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☆ ProPublica: Clarence Thomas attended Koch network donor events
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Ariane De Vogue | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —Justice Clarence Thomas attended a private dinner in 2018 during a winter donor summit of the Koch network, the political organization founded by libertarian billionaires Charles and David Koch, ProPublica reported Friday. Thomas attended Koch donor events at least twice over the years, according to interviews with three former Koch network employees and one major donor conducted by ProPublica. Thomas arrived for the 2018 dinner on a Gulfstream G200 jet, although a Koch network spokesperson told the outlet that the network did not pay for the private jet and it was not disclosed on his financial disclosure forms for that year. A spokesperson for the Koch network told ProPublica that Thomas wasn’t present for fundraising conversations. CNN has reached out to the Supreme Court for comment.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Koch, Charles, David Koch, ProPublica, Thomas, ”, Thomas ’, Thomas wasn’t, ” Thomas, Loper, Raimondo, Critics, Clarence Thomas ’, Charles Koch, Harlan Crow, Lisa Graves, Crow Organizations: Washington CNN —, Koch, ProPublica, Gulfstream G200, CNN, Loper Bright Enterprises, Inc, Conservatives, Chevron, Natural Resources Defense, True, Research, GOP Locations: Congress, Washington

Meanwhile, failed uprisings in Bahrain and eastern Saudi Arabia were followed by years-long crackdowns and a continuing civil war in Syria. “What we’re beginning to see in Saudi Arabia right now is the emergence of a new social contract. Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest exporter of crude oil, and nearly two-thirds of its income still comes from selling fossil fuels. If Saudi Arabia can become a hub for major sporting events, then that’s a way of attracting interest to the country,” said Maguire. In response to previous criticism about Saudi Arabia’s purported “sportswashing,” the kingdom’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said: “People that don’t know Saudi Arabia, have never been to Saudi Arabia, go out and talk about it as if they’ve lived there for 30 years, 40 years.

Persons: Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, Germain, Neymar Jr, Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Patricia de Melo Moreira, it’s, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman –, Leon Neal, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Al Hilal, spender, –, Carlo Nohra, Jordan Henderson, Henderson, “, ’ ” Simon Chadwick, “ We’ve, ” Chadwick, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Al Nassr, Stringer, you’re, Kieran Maguire, they’re, Everybody’s, ” Maguire, Chadwick, Ronaldo, Maguire, … Mohammed bin Salman, ” James Dorsey, ”, Chadwick –, Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al, Faisal, don’t, they’ve, LIV Golf, Jimmy Dunne, LIV, Dunne, Aleksander Ceferin, Erling, Haaland, Jurgen Klopp, Michael Emenalo, Steven Gerrard, Nohra, ” “ They’ve Organizations: CNN, Saudi, Al, Paris Saint, PSG, Saudi Pro League, Ligue, Liga, Serie, Bundesliga, English Premier League, Deloitte, Investment Fund, AFP, Getty, SPL, Saudi Crown, Spanish, Arsenal, CNN Sport, English, Newcastle United, Liverpool, The Athletic, SKEMA Business School, Argentina, Zamalek, King Fahd Sports City, Anadolu Agency, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Football, AFC Asian, FIFA, Greece, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spanish Super, ”, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Middle East Soccer, Saudi Ministry, Sport, PGA Tour, European, UEFA, Premier League, Ettifaq Media, Reuters New Saudi Pro League, Major League Soccer, La Liga, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Russian Direct Investment Fund, Investigations, PGA Locations: Saudi Arabian, Brazil, Saudi, Ittihad, Al, Ahli, Real Madrid, England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Liverpool, China, Qatar, Taif, Egypt, Spanish, East, North Africa, Libya, Yemen, Tunisia, Bahrain, Syria, “, ”, Europe, ” Liverpool

☆ Analysis: Here’s why many Black people despise Clarence Thomas. (It’s not because he’s a conservative.)
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( John Blake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

CNN —Long before he became a Supreme Court justice, Clarence Thomas told a story at a public gathering that still sounds shocking years later. Justice Clarence Thomas jokes with his clerks in his chambers at the Supreme Court building in Washington in 2016. AP“His entire judicial philosophy is at war with his own biography,” Michael Fletcher, co-author of “Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas,”. “He’s arguably benefited from affirmative action every step of the way.”Thomas has admitted that he was accepted at Yale Law School under an affirmative action policy. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas looks at the displays inside the Pin Point Heritage Museum.

Persons: CNN — Long, Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Ronald Reagan, ” Thomas, Diana Walker, Thomas ’, Emma Mae Martin, he’s, Harlan Crow, Crow, ”, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Chip Somodevilla, “ fawning, Reagan, John L, Nikki Merritt, Merritt, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Roe, Wade, ” Sen, Alyssa Pointer, Anita Hill’s, Uncle Tom, Thomas “, Juan Williams, “, Armstrong Williams, ” Williams, Amul Thapar, Jonathan Ernst, ” Thomas ’, Thomas doesn’t, they’ve, Thurgood Marshall, ” Michael Fletcher, “ He’s, I’d, Critics, White, Malcolm X, Richard Burkhard, you’ve, pounced, “ Clarence Thomas, Black, ” Tori Otten, ” Otten, ” Juan Williams, Virginia “ Ginni ” Thomas, Trump’s, John Duricka, Williams, — Trump, Booker T, Washington, Marcus Garvey, Obama, ” “ We’ve, –, “ It’s, “ Thomas, Steven Ferdman, Jim Crow, Frederick Douglass, ” Clarence Thomas, nodded, ” Merritt Organizations: CNN, White House, Commission, Texas Republican, Republican, National Bar Association, Democrat, Georgia Senate, Georgia State Capitol, NAACP, Supreme, National Museum of, Thomas Others, Reuters, Yale Law School, Catholic, College of, Cross, AP, Yale, Heritage Museum, Savannah Morning, USA, The, New, Morehouse College, Fox News Channel Studios, Reagan Administration, Bettmann Locations: Storm, Texas, New York, Washington, Memphis, Georgia, handouts, Atlanta, American, America, Cincinnati, Pin, Savannah , Georgia, New Republic, Wisconsin, Arizona, Virginia, Black, China, India, Brazil, New York City

☆ Ken Paxton Impeachment Trial for Texas’ Attorney General to Begin With Motions to Dismiss
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( J. David Goodman | David Montgomery | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +12 min

“We want the entire MAGA movement to understand that what’s going on in Texas is not just about Texas,” Mr. Bannon told his podcast audience this month. Yet those conservative credentials may not be enough to help Mr. Paxton survive what promises to be the most significant test he has faced. A well-funded political action committee, Defend Texas Liberty, has begun targeting some Republican members of the Texas House who voted to impeach Mr. Paxton. Mr. Abbott has not commented on Mr. Paxton’s impeachment. Mr. Paxton won handily and went on to easily win a third term in the November election.

Persons: Ken Paxton, Paxton, Rick Perry, Karl Rove, George W, Bush, Steve Bannon, Trump, MAGA, ” Mr, Bannon, Donald J, Biden, Obama, Mr, Mike Osborne, they’ve, ”, David Simpson, “, ” Jonathan Stickland, Stickland, “ Glenn Rogers, Rogers, Nate Paul, Paul, general’s, Perry, Dave P, Paxton’s, Bryan Hughes, Eric Gay, ” Lauren Davis, Bannon’s, —, Texas —, Tim Dunn, Farris Wilks, Dunn, Wilks, Dan Patrick, Patrick, Greg Abbott, Abbott Organizations: Republican, State Senate, Democrat, Trump, Affordable, Mr, Jan, Republicans, Texas Legislature, Texas Capitol, ., The New York Times, Texas House, Defend Texas Liberty, Fort Worth, CBS, “, Senate, May ., Dallas County Republican Party, Fox News, West, Gov, Texans Locations: Texas, Austin, Georgia, United States, Paxton, Fort, May, West Texas

The logos of Swiss bank Credit Suisse and UBS are seen in Geneva, Switzerland, June 7, 2023. The powerful central bank, Swiss National Bank (SNB), said it disagreed with some of the suggestions, including on liquidity and on how the authorities work. It will change the landscape of banking in Switzerland, where branches of Credit Suisse and UBS are dotted everywhere, sometimes just metres apart. "(The) rescue of Credit Suisse isn't a perfect success but it's not a story of policy failure either. During the global financial crash of 2008, it was UBS, not Credit Suisse, that needed a state rescue.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, FINMA, Beat Wittmann, Nicolas Veron, it's, Oliver Hirt, John O'Donnell, Susan Fenton Organizations: Credit Suisse, UBS, REUTERS, Rights, UBS Group, Swiss, Swiss National Bank, –, Suisse, Social Democrat, Porta Advisors, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Thomson Locations: Geneva, Switzerland, Rights BERN, Swiss, Washington, Zurich

In a memo to staff Ermotti said that 3,000 Swiss jobs would go, while more people would leave of their own accord, for example, through retirement. With a market value of 77 billion Swiss francs, UBS also struck an optimistic note about its short-term outlook. With Credit Suisse in Switzerland intact and independent, as some politicians had hoped, fewer jobs would have been hit. [1/2]Logos of Swiss banks Credit Suisse and UBS are seen before a news conference in Zurich Switzerland, August 30, 2023. Reuters GraphicsThe bumper profit results from a huge one-off gain that reflects how the acquisition costs were far below Credit Suisse's value.

Persons: Ermotti, Sergio Ermotti, Denis Balibouse, Jefferies, Brenna Hughes, John O'Donnell, Noele, Edwina Gibbs, Tomasz Janowski, Alexander Smith Organizations: UBS, Credit Suisse Swiss, Credit Suisse, UBS grapples, REUTERS, Swiss Bank Employees Association, Analysts, Deutsche Bank, Reuters, Credit, Thomson Locations: Switzerland, ZURICH, Swiss, Zurich Switzerland, Zurich, London

CNN —Justice Clarence Thomas disclosed Thursday that Republican megadonor Harlan Crow paid for private jet trips for Thomas in 2022 to attend a speech in Texas and a vacation at Crow’s luxurious New York estate, as ethics questions continue to rock the Supreme Court. Thomas made the disclosures after receiving an extension to file the yearly reports that were originally due in May 2023. In a statement after the ProPublica report, Thomas acknowledged the friendship but stressed that Crow did not have business before the court. In addition, he said that he should have disclosed a 2014 private real estate deal between Crow, Thomas and members of Thomas’ family. According to the disclosure, Thomas flew down to be the keynote speaker of the event in February, but returned via private jet “due to an unexpected ice storm.”The talk was rescheduled in May and Thomas rode round trip on Crow’s plane.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, Thomas, Dobbs, Roe, Wade, “, Crow, Samuel Alito, ProPublica, Thomas ’, ” Thomas, Virginia Thomas, Leola Williams, Williams, VII, –, Elliot S, Berke, Thomas “, ”, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Chip Somodevilla, Elena Kagan, Alito, ” Alito, Gabe Roth, he’s, ” Roth, Rome Alito, Duke Organizations: CNN, Republican, Judicial Conference, Old Parkland Conference, Hoover Institution, Manhattan Institute, American Enterprise Institute, Black Americans, Crow Holdings, Democrats, Supreme, Capitol, Rhode Island, Wall Street, Notre Dame, School’s, Liberty Initiative, Religious Liberty Summit, Regent University School of Law, Duke Law School Locations: Texas, New York, Georgia, Savannah , Georgia, Washington ,, Rome

☆ AOC says the left is 'bewildered' by power because they were 'not used to having' it for years in the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AOC says the left was "bewildered" by power for so long because they hadn't experienced having it. She told The Times that power was generally seen as something held by a "consummate insider." "And those were the people that we were used to seeing in power. "I often say to my grass-roots companions that the left, for a very long time, was not used to having power in the United States," she continued. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen asked if liberals were "suspicious" of power, Ocasio-Cortez said that many people often feel as though "there's no way in this country you can accrue any kind of power without there being some Faustian compromise."

Persons: Cortez, Alexandria Ocasio, haven't, there's, Independent Sen, Bernie Sanders of, Joe Biden's, Matt Gaetz, Brian Fitzpatrick Organizations: Times, Democratic Party, Service, New York Times, New, New York Democrat, Bronx and, Capitol, Independent, Republican Locations: Wall, Silicon, Alexandria, Cortez, United States, New York, Ocasio, Bronx, Bronx and Queens, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Florida, Pennsylvania

☆ Justice Clarence Thomas enjoyed more vacations, private flights and perks thanks to wealthy friends, new ProPublica report details
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

These costly trips and travel perks often went unreported on the justice’s financial disclosure forms, ProPublica said in its investigation. Lynne Sladky/APProPublica interviewed more than 100 people, including staff that would have worked some of the trips that Thomas took. Thomas did not respond to ProPublica’s detailed list of questions for its report, nor did Novelly. None of the Thomas benefactors highlighted in the new report appear to have had direct business in front of the Supreme Court, ProPublica said. Thomas intends to amend his financial disclosure forms, a source close to the justice previously told CNN, to at least reflect Crow’s 2014 purchase of Thomas’ mother’s home.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Thomas, ProPublica, Harlan Crow, Thomas ’, Crow, “, ” Thomas, David Sokol, Berkshire Hathaway, Wayne Huizenga, Paul “ Tony ” Novelly, Lynne Sladky, Huizenga, Daniel Acker, Getty Images Sokol, ” Sokol, Republican megadonors, he’s, Paul Anthony, Tony, Novelly, Horatio, Jeremy Fogel, ”, Fogel, Horatio Alger, John Roberts, Roberts, Samuel Alito, Thomas ’ mother’s, Anthony Welters, Obama Organizations: CNN, GOP, Blockbuster, Waste Management Inc, NFL, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, US Marshals Service, Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Bloomberg, Getty Images, Republican, Horatio Alger, Distinguished, Horatio, Horatio Alger Association, New York Times, The New York Times, Democratic, Times Locations: Florida, Berkshire, Miami, Omaha , Nebraska

☆ RFK Jr's super PAC is mostly funded by a GOP megadonor who spent millions on Trump and bankrolled an effort to build a border wall in Texas
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A major super PAC backing RFK Jr's campaign is mostly funded by Timothy Mellon. Mellon has given millions to GOP campaigns, including Trump, and bankrolled a border wall effort in Texas. Mellon cited Kennedy's "bipartisan support" in a statement to CNBC on his contribution to the super PAC. That includes:$20 million in contributions to America First Action, a super PAC that supported former President Donald Trump's 2020 re-election campaign. $30 million to Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC associated with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Persons: Timothy Mellon, Mellon, He's, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, —, Kennedy, Kennedy's, Donald Trump's, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Greg Abbott, Andrew Mellon, Gavin De Becker, De Becker, Biden, he's Organizations: PAC, RFK, GOP, Trump, Service, Democratic, Federal, CNBC, Republican, America, Congressional Leadership Fund, Leadership Fund, Republican Gov Locations: bankrolled, Texas, Wall, Silicon, Mexico

☆ Two PGA tour officials to testify to US Senate panel about merger with Saudi-backed LIV
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] May 25, 2023; Washington, DC, USA; Patrick Reed hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the Pro-Am tournament as part of the LIV Golf Washington D.C. 2023 event at Trump National Golf Club outside Washington DC. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports/File PhotoWASHINGTON, July 3 (Reuters) - Two PGA Tour officials have agreed to testify before a U.S. Senate panel next week about the tour's merger with Saudi-backed LIV Golf, but LIV officials declined to appear, lawmakers said on Monday. The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and rival Saudi-backed LIV circuit, which had been involved in a bitter fight that split the sport, announced an agreement in early June to merge and form a unified commercial entity. The LIV Golf series is bankrolled by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIV). Blumenthal and Johnson said they had asked Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf, and Yasir al-Rumayyan, governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund which backs LIV, to testify, but they had declined because of scheduling conflicts.

Persons: Patrick Reed, Geoff Burke, LIV Golf, LIV, Ron Price, Jimmy Dunne, Richard Blumenthal, Ron Johnson, Critics, Blumenthal, Johnson, Greg Norman, Yasir al, Norman, Diane Bartz, Jonathan Oatis, Leslie Adler Organizations: LIV Golf, Trump National Golf Club, Washington DC, USA, WASHINGTON, Senate, Saudi, PGA Tour, Investigations, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, PGA, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: Washington, DC, USA, LIV Golf Washington, Saudi

The commander of the Russian air force Sergey Surovikin and the Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin have not been seen in public in days as questions swirl about the role Surovikin may have played in Prigozhin’s short-lived mutiny. The Russian air force commander Sergey Surovikin (left) and the Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin APWhy is everyone talking about Surovikin? Prigozhin meanwhile, played the central role in the short-lived insurrection – it was he who ordered Wagner troops to take over two military bases and then march on Moscow. Putin assembled Russian security personnel in Moscow Tuesday, telling them they “virtually stopped a civil war” in responding to the insurrection. Prigozhin was last spotted leaving the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don Saturday, after abruptly calling off his troops’ march on Moscow.

Persons: Sergey Surovikin, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, Surovikin, “ Surovikin, ”, Alexey Venediktov –, –, Sergey Markov, Surovikin’s, “, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Don Saturday, Alexander Lukashenko, Lukashenko, Peskov, ” Peskov, Mikhail Gorbachev, , Joe Biden, Josep Borrell Organizations: CNN, Moscow Times, Russian Telegram, Baza, Yevgeny Prigozhin AP, New York Times, PMC Wagner, Russian Ministry of Defense, Kremlin, Street, Belarusian, General Staff, Defense, Ministry, Washington DC, Jamestown Foundation, Russian Aerospace Forces, Human Rights Watch, Union’s, Foreign Affairs Locations: Kremlin, Russian, Moscow, Rostov, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Minsk, St . Petersburg, Ukraine’s, Afghanistan, Syria, Idlib, ”, Brussels, Dagestan, Derbent

☆ Framework of PGA Tour-LIV golf deal released
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] May 25, 2023; Washington, DC, USA; Patrick Reed hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the Pro-Am tournament as part of the LIV Golf Washington D.C. 2023 event at Trump National Golf Club outside Washington DC. The PGA Tour will have a permanent controlling interest in the subsidiary's board of directors, regardless of the Saudi investment, the framework says. The framework agreement also ends litigation between the two sides. The framework is likely to be a focus of a U.S. Senate panel on July 11 where Monahan, Al-Rumayyan and LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman have been invited to testify. He also wanted to know how any newly formed entity will be structured and operated, including how the PGA Tour intends to preserve its tax-exempt status.

Persons: Patrick Reed, Geoff Burke, LIV Golf, LIV, Yasir Al, Jay Monahan, Monahan, Greg Norman, Richard Blumenthal, Blumenthal, Chris Sanders, David Shepardson, Peter Rutherford Organizations: LIV Golf, Trump National Golf Club, Washington DC, USA, WASHINGTON, PGA Tour, Reuters, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment, U.S, Senate, PGA, Saudi, Investigations, Thomson Locations: Washington, DC, USA, LIV Golf Washington, Saudi, Al, Washington . U.S

☆ Live updates: Russia aims to regulate Wagner as Ukraine claims battlefield gains
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin speaks in this screengrab from a video released on June 24. The Western stakes in the Ukraine war rose significantly as a result. A mutinous weekend that saw mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin flagrantly mock the Kremlin before aborting his march on Moscow evoked Russia’s blood-soaked history of revolutions and coups. The Kremlin strongman seemed to blink at a military confrontation with Prigozhin’s Wagner Group fighters — in an act that might preserve his grip on power. There’s now no doubt that the war Putin unleashed to wipe Ukraine off the map poses an existential threat to his political survival.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin flagrantly, Prigozhin’s Wagner, —, Putin, There’s, Oz, Ukraine John Herbst, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, “ Putin, Prigozhin’s, Moscow’s, Read Organizations: Concord, Reuters, White, Kremlin, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, Belarus, Russian

☆ Analysis: Vladimir Putin's humiliation will require the West to reexamine its balancing act to save Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —The world just got a hint of a tantalizing but possibly even more dangerous future without Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Western stakes in the Ukraine war rose significantly as a result. There’s now no doubt that the war Putin unleashed to wipe Ukraine off the map poses an existential threat to his political survival. This would be good news for the West, which has bankrolled and armed the country’s fight for its life. After this weekend, this new reality will require the West to once again examine its balancing act to save Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin flagrantly, Prigozhin’s Wagner, –, Putin, There’s, Oz, Ukraine John Herbst, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, “ Putin, Prigozhin’s, Moscow’s, Prigozhin –, Africa –, Prigozhin, he’s, CNN’s Kevin Liptak, Biden, ”, David Petraeus, Petraeus, “, Ramzan Kadyrov, Wagner, Robert English, Alexei Navalny, Alexander Lukashenko, “ It’s, Antony Blinken, placated –, Blinken, Will Hurd, ” Hurd, Hurd –, Donald Trump –, Trump Organizations: CNN, White, Kremlin, NATO, Western, Russian Federation, Union, CIA, Internet Research Agency, School of International Relations, University of Southern, Belarusian, ”, Republican, GOP, Moscow Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, Belarus, Russian, Russia, Syria, Africa, France, Britain, Germany, Washington, “ State, University of Southern California, NATO, Crimea, Texas

Who is Mr. Prigozhin? Europe and the United States have been trying to shut down Prigozhin’s sprawling business operations for years. On the F.B.I.’s most wanted list, Mr. Prigozhin rose quickly in Putin’s Russia — from being the president’s favored caterer to winning major contracts that bankrolled Wagner Group, his private mercenary operation. Mr. Prigozhin also relies on a global network of corporate lawyers to fend off Western authorities, according to a separate F.T. Bill Browder, a former investor in Russia who has become one of Mr. Putin’s biggest critics, told DealBook that the president would look to reassert his authority by whatever means necessary.

Persons: Prigozhin, caterer, bankrolled, Wagner, Putin’s, , China’s, Putin, Bill Browder, DealBook, ” Organizations: bankrolled Wagner Group, Treasury Department, Evro, Central African, Financial Times, Treasury, — Terra Tech, BARL Locations: Prigozhin, Europe, United States, Russia, Syria, Ukraine, Evro Polis, Sudan, Central African Republic

☆ Putin has only himself to blame as infighting engulfs Kremlin insiders
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Nathan Hodge | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Vladimir Putin, meet the Law of Unintended Consequences. In the years leading up to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a St. Petersburg-based businessman named Yevgeny Prigozhin emerged as a canny political entrepreneur. After all, mercenary activity was technically barred by Russian law, and Putin could always maintain that interference in US elections was merely the work of “patriotic” hackers. Prigozhin’s feud with the leadership of the Russian military is longstanding, and many observers suggested that this was part of the intricate game of court politics under Putin. After Prigozhin’s forces seized Rostov-on-Don, a video surfaced that showed Prigozhin in a tense conversation with two Russian military commanders.

Persons: CNN — Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Putin, Wagner, Stringer, ”, ” Putin, Tsar Nicholas II, Petersburg –, Defense Yunus, Bek, “, Shoigu Organizations: CNN, Southern Military District, Reuters, Saturday, Bolsheviks, Defense Locations: Ukraine, St, Petersburg, Russian, Ukraine’s, Moscow, Syria, Rostov, Russia, Petrograd – today’s St, “

☆ US Senate panel invites PGA Tour commissioner, LIV CEO to testify on merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Nick Lachance/File PhotoWASHINGTON, June 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate panel on Wednesday invited PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir al-Rumayyan and LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman to testify at a July 11 hearing. The Justice department has been investigating the PGA Tour for trying to keep its players from defecting to LIV. The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and rival Saudi-backed LIV circuit, which had been involved in a bitter fight that split the sport, announced an agreement to merge and form one unified commercial entity. The LIV Golf series is bankrolled by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIV). The PGA Tour and LIV did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

Persons: LIV, Nick Lachance, Jay Monahan, Yasir al, Greg Norman, Richard Blumenthal, Ron Johnson, Blumenthal, Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, LIV Golf, Critics, Jamal Khashoggi, David Shepardson, Mark Porter, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Canadian, PGA Tour, Oakdale, Country Club, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, U.S, Senate, Wednesday, Saudi, Public Investment, Investigations, PGA, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Justice Department, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Washington Post, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Saudi Arabian

☆ PGA Tour, LIV golf deal needs close DOJ scrutiny, senators say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Golf - The inaugural LIV Golf Invitational - Centurion Club, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Britain - June 11, 2022 South Africa's Charl Schwartzel of the Stinger team celebrates on the podium after winning The inaugural LIV Golf Invitational REUTERS/Paul Childs/File PhotoWASHINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden asked the Justice Department to open an antitrust investigation into the planned deal between the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf, saying they believe it would result in a monopoly over professional golf operations. The LIV Golf series is bankrolled by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. The department has been investigating the PGA Tour for trying to keep its players from defecting to LIV. On Monday, Senator Richard Blumenthal asked the PGA Tour and LIV Golf for communications and records on their planned tie-up.

Persons: LIV, Paul Childs, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, LIV Golf, General Merrick Garland, Jonathan Kanter, Richard Blumenthal, Jamal Khashoggi, David Shepardson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Centurion Club, LIV Golf, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, U.S, Senators, Justice Department, PGA Tour, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Critics, PGA, Washington Post, Thomson Locations: Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Britain, Saudi, U.S, Saudi Arabian

☆ PGA-LIV merger has caused confusion, says U.S. Open holder Fitzpatrick
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Jun 19, 2022; Brookline, Massachusetts, USA; Matthew Fitzpatrick poses with the US Open Championship Trophy after the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. "I just don't know what's going on. I don't think anyone knows what's going on. "Even though I guess it is confusing, it's pretty clear that nobody knows what's going on apart from about four people in the world." The U.S. Open begins on Thursday at the Los Angeles Country Club.

Persons: Matthew Fitzpatrick, Bob DeChiara, LIV, England's Matthew Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick, Amy Tennery, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: US, U.S, LOS ANGELES, PGA Tour, Los Angeles Country Club, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, U.S ., PGA, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: Brookline , Massachusetts, USA, Los Angeles, New York

☆ Opinion | New York Lawmakers Try to Sabotage Campaign Reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

For generations, deep-pocketed donors have called the shots in New York State politics, leaving ordinary voters with less power and less of a voice in their government. The changes proposed by lawmakers would protect incumbents and discourage challengers — the opposite of the program’s goal. The 2024 elections will be the first under this new campaign finance system, in which state leaders agreed to match small contributions with public funds to amplify the power of small donors. The law works like this: If an individual gives $5 to $250 to a candidate for a statewide office like governor, that donation is matched with public funds six to one. The match ratios are even higher for state legislative candidates.

Persons: Brennan, New York City’s, Kathy Hochul Organizations: Brennan Center for Justice, Democratic, Gov Locations: New York State, New York

An announcement by the PGA Tour declared a partnership with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, as well as the DP World Tour, unifying the trio under a new, yet-to-be-named, commercial entity. An eight-time winner on the PGA Tour and the 2020 US Open champion, DeChambeau’s move was a huge coup for LIV Golf. Yet many of the game’s biggest stars stayed put, with several becoming outspoken critics of LIV Golf. The latter purportedly turned down a $700 - $800 million offer to join the breakaway series, according to LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman. “I do feel bad for the PGA Tour players because they were told one thing and something else happened.

Persons: Bryson DeChambeau, “, LIV, DeChambeau, DeChambeau’s, LIV Golf, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, ” DeChambeau, it’s, Suhaimi Abdullah, Saudi Arabia’s, LIV Golf’s, Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, Bin Salman, Quizzed, Collins, “ I’m, I’m, ” Bryson, Brett Eagleson, Maddie Meyer, ” Organizations: CNN, PGA Tour, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, PGA, “, LIV, Sentosa Golf Club, Saudi, Congress, United, America, Getty Locations: Saudi, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Washington, al Qaeda

☆ PGA and LIV Merger PGA Tour and LIV Golf Agree to Merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Alan Blinder | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

PinnedThe PGA Tour and LIV Golf, the insurgent league bankrolled by billions of dollars from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, said Tuesday that they had agreed to a merger, ending a bitter fight for supremacy of men’s professional golf that had divided top players, everyday fans and corporate sponsors. The governor of the Saudi fund will become chairman of the joined organization. Monahan is expected to be the new group’s chief executive, with Yasir al-Rumayyan, the wealth fund’s governor, installed as its chairman. The PGA Tour, long the dominant force in professional golf, retaliated by banning any players who joined the new tour from its events. But by midday Tuesday, golf’s era of high-dollar brinkmanship had ended, with promises of “a fair and objective process for any players” looking to return to good standing with the PGA Tour or its European counterpart.

Persons: LIV Golf, LIV, we’ve, ” Jay Monahan, LIV . Monahan, Yasir al, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson Organizations: PGA, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, PGA Tour, Public Investment Locations: Saudi

☆ PGA Tour, European Tour and LIV announce merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Frank Pingue | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Additionally, the three organizations said in a joint news release that they will work cooperatively to allow a process for any LIV Golf players to reapply for PGA Tour and DP World Tour membership following the 2023 season. "After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love," PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a joint news release. "We are proud to partner with the PGA Tour to leverage PIF's unparalleled success and track record of unlocking value and bringing innovation and global best practices to business and sectors worldwide." The PGA Tour had sought to fend off competition from LIV by barring PGA Tour players from participating in LIV tournaments. Some PGA Tour players took to Twitter to express their surprise having not been informed of the agreement before its announcement.

Persons: Hideki Matsuyama, Mike Segar, LIV, Jay Monahan, Yasir Al, Tour's Monahan, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Mickelson, Collin Morikawa, Mackenzie Hughes, we’d, Donald Trump, LIV Golf's, Liv Golf, Frank Pingue, Alex Richardson, Christian Organizations: Golf, Tour, LIV, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Public Investment Fund, PGA, Al, Rumayyan, Justice Department, Fame, Twitter, Liv, Thomson Locations: Augusta , Georgia, U.S, Saudi, Collin Morikawa ., Toronto

☆ Blindsided PGA Tour players want answers over merger with LIV Golf
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

TORONTO, June 6 (Reuters) - PGA Tour players were blindsided by news of a merger with the rebel Saudi-backed LIV Golf on Tuesday that left them, fans and politicians demanding answers. A bitter feud that had divided the sport for almost two years ended without warning when the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf announced a shock agreement to merge and form one unified commercial entity. "I’m guessing the liv teams were struggling to get sponsors and pga tour couldn’t turn down the money. Rickie Fowler, Will Zalatoris and Hideki Matsuyama were all reported to have been offered over $100 million to jump to LIV Golf until Monahan pleaded with them to stick with the PGA Tour. Golf fans took to social media, many blasting the PGA Tour for its hypocrisy.

Persons: LIV Golf, liv, Jay Monahan, Rickie Fowler, Will Zalatoris, Hideki Matsuyama, Monahan, Adam Hadwin, Charlotte ,, Peter Casey, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, LIV, Chris Murphy, Saudi LIV, Terry Strada, Steve Keating, Toby Davis Organizations: TORONTO, PGA, Twitter, Win, PGA Tour, USA, of Fame, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Democratic, Golf, Tour, United, LIV, Saudi shills, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Canada, Charlotte, Charlotte , North Carolina, USA, American, Connecticut, United States, Saudi Arabia, U.S, Toronto

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