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☆ Blinken to talk aid, Nordic NATO bid in visit to quake-hit Turkey
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives for a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, February. Since the earthquake, the United States has sent a search and rescue team to Turkey, medical supplies, concrete-breaking machinery, and additional funding of $85 million in humanitarian aid that also covers Syria. While the United States has praised Turkey for some of its actions during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it remains worried over its close relationship with Moscow, experts say. "There will be no transfer of F-16s if Erdogan continues to deny admission to Finland and Sweden ... Ibrahim Kalin, Erdogan's chief foreign policy advisor, said last month he hoped the F-16 deal would not become "hostage" to the NATO memberships of Sweden and Finland.

☆ Turkey's foreign minister to discuss F-16s and NATO during U.S. visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

For its part, Turkey demands Washington not support the Syrian Kurdish militia that it sees as terrorists. Turkey now hopes to buy F-16 jets from the United States, a sale that some top members of Congress oppose despite support from the Biden administration. But recently, Ankara's refusal to ratify NATO membership of Sweden and Finland is emerging as a more central reason in their opposition. The two Nordic states applied for NATO membership last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine but their bids need approval from all 30 NATO member states. He added he hoped the F-16 deal would not become "hostage" to the NATO memberships of Sweden and Finland.

☆ Turkey urges Biden administration to be 'decisive' over F-16 deal as Congress objects
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Recently, Ankara's refusal to ratify the NATO membership of Sweden and Finland has become more central to Congress' opposition. "HOSTAGE"Ties between the United States and Turkey have been strained since Turkey acquired Russian missile defense systems in 2019. For its part, Turkey demands Washington does not support the Syrian Kurdish armed groups that it sees as terrorists. But a senior administration official said Washington was unlikely to follow through with the sale unless Menendez reverses his opposition. The U.S. side did not give a date on when they would send the formal notification for the F-16s to Congress, Cavusoglu added.

☆ With Kevin McCarthy as Speaker, Congress faces a messy debt ceiling fight — and Biden might have to mint a trillion dollar platinum coin
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Those included using the debt ceiling as leverage to slash spending on Democratic priorities like Social Security. These GOP demands could be especially problematic for President Joe Biden as Congress will have to raise the debt ceiling by mid-2023. Importantly, the debt ceiling isn't tied to new spending — it allows the government to pay for what Congress has already appropriated. In 2011, amid another debt ceiling standoff between congressional Republicans and then-President Barack Obama, S&P downgraded the US' credit rating, which top officials at the rating agency said was due to the delay in raising the debt ceiling. Other possibilities include using the 14th Amendment to sidestep the debt ceiling.

☆ Americans will soon be able to save a lot more for retirement — but it might help the wealthy the most
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It includes changes to Americans' retirement savings, like raising the age of required withdrawal. A significant element of the bipartisan government spending plan included changes to Americans' retirement funds. It also allows an increased contribution in retirement savings for older workers and paves the way for automatic enrollment for workers starting in 2025. White Americans are far more likely to have retirement savings, and those savings dwarf those of Americans of color. Some Democratic lawmakers acknowledged they did not get to include everything they had hoped for in this spending package, like increased funding to help Americans recover from the pandemic.

He got away with it because in a 50-50 Senate, Manchin had a ton of leverage and could force Senate Democratic leaders to make numerous concessions or else get nothing passed. Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images fileA 51-49 Senate majority doesn’t completely quell Democratic headaches over having to corral their own. Like Manchin, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona has bucked her Democratic colleagues. In a 51-49 Senate, Democrats also will have unilateral power to issue subpoenas. This leaves Senate Democrats in a much rosier position concerning chickens and just about everything else.

☆ Senate Banking Chairman Brown to introduce bill closing 'shadow' banking loophole after Elon Musk says Twitter will process payments
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown will introduce a bill Tuesday that aims to close the so-called shadow banking loophole that allows retail and tech companies to offer banking services without the same stringent oversight as other financial institutions. Twitter is one of several non-bank companies that sought to enable banking services for users through state-chartered ILCs. Jack Dorsey, Musk's predecessor at Twitter, also was involved in financial services through his separate payments company Square. Other companies that have applied for ILC charters include eCommerce marketplace Rakuten, Ford Motor Company and financial services firm Edward Jones . The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation approved ILC deposit insurance applications for Square and Nelnet, a student financial services company, in 2020.

WASHINGTON — House Democrats will elect their new leadership team Wednesday morning, ushering in a younger generation of leaders after Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer decided to step aside after Democrats narrowly lost the majority this month. In recent years, younger, equally ambitious and talented Democrats looking to climb the leadership ladder discovered they had nowhere to go but out. Democratic Caucus Chair Xavier Becerra took an appointment as California's attorney general and then was named by President Joe Biden as health and human services secretary. Others, including Steve Israel of New York, who led both House Democrats' campaign arm and communications shop, opted for retirement. “The House Democratic Caucus is at its best when everyone has an opportunity to be on the playing field, playing the right position," he said.

☆ Biden nominee to be ambassador to Russia pledges to prioritize prisoner release
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Patricia Zengerle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's nominee to be ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, pledged on Wednesday to make the release of detained Americans a priority if she is confirmed to one of most important, and challenging, U.S. diplomatic posts. Tracy, a career diplomat and current ambassador to Armenia, promised to visit detained Americans, including basketball star Brittney Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan. It was not immediately clear when Tracy would assume the post, if she is confirmed as Russia must agree to accept her. A Russian speaker, she would be the first woman to serve as U.S. ambassador to Russia. "She's tested, she's eminently qualified," said Senator Rob Portman, who represents Tracy's home state of Ohio and introduced her at the hearing.

SoFi pitches itself as a digital financial services company with 3.9 million members as of Q1 2022. Heightened financial and risk controls mean that SoFi's crypto activities "pose significant risks to both individual investors and safety and soundness," the lawmakers said. Investor education material from SoFi warns that a cryptocurrency offered on SoFi's crypto platform, Dogecoin, has "no special use case or features." The letters to regulators and SoFi come as crypto markets weather their worst crisis yet. Lawmakers have demanded an explanation from SoFi on its risk management, credit, financial and compliance systems by Dec. 8.

☆ Biden at 80: A ‘respecter of fate’ considers a second White House bid
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

US President Joe Biden disembarks from Air Force One upon his arrival at the airport of Egypt's Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh, to attend the COP27 climate conference, on November 11, 2022. It's soon time for Joe Biden, 80 on Sunday, to decide whether he has one more mountain to climb — the one to a second term as president. Getty: President Joe Biden gives remarks on student debt relief at Delaware State University on October 21, 2022 in Dover, Delaware. "While President Biden may chronologically be 80 years old, biologically he probably isn't," he said. U.S. President Joe Biden smiles during a rally with Democratic nominee for Maryland Governor Wes Moore, U.S.

☆ Fact Check-Most Democrat wins for U.S. Senate races were called by Nov. 9; Dems did not ‘only’ win in states with mail in voting
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

For the midterm election on Nov. 8, there were 35 states that had Senate races. Delays were seen in Arizona and Nevada, where the Senate races were called for Democrats on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12 respectively. All four projected Democrat wins for the Senate races on election night, after the polls closed. In Illinois and Maryland, known as “Solid Democratic” states, the Senate race was called on election day. Only two of 14 U.S. Senate races resulting in Democrat wins in states that allow mail-in voting were not called by Nov 9.

Hassan did betterthan Biden democrats have won control Arizona › Mark Kelly (D) wins D+5.7 D+0.3 +5.4 pts. Kelly did betterthan Biden democrats have won control Pennsylvania › John Fetterman (D) wins D+4.4 D+1.2 +3.2 pts. Warnock did betterthan Biden democrats have won control Nevada › Catherine Cortez Masto (D) wins D+0.7 D+2.4 +1.7 pts. Welch did betterthan Biden democrats have won control Maryland › Chris Van Hollen (D) wins D+26.4 D+33.4 +7.0 pts. Rep. Van Hollen did worsethan Biden democrats have won control Connecticut › Richard Blumenthal (D) wins D+14.9 D+20.1 +5.2 pts.

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden smiles during a rally with Democratic nominee for Maryland Governor Wes Moore, U.S. White House officials expressed a sense of vindication that Biden's fellow Democrats did better than expected. "Our intention is to run again, that's been our intention," Biden told reporters at the White House, his wife Jill sitting nearby. Biden said his family wanted him to run and he did not feel rushed to make a final decision. The White House has prepared for a host of investigations that may come from a Republican-controlled House, including over his son Hunter's business dealings.

☆ Midterm results are looking increasingly sunny for Biden as Democrats avoid 'red wave'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

U.S. President Joe Biden smiles during a rally with Democratic nominee for Maryland Governor Wes Moore, U.S. "They still might lose control of both houses, but it's hardly the 'red wave' that was being marketed in the media." As results are reported across the country Wednesday, it appears Biden was right to be hopeful. President Joe Biden told reporters ahead of Election Day that he was "optimistic" for Democrats. "While Democrats may ultimately lose the House, it will likely be by much less than Republicans would want," O'Connell said.

☆ Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen faces off against Republican Chris Chaffee in Maryland's US Senate election
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Hanna Kang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Chris Van Hollen is running against Republican Chris Chaffee to represent Maryland in the US Senate. Democratic incumbent Sen. Chris Van Hollen faces off against Republican Chris Chaffee in Maryland to represent the state in the US Senate. Prior to being elected to the US Senate, Van Hollen represented Maryland's 8th Congressional District in the US House. He also served as a member of both the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland State Senate. The money raceAccording to OpenSecrets, Van Hollen has raised $8.5 million, spent $6.7 million, and has $2.3 million cash on hand, as of October 19.

☆ Live Results: Maryland votes in congressional and state elections
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Walt Hickey | Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Explore more race results below. It symobilizes the 2022 Election. MD-06 House Governor Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Maryland votes on its eight congressional seats, with the race in Maryland's 6th District poised to be one of the most compelling of the night. The state will also vote on Question 4, which would legalize recreational marijuana use in the state.

☆ Stroke survivors speak out about John Fetterman's debate struggles
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Benjamin Ryan | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

For stroke survivors interviewed by NBC News, the test Fetterman faced was not just political, but deeply personal. Sheth differentiated between the intellectual and cognitive capacities of stroke survivors and their ability to process language and communicate. Some stroke survivors said that just as people with learning disabilities are given extra time on standardized tests, the debate rules should have allotted Fetterman longer periods to speak. Accordingly, some stroke survivors said that at the end of the hourlong debate, Fetterman seemed worn out. Others said they hoped that the attention focused on Fetterman’s recovery might inspire greater empathy and understanding of what stroke survivors go through.

☆ Fetterman Oz debate for Pennsylvania Senate seat sends message to stroke survivors
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Judith Hannah Weiss | Judith Hannah Weiss Is A Freelance Writer Whose Work Has Appeared In The Iowa Review | The Rumpus | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

John Fetterman suffered days before winning the Democratic Senate nomination in May. The stroke added a new wrinkle to a race that could determine which party takes control of the 50-50 U.S. Senate. The Oz campaign is clearly hoping that perception will hurt Fetterman. In one egregious example, Oz issued a list of “concessions” for their debate Tuesday night that many see as mocking. Benjamin Abella, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, criticized the Oz campaign for shaming a stroke survivor.

☆ Democrats are focus-grouping Fetterman’s health. Swing voters think he’s getting sharper.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | 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

The consensus, according to two people familiar with the responses given to Democratic operatives, was that persuadable voters believe Fetterman is fit to serve and getting sharper. Four months after the stroke, Fetterman has not released his medical records. But Oz has made sure that Fetterman’s health problems remain a top topic of political conversation. Michelle Gustafson / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesEarlier this summer, Pennsylvania Democrats privately expressed concerns about Fetterman’s health and lack of transparency, but Fetterman seems to have eased their fears. That helps explain why Republicans have been split on how much to focus on Fetterman’s health.

☆ U.S. senators want secondary sanctions on Russian oil
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Patricia Zengerle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Democratic and Republican senators urged U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Tuesday to impose secondary sanctions on international banks to strengthen a price cap G7 countries plan to impose on Russian oil over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The Biden administration has been reluctant to impose secondary sanctions over concerns that they could complicate relations with importers of Russia oil like China and India. The Group of Seven announced the price cap plan this month to limit Russia's lucrative oil export revenue in the wake of the invasion. "And secondly, by keeping Russian oil in the market at lower prices, it will reduce the potential for price spikes in the market." Also at the hearing, Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema asked Rosenberg what Washington can do to address the blending of Russian oil by the country's producers with crude from other nations to circumvent sanctions.

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