DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

RALEIGH, N.C. – The 2024 election promises to feature several major battlegrounds, but for sheer breadth of competitive contests, North Carolina next year will be hard to beat. Recent presidential contests in North Carolina have been close: In 2020, Donald Trump won North Carolina by about 74,000 votes out of more than 5.5 million cast. In other words, in 2024, North Carolina will be one of the centers of the political universe – important in part because it’s a uniquely competitive state. “North Carolina has proved to be a purple state, but not necessarily a swing state,” says Cooper, the political scientist. For the better part of two decades, Georgia, like North Carolina, had voted consistently Republican in key federal races – until 2020.

Persons: Donald Trump, Tricia Cotham, Roy Cooper, Cooper, Josh Stein, Mark Robinson, Stein, Robinson, ”, Chris Cooper, Kay Hagan, Barack Obama, Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, Biden, Warnock, Republican George W, Bush, Gore, Charlotte don’t, Al Gore, Charlotte, “ There’s, “, Mac McCorkle, Rachel Salzberg, Carolina’s Cooper, don’t, Anderson Clayton, ” Anderson, –, Rob Schofield, Clayton, Ferrel Guillory, Robinson doesn’t, Dale Folwell, Mark Walker, Andy Wells, Jesse Thomas, he’s, Michael Bitzer, sidestepped Cooper’s, Robinson’s, McCorkle, ” John Hood, John William Pope, ” Hood, Trump Organizations: North, North Carolina, GOP, Democrat, Republican, Democratic Gov, Democratic, Gov, UNC, Duke, Western Carolina University, Republicans, Atlanta, Biden, Carolina’s, Trump, Georgia –, state’s, of Science, Technology, Innovation, Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy, Democratic Party, Appalachian State University, The Washington Post, Senate, University of North, Dartmouth, Harvard, Catawba College, “, Affordable, John William Pope Foundation Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, North Carolina, “ North Carolina, Carolina, Georgia, Atlanta, Carolina’s Raleigh, Durham, Wake, Raleigh, Cary, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Atlanta’s, Texas, Mecklenburg, North Carolina’s, Clayton, Union County, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

☆ Marjorie Taylor Greene floats a 2026 Senate run after rumored candidate Brian Kemp told Trump the 2020 presidential election in Georgia 'was not stolen'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kemp should instead have criticized Trump's Georgia indictment. Brian Kemp forcefully pushed back against former President Donald Trump's 2020 election claims, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "His message should have been against this, not arguing with President Trump about the election and making it about his own ego and pride over Georgia's election," she told the newspaper. Am I going to be a part of President Trump's Cabinet if he wins? "The 2020 election in Georgia was not stolen," Kemp wrote.

Persons: MTG, Kemp, Trump's, Greene, Marjorie Taylor Greene of, Brian Kemp, Donald Trump's, Trump, Democratic Sen, Jon Ossoff, Joe Biden's, Biden, — Organizations: Gov, AJC . Rep, Service, The Atlanta, Republican, Senate, Democratic, GOP, AJC, Trump Locations: Trump's Georgia, Wall, Silicon, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Fulton County, Georgia, Waco , Texas

☆ Wall Street landlords are selling homes back to Main Street. Here's what it might mean for runaway housing prices.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The companies — Invitation Homes and AMH — have already sold 1003 homes this year, through July, to non-corporate buyers, according to Insider's analysis of data from real estate tracker Attom Data. The group, which has included Wall Street firms like Blackstone (which spun off Invitation Homes), has been blamed for exacerbating the housing shortage that has pushed real-estate prices sky-high. One exception might be in 2019 when Invitation Homes sold 785 homes to non-corporate buyers, versus 225 sales through July of this year. The lack of housing supply, which has kept prices high even as mortgage rates rise, makes selling homes in markets that cost more to operate rentals a profitable play. In reporting earnings last week, Invitation Homes increased its core revenue guidance for the rest half of the year because its rent prices actually outperformed expectations.

Persons: —, AMH, Jon Olsen, execs, Dallas Tanner, Tanner, Gary Beasley, Roofstock, Beasley, He's, Dave Singelyn, Singelyn Organizations: Attom, Wall, Blackstone, Invitation Homes, SFR, Invitation, MLS, Homes, Sun, Wall Street, Homeowners, Seller Services Locations: SFR, New York City, America

☆ Senate Democrats accuse Justice Samuel Alito of violating Supreme Court ethics rules with WSJ interview, demand recusal in linked tax case
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Justice Samuel Alito recently blasted proposed SCOTUS ethics roles in an interview with WSJ. Senate Democrats say he violated the court's ethics rules by doing that. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. Rivkin, the senators note, is representing one of the parties in a tax case currently pending before the court, Moore v. United States. Both Rivkin and a spokesperson for the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Persons: Samuel Alito, SCOTUS, They're, Sen, Dick Durbin, John Roberts, Alito, Jon Ossoff, David Rivkin —, Rivkin, Alito's, Moore Organizations: Democrats, Service, Democratic, Wall Street, Committee, Wall Locations: Wall, Silicon, Georgia, United States

☆ Spain’s far-right Vox party is targeting women’s rights. It may end up kingmaker in Sunday’s election
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Teaming up with Vox, which is projected to receive 36 seats, would give a right-wing coalition a slim working majority. Meanwhile, more than 1,200 Spanish women have been killed by current or former partners since 2003, according to data from the equality ministry. “As progress has been faster, the opposition to gender equality policies has also been more intense and animated,” she said. If the party were to come into government it could severely impact the lives of Spanish women, said Nuño. In local administrations where it has gained influence, Vox has been able to end equality initiatives and censure cultural events, she said.

Persons: CNN —, Spain’s, Pedro Sanchez, Paul Hanna, Vox, Francisco Franco, Paloma Román Marugan, Xuan Cueto, Santiago Abascal, ”, “, ” Vox, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Oscar del Pozo, Laura Nuño Gómez, King, King Juan Carlos, Franco, “ Vox, Jon Nazca, Clara Campoamor Organizations: CNN, Vox, Reuters, Popular Party, Spanish, Bloomberg, Getty, Socialist, PSOE, PP, Deputies, Complutense University of Madrid, Europa Press, Guardia Civil, King Juan, King Juan Carlos University, European Economic, European Union Locations: Europe, Spain, Madrid, Catalonia, Gijon, AFP, Ronda

☆ Trumpworld aides have privately speculated that GOP Rep. Nancy Mace could become Trump's VP running mate after she changed her tune about the former president, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Nancy Mace's stock has risen in Trumpworld, with some speculating she could be Trump's VP choice. Trump endorsed Mace's GOP primary opponent last year. "I'm willing to bury the hatchet to save the country, and I know President Trump is too." The Trumpworld aides noted that Mace could boost Trump among suburban women, a demographic where he faltered in his 2020 reelection campaign. "The fact that Nancy has been a constant and consistent presence in defense of President Trump has not gone unnoticed," Trump advisor Chris LaCivita told Politico of Mace's most recent statements.

Persons: Nancy Mace's, Trumpworld, Trump, —, Donald Trump, Nancy Mace, Katie Arrington —, Mace, Arrington, Trump's, Joe Biden, I'm, Democratic Sens, Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, Nancy, Chris LaCivita Organizations: Politico, GOP, Service, Trump, Democratic Locations: Trumpworld, South Carolina, Manhattan, Georgia, Atlanta

☆ Senate Judiciary advances journalism bargaining bill targeting Big Tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced legislation on Thursday that would give news organizations the power to jointly bargain against Meta, Google and other online platforms for a greater share of online advertising revenue. One member of the committee, California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla, voted against the bill Thursday and vowed to block any future floor vote on the legislation until lawmakers make several changes. Padilla said the legislation doesn’t do enough to ensure that actual journalists in local newsrooms will benefit from the bargaining, as opposed to hedge funds and publication owners. “This bill is not about whether or not you like social media,” Kennedy said. “This bill is not about whether or not you like what is happening in American news media today.

Persons: Minnesota Democratic Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Louisiana Republican Sen, John Kennedy, Google didn’t, California Democratic Sen, Alex Padilla, Padilla, ” Padilla, Padilla’s, Democratic Sens, Jon Ossoff, Peter Welch, Cory Booker, Kennedy, Klobuchar, —, ” Klobuchar, ” Kennedy, ” Organizations: Washington CNN, Committee, Meta, Google, Minnesota Democratic, Louisiana Republican, California Democratic, Democratic Locations: Louisiana, Australia, California

☆ The government's main budget experts confirmed that the US could risk economic catastrophe as soon as early June
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected the US could run out of money in early June. That projection tracks with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's warnings on when the US could default. Congress can step in and prevent the crisis, but so far Republicans and Democrats are still sparring. So far, though, Congress seems to be running up the clock as Republicans and Democrats spar over how to avert a preventable catastrophe. The top lawmakers were expected to meet with Biden again on Friday to discuss the debt ceiling, but the meeting was reportedly postponed to give staffers more time to chat on potential areas of compromise.

☆ Democratic lawmakers are skeptical about using a $1 trillion coin or the 14th amendment to get around the debt ceiling
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Minting a $1 trillion platinum coin or using the 14th amendment could solve the crisis while sidestepping Congress. The 14th amendment, on the other hand, contains a clause that could declare the debt ceiling unconstitutional and get rid of it forever. 'That's beyond my paygrade and my mental capacity'Insider asked some Democratic senators what they thought of minting a coin or using the 14th amendment to get around the debt ceiling crisis. Sen. Ron Wyden, top lawmaker on the Senate Finance Committee, said that when it comes to the 14th amendment, "I'm not there yet. Yellen also said at a new conference in Japan on Wednesday that "it's legally questionable whether or not that's a viable strategy," referring to the 14th amendment.

☆ ChatGPT can pick stocks better than your fund manager
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —A basket of stocks selected by ChatGPT, a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence (AI), has far outperformed some of the most popular investment funds in the United Kingdom. It wouldn’t “be long until large numbers of consumers try to use [ChatGPT] for financial gain,” Jon Ostler, Finder’s CEO, said in a statement earlier this week. A typical investment fund pulls together money from multiple investors, and is overseen by a fund manager who decides how to invest that money. A survey of 2,000 UK adults conducted by Finder last week showed that 8% had already used ChatGPT for financial advice, while 19% said they would consider doing so. Nevertheless, “the democratization of AI seems to be something that will disrupt and revolutionize financial industries,” Ostler said.

☆ Trump operatives considered using breached voting data to decertify Georgia's Senate runoff in 2021, text messages show
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Zachary Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

It’s unclear what if any evidence he has in his possession related to the Coffee County breach. Penrose and Logan were also named in a state-level criminal investigation in Michigan alleging they participated in a conspiracy to seize voting machines there. A local election official helped them gain access to sensitive voting data which they downloaded onto a portable hard drive. Bundren was part of the team enlisted by Trump’s lawyers to find evidence of widespread voter fraud after the 2020 election. Bundren helped oversee the multi-state push to access voting machines on behalf of the Trump legal team, according to several documents obtained by CNN.

☆ Senate Democrats bemused by Trump's daydream of running Marjorie Taylor Greene against them: 'We'll beat her'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump recently said he'd love to see GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene run for Senate. The last three Senate hopefuls Trump has backed in Georgia have lost six straight contests. Current Senate campaign chair Gary Peters is confident Greene would also fall short. Warnock looked rather incredulous as Insider asked for his opinion about Trump's show of support for a Greene senate bid. That's exactly the right attitude to take, Democratic strategist Rodell Mollieneau told Insider.

☆ Josh Hawley splits Senate GOP over 'duplicative' idea to create a new office tracking US aid to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Senate rejected a bill from Josh Hawley to establish a new office to oversee Ukraine aid. Many Republicans said they were confident in the Biden administration's aid tracking efforts. "We already have a very extensive operation to oversee spending in Ukraine," said Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah. Hawley's bill did win over at least one Republican who's a vocal supporter of aiding Ukraine: Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. The underlying AUMF repeal bill, which is backed by a large bipartisan majority of senators and has been endorsed by the White House, is expected to pass the Senate on Wednesday.

☆ Trump said he'd 'fight like hell' for Marjorie Taylor Greene if she ran for the Senate: 'People don't realize how brilliant she is'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Former President Trump said he'd "fight like hell" for MTG if she decided to pursue a Senate bid. While speaking at his rally in Waco, Tex., Trump praised Rep. Greene as a tough GOP politician. Greene has also been floated as a potential vice presidential running mate for the former president. But Greene, a national conservative star, has also been mentioned as a potential vice presidential running mate for Trump next year. "People don't realize how brilliant she is," Trump said of Greene.

☆ A TikTok ban or forced sale could lead to major collateral damage for US tech companies like Apple and Chinese apps like Shein
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

"A big Chinese balloon in the sky and millions of Chinese TikTok balloons on our phones. But US tech companies that rely on data collection for advertising sales or other business practices have fought to curb such regulations. Still, efforts by members of Congress to pass federal legislation around data privacy, such as the American Data Privacy and Protection Act, have faced an uphill battle. Apple's 2021 user privacy changes stunted ad revenue at Facebook and Snapchat-maker Snap, for example. But blocking companies from gathering private information from users could also be a more effective path to protecting Americans while maintaining an avenue for Chinese companies to participate in the global economy.

☆ The war against TikTok won't solve the 'national embarrassment' of how poorly the US protects your data
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

"A big Chinese balloon in the sky and millions of Chinese TikTok balloons on our phones. TikTok has hurt its own cause when it comes to its reputation around data privacy. For example, the company misrepresented how US user data was managed and then its parent company monitored the locations of reporters who exposed its practices. Still, efforts by members of Congress to pass federal legislation around data privacy, such as the American Data Privacy and Protection Act, have faced an uphill battle. Apple's 2021 user privacy changes stunted ad revenue at Facebook and Snapchat-maker Snap, for example.

☆ A growing group of lawmakers think TikTok is 'digital fentanyl' and want to ban it. Many others remain skeptical.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Some members of Congress have begun pushing to ban TikTok in the US. "I'm a little less enthusiastic about an all-out ban of it," said Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota. "I'm an incrementalist on a lot of things, and I would be on this as well," said Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on social media and the internet's impact on children. Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, another committee member, said she's most concerned about how social media platforms are impacting kids.

☆ Incoming Democratic Congressman says he'll be sworn in on a first-edition Superman comic, underneath the US Constitution
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An incoming Democratic lawmaker says he'll be sworn in on a first-edition Superman comic. Robert Garcia said he'd also use his citizenship certificate and a photo of his late parents, under the Constitution. Garcia is an avid comic books fan, frequently tweeting about his preference for DC over Marvel. Congressman-elect Robert Garcia, of California's 42nd District, tweeted an image of items he plans to be sworn in on. Being sworn in on a comic book would not be Garcia's only significant first.

☆ 77 members of the 117th Congress violated a federal conflicts-of-interest and financial transparency law
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

77 members of Congress violated the STOCK Act in the 117th session of Congress. The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 is designed to curb insider trading and requires timely disclosure of financial trades. But a decade on, Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike routinely violate the STOCK Act: 40 Republicans and 37 Democrats in the current Congress violated the law, per Insider's tally. Some members of Congress violated the law more egregiously than others. GOP Rep. Pat Fallon of Texas, for example, violated the STOCK Act multiple times and waited months to disclose up to $17 million in trades.

☆ Six battleground states will hold the key to the White House in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

AP Photo/Andrew HarnikGeorgia2012 margin: Romney +7.8%2016 margin: Trump +5.1%2020 margin: Biden +0.2%For decades, Republicans could easily depend on the Peach State's electoral votes falling into their column. Two years later, Biden won the state by roughly 12,000 votes over Trump, followed by the dual 2021 runoff victories of Sens. AP Photo/Matt RourkePennsylvania2012 margin: Obama +5.4%2016 margin: Trump +0.7%2020 margin: Biden +1.2%Biden's hometown of Scranton is dear to his heart so Pennsylvania was always going to be a key state for the party in 2024. AP Photo/Andy Manis, FileWisconsin2012 margin: Obama +6.9%2016 margin: Trump +0.8%2020 margin: Biden +0.6%Wisconsin is one of the most politically-divided states in the country. But Trump flipped Wisconsin to the GOP in 2016, the first time it had supported a Republican presidential nominee since 1984.

☆ Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger calls on state legislators to eliminate runoff elections
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger called for an end to general election runoffs. "Georgia is one of the only states in the country with a General Election Runoff. I'm calling on the General Assembly to visit the topic of the General Election Runoff and consider reforms," Raffensperger said in a statement. In the November general election, Warnock edged out Walker 49.4%-48.5%, but since neither candidate met the 50 percent threshold, the race was extended for an additional four weeks. State courts sided with the plaintiffs and voting took place on November 26 in select jurisdictions across the state.

☆ John Lewis stamp: Civil rights hero to be honored next year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Shawna Mizelle | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Washington CNN —The late civil rights trailblazer and congressman John Lewis will be honored on a new postage stamp in 2023, the US Postal Service announced Tuesday. The Georgia Democrat, who dedicated his life to activism and spent more than three decades in Congress fighting for civil rights, will be featured on a stamp using a photograph taken for a 2013 issue of Time magazine, USPS said in a statement. Lewis was widely seen as a moral conscience of Congress because of his nonviolent fight for civil rights. Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, a Democrat who introduced and passed a resolution honoring the life of Lewis, has voiced support for commemorating him with a stamp. “Congressman Lewis was an American hero, civil rights icon, and revered citizen of Georgia, fully deserving of this honor,” Ossoff said in a statement last year.

☆ Strong midterm turnout in Georgia sparks new debate about a controversial election law
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The strong turnout in Georgia’s runoff election that cemented Democrats’ control of the US Senate is sparking fresh debate about the impact of the state’s controversial 2021 election law and could trigger a new round of election rule changes next year in the Republican-led state legislature. “There’s no truth to voter suppression,” Raffensperger said in an interview this week with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, a day after Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock secured reelection in the first federal election cycle since Georgia voting law took effect. State election officials had opposed casting ballots on that date, saying Georgia law prohibited voting on a Saturday if there is a state holiday on the Thursday or Friday before. In the CNN interview earlier this week, Raffensperger suggested that the Republican-controlled General Assembly might revisit some of the state’s election rules, including potentially lowering to 45% the threshold needed to win a general election outright. “There will be a push for this in the upcoming legislative session,” said Daniel Baggerman, president of Better Ballot Georgia, a group advocating for the instant runoff.

☆ Young voters propelled Raphael Warnock to victory in the Georgia Senate runoff, but the work to boost their political engagement continues: 'We're not stopping here'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sen. Raphael Warnock's runoff victory was driven in large part by his support among young voters. But young voters — with Gen Z and younger millennials flexing their political power — emerged as a critical demographic in the Georgia Senate race. Looking at the Georgia Senate runoff results, what actually happened to get more young voters to the polls? Heightened voter engagementVoters of Tomorrow, a Gen Z-led voter-engagement nonprofit organization, sent 2.5 million calls and texts to young Georgia voters urging them to participate. But it will take continued engagement with young voters to ensure robust participation in the future, especially in non-presidential election cycles.

We’re going to win Georgia,” Biden said in response to questions regarding his outlook on the Georgia Senate runoff contest as he exited Air Force One Tuesday night. Share this -Link copiedWarnock defeats Walker in Georgia Senate runoff, NBC News projects Sen. Raphael Warnock has won his second statewide runoff election in the last two years, defeating Republican Herschel Walker in the increasingly purple state of Georgia to capture a six-year term in the Senate, NBC News projected. Share this -Link copiedThe Senate runoff election is still too close to call, but Warnock leads The Senate runoff election between Warnock and Walker is still too close to call, but Warnock leads, NBC News' Decision Desk said just before 10 p.m. Share this -Link copiedPolls close soon in critical Georgia Senate runoff Polls are closing at 7 p.m. ET in the Senate runoff election in Georgia, where Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock is hoping to fend off a challenge from Republican Herschel Walker.

Search resuls for: "Jon O"

25 mentions found