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“I’m not doing that good,” Lt. Ridge Alkonis wrote in a letter dated April 30, which was shared with CNN. “The walls and bars seem to be making my cell even smaller as of late.”“I feel closer to an animal than a human being now,” Ridge Alkonis wrote. “That was the most dejected I’ve ever heard him,” his wife, Brittany Alkonis, told CNN on Thursday. As such, despite her hope for positive movement coming out the G7 trip to Hirsoshima, Brittany Alkonis said she does not have high expectations of a resolution. But based on Japan’s response, it doesn’t seem that they do think it’s a big deal,” Brittany Alkonis said.

“Please note, however, that the subpoena remains in full force and effect, and the acceptance of this accommodation does not waive any of the Committee’s rights regarding the subpoena," McCaul wrote. McCaul had scheduled a committee meeting next week to consider a contempt of Congress charge against Blinken over his refusal to release the cable despite the subpoena. In his letter, McCaul said he still wanted every member of the foreign affairs committee to be able to view the cable, something the State Department has resisted to protect the integrity of its dissent channel system. McCaul is investigating the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on McCaul's letter.

☆ Florida passes bill to prevent billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos being sued if their mega-rockets kill or injure people
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Florida passed a bill protecting space companies in case of injury or death of a crew member. The bill comes as more billionaires are trying to make commercial space flight a reality. Passengers will have to sign a waiver stating they understand the risks of spaceflight before boarding a spaceship, the bill states. Jeff Sharkey, a lobbyist representing SpaceX, also stood in support of the bill at a March 26 hearing, per Florida Politics. Still, the bill doesn't abrogate space companies from all responsibility.

☆ How the debt ceiling showdown could play into China’s hands and weaken US global power
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

One way to raise the debt ceiling might be to build a coalition of Republicans and moderate Democrats to isolate the extremists in his own party. “I cannot in good conscience support a debt ceiling proposal that pushes people into poverty,” Fetterman said. The length of a debt ceiling raise could also be an issue. Many Democrats want a deal that pushes the politically perilous need to raise the debt ceiling past the next election. Potentially, both chambers could vote on a short-term extension to raise the debt ceiling to allow time for more negotiations.

☆ House Republicans have successfully quashed an effort to hold a vote on expelling George Santos — for now.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

House Republicans successfully quashed an effort to hold a vote on expelling George Santos. But Republicans moved to refer it to the House Ethics Committee, effectively tabling it for now. Even House Republicans from New York — some of the strongest intraparty critics of Santos — voted for the referral resolution. There's also the political reality that McCarthy can ill afford to lose a reliable vote: Republicans hold the chamber by a four-vote margin, and McCarthy's grasp of the speaker's gavel depended on Santos in January. In the meantime, the criminally charged congressman will continue to serve as a loyal vote for Republicans.

☆ Lawmakers in three states consider abortion bans at 12 weeks or less
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Julia Harte | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In North Carolina, the Republican-controlled state Senate voted to override Democratic Governor Roy Cooper's veto of a bill banning most abortions after 12 weeks. The state House was expected to override the veto later on Tuesday evening. Near-total abortion bans have taken effect in 14 states since the Supreme Court ruling, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights advocacy research group. The bill under consideration by the state House on Tuesday was a heavily amended version of that measure. Democratic lawmakers last week filed 1,000 amendments to the House version, ensuring that debate would last for dozens of hours, since lawmakers may speak for six minutes for and against each amendment.

☆ Biden may be punishing Alabama for its harsh abortion law by preventing the Space Command headquarters from relocating to the state
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The White House may be walking back a decision to relocate the US Space Command headquarters to Alabama. "This is all about abortion politics," one official told NBC. Space Command is a department of the Air Force that protects the United States and its allies "in, from, and to space." "The belief is they are delaying any move because of the abortion issue," another US official told NBC, referring to the Biden administration. A White House official told Insider that laws regarding reproductive health were not considered in the decision-making process, questioning the accuracy of NBC's reporting.

☆ Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert files for divorce from husband of nearly 2 decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert confirmed that she filed for divorce from her husband Jayson. The Colorado Sun first reported that Boebert filed for the separation from her husband, Jayson, late last month. According to an affidavit, when Jayson Boebert was served with the petition he became "extremely angry." In her statement, Boebert said that she will not "discuss this matter any further in public" in deference to their kids. The Republican previously announced that her oldest son, Tyler, is about to have a son, making her a 36-year-old grandmother.

The White House has not ruled out the annual spending caps that Republicans say must accompany any increase in the nation's $31.4 trillion debt limit. Republicans, who control the House, have said they will not vote to raise the debt ceiling unless Democrats agree to sharp spending cuts. BUDGET TALKSBiden has insisted that Congress must increase the country's borrowing capacity without conditions, but the White House says it is also willing to discuss budget matters with House Republicans. House Republicans passed legislation in April that pairs a $1.5 trillion debt-ceiling hike with $4.8 trillion in spending cuts, largely achieved by cutting annual discretionary spending by 8% next year and capping growth in the years to come. The White House and Republicans may agree to ease permitting requirements for pipelines and other energy infrastructure - though that would require time to draft into legislation, said Brian Riedl, a fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute.

The White House has not ruled out the annual spending caps that Republicans say must accompany any increase in the nation's $31.4 trillion debt limit. Republicans, who control the House, for their part, are not insisting on other conditions that the White House has deemed off limits, such as a repeal of the green-energy incentives in Biden's Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Biden told reporters on Sunday that he thought both sides wanted to reach a deal. "I still think we're far apart," McCarthy told reporters. BUDGET TALKSBiden has insisted that Congress must increase the country's borrowing capacity without conditions, but the White House says it is also willing to discuss budget matters with House Republicans.

Biden told reporters on Sunday that he thought both sides wanted to reach a deal. Staff from the two camps met through the weekend for talks that White House officials described as constructive. Republicans say there is plenty of time. Biden has insisted that Congress must increase the country's borrowing capacity without conditions, but the White House says it is also willing to discuss budget matters with Republicans who control the House of Representatives. The longer the two sides take to reach a deal, the smaller it is likely to be, he said.

☆ Debt ceiling worries deepen as early June U.S. default reinforced
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Richard Cowan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office report, issued Friday morning, confirms Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's earlier warnings that a default could come as early as June 1. Congress' budget scorekeeper also noted that the federal government's debt payments "will remain uncertain throughout May, even if the Treasury ultimately runs out of funds in early June." She also said she remained optimistic that the debt limit problem would be resolved. A senior Treasury official told Reuters she would do that with board members of the Bank Policy Institute lobby group. Democratic Representative Abigail Spanberger said members of the U.S. Congress ought to have their paychecks withheld until the debt limit problem is resolved.

But some areas of potential compromise emerged after a White House meeting on Tuesday. Deep disagreements remained over competing pressures for spending cuts versus tax increases. Meanwhile, the White House reiterated its backing for legislation speeding government permitting of energy projects by setting maximum timelines. House and Senate Republicans, meanwhile, have said they will not authorize any additional borrowing without an agreement to cut future spending. The last time the nation got this close to default was in 2011 - also with a Democratic president and Senate with a Republican-led House.

Time is tight to avoid a historic, economically destabilizing default, which the Treasury Department has warned could come as soon as June 1, but some areas of potential compromise emerged after a Tuesday White House meeting. Deep disagreements remained over competing pressures for spending cuts versus tax increases. Meanwhile, the White House reiterated its backing for legislation speeding government permitting of energy projects by setting maximum timelines. A White House fact sheet distributed on Wednesday said the administration "supports the important reforms" contained in a bill by Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. House and Senate Republicans, meanwhile, have said they will not authorize any additional borrowing without an agreement to cut spending.

☆ Members of George Santos' own party are done with him, saying he's 'an embarrassment' and they're 'surprised he's still here'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Members of George Santos' own party have called on him to step aside. Santos turned himself in to federal authorities on Wednesday and has been charged with 13 criminal counts. The nation's focusing on solutions that matter, not George Santos." "I'm surprised he's still here," Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican, told CNN. George Santos turned himself in to federal authorities on Wednesday and has been charged with 13 crimes, including money laundering, theft of public funds, and wire fraud.

☆ House Republican Report Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing by President Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Luke Broadwater | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After four months of investigation, House Republicans who promised to use their new majority to unearth evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden acknowledged on Wednesday that they had yet to uncover incriminating material about him, despite their frequent insinuations that he and his family have been involved in criminal conduct and corruption. Republicans described the transactions as proof of “influence peddling” by Mr. Biden’s family, including his son Hunter Biden, and referenced some previously known, if unflattering, details of the younger Mr. Biden’s business dealings. lawmakers also produced material suggesting that President Biden and his allies had at times made misleading statements in their efforts to push back aggressively against accusations of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden. But on Wednesday, the Republicans conceded that they had yet to find evidence of a specific corrupt action Mr. Biden took in office in connection with any of the business deals his son entered into. lawmakers have made in finding clear evidence of questionable transactions they can tie to Mr. Biden, their chief political rival.

☆ George Santos Is Charged With Fraud and Lying in 13-Count Indictment
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Grace Ashford | Michael Gold | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — For months, Representative George Santos seemed to possess a Teflon-like resistance to repercussions, even as questions mounted over his income, campaign finances and rags-to-riches life story. Mr. Santos, a first-term Republican representing Long Island and Queens, gave numerous speeches on the House floor and appeared to relish his growing notoriety. But on Wednesday, Mr. Santos was confronted with consequences that may prove difficult to skirt. Appearing before a judge and scores of assembled reporters in a federal courthouse in Central Islip, Mr. Santos pleaded not guilty on all charges. Sitting upright, with his arms crossed before him, Mr. Santos, 34, was polite and deferential, cutting a familiar figure in his trademark outfit of sweater beneath a navy blazer.

Rep. Santos is in federal custody after turning himself in on Wednesday as he faces numerous charges. Santos is being charged on 13 total counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds. He is being charged with 13 counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds. Federal prosecutors accused Santos — the embattled GOP lawmaker who's admitted to lying about his resume — of stealing supporters' money, illegally taking unemployment payouts, and lying to Congress. The congressman was taken into custody in Melville on Long Island, before being transported to a federal courthouse in Central Islip, per CNN.

☆ George Santos took unemployment for a year during the COVID pandemic despite having a $120K a year job at an investment firm, feds say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Chris Panella | Brent D. Griffiths | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

GOP Rep. George Santos took unemployment during COVID-19 while working a $120k investment job, prosecutors say. Federal prosecutors allege Santos illegally received unemployment benefits while working at an investment firm. According to court documents, Santos "applied to receive unemployment insurance benefits through the New York State Department of Labor" in June 2020. In his application, Santos "falsely claimed to have been unemployed since the week of March 22, 2020," prosecutors wrote. Santos "certified his continued eligibility for unemployment benefits on a weekly basis" from June 19, 2020, to April 15, 2021, prosecutors alleged.

☆ Embattled Republican Rep. George Santos to face federal charges -CNN
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Santos is expected to appear as soon as Wednesday in federal court in New York's Eastern District, where charges have been filed under seal, CNN reported. The Associated Press reported that in a brief phone interview Santos said he was unaware of the charges. Santos' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and his lawyer could not immediately be reached. CNN reported that the exact nature of the charges against Santos were not immediately clear. Santos' office, through his congressional Twitter account, has previously said he is cooperating with the House Ethics Committee's investigation.

☆ Utah changed its state flag to honor Mormon work ethic — but it was a total flop. Now, even the state's governor admitted he 'should have known better.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Utah's new flag design is ruffling feathers, and people are already trying to replace it. Spencer Cox said that he should "have known better" that the new flag would be unpopular. Brandon Beckham, a member of Utah's Republican party central committee, told the Journal that the new design is "just a logo." "The original Utah flag has built in its ideals that are true to the founding of the state that are linked to history," Beckham told the Journal. Ryan Woods, a conservative drag performer known as Lady MAGA USA, said the change flies in the face of history.

Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against Rep. George Santos, CNN and ABC reported Tuesday. A rep for Santos didn't respond to Insider's request for comment. Santos was previously found to have lied about his background during his campaign. CNN reported they were filed under seal and that the New York congressman is expected to appear in federal court as soon as Wednesday. But the revelations about Santos' background convinced many Long Islanders — including local Republicans who had backed his candidacy — to call for his resignation.

☆ Rep. Nancy Mace says people want to see her Jell-O wrestle with Marjorie Taylor Greene
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Reps. Nancy Mace and Marjorie Taylor Greene have a history of publicly beefing with each other. Mace reportedly joked to a colleague that people only want to see the two "wrestling in Jell-O." download the app 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 PolicyRep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina once joked to a colleague that people want to see her Jell-O wrestle with fellow Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. In 2021, Mace went as far as to call Greene "batshit crazy" in a series of emojis after Greene referred to her as "trash." "The only thing people want to see of me and Marjorie is if we're wrestling in Jell-O."

☆ Why Joe Biden Should Not Negotiate With Kevin McCarthy on the Debt Ceiling - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Daniel Pfeiffer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

When President Biden meets with congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday, he will most likely reiterate his position that Congress should pass a bill lifting the debt ceiling without negotiations or conditions. A poll from Echelon Insights showed that voters support the idea of negotiating over the debt limit. But from the perspective of someone who had a front-row seat inside the White House to the last two debt-limit standoffs between a Democratic president and a Republican House, Mr. Biden’s refusal to negotiate on the debt ceiling is the best strategy. The president must know that Mr. McCarthy is not a negotiating partner who can be trusted to deliver. The speaker’s fate is in the hands of representatives — including many House Freedom Caucus members — who have shown very little willingness for compromise or good-faith negotiation.

☆ Texas lawmaker, who previously said drag queen story hours would sexualize children, should be expelled for sexual misconduct with a teenage intern, committee says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Texas legislative committee recommended a lawmaker be expelled for inappropriate conduct, per the Associated Press. The committee report said GOP Rep. Bryan Slaton, 45, had sex with a 19-year-old intern. Slaton and his attorney did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on Sunday, but his attorneys previously called the claims "outrageous" and "false," the AP reported. "Children don't need to be focused on sex and sexualization," he said in an interview last year, the AP previously reported. The intern was "really dizzy" and had "split vision," the committee report found.

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