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☆ Obama privately met with AOC and other Democrats during a series of reported intimate chats with House Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

According to Politico's Jonathan Martin, Obama has recently hosted a series of "informal, but lengthy private meetings with groups of next-generation House Democrats." One of the topics of dinner conversation, per Martin, was how Democrats can avoid coming off as elitist. Before the 2022 midterms, Obama returned to the campaign trail where he tore into the Republican Party and Trump. It is likely that Obama will eventually take on a high-profile role as the 2024 campaign heats up. As president, Obama dubbed Clinton "Secretary of Explaining Stuff" for his campaign trail appearances.

Persons: Obama, overshadowing Biden, —, Barack Obama, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Politico's Jonathan Martin, Mikie Sherrill, Haley Stevens of, Martin, Josh Shapiro's, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's, Hakeem Jeffries, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, Clinton Organizations: Democratic, Politico, Service, Rep, Democrats, Haley Stevens of Michigan, Republican Party, Trump Locations: Alexandria, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, Pennsylvania

☆ RFK Jr. pledges to gut agencies that regulate vaccines and order the DOJ to investigate medical journals if he becomes president
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Robert F. Kennedy Jr pledged to gut funding for federal health agencies if he's elected president. The long-shot Democratic presidential hopeful told NBC News that he would not make his anti-vaccine stance the focal point of his campaign. In an interview with NBC, Kennedy said that he would not be "leading with" vaccines as a presidential candidate. "Let me address that, because first of all, I'm not anti-vax," Kucinich told NBC. Kennedy told NBC — and has touted for years — of a conspiracy that aspires to defend vaccines and silence people such as himself, even as the studies he points to are corrected or retracted.

Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, —, Brandy Zadrozny, Robert Kennedy, John F, Dennis Kucinich, Kucinich, Zadrozny, NBC —, Cheryl Hines Organizations: NBC News, DOJ, Service, Democratic, and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, Justice Department, NBC, Rep, RFK Jr, Facebook

"I told you when I ran for president, I'd have your back, and I have," Biden told the approximately 2,000 union members in attendance. [1/7] U.S. President Joe Biden turns towards a cheering crowd during a labor union event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 17, 2023. White working-class union voters were divided on Biden in 2020, but he now has their support, according to some union leaders. "There is not one labor leader worth their salt in Philadelphia that hasn't recognized just how much President Biden has supported men and women in labor. Union voters helped Biden win critical election battleground states including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan in 2020.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, I'd, you've, Donald Trump, They're, Tom Brenner, White, Trump, Ryan Boyer, Boyer, Seth Harris, Harris, Nandita Bose, Jarrett Renshaw, James Oliphant, Will Dunham, Heather Timmons, Bill Berkrot Organizations: PHILADELPHIA, AFL, CIO, Democratic, Republican, Republicans, Center, REUTERS, Trump, Biden, boilermakers, steelworkers, Union, Labor, Edison Research, United Auto Workers, White, Northeastern University, Thomson Locations: Philadelphia, U.S, Washington, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, United States, Boston

White working-class union voters were divided on Biden in 2020, but some union leaders say he now has their support. Some building trades unions, whose members traditionally vote Republican, did not endorse any candidate in 2020 after local leaders couldn't agree over backing Biden or Donald Trump. "There is not one labor leader worth their salt in Philadelphia that hasn't recognized just how much President Biden has supported men and women in labor. Biden won 57% of union households nationwide in 2020 compared with 40% for Trump, according to Edison Research. In December, some unions criticized Biden for signing legislation preventing a nationwide rail strike.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, Trump, couldn't, Donald Trump, Ryan Boyer, wasn't, Seth Harris, Harris, Nandita Bose, Jarrett Renshaw, Heather Timmons, Bill Berkrot Organizations: AFL, CIO, Biden, Republican, boilermakers, steelworkers, Union, Democratic, Trump, Edison Research, United Auto Workers, Northeastern University, White, Thomson Locations: Philadelphia, Washington, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan , Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona

☆ How Daniel Ellsberg, who died at 92, went from being a disillusioned member of the government-military elite to a hero of anti-war movements
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower behind the Pentagon Papers, died at 92, his family said Friday. David Halberstam, the late author and Vietnam War correspondent who had known Ellsberg since both were posted overseas, would describe him as no ordinary convert. "Without Nixon's obsession with me, he would have stayed in office," Ellsberg told The Associated Press in 1999. Ellsberg's story was depicted in the 2009 documentary "The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers." He and Marx wedded in 1970, the year before the Pentagon Papers were made public.

Persons: Daniel Ellsberg, Ellsberg, —, — Daniel Ellsberg, Richard Nixon, Julia Pacetti, Dan, Robert S, McNamara, Lyndon Johnson's, John F, Kennedy, David Halberstam, Johnson, Neil Sheehan, Henry Kissinger, Hannah Arendt, Nixon, Nixon fumed, H.R, Haldeman, Matthew Byrne, Gordon Liddy, Howard Hunt, Byrne, Daniel, Harry Truman, nodded, Ellsberg's, Rand, Anthony J, Russo, Robert, Kissinger, Sen, William J, Fulbright, George McGovern of, Marcus Raskin, Ralph Stavins, Sheehan, Raskin, Stavins, didn't, spry, George W, Bush, Obama, Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, Snowden, Patricia Marx, Marx Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Supreme, Defense, Harvard, Democratic, Republican, The New York Times, Washington Post, The Associated Press, National Security, United, U.S, White, Democratic Party's, Washington , D.C, Associated Press, Coast, Rand Corp, Christian Science, Soviet Union overseas, Harvard University, Marines, Ivy League, Defense Department, State Department, Rand, Xerox, Arkansas, Foreign Relations Committee, Institute for Policy, Times, ., Army, New York Times, Massachusetts Institute, Technology's Center for International Studies Locations: Boston, Los Angeles, Vietnam, Indochina, U.S, France's, America, United States, Beverly Hills , California, Washington ,, Saigon, Santa Monica, Chicago, Detroit, Pearl, London, Germany, Japan, Santa Monica , California, George McGovern of South Dakota, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia

"The Democratic Party's united front in support of President Biden's reelection is unprecedented," said Julie Chavez Rodriguez, campaign manager for Biden-Harris 2024. Microsoft senior executives donated more to the Biden campaign during the primaries than any other large tech company. In the runup to 2024, these donors will play a key role in helping Biden raise cash amid an uncertain economy and tepid enthusiasm among Democrats over the 80-year-old president's decision to run again. Biden's campaign alone raised more than $1 billion during the 2020 cycle, with more than $700 million of that coming from online grassroots donations. Two fundraising events Biden held last month in New York raised more than $3 million, according to a person familiar with those totals.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Kevin Scott, Shannon Hunt, Scott, Reid Hoffman, Dan Kalafatas, Hadley Mullin, Steve Silberstein, Mark Robinson, Gavin Newsom, Biden's, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Harris, Joe Biden's, Jill Biden, Nandita Bose, Trevor Hunnicutt, Heather Timmons, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Democratic, Microsoft Chief, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Biden Victory Fund, Reuters, Biden, MAGA Republicans, Google, New, Fund, Democratic National Committee, Thomson Locations: California, New York

☆ George Soros hands control of his $25 billion empire to his son Alex
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

George Soros, billionaire and founder of Soros Fund Management LLC, speaks during an event on day two of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Philanthropist billionaire George Soros confirmed that he is handing control of his $25 billion empire to his son Alex. Soros, 92, has a net worth of $6.7 billion, according to Forbes, and is the one of the top 400 richest people in the world. The Open Society Foundations did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment but a spokesperson did confirm the details of the interview with the Reuters news agency. Billionaire Elon Musk recently took to Twitter to attack Soros after his Soros Fund Management cut its stake in Tesla.

Persons: George Soros, Alex . Soros, Forbes, Alex, Donald Trump, Soros, Elon Musk Organizations: Soros Fund Management, Economic, Open, Wall Street, Soros, Society, CNBC, Reuters, U.S . Democratic, Bank of England, London School of Economics, Twitter, Fund Management Locations: Davos, Switzerland, U.S, Hungary

Concluding his visit on Thursday, Secretary of State Blinken told reporters he raised human rights issues with Saudi officials and "made clear that progress on human rights strengthens our relationship." "Human rights are always on the agenda of the United States - that’s who we are," he said during a news conference. But some rights advocates argue the golf deal shows the administration has chosen geopolitics over human rights. New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) says scores of human rights activists and dissidents are in prison or on trial in Saudi Arabia and that the repression "spiked" following Biden's visit last year. The list included prominent cleric Salman al-Odah, children of former spy chief Saad al-Jabri, human rights defender Mohammed al-Qahtani and aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan.

Persons: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Joe Biden, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, LIV, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Biden, Seth Binder, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Sarah Yager, Salman al, Saad al, Mohammed al, Abdulrahman, Saad Ibrahim Almadi, Tess McEnery, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, Arshad Mohammed, Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Saudi Crown, Al, Saudi Royal Court, REUTERS, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, North, MbS, PGA, East Democracy, Biden, Rights Watch, Saudi Foreign, U.S, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Bandar, REUTERS RIYADH, WASHINGTON, U.S, Riyadh, Washington, United States, Yemen, New York, China, Israel, OPEC, Russia, Florida

May 29 (Reuters) - United Conservative Party (UCP) leader Danielle Smith's election victory in Canada's main oil-producing province Alberta on Monday is likely to herald further friction with Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, particularly over climate change. The populist premier's win signals a further rightward shift in the traditionally conservative province, and comes despite a series of controversies and gaffes from Smith, 52, since she first became premier in October. In her victory speech, Smith was quick to take aim at Trudeau and what she described as the federal government's "harmful policies". "As premier I cannot under any circumstances allow these contemplated federal policies to be inflicted upon Albertans. In early 2022 she announced plans to run for leadership of the United Conservative Party, which was born in 2017 from a merger of the Progressives Conservatives and Wildrose Party.

☆ Biden's campaign is making an early push to compete in swing-state North Carolina and GOP-trending Florida in 2024, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Biden campaign is aiming for the president to compete in North Carolina and Florida in 2024, per the Washington Post. However, despite the statement from the GOP, North Carolina has a two-term Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, and remains competitive for the party on the statewide level. Newly-elected Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried, a former state agriculture commissioner, is working to reverse the party's slide as it heads into next year's races. "North Carolina is the fullback of presidential politics. "But it's critical for Democrats to keep it close because Republicans have to expend extraordinary resources and time making sure they win North Carolina," he added.

Biden's 2024 race will be different, aides and Democratic party officials say. The race to host the party convention is now down to two cities, sources say: Chicago and Atlanta. Chicago's pull is rooted in tradition, deep-pocketed donors and union ties, while Atlanta's appeal reflects the power of Georgia's grassroots networks and the importance to the party of Black voters and a racially diverse electorate. Top Democratic political officials in eight Midwestern states wrote Biden last week to push for a Chicago convention. CHICAGO, UNION TOWNHolding the convention in Chicago would put Biden in a Democratic powerhouse, where the party controls the legislature and executive branches.

"It is not clear whether some citizens are alive or dead in the earthquake zone. Erdogan's AK Party has said it is committed to a free and fair election that respects the will of the people. BALLOT BOX SECURITYOpposition parties and non-governmental organisations say the exodus of more than 3 million people from the disaster zone poses extra concerns. While some 300,000 to 500,000 of them were thought to have changed addresses, many of those who had left the disaster zone had not, added Tiryaki. For Yigit, the earthquake and what he sees as the government's slow response to the disaster weighs on him as he decides how to vote.

☆ Joe Manchin said he identifies 'as an American' when asked if he still thinks of himself as a Democrat, again dodging a question on his party loyalties
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Joe Manchin on Sunday again dodged a question about his loyalty to the Democratic Party. "I identify as an American," Manchin told Bartiromo. But he also did his fair share of making legislation happen for the Democratic Party when he pushed for the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. But Manchin still holds a crucial seat for the Democratic Party in the 2024 election cycle. Manchin told CBS he doesn't see "much validity in the identity of being a Republican or Democrat."

☆ Who is Matthew Kacsmaryk, the Trump-appointed Texas judge who could ban abortion pills?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Matthew Kacsmaryk is a Texas federal judge who was nominated by Donald Trump in 2017. Kacsmaryk graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1999 and received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 2003. The Post reported that it was during law school when Kacsmaryk focused on abortion rights. Kacsmaryk also served as the executive editor of the Texas Review of Law & Politics and received two Dean's Achievement Awards, according to the questionnaire. During his undergraduate years, studying political science, Kacsmaryk was outspoken about his conservative views and stances on abortion.

☆ House, Senate to renew fight pitting child tax credit vs. corporate cash
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Eric Rosenbaum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The fate of that corporate tax policy, supported by many Democrats, had been linked to the Democratic Party's desire for a deal on the child tax credit . But House and Senate members are getting ready to reintroduce legislation on the R&D tax credit. Indexing the child tax credit to inflation would also be a matter of tax policy that both parties might agree on as a way to enshrine future increases in law. But there's still the divide on the corporate tax priorities and child tax credit, and at a basic level, getting a bipartisan tax bill through the House and Senate and to the White House is always challenging. Many companies were surprised that the R&D tax credit did not get extended in the late year legislative package because it had so much bipartisan support.

☆ The Democrats' latest strategy is making Marjorie Taylor Greene the face of the GOP
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But that could come back to haunt Republicans as Democrats increasingly try to paint her as one of the faces of the party. And while many Republicans came out against the plan, Democrats — especially President Joe Biden — have used it as a cudgel against the GOP. And while Democrats lost control of the House, they lost far fewer seats than expected, partly due to utilizing Scott's messaging against the GOP. Democrats can use Greene to their advantageNow as Greene continues to gain power and authority in the GOP and Congress, Democrats have the opportunity to use her own actions and words against the GOP as a whole. There's the possibility that giving Greene larger platform could backfire on Democrats.

☆ Japan’s next central bank chief may rue promotion
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Pete Sweeney | Thomson Reuters | Asia Economics Editor Pete Sweeney Joined Reuters Breakingviews In Hong Kong In September Previously He Served As Reuters' Chief Correspondent For China Economy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

In fact, it has spent an average of 1.3 trillion yen per trading day since the band widened: nearly 50 trillion yen in total, per Refinitiv data, and still counting. The central bank already owns over half of Japan’s sovereign bonds and is sure to suffer large losses when their prices fall, which they eventually must. The central bank chief must also work to put the country’s vast stack of inert money back to work. Kuroda effectively put the central bank at the service of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics” stimulus programme. Fumio Kishida, the current leader, is having popularity problems and will want the central bank to support his aggressive agenda, which includes hiking defence spending, promoting innovative startups and redistributing wealth.

☆ Biden revamp of Democratic primary faces final vote at DNC convention
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The move, another clear sign Biden intends to run for re-election in 2024, would force any potential Democratic primary challenger to square off with Biden in a series of matchups largely of his choosing. Just a simple majority of the members need to approve it, but two states, Georgia and New Hampshire, are not playing along and have been given to June to comply. GRANITE STATEBiden's push to move New Hampshire down the primary calendar has struck a nerve with both Republicans and Democrats in the Granite State. New Hampshire Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan sat out the White House congressional ball in December amid anger over the potential changes. In Georgia, Democrats want to move up the calendar but need Republicans who control state government to agree.

☆ Nigeria's Atiku joins calls to extend deadline on old banknotes
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LAGOS, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Nigerian opposition presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar urged the central bank on Saturday to extend a Jan. 31 deadline to phase out old high-value banknotes, a measure many Nigerians fear will disrupt business in the cash-reliant economy. The central bank started releasing newly designed notes last month but many Nigerians say they are not yet available in banks. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says recalling the notes is part of plans to reduce the use of cash. About 1.3 trillion naira in old notes has been deposited into the bank since the announcement in October, the bank said this week. Nigerian legislators have also asked the central bank to extend the Tuesday deadline.

☆ Democrats have a Gen Z problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Samuel Abrams | Jeremi Suri | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

November's midterms heralded a new force in American politics: Gen Z voters. Given the narrow margins and the Democrats' ability to retain the Senate despite historical precedent, commentators and analysts declared that Gen Z helped Democrats thwart a Republican wave. Gen Z isn't sold on the whole 'party' thingAmericans are increasingly unhappy with the two-party system. Given these circumstances, Democrats shouldn't take the political loyalty of Gen Z voters for granted. Despite assumptions about their left leanings, members of Gen Z are not firmly behind the Democratic Party, President Joe Biden, or many other well-known Democrats.

☆ Trump says 'abortion issue' is why Republicans underperformed in the 2022 midterms
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Kit Gillet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Donald Trump blamed poor handling of abortion issues for the GOP's lackluster 2022 midterms. Trump said that anti-abortion campaigners disappeared after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, gutting a nearly 50-year-old landmark ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. This followed criticism that Trump-backed candidates were instrumental in losing the GOP its shot at retaking the Senate during the 2022 midterms. Those losses included high-profile Trump-backed Senate candidates Herschel Walker in Georgia and celebrity TV doctor Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania.

☆ Fourth Japan minister exits PM Kishida's four-month-old cabinet
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Sakura Murakami | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Japan's Reconstruction Minister Kenya Akiba visits at Yasukuni Shrine on the 77th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two, in Tokyo, Japan August 15, 2022. REUTERS/Issei KatoTOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Japanese reconstruction minister Kenya Akiba tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday, becoming the fourth minister to leave the cabinet created by Kishida in August. Three other ministers have quit in close succession due to scandals, some involving funding and ties with the Unification Church. "It was a difficult decision to make, but I tendered my resignation to the prime minister as I felt I must not hamper the debates in parliament," he added. Akiba will be replaced by former reconstruction minister Hiromichi Watanabe, Kyodo News reported on Tuesday.

☆ Japan PM Kishida to replace embattled reconstruction minister Akiba - NHK
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Sakura Murakami | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is battling low approval ratings, will replace a government minister for the fourth time since he created his current cabinet in August, public broadcaster NHK reported on Monday. Discussions on a replacement for Kenya Akiba, minister responsible for overseeing the reconstruction of areas hit by Japan's massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011, are still underway, the broadcaster said. NHK initially reported that Akiba will be replaced by former financial services agency minister Tatsuya Ito, but later corrected that report to say a successor has not been picked. That's all I can say," Kishida said on Monday when asked whether he planned to replace Akiba. Kishida also plans to replace Mio Sugita, his Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs, Kyodo reported on Monday citing multiple unidentified government sources.

A spokesperson for the Washington Post, which Bezos bought in 2013 for $250 million, said it is not for sale. "A Bloomberg acquisition of the (Post) is not necessarily just a business decision. According to Axios, Bloomberg sees Dow Jones, also the publisher of Barron's and MarketWatch, as the ideal fit but would buy the Post if Bezos was interested in selling. Dow Jones did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Reuters competes with Dow Jones and Bloomberg News, a unit of Bloomberg L.P., a provider of financial news.

WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - The Democratic Party's three top campaign groups are preparing to return over $1.1 million they have received from imprisoned cryptocurrency tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried, they said on Friday. In a statement, the Democratic National Committee said it was setting aside $815,000 in funds received from Bankman-Fried in light of "potential campaign finance violations" made by the billionaire. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said it was setting aside $103,000, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which oversees the party's campaign arm for the House of Representatives, said it would set aside $250,000. Bankman-Fried said his pro-Republican outlays have not been disclosed to the public, an area of campaign finance known as "dark money." The Washington Post first reported on the campaign groups' decision to set aside the funds.

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