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☆ Substack is having a moment, again. But can the startup live up to its massive $650 million valuation?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Samantha Stokes | Steven Perlberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

He provided a place where readers could find him "in case the bird app spirals into oblivion": his Substack newsletter. The epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding began promoting his Substack newsletter to his 722,000 Twitter followers in early November. They have been a welcome addition, Substack writers say. Substack has also recently rolled out mentions and cross-reporting functions, where writers can mention other Substack writers and share existing posts with their audiences. The irony, of course, is that many Substack writers rely on their Twitter audiences to promote their posts.

Bankman-Fried and unnamed co-conspirators made "tens of millions of dollars in illegal campaign contributions" to both Democratic and Republican candidates and campaign committees, Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for Southern New York, said at a news conference unveiling the eight-count criminal indictment, which included a campaign finance violation charge. "And all of this dirty money," Williams said, was used to "buy bipartisan influence and impact the direction of public policy in Washington." FTX boss Sam Bankman-Fried is escorted by police officers as he leaves court in Nassau, Bahamas on Dec. 13, 2022. The indictment alleges he also made illegal contributions through a corporation, which it does not name. Once believed to be a financial wunderkind, Bankman-Fried also faces a host of other charges.

☆ Biden welcomes African leaders for summit as China and Russia expand influence
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden welcomes nearly 50 leaders from Africa on Wednesday for a summit intended to reset Washington’s commitment to a region where China and Russia are also working to expand their influence. Four nations’ leaders were excluded from the summit invite list following recent coups. It’s not the first time African leaders have heard a similar message from an American president. President Barack Obama held his own US-Africa Leaders Summit in 2014, complete with gala dinner under a tent on the White House South Lawn. China has worked to grow trade relations with African nations and has developed major infrastructure projects there.

☆ Steve Bannon says Trump needs to get off Truth Social and focus on policy battles: 'You've got to get better'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

He said his former boss needs to "get off the Truth," referring to the social media platform Truth Social. "It's just not good enough right now," Bannon said, adding that Trump should focus more on policy battles. "You've got to get off the Truth," Trump's ex-adviser said, seemingly referring to Truth Social, per Newsweek. In a statement to Newsweek, Bannon said that Trump should "go all-in to defeat" by focusing on several conservative priorities. Trump founded Truth Social in October 2021 after he was banned from Facebook and Twitter following the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

CNN —Peruvian lawmakers have voted to oust President Pedro Castillo, dramatically escalating Wednesday’s political crisis that began hours earlier when Castillo attempted to dissolve the legislative body and install an emergency government. A majority of 101 lawmakers in the 130-person congress later voted to impeach Castillo, with the body announcing that Vice President Dina Boluarte will be sworn in as the new President of Peru. Francisco Morales, the president of Peru’s Constitutional Court, urged Boluarte to assume the presidency in a speech prior to the congressional vote. Lawmakers stand inside Congress on the day of their planned impeachment vote on President Pedro Castillo in Lima, Peru, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. The complaint allows congress to carry out its own investigation against the president.

☆ Hardly Anyone Is Buying Biden’s Bivalent Boosters
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Allysia Finley | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When it doesn’t live up to the hype, the public won’t trust what you’re selling the next time around. That’s the problem the Biden administration faces as it tries to peddle “bivalent” booster shots for Covid-19. Vaccines have served a useful purpose by reducing severe illness among the vulnerable and seniors. Some were knocked out for days with flulike symptoms—exactly what they were trying to avoid by getting vaccinated and boosted. Can you blame them for not buying the administration’s pitch that the new and supposedly improved bivalent boosters will “protect” them and their families?

☆ These Travelers Would Rather Eat Glass Than Pay an Airline Fee
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Frontier Airlines Inc. boasted about collecting $78 per passenger in fees this summer. Denver frequent flier Ashlee Lane can brag that she didn’t contribute a cent to that record haul. The 39-year-old nanny flies her hometown airline several times a year and refuses to pay for bags, seat assignments and other extras that budget carriers peddle nonstop during booking. She pays only for airfare. She has taught her whole family how to pack only the essentials.

A gunman opened fire at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Saturday night, killing five people and injuring 19 others. The shooting at Club Q is a tragic yet predictable outcome of demonizing LGBTQ people and using children as political pawns. Run by Chaya Raichik, Libs of TikTok has targeted LGBTQ people, drag events and Pride celebrations across the country. In addition to Boebert and Libs of TikTok, political leaders like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Florida Gov. We deserve to go to gay bars and drag shows or walk down the street without being attacked or harassed, or killed.

☆ Northern Europe has already slashed Russian oil imports by 90%, 2 weeks before the EU ban kicks in
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia's crude shipments to Northern Europe fell 92% in the four weeks to November 18, compared to February. That's a huge departure from 2021, when Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland were the top European importers of Russian oil. Even so, importers have already begun reducing their dependence on Russian energy supply — its key market Northern Europe has already slashed seaborne Russian oil imports by over 90%, according to Bloomberg analysis based on vessel tracking data. This is significant, because the Northern European nations of Germany, the Netherlands and Poland were the top European importers of Russian oil in 2021. While pipeline crude from Russia to EU is exempt from the December 5 ban, it made up just about one-third of all Russian crude oil exports to the EU last year.

☆ Ghana president sacks junior finance minister over alleged impropriety
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bernd Lauter/Pool via REUTERSACCRA, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo has sacked Charles Adu Boahen, the minister of state for finance, the presidency said on Monday after allegations of impropriety were circulated by a well-known Ghanaian investigative journalist. Adu Boahen did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. read moreThe allegations against Adu Boahen did not appear to be related to those previously raised against Ofori-Atta. Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia said in a statement the video showed Adu Boahen "apparently using my name, inter alia, to peddle influence and collect money from supposed investors". "I would like to state that if what the minister (Adu Boahen) is alleged to have said is accurately captured in the video, then his position as a minister of state is untenable.

☆ Cortez Masto defeats Laxalt in Nevada, handing Democrats control of the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Natasha Korecki | Natasha Korecki Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Despite predictions from her opponent that she'd struggle with Latinos, 62 percent said they voted for Cortez Masto and 33 percent backed Laxalt, according to the NBC News Exit Poll. Laxalt tied Cortez Masto to President Joe Biden’s economic policies, blaming them both for rising inflation and gas prices. Laxalt also sought to tie Cortez Masto to rising crime and what Republicans have said are Biden’s failed border policies — themes that pervaded many Republican campaigns. Cortez Masto, however, sought to woo Republican voters in places like Washoe County, touting her work with people like Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley. Laxalt handily won the state’s 15 rural counties, in some counties winning 80 percent of the vote, while Cortez Masto steadily led the reliably blue Clark County, home of Las Vegas.

☆ Biden faces scrutiny about America's future as he heads abroad
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Peter Nicholas | Peter Nicholas Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

For the world leaders meeting with Biden over the next week, there’s no assurance that he'll be the president they’ll be dealing with for the next six years. The U.S. is unnerved by Chinese military exercises that threaten Taiwan and raise the specter of a future invasion. “Tuesday was a good day for America, a good day for democracy,” Biden said Thursday at a Democratic National Committee event. Another reason that Biden might find the trip more gratifying is that he averted the midterm wipeout that sitting presidents normally endure. Biden’s midterm test went much better.

☆ 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.

☆ Trump says 'I'd like to apologize to Melania' on behalf of news outlets that reported he blamed her for his failed endorsement of Dr. Oz
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump said he was sorry to Melania after a report that he's privately blaming her for faulty election advice. The New York Times reported that Trump is trying to cast the blame on others for his backing of Mehmet Oz. "I'd like to apologize to Melania and Sean Hannity for all of the Fake News and fictional stories," Trump said in a message on his Truth Social platform. In reality, Trump's endorsement of Oz was a major factor in the GOP primary. "I am not sure I have," Trump told GOP pollster Frank Luntz, who served as moderator of the event.

Top 10 oil & gas CO2 emittersMore than 40% of the oil and gas sector emissions came from China's two largest oil majors alone - Sinopec (600028.SS) and PetroChina (601857.SS) - while investor staples including Shell (SHEL.L), Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) and Chevron also ranked high in the emissions table. As hefty as their collective discharges have been, however, oil and gas companies have not been the only steady polluters. Top 10 power companies by CO2 emissionsOnce again, China-based companies came out on top, and accounted for over half of the CO2 from the 10 largest global firms in the utilities and power segment last year. However, companies from the United States, Europe, India and Japan also made the top 10 leader board, underscoring the wide scope of polluters on the global emissions stage. STEELY RESOLVEGlobal metals and mining firms also racked up a significant collective emissions tally in 2021, hitting close to 600 million tonnes of CO2 and equivalent gases.

“We’ve got to unite,” Oz said at a rally Friday in Wexford, a suburb north of Pittsburgh. Democrats see his message as blatant hypocrisy considering he is backed by former President Donald Trump and has campaigned with him. “Uhhhh will he refuse to campaign with Mastriano + Trump this weekend then?? He has mostly kept Mastriano at arm’s length while rarely mentioning Trump, instead focusing on crime, inflation and undocumented immigration. “As much as I loved Trump as president, he’s pushed the other party so far away.”

☆ Obama ripped into Dr. Oz's history of bogus medical claims while campaigning for Fetterman, calling him a 'snake oil' salesman
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former President Barack Obama campaigned for John Fetterman in Pennsylvania on Saturday. He said if Oz would "peddle snake oil" to make money, then he'd do it to get elected. Obama was in Pittsburgh campaigning for Oz's Democratic opponent, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. "If somebody is willing to peddle snake oil to make a buck, then he's probably willing to sell snake oil to get elected," Obama said. Obama was campaigning for Fetterman — whose speech has been impacted by a stroke he had in May — ahead of the election on Tuesday.

☆ Rep. Tim Ryan says he'll 'fight anybody from any party' who pushes 'bullcrap' that Ohio is no longer in play for Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tim Ryan recently told Rolling Stone he rejected any "bullcrap" of Democrats not contesting Ohio. The Democratic Senate nominee said that the idea of skipping over the state was "insulting." As the campaign enters its final stretch, Ryan remains locked in a competitive race with JD Vance. Despite minimal national Democratic spending, Ryan has raised over $47.3 million for his campaign as of October 19, according to OpenSecrets. Mike DeWine and the GOP tint of the state's rural and exurban areas — Ryan has remained in the game.

☆ The sleeper county that could decide the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Natasha Korecki | Natasha Korecki Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

All of those factors make Washoe County the ultimate battleground for Cortez Masto and Laxalt. Both campaigns say that in the final 11 days, they’re swamping Washoe County with TV ads, canvassers and events. “Without a significant win in Washoe County, she has very few paths of winning Nevada.”Washoe County eluded Cortez Masto and Laxalt in their most recent statewide races. “The Democrats keep harping on that item here,” Bruce Parks, the Washoe County Republican chair, said of the abortion issue. “As I talk to Nevadans, including in Washoe County, it’s a combination of things — it’s not just the kitchen table issues,” she said.

☆ Cortez Masto says her GOP opponent should face 'consequences' for claiming the 2020 election was rigged
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Natasha Korecki | Natasha Korecki Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

RENO, Nev. — One day before early voting begins here, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto argued that voters should rebuke her GOP opponent at the ballot box for his role in promoting falsehoods about the 2020 election. Cortez Masto is locked in what appears to be dead heat against Laxalt, the Republican former attorney general of Nevada who has said the 2020 election was "rigged." In that same interview, Laxalt said, “There’s no question they rigged the election,” referring to 2020. In Nevada, Cortez Masto is battling to retain her Senate seat in a contest that could determine the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. Cortez Masto’s messaging is part of a concerted effort by her campaign focusing on Laxalt’s past remarks on voter fraud.

☆ The head of the ADL slams Trump's comments as 'disgusting' after the former president said American Jews 'have to get their act together'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump on Sunday wrote that US Jews "have to get their act together" on matters relating to Israel. "Support for the Jewish state never gives one license to lecture American Jews," the AJC tweeted. The American Jewish Committee also criticized Trump's post. Those remarks were also criticized by the American Jewish Committee, which called the comments antisemitic. "His past support for Israel doesn't give him license to traffic in radioactive antisemitic tropes — or peddle unfounded conclusions about the unbreakable ties that bind American Jews to Israel.

☆ Alex Jones’ conspiracy empire hangs in the balance after jury’s nearly $1 billion award to Sandy Hook families
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN Business —Judgment Day arrived on Wednesday for Alex Jones — and he said that it felt like he landed in Hell. “This must be what Hell’s like,” the notorious right-wing conspiracy theorist said on an Infowars livestream as a Connecticut jury awarded plaintiffs a staggering nearly $1 billion in damages. The families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School victims actually know what Hell feels like. Jones put them there with his heinous conspiracy theories and lies about the 2012 shooting, which he repeated again and again over the years, ignoring pleas to stop. And it is, unfortunately, more popular than ever, with right-wing media stars and top Republican politicians emulating Jones’ modus operandi.

☆ Alex Jones faces a reckoning, but the style of politics he popularized is here to stay
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN Business —Alex Jones’ day of reckoning has arrived. A jury in Connecticut decided that the right-wing conspiracy theorist should pay eight families of Sandy Hook shooting victims and a first-responder a staggering $965 million. The decision comes shortly after a trial in Texas where a jury found that the Infowars founder should pay a separate pair of Sandy Hook parents who sued him in the Lone Star state nearly $50 million. In total, the lies told by Jones about the Sandy Hook shooting have so far cost him more than $1 billion. While Jones may face a reckoning, nearly a decade after his heinous lie about the Sandy Hook shooting, the corrosive blueprint that catapulted him to fame and fortune on the political right is here to stay.

"Either Twitter is going to fix this, or we'll fix it by any means we can, which includes not buying Twitter ads." Twitter's challenges in identifying child abuse content were first reported in an investigation by tech news site The Verge in late August. Like all social media platforms, Twitter bans depictions of child sexual exploitation, which are illegal in most countries. Ghost Data identified the more than 500 accounts that openly shared or requested child sexual abuse material over a 20-day period this month. Twitter suspended over 1 million accounts last year for child exploitation material, according to the company's transparency reports.

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