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☆ Military Contractors Square Off Over F-35 Jet Engine Program
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Brody Mullins | Ted Mann | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

GE is lobbying Congress to fund an alternative engine for the Pentagon’s F-35 jet fighter. WASHINGTON—One of the biggest lobbying clashes in recent years is heating up again: the fight to fund an alternate engine to power the Pentagon’s F-35 jet fighter. More than a decade ago, engine-maker Pratt & Whitney and its allies in Congress won out over General Electric Co. to be the exclusive supplier for the next-generation fighter. Now GE is once again lobbying Congress to provide billions of dollars to fund an alternative engine it would build, citing what it calls the flaws in Pratt’s engine.

In North Carolina, party activists are seeking to punish Republican Senator Thom Tillis for his support for same-sex marriage rights. North Carolina State Representative Mark Brody, who supports censuring Sen. Tillis, says it is better to address differences directly. Law, who served as a senior member of Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns in Nevada, and the county party did not respond to requests for comment. Although Tillis retains support among the party establishment, Jim Womack, a county party chair, says the Senator’s critics are gaining strength. “The North Carolina Republican party will eventually be decentralized to the point where the grassroots will actually run the party,” Womack said.

☆ Lawmakers Call for Broad U.S. Probes of Financial Conflicts by Federal Officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Brody Mullins | Rebecca Ballhaus | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo: Eric Lee for The Wall Street JournalTwo Democratic lawmakers are requesting recommendations for how ethics rules and regulations in Washington can be strengthened. WASHINGTON—Two Democratic lawmakers called on the executive branch to root out financial conflicts-of-interest among top government officials. In letters sent to eight federal agencies Tuesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington asked that internal investigators launch probes into conflicts of interest and review the effectiveness of the agencies’ rules.

U.S. ethics officials in recent years have warned one-third of the Energy Department’s senior officials that they or their families owned stocks related to the agency’s work, reminding them not to violate federal conflict-of-interest rules. Most held on to the stocks, a Wall Street Journal analysis of officials’ financial disclosures from 2017 through 2021 shows.

☆ Berlinale film 'Manodrome' explores misogynistic world of incel culture
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Miranda Murray | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Cast members Adrien Brody, Odessa Young, Jesse Eisenberg and director John Trengove attend a photo call to promote the movie 'Manodrome'' at the 73rd Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 18, 2023. The film, which premieres at the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday, explores the "manosphere" of online toxic masculinity that bubbled up into the mainstream after a series of mass killings by "incels" - the self-described "involuntary celibates" - in the 2010s. They eventually win Ralphie as a new adherent to their cult and initiate him by branding him with their symbol. "It really became this idea of a character who just immerses himself in a world of men. And it all kind of leads to a sort of madness, a kind of a fever dream," Trengove told the premiere's audience.

☆ U.S. Agencies Seek Tougher Rules, Internal Probes on Stock Trading by Federal Officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Rebecca Ballhaus | Brody Mullins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is considering overhauling its ethics rules to crack down on financial conflicts. Several federal agencies are looking to tighten their ethics rules, while others have directed their internal watchdogs to investigate suspicious investing by officials, as lawmakers continue to press for tougher trading restrictions across the federal government. The efforts follow a Wall Street Journal series that identified a sweeping pattern of financial conflicts across the executive branch, including finding that more than 2,600 officials invested in companies overseen by their agencies. In some instances, officials’ trading appeared to violate federal and agency rules that are intended to maintain the public’s trust in the government and keep officials from using their influence for personal gain.

☆ Peloton losses narrow as subscription revenue again outpaces equipment sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Peloton said Wednesday its net loss narrowed year over year, and, for the third quarter in a row, subscriptions revenue was higher than sales of the company's connected fitness products. The fitness equipment company's fiscal second quarter revenue beat Wall Street's expectations, but the company posted wider losses per share than expected. Connected fitness product sales, which are typically strong during Peloton's holiday quarter, dropped 52% year-over-year while subscription revenue jumped 22%. Gross margins for its connected fitness products were negative 11.2%, but gross margins for subscription sales were 67.6%. The company is also expecting connected fitness subscribers to be between 3.08 million and 3.09 million.

☆ How the Supreme Court could soon change free speech on the internet
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

Musk's actions since closing the deal last year have illuminated how he sees the balance internet platforms must strike in protecting free expression versus user safety. The Supreme Court has yet to decide if or when to hear the cases, though many expect it will take them up at some point. The Age-Appropriate Design Code requires internet platforms that are likely to be accessed by kids to mitigate risks to those users. Google said such a change would also make the internet less safe and less hospitable to free expression. The Supreme Court of the United States building are seen in Washington D.C., United States on December 28, 2022.

☆ 'Poker Face' showrunners say guest stars like Joseph Gordon-Levitt 'raised their hand' to appear on the show: 'Everybody wants to work with Rian Johnson'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Ayomikun Adekaiyero | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"Poker Face," which premiered on Peacock Thursday, is filled with guest appearances from star actors. "Poker Face" is the second murder-mystery project Johnson has taken on since his highly successful "Knives Out" movies. "I really hope that everybody dips a toe into 'Poker Face' because they're 'Knives Out' fans," Lilla said. "If you are a fan of 'Knives Out,' if you're a fan of 'Glass Onion,' I think you're gonna love 'Poker Face.'" "Poker Face" is now streaming on Peacock.

☆ Influential evangelical Franklin Graham said he wouldn't be endorsing Trump in the primaries
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Evangelical pastor Franklin Graham said he will not endorse Trump in the 2024 GOP primaries. Graham told CBS News he won't support Trump or any candidate in "until after the primaries." Other evangelical pastors, like Robert Jeffress, also declined to endorse Trump in primaries. Graham told CBS News at the March for Life rally in Washington, DC, on Friday that he would not support any candidate until after the primaries. "I'm just not going to get involved in supporting this one over that one," he told CBS News.

☆ Donald Trump's strained bond with evangelicals creates an opening for rivals
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Jonathan-Allen-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Jonathan Allen | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

WASHINGTON — There is a deepening crack in Donald Trump's bond with conservative faith voters that potential rivals for the 2024 GOP nomination see as an opportunity. And Pence is expected to speak to faith voters in the coming weeks in Houston, Miami, Naples, Fla., and New York City. "For all the blocs of [GOP] voters, losing the 2020 election took the shine off of Donald Trump," the adviser said. Those are the types of things that I think lose your credibility with the evangelical community and conservative voters writ large." That should give hopefuls and faith voters a chance to get a better feel for one another.

☆ Donald Trump accused evangelical leaders of disloyalty for not yet endorsing his 2024 presidential bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former President Donald Trump accused evangelical leaders of disloyalty for not yet endorsing him in 2024. Evangelical Christian leaders appear to be holding back on supporting Trump for the GOP nomination. In October, Trump praised evangelicals for being more "appreciative" of his work than American Jews. During an interview on the right-wing fringe network Real America's Voice, Trump was asked about the lack of endorsements from evangelical leaders for his 2024 presidential campaign. In 2021, Trump also told an Israeli journalist that "evangelical Christians love Israel more than the Jews in this country."

☆ Trump stopped short of endorsing any candidate for RNC chair: 'Let them fight it out'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Trump was asked about McDaniel and her challenger for RNC chair, Harmeet Dhillon. Trump said he likes both women but made no mention of Mike Lindell, who is also running for RNC chair. Trump made no mention of his ally, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, who is also running for the position of RNC chair. I believe she's well under 85 — with my math, I'd say somewhere around 70 to 75," Lindell told Insider on January 9. Lindell, Dhillon, and representatives for Trump and McDaniel did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

☆ 9 things about sharks you saw in movies that are actually wrong, according to an expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Marianne Guenot | Margaret Guzman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Here are facts that "Jaws," "Finding Nemo," and "The Meg" got wrong — and one that's right. NOAA fisheriesIt's those scales that make the shark nose the wrong target for a sucker punch. When Dory hits her nose, her blood goes straight into the shark's nose. So "Finding Nemo" hit the nail on the head when they showed blood actually going into the shark's nose, she said. Gerard Soury/Getty ImagesSharks in "Finding Nemo" might want to fight their urges to eat fish, but it's not in their nature.

Last year, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. deliberated over whether to tap Microsoft Corp. as its primary cloud provider. Three key officials involved in the discussions, or their family members, owned shares in Microsoft, including the deputy chief information officer who pushed to pick the company. By early this year, Microsoft had become the agency’s primary cloud platform.

☆ We're definitely not done with the crypto contagion, EY says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWe're definitely not done with the crypto contagion, EY saysPaul Brody of the professional services firm says crypto is "extremely non-transparent."

☆ Crypto contagion isn't over and the lack of transparency means the industry is an 'insider's game,' EY strategist says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

FTX's collapse shows that crypto contagion isn't over and the industry has transparency issues, according to EY strategist Paul Brody. Brody noted that transparency claims made by crypto firms were often "difficult to test," which makes the industry an "insider's game." Policymakers have urged the SEC to tighten regulation on crypto firms, criticizing the current hands-off approach. He noted that his own team finds transparency claims among crypto firms "difficult to test and follow through." Lawmakers have been critical of the SEC's current approach, which asks crypto firms to "come in and talk" to be regulated.

☆ Tim Berners-Lee wants us to reclaim the internet from tech giants
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Daniel Renjifo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —The internet has come a long way since Tim Berners-Lee invented the world wide web in 1989. Now, in an era of growing concern over privacy, he believes it’s time for us to reclaim our personal data. Through their startup Inrupt, Berners-Lee and CEO John Bruce have created the “Solid Pod” — or Personal Online Data Store. The latter plans to use Pods to let its citizens choose how to share their personal data. A former physicist, Tim Berners-Lee, pictured in 1994, invented the world wide web at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN.

☆ The Best Actors of 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( The New York Times Magazine | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

There are no guarantees for a screen actor anymore. There are no guarantees for a screen actor’s audience. Perhaps that’s why we’ve turned, along with many an actor, to television, where the ground feels more fertile. There is enough outstanding work on television alone to fill a portfolio twice or three times the size of this one. We want to applaud, marvel at and salute the achievement of screen acting, the increasing miracle of it in challenging and confusing circumstances.

☆ Ethics Watchdog Group Seeks Probes Into Oversight of Officials’ Stock-Trading Conflicts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Brody Mullins | Rebecca Ballhaus | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A nonpartisan group that monitors government ethics filed a series of legal complaints alleging the federal government is failing to adequately enforce conflict-of-interest rules. The Campaign Legal Center called on the executive-branch agency that oversees ethics rules to investigate what it called deficiencies in enforcement at several agencies. The group also requested that internal investigators at four federal agencies examine whether their ethics programs complied with federal rules.

☆ GOP House Majority Could Shield Industries From New Taxes, Regulations
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Brody Mullins | John D. Mckinnon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Republican control of the House bodes well for business sectors that have allies among the representatives. WASHINGTON—Republican wins at the ballot box have long translated into gains for the business lobby in Washington. This election is likely to be no exception, despite the party’s increasingly populist slant. The GOP takeover of the House will give Republicans the power to block efforts by Democrats to approve new regulations or taxes on the fossil-fuel industry, private-equity funds, tobacco makers and drug manufacturers.

☆ Crypto markets must be regulated to reach maturity: EY
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCrypto markets must be regulated to reach maturity: EYPaul Brody, Global Blockchain Leader at EY believes that discipline, transparency and regulation are crucial for maturing crypto markets.

☆ Gyms and at-home fitness battle for prominence this holiday season
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Jack Stebbins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Michael Loccisano | Getty ImagesThe fitness industry appears headed for a strong holiday season, but not everyone will see a boost. Now inflationary pressures and a post-lockdown reset look poised to benefit traditional gyms and trade-down options — threatening connected at-home fitness equipment like the products made by Peloton and Lululemon -owned Mirror. Tarlowe, who covers Planet Fitness and Lululemon, said fitness spending remains steady, even among lower-income, inflation-squeezed consumers. People are trading down and shifting more toward value, he said, "and that bodes well for Planet Fitness." Planet Fitness CEO Chris Rondeau said members are exercising more, too: six times a month versus five times a month when Planet Fitness went public in 2015.

☆ Here's an exclusive look at the 18-slide presentation that a health-data startup used to land $20 million as it eyes profitability
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Carta Healthcare just announced $20 million in Series B funding led by Paramark Ventures. That puts startups in need of a Series B round in a tough position. The health-data startup said on November 2 that it had raised a $20 million Series B round led by Paramark Ventures. Insider got an exclusive look at the pitch deck Carta Healthcare used to raise $20 million in Series B funding. Here's the 18-slide presentation Carta Healthcare used to raise $20 million in Series B funding.

☆ Peloton shares tumble after company offers weak holiday quarter outlook
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Jack Stebbins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Peloton posted a wider-than-expected loss for its fiscal first quarter, as a steep decline in connected fitness products revenue outweighed an increase in subscription revenue. Loss per share: $1.20 vs. 64 cents, expected$1.20 vs. 64 cents, expected Revenue: $616.5 million vs. $650.1 million, expected. Peloton's revenue outlook for the holiday quarter, between $700 million and $725 million, would mark a quarter-to-quarter increase, but it's well below analysts' estimates of $874 million. Peloton reported 6.7 million total members, up from 6.3 million last year, but down from 6.9 million the prior quarter. The company reported $199 million in first quarter recall reserves, restructuring and impairment expenses as it continues embarking on its turnaround.

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