seekers are granted permanent status, it will be “a game changer” for the longevity of his business and workforce.

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