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☆ Photo of Chuck Schumer's notes show he's 'hopeful' Dianne Feinstein returns to the Senate next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Chuck Schumer and Dianne Feinstein are "hopeful" she'll return to the Senate next week, per a photograph of Schumer's notes. Feinstein hasn't voted in the Senate since mid-February, around the time of her shingles diagnosis. In her absence, Senate Democrats have faced difficulties confirming judges. With Feinstein absent from the Senate, Senate Republicans — along with Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin — voted 50-49 to roll back a Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency rule regarding pollution from trucks. Several prominent California Democrats have already declared to run for her seat, including Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter.

☆ Hakeem Jeffries is enjoying an early honeymoon leading House Democrats. But one day, he'll have to make 'hard commitments.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

House Democrats say Hakeem Jeffries is a better listener and is more consensus-oriented than Pelosi. There's one big reason for it: House Democrats can't pass any of their own bills right now. Pelosi and Jeffries on the House floor after she announced she would step down from party leadership on November 17, 2022. 'He gets it'Jeffries, 52, has enjoyed a rapid ascent to the top of the Democratic caucus. "There were always very different views within the Democratic caucus on people who voted their district," said Slotkin.

☆ White House banking headache won’t end with First Republic deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

JPMorgan Chase is buying most assets of the troubled First Republic Bank and assuming all of its deposits in a deal announced Monday that was arranged by the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The independent agency’s new forced intervention is likely to fuel concerns about the overall health of the US banking sector. Biden’s new political headacheThe new concerns over the banking sector put the administration back in an unappealing position. Some progressive Democrats have balked at the idea that already mighty banks will get bigger by stepping in to snap up assets of troubled banks. On Sunday, he called for a shift in federal government policy to ensure all bank deposits.

☆ The insurance limit on your savings has become a hot global debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures deposits up to $250,000 per person, per account, using a fund that banks pay into. “I don’t think that’s served us well.”Some argue the US deposit insurance limit should be 100 times higher. What is deposit insurance? Deposit insurance is aimed at calming fears, giving customers less reason to pull their cash out in a hurry. The debate over deposit insurance taps into bigger questions about the state’s role in private enterprise.

☆ Dianne Feinstein's ongoing absence allowed Senate Republicans and Joe Manchin to overturn a Biden rule reducing pollution from large trucks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Senate Republicans and Sen. Joe Manchin voted to roll back an EPA regulation on truck pollution. Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna argued it wouldn't have passed had Sen. Dianne Feinstein been present. Senate Republicans and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin took advantage of Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein's ongoing medical leave to roll back a significant environmental regulation on Wednesday. Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna argued in a tweet on Thursday that Feinstein's prolonged absence from the Senate has repeatedly blocked Democrats' ability to succeed in crucial votes, including the EPA rule vote. Supporters of the EPA rule say it's a reasonable and cost-efficient change that's well-worth the lives it's expected to improve and save.

☆ Paris Hilton joins lawmakers introducing a bill to end abuse in the 'troubled teen' industry: 'What I went through will haunt me for the rest of my life'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Paris Hilton joined lawmakers Thursday to announce a bill aimed at the troubled teen industry. Hilton spoked about her personal experiences of abuse at residential treatment centers in her teens. "From the ages of 16 to 18, I was sent to four troubled teen industry facilities, each one more horrific than the last. The "troubled teen" industry refers to a range of residential treatment centers nationwide that are aimed at kids struggling with emotional or behavioral issues. Have a news tip or a story to share about residential treatment centers?

☆ Telling Dianne Feinstein to resign is sexist and 'unprecedented,' women Democratic senators say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But Democratic women in the Senate say gender is playing a role in how her absence is being handled. But women Democratic senators told Insider at the Capitol on Wednesday that they believe sexism is at play and that the chamber's longest-serving Democrat is being held to an unfair standard because she is a woman. More recently, Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was recently absent from the chamber for six weeks as he sought treatment for clinical depression. "I think it's important for Senator Feinstein to do what is what is best for her," said Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. "I just believe that it's not somebody else's assessment to make; it's her assessment to make," said Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.

☆ Torch Capital's founder has some advice for startup founders: Down rounds aren't such a bad thing right now. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( April Joyner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jonathan Keidan founded VC firm Torch Capital, which backed Ro and recently raised $200 million. Good founders will opt for down rounds over deal terms that could come back to bite, he says. As venture capital funding plummets and investors tighten their purse strings, Jonathan Keidan has a word of advice to startup founders: It's OK to take a down round. Most of the founders Torch has backed, Keidan said, are still steering clear of the relatively sluggish market. "You can roll up your sleeves and really help them, which has been critical in this environment," Keidan told Insider.

☆ Debt ceiling fight shows stakes of Feinstein's Senate absence, Klobuchar says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Katharine Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - The standoff over raising the U.S. federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling illustrates the stakes of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein's lengthy absence from Washington, fellow Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar said on Sunday. We have things like the debt ceiling coming up," Klobuchar said in an interview on ABC's "This Week" program. President Joe Biden's Democrats insist on a "clean" debt ceiling bill unaccompanied by cuts. "I have a lot of respect for Senator Feinstein, but she's missed 75% of votes this year.

☆ US Senator Feinstein will step down temporarily from Judiciary Committee
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Feinstein, recuperating from a bout of shingles and facing calls from fellow Democrats to resign, said on Wednesday her return to the Senate has been delayed and she would temporarily step down from the Judiciary Committee. “I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it’s safe for me to travel," Feinstein said. She said "my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee" and has asked to step down until she is able to resume work. U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer will grant Feinstein's request and ask the Senate next week to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve on the committee, a Schumer spokesperson said in a statement. Feinstein, who will not run when up for reelection in 2024, is currently the oldest serving U.S. senator.

☆ Sen. Feinstein requested to temporarily have someone replace her on the Judiciary Committee amid health concerns, but Republicans could prevent that from happening
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee. Without her in Washington, DC, Democrats have been unable to confirm as many Biden judges as preferred. Feinstein currently sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Democrats hold 11 seats compared to the Republican Party's 10. Feinstein released a statement saying that she asked Schumer to have a Democrat temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee until her health concerns subside. If Republicans in the Senate prevent the committee change from happening, it could lead to even more pressure from Democrats for Feinstein to resign.

☆ House Dems start to call on Sen. Dianne Feinstein to resign
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Two Democratic members of Congress just called on Sen. Dianne Feinstein to retire. "I agree with @RoKhanna," Phillips wrote, "Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. Feinstein, who's 89 years old, hasn't cast a vote since mid-February, around the time of her shingles diagnosis. Feinstein currently sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Democrats hold 11 votes to the Republican Party's 10. Without Feinstein present, committee chair Sen. Dick Durbin has for delay committee meetings on multiple occasions when Feinstein would be the pivotal 11th vote, according to NBC News.

☆ The 13 startups to watch in the $100 billion market for buzzy new weight-loss drugs like Ozempic
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Healthcare startups are launching to prescribe weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic. They're chasing what's projected to be a $100 billion market for the drugs. Venture-backed health startups are vying for a piece of the booming market for new prescription drugs designed to help with weight loss. Many startups offering weight-loss drugs have flooded social media platforms with ads for the shots. Insider rounded up 13 venture-backed startups competing for customers in the lucrative GLP-1 weight-loss market, listed from least to most funding raised.

☆ 3 reasons digital-healthcare pioneer Hims is staying out of the latest weight-loss craze for now
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

'As startups dive into prescribing hot new weight loss drugs, Hims & Hers is taking a backseat. Its CEO said Hims wants to offer GLP-1s for weight loss, but thinks it's too early. He cited challenges in the young market like insurers refusing to cover GLP-1s and drug shortages. After Hims & Hers' first profitable quarter ever, the startup is thinking about getting in on telehealth's weight-loss craze. An 'inconsistent' supply chainExploding demand for the new weight-loss drugs has also resulted in shortages, which affect all patients prescribed GLP-1s, not just those using the drugs for weight loss.

☆ Lawmakers meet with Apple, Disney CEOs as part of talks on competition with China
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

High-profile tech and media executives shared their experiences of working in and competing with China with lawmakers who visited California this week. Over the three-day trip that kicked off on Wednesday, lawmakers were scheduled to meet with Disney CEO Bob Iger and Apple CEO Tim Cook, as well as high-level executives from Google , Microsoft , Palantir and Scale AI. The trip highlights the key role tech and media industries play in America's increasingly complex relationship with China. In Hollywood, the group of lawmakers from the select committee learned about a range of topics related to competition with China. The group was also slated to meet with venture capitalists on Thursday, including Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures and SV Angel.

☆ South Korean millennials and Gen Z are raging against the idea of a 69-hour workweek. They are tired, having fewer babies, and are even working themselves to death.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Nidhi Pandurangi | Reena Koh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The South Korean government wants to increase the workweek to 69 hours. The 69-hour limit relates to a six-day workweek, while the 80.5-hour limit is applicable for a seven-day workweek, according to South Korean outlet Han Kyeo Re. In 2020, 14 delivery couriers in South Korea died of overwork stemming from increased deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reported, citing a union representative. Notably, the culture of long working hours and death linked to overworking is not specific to South Korea. However, the government is trying to disconnect longer working hours from low birth rates.

☆ Hype Around Weight-Loss Drugs Shows No Signs of Abating. Neither Do the Ads.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Katie Deighton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Ro runs ads for its Body Program, which includes access to Wegovy and Ozempic, in New York’s Times Square subway station. Companies promoting drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro for diabetes management and weight loss are steadily expanding their marketing strategies, striving to capitalize on the interest around the drugs without seeming to advocate misuse. Ads promoting the drugs, known as GLP-1s—which stands for glucagon-like peptide 1—have become increasingly unavoidable in venues including podcasts, streaming TV and mass-transit hubs.

☆ 13 startups vying for a slice of the $100 billion market for buzzy new weight-loss drugs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

☆ Big Tech talking China: Top execs meeting with House lawmakers tomorrow
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | 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 EmailBig Tech talking China: Top execs meeting with House lawmakers tomorrowHosted by Brian Sullivan, “Last Call” is a fast-paced, entertaining business show that explores the intersection of money, culture and policy. Tune in Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET on CNBC. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., joins the show to discuss tech executives meeting with U.S. lawmakers to discuss their relationship with China.

☆ Apple's Tim Cook, Disney's Bob Iger to discuss China with lawmakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A group of lawmakers will travel to California to meet with tech and media executives, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Disney CEO Bob Iger, to discuss China-related topics, CNBC has confirmed. Around a dozen lawmakers representing both parties on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party are set to make the three-day trip, led by Chair Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., a spokesperson for the committee told CNBC. Just last week, Cook, whose company relies on China's massive workforce for phone production, met with China's minister of commerce about supply chain issues. Gallagher has previously said he wants Iger and Big Tech executives to testify before the panel. Companies named in this report either did not immediately respond or did not provide a comment.

☆ California Rep. Ro Khanna passes on Senate run and backs liberal icon Barbara Lee over Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff: 'She stood up so strongly against the war in Iraq'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ro Khanna on Sunday announced that he's backing Rep. Barbara Lee in the 2024 California Senate race. The progressive congressman is endorsing Lee over fellow Democratic Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff. Khanna during his announcement said that Lee would bring a "unique voice" to the upper chamber. Rep. Barbara Lee of California. Scott Applewhite, File"Barbara Lee is a unique voice," Khanna said.

☆ Rep. Ro Khanna on SVB collapse: I put most of the blame on the bank management
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | 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 EmailRep. Ro Khanna on SVB collapse: I put most of the blame on the bank managementRep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss where Khanna places the blame on the collapse of SVB, the tech industry's tone over the last week, and why Khanna believes the country needed to guarantee the deposits.

☆ SVB execs sold $84 million in stock over the past 2 years, stoking outrage over insider trading plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Silicon Valley Bank CEO Greg Becker sold nearly $30 million of stock over the past two years, raising new questions over insider stock sales. Becker sold $3.6 million worth of shares on Feb. 27, just days before the bank disclosed a large loss that triggered its stock slide and collapse. The sale capped two years of stock sales by Becker that totaled $29.5 million, according to data from Smart Insider. Altogether, SVB executives and directors cashed out of $84 million worth of stock over the past two years, according to Smart Insider. The sales have sparked criticism of SVB's management — as well as the broader phenomenon of insider stock sales before major declines.

☆ These 13 Democratic senators joined with Republicans to roll back banking regulations in 2018. Progressives say that contributed to Silicon Valley Bank's collapse.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Progressives are blaming the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank on a 2018 rollback of banking regulations. The bill was championed by Republicans — but it couldn't have passed without Democratic support. These 13 current members of the Senate Democratic caucus helped Republicans pass the law. Silicon Valley Bank reported $212 billion in assets in the final months of 2022, placing it just under the higher threshold. Here are the 13 members of the Senate Democratic caucus that supported the bill:

☆ How buzzy weight-loss drugs like Ozempic became the next craze in the hottest part of healthcare
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Healthcare companies are launching programs left and right to prescribe trendy weight-loss drugs. And Ro, a startup that prescribes and sells products like Viagra and hair-loss pills to consumers, is going all in with a program it launched in January to prescribe the weight-loss drugs to patients online. CalibrateFirst developed to manage type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 medications regulate blood-sugar levels, which can help people curb cravings and feel fuller after eating. The weight-loss market for GLP-1 drugs is relatively new, and not everyone is on board. But for some companies, stepping into prescribing these new weight-loss medications seems to simply be the natural next step for growth.

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