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Senators were trying to speed forward on the funding package one day after it passed the House in an overwhelming bipartisan vote. In the meantime, both top Republicans and Democrats in the Senate appeared ready to avert a shutdown and pass the temporary funding patch well before government funding expires Saturday. Political Cartoons View All 1250 ImagesThe spending package would keep government funding at current levels for roughly two more months while a long-term package is negotiated. He portrayed the temporary funding bill as setting the ground for a spending “fight” with the Senate next year. He wanted to avoid lawmakers being forced to consider a massive government funding package before the December holidays — a tactic that incenses conservatives in particular.

Persons: —, “, Chuck Schumer, John Thune, Schumer, Mike Johnson, Johnson, ” Johnson, Biden, Mitch McConnell, Washington Democrats ’, ” Schumer, ”, Mary Claire Jalonick Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Democrats, Senate, GOP, Republican, Republicans, Washington Democrats, Associated Press Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Washington, Louisiana, U.S, Mexico

Senator Joe Manchin, a maverick who has often bucked party leadership in the past two years, said on Thursday that he will not seek re-election, hurting Democrats' chance of defending their thin Senate majority in the 2024 election. The move by the 76-year-old lawmaker will make it very difficult for Democrats to defend his West Virginia seat. "We like our odds in West Virginia," Senator Steve Daines, the head of Republican senators' campaign arm, said in a statement. David Bergstein, a spokesperson for the Senate Democrats' campaign arm, said the party was confident in its chances of strengthening its majority. Manchin has insisted that his only motivation is the coal-producing state of West Virginia and an eye on fiscal responsibility.

Persons: Joe Manchin, Manchin, Republican Donald Trump, Democrat Joe Biden, Steve Daines, Biden, Trump, David Bergstein, Matt Bennett, he's, Bennett, Julia Nikhinson, Jim Justice, Justice, Biden's, Kyrsten Sinema, Roe, Wade, Mitt Romney, Moira Warburton, Jasper Ward, Makini Brice, Richard Cowan, Jason Lange, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Alistair Bell, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Democratic U.S, United States Senate, Republican, Democrat, Democratic Party, White, Reuters, Biden, Democrats, Trump, Senate Democrats, U.S, Congress, REUTERS, SEAT West Virginia's Republican, Democratic, Charleston Gazette, Thomson Locations: West Virginia, Montana and Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Democratic, Washington , U.S, Washington, America, Jasper

☆ Manchin’s retirement may end up being his biggest tease yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But the West Virginia senator’s Thursday announcement that he won’t seek reelection next year only refreshed a perennial question arising from his savvy instinct for accumulating power: What exactly is he up to? Second, the announcement immediately stoked speculation that Manchin is mulling a third-party presidential bid. Manchin’s decision to quit Washington comes as a formidable potential Republican challenger, West Virginia Gov. And if Manchin can’t win in the MAGA stronghold of West Virginia, it’s impossible to believe any other Democrat can. West Virginia was once a Democratic bastion, however.

Persons: Joe Manchin, won’t, ’, Jim Justice, Manchin, Donald Trump, “, he’d, ” Manchin, he’s, Joe Biden, Trump, CNN’s Manu Raju, “ I’ve, Biden, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Cornel West, Jill Stein, Hillary Clinton, she’d, ”, Scott Jennings, David Axelrod, Barack Obama, ” Axelrod, Trump ? Democratic Sen, Mark Warner, Virginia doesn’t, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Robert Byrd, John Kilwein, keener, Kyrsten Sinema, John Denver’s, John Kennedy, Bill Clinton, ” Kilwein Organizations: CNN, West Virginia senator’s, Republican, West, West Virginia Gov, GOP, Democrats ’, White, Senate, Democrats, Trump, Democratic, Harvard, Green Party, Biden, Democrat, Republicans, Trump ? Democratic, West Virginians, West Virginia University, “, ”, Arizona Sen, White House, Republican Party Locations: West Virginia, Washington, MAGA, Montana and Ohio, New Hampshire, battlegrounds, Farmington, Appalachia, Arizona, . West Virginia, Manchin’s

It's a disruption that Johnson — just two weeks into his job running the House — has said he wants to avoid. “We're running up against the clock on Nov. 17, and we're obviously aware of that,” Johnson said this week, referring to the date that government funding expires. Democrats have made it clear they will not support any funding packages that include policy wins for conservatives. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who the Democratic leader in the House, said they would not “pay a single, right-wing ransom demand” as part of a funding resolution. Democratic lawmakers are also eager to play up the House Republican divisions and to pin any blame for a shutdown squarely on the new speaker and his GOP colleagues.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson —, —, Johnson, “, ” Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, ”, Troy Nehls, Rep, Hakeem Jeffries, Steny Hoyer, Chuck Schumer, ” Schumer, ” Sen, Chris Murphy, Sen, Joe Manchin Organizations: WASHINGTON, House Republican, Louisiana Republican, Republican, Republicans, Treasury Department, Small Business Administration, House Republicans, Israel, Hamas, Democratic, GOP, Capitol, Ukraine, Democrats Locations: Washington, Louisiana, Texas, New York, “, Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, United States, Connecticut

Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) speaks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. September 27, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville said on Tuesday he would continue his blockade of hundreds of military promotions over the Defense Department's abortion policy, but was nearing some compromises including allowing promotions of essential nominees. Tuberville, a first-term senator closely aligned with former Republican President Donald Trump, has been blocking quick confirmation of high-level military promotions since February to protest the Pentagon's policy of covering travel costs for abortions for service members and their dependents. Tuberville said Republicans planned to meet again and consider options including unspecified lawsuits and overturning the Pentagon policy in a larger defense bill. Tuberville's blockade ended decades in which the Senate has routinely approved large numbers of military promotions at once.

Persons: Tommy Tuberville, Jonathan Ernst, Donald Trump, Tuberville, Joe Biden, Roe, Wade, Patricia Zengerle, Scott Malone, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Defense, Democratic, Pentagon, Military, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ Senate Republicans Demand U.S. Border Clampdown as Condition for Ukraine Aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Michelle Hackman | Lindsay Wise | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Illegal border crossings have reached records over the past two years. The one-page proposal, put forward by a group of Republican senators including Sens. James Lankford (R., Okla.), Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) and Tom Cotton (R., Ark. ), represents the opening bid in negotiations with Senate Democrats and the White House, which has signaled some openness to immigration-policy changes. Biden’s request included money for border operations, but didn’t include any policy changes.

Persons: Gregory Bull, Biden’s, James Lankford, Lindsey Graham, Tom Cotton Organizations: Associated Press WASHINGTON, Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats, White Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Sens

☆ US Senate Republicans unveil border plan as House Ukraine bill looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

2 Senate Republican John Thune told reporters that Johnson's plan has "a lot" of support among Republicans in the Senate, adding: "It'd be strong." The Republican-controlled House passed HR-2 in May, but the bill has gone nowhere in the Democratic-led Senate. Among other things, the Senate Republican proposal would resume construction of a border wall -- former President Donald Trump's signature goal -- in addition to deeming large numbers of migrants ineligible for asylum. Republican border provisions face broad opposition from Democrats in Congress and from President Joe Biden. He told reporters that a bill linking Ukraine aid to border security would come soon.

Persons: San Nicolas de los, Daniel Becerril, Mike Johnson, Republican John Thune, Lindsey Graham, Tom Cotton, James Lankford, Donald Trump's, Joe Biden, Johnson, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Senate Republicans, Republican, Republicans, Democratic, Democrats, Internal Revenue Service, Thomson Locations: U.S, Nuevo Leon, San Nicolas, San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico, Ukraine, Republican, Israel

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has not said whether he supports the proposal released Monday by Republican Sens. But he told The Associated Press in an interview Monday that he has been discussing the entire package of aid with the White House, including border policies. McConnell, who has strongly pushed for the Ukraine aid, said he thinks “every single Republican in the Senate and the House” believes that the influx of migrants is a major problem. But finding agreement on the border will be difficult, and could easily hold up further Ukraine aid, as immigration has been one of the most intractable issues in Congress for decades. It would detain families at the border and require migrants to make the asylum claim at an official port of entry.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, Republican Sens, Lindsey Graham of, Jim Lankford, ” McConnell, McConnell, ”, “, Israel, Mike Johnson, Biden, Dick Durbin, Kerri Talbot, Donald Trump, Colleen Long Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republicans, Republican, Associated Press, White, Democratic, House, Israel, Illinois Democrat, GOP, Immigration, Biden Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, United States, Israel, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Oklahoma, U.S ., Russia, Illinois, Afghanistan

☆ US House easily passes bill to harden sanctions on Iranian oil
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Iranian flag with stock graph and an oil pump jack miniature model are seen in this illustration taken October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives easily passed a bill on Friday to bolster sanctions on Iranian oil in a strong bipartisan vote. The Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) bill, which passed 342-69, would impose measures on foreign ports and refineries that process petroleum exported from Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. While Congress can pass sanctions legislation, such measures often come with national security waivers that allow presidents discretion in applying the law. Despite U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil over its nuclear program, its exports of crude are soaring.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Mike Lawler, Jared Moskowitz, Joe Biden, Marco Rubio, John Kennedy, Maggie Hassan, Jacky Rosen, Vortexa, Timothy Gardner, Richard Cowan, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . House, Iranian Petroleum, Republican, Senate, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Iran, Israel, Tehran, China, Russia

☆ Ukraine: Exhausted and disappointed with allies, President Zelensky and military chief warn of long attritional war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Analysis Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Two articles published this week give a stark assessment of Ukraine’s prospects in its war with Russia. One – by the commander in chief of the Ukrainian military – admits the battlefield has reached a stalemate and a long attritional war benefiting Moscow beckons. The other portrays Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as exhausted by the constant effort to cajole and persuade allies to keep the faith. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny during an event dedicated to Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Shuster quotes an aide to the Ukrainian president as saying Zelensky feels “betrayed by his Western allies.

Persons: –, Volodymyr Zelensky, Valery Zaluzhny, TIME’s Simon Shuster, Zelensky, “, ” Shuster, Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny, Yan Dobronosov, …, Zaluzhny, Rustem Umerov, ”, Bram Janssen, ” Zaluzhny, Dmitri Peskov, Biden, Sen, J.D, Vance, ” Zelensky, Shuster, Vladimir Putin’s Organizations: CNN, Armed Forces, Ukrainian Defense, Defense Lines, “, ”, Gallup, Capitol, Republican Locations: Russia, Moscow, United States, Europe, Ukraine, Kyiv, USSR, East, Avdviika, Vuhledar, Donetsk, Kupyansk, Kharkiv, Crimea, –, Izyum, “ Russia, ” Moscow, Israel, Washington, Kherson

☆ US House Easily Passes Bill to Harden Sanctions on Iranian Oil
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives easily passed a bill on Friday to bolster sanctions on Iranian oil in a strong bipartisan vote. The Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) bill, which passed 342-69, would impose measures on foreign ports and refineries that process petroleum exported from Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. The bill must be passed by the Senate and signed by President Joe Biden before becoming law. While Congress can pass sanctions legislation, such measures often come with national security waivers that allow presidents discretion in applying the law. Despite U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil over its nuclear program, its exports of crude are soaring.

Persons: Mike Lawler, Jared Moskowitz, Joe Biden, Marco Rubio, John Kennedy, Maggie Hassan, Jacky Rosen, Vortexa, Timothy Gardner, Richard Cowan, David Gregorio Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . House, Iranian Petroleum, Republican, Senate, Democratic Locations: Iran, Israel, Tehran, China, Russia

Leading Senate Democrats are teasing a new path forward to bypass one senator’s blockade of military promotions, leaning on GOP frustrations that bubbled to the surface this week and culminated in a dramatic confrontation from members of the senator’s own party. A group of Republican senators took to the Senate floor late Wednesday to attempt to circumvent a dispute in which Sen. Tommy Tuberville has single-handedly held up more than 300 military promotions over a Pentagon abortion travel policy. The stunning scene comes nine months into the blockade and as Democrats – and more recently fellow Republicans – have grown anxious to move the military promotions forward. It would require the support of all Democrats and independents and at least nine Republicans. But they suggested that Tuberville should take his issue to the courts, rather than holding up the chamber and setting a dangerous precedent.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, –, Tuberville, Chuck Schumer, “, ” Schumer, Jack Reed, Kyrsten, Richard Blumenthal, servicewomen, ” Sen, Joni Ernst, I’m, Ernst, ”, Schumer, …, Biden, Mitt, Blumenthal, Joe Manchin, ” Manchin Organizations: Republicans, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Democratic, GOP, Pentagon, Tuberville, United States Senate, DOD, Iowa Republican, Utah Republican Locations: Alabama, Rhode Island, Arizona, Richard Blumenthal of, Israel, Mitt Romney, Utah, West Virginia

☆ Analysis: Israel aid drama is the latest failure of American governance
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

House GOP leaders said they plan to hold a vote on the package on Thursday but such is the uncertainty in the party’s chaotic majority that no timetable is ever certain. But House GOP Whip Tom Emmer and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise both said they expect to pass the package later in the day. For years, a vote on aid to Israel might have been one of the least controversial measures to come up in the House all year. But Johnson defended his decision on Thursday to link Israel aid to cuts in IRS funding. But the last few weeks have shown there’s a vast difference between what a GOP speaker wants to do and what he can do.

Persons: Tom Emmer, Steve Scalise, Mike Johnson’s, Johnson, “, that’s, Joe Biden, McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, –, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, ” —, McConnell, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Ukraine’s, Oklahoma Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, —, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Jessica Rosenberg, ” Biden Organizations: CNN, GOP, Internal Revenue Service, Johnson’s, Hamas, Louisiana Republican, Democratic, White, Senate, Republican Party, Wednesday, Fox News, Putin, Oklahoma, House Republicans, Republican, United Locations: Israel, America, Washington, Ukraine, China, Russia, Louisiana, United States, Kremlin, Kyiv, Carolina, Gaza, Minnesota, Michigan

☆ Republicans clash for hours on the Senate floor as tempers flare over Sen. Tommy Tuberville's blockade of military promotions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Republican senators tore into their GOP colleague Sen. Tommy Tuberville on Wednesday night. They'd had enough of Tuberville's months-long blockade of military promotions. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementA handful of Senate Republicans on Wednesday evening tore into fellow Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville for hours, arguing that his blockade of more than 300 military promotions has damaged the US armed forces and risks serious long-term consequences. Historically speaking, military promotions have sailed through the Senate while lawmakers have used procedural hurdles to slow down political appointees.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, They'd, Lindsey Graham, —, Republican Sen, Lindsey Graham of, Tuberville, I've, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Dan Sullivan, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Ernst, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Eric Smith, Smith's Organizations: GOP, Service, Republicans, Republican, Auburn, The Alabama Republican, Alaska Republican, US Marine Reserves, Marine Corps, DOD, Politico Locations: Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Alaska

☆ Republican Senators Confront Tommy Tuberville Over Blocked Military Promotions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Lindsay Wise | Nancy A. Youssef | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Sen. Tommy Tuberville has vowed not to let the Senate fast-track confirmations of military promotions, as is traditionally done, until the Pentagon ends its abortion policy. Photo: will oliver/ShutterstockWASHINGTON—Republican senators ran out of patience Wednesday night with Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s monthslong hold on hundreds of military promotions. In a dramatic showdown, a group of Tuberville’s fellow Republicans, most of whom have military backgrounds, took to the Senate floor to try to confirm dozens of those promotions, one by one, by voice vote, as growing GOP anger with Tuberville’s hold spilled out into public view after months of private entreaties.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, oliver, Shutterstock, Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville’s monthslong Organizations: Senate, Pentagon, Shutterstock WASHINGTON, Alabama

ATLANTA (AP) — Some Republican lawmakers continued to press Wednesday for changes to protect Georgia's voting system from security weaknesses, but a deputy to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger accused them of acting in bad faith and promoting lies that Georgia's 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump. The dispute with some Republicans in the state Senate stems from vulnerabilities in Dominion Voting Systems equipment identified by J. Alex Halderman, an expert witness in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Georgia’s election system. However, they say it's impractical to update all 40,000 electronic voting machines and scanners statewide before the 2024 election cycle begins. Senate Ethics Committee Chairman Max Burns, a Sylvania Republican, said at the end of the hearing he wanted to see changes. Fueling interest in voting changes are Republican Party activists who say that Georgia's 16 electoral votes were stolen from Trump in 2020.

Persons: Brad Raffensperger, Donald Trump, J, Alex Halderman, Halderman, he's, Gabriel Sterling, We’re, Sterling, “, Sen, Brandon Beach, Greg Dolezal, we’re, ” Dolezal, Max Burns, Burns, Raffensperger, Randy Robertson, Rudy Giuliani, Trump, Giuliani, John Eastman, Jenna Ellis, Ray Smith, Robert Cheeley, Ellis, Steve Gooch, Dahlonega —, Sidney Powell Organizations: ATLANTA, Republican, Voting Systems, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Security Agency, Cumming Republican, Dominion, Sylvania Republican, Rotary Club, Republican Party, Trump Locations: U.S, Brandon, Fulton, Beach, Georgia

☆ Mitch McConnell warns GOP senators they’ll face ‘incoming’ if they back Hawley bill to limit corporate giving in campaigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

According to multiple sources familiar with the Tuesday lunch meeting, McConnell warned GOP senators that they could face “incoming” from the “center-right” if they signed onto Hawley’s bill. On that list of senators: Hawley himself, according to sources familiar with the matter. But there’s also no love lost between McConnell and Hawley, who has long criticized the GOP leader and has repeatedly called for new leadership atop their conference. In an interview, Hawley defended his bill and said that corporate influence should be limited in elections. “I think that’s wrong,” Hawley told CNN.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Sen, Josh Hawley, McConnell, Hawley, there’s, ”, Chuck Schumer, ” Hawley, “, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, Mike Braun, Kevin Cramer of North, Marsha Blackburn of, Dan Sullivan, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Susan Collins of, Steve Daines, Thom Tillis, Lindsey Graham of, Katie Britt, Alabama, Lisa Murkowski, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Ted Budd of, JD Vance, Ohio, Ron Johnson Organizations: CNN, GOP, Kentucky Republican, Fund, McConnell, New, New York Democrat, Missouri Republican, Indiana Locations: New York, Ukraine, Israel, Colorado, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Montana, North Carolina, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin

☆ GOP Senators Propose Bill Splitting Off Israel Aid From Ukraine Funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Lindsay Wise | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Sen. Roger Marshall argues that separating Israel aid would prevent it from being bogged down in the House. Photo: Michael Brochstein/Zuma PressWASHINGTON—A group of Republican senators introduced a stand-alone bill that would send billions of dollars in aid to Israel but not Ukraine, underscoring the challenges facing a much larger $106 billion Biden administration proposal that includes more funding for Kyiv. The group of GOP senators argues that separating the Israel aid would prevent the assistance from being bogged down in the House, where the number of Republicans opposed to funding Ukraine aid is growing, and now makes up more than half the GOP conference.

Persons: Sen, Roger Marshall, Michael Brochstein, Zuma Press WASHINGTON Organizations: Zuma Press, Biden, Kyiv, GOP Locations: Israel, Ukraine

“The border has never been a money issue,” said Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas. It also suggests $1.4 billion to add 375 immigration judges and their teams in addition to money for 1,300 new border patrol agents. “But it’s got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border,” he said. “No more money should be spent simply to facilitate current border policy.”It's unclear if compromise is possible on the issue. The border is not about money; there’s some money that needs to be spent on certain things, but it is way more about policy.

Persons: Joe Biden, It's, ”, Dan Crenshaw, Biden, “, Colleen Putzel, there's, Eric Adams, Alex Gough, J.B . Pritzker, Maura Healey, Kevin McCarthy, Sen, Kevin Cramer, he’d, it’s, Texas Republican Sen, John Cornyn, Chris Murphy, ” Murphy, ” Crenshaw, Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Claire Savage, Mike Casey, Patrick Whittle, Lisa Rathke, Holly Ramer Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, White, Democratic, Homeland Security, Migration Policy Institute, Central America, New York, ”, O’Hare, Illinois Gov, GOP, Texas Republican, Connecticut Democrat, Department of Homeland Security, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Mexico, Israel, Texas, U.S, South, Central, York City, New, implore, New York City, Chicago, ” Massachusetts, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, Boston, Portland , Maine, Montpelier , Vt, Concord, N.H

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX allies secretly poured $50 million into 'dark money' groups, evidence shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The documents give the first full look at Bankman-Fried and his allies' contributions to so-called "dark money" organizations. While Bankman-Fried quietly funded more conservative dark money groups behind the scenes, he publicly cultivated a profile that was clearly aligned with the Democratic Party. Prosecutors on Monday filed into evidence a list of organizations that received money from Bankman-Fried and those close to him. The documents show that Bankman-Fried was clearly the lead "dark money" donor among the listed former FTX executives and the company itself. The list that prosecutors made public this week shows Bankman-Fried's "dark money" donations were closer to $47 million during the 2022 cycle alone.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Nishad Singh, FTX's, Fried, Barbara Fried, FTX, Ryan Salame, Salame, Caroline Ellison, Ellison Organizations: FTX, Democratic, Republican, Democratic Party, Washington , D.C, Prosecutors, Alameda Research, Bankman, Federal, Commission Locations: Manhattan, New York City, Ky, Washington ,, Bankman, Alameda, Washington

☆ US Republican senators ask tech firms about content moderation in Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Kanishka Singh | Thomson Reuters | Kanishka Singh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Reuters In Washington Dc | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 20 (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate panel's Republican lawmakers sent a letter on Friday to tech companies Meta Platforms, Google, TikTok and X, formerly called Twitter, seeking information on their content moderation policies in the Israel-Hamas war, the senators said. The Republican lawmakers of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee said they asked the companies "to commit to fully preserving a documentary history of Hamas's atrocities." Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people, mainly civilians. "We believe it is imperative that we preserve a full documentary history of Hamas's atrocities," the Republican lawmakers led by Senator Ted Cruz said. The senators said they requested a number of pieces of information, including content policies relevant to the dissemination of content from the Israel-Hamas War, data on content removed systematically without human review, and an explanation of how these policies are affected by international laws.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Ted Cruz, Kanishka Singh, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Senate, Google, Twitter, Republican, U.S . Senate, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Washington

The attacks prompted Israel to launch an intensive bombing campaign against the Gaza Strip, which is governed by Hamas. “I cannot remember a time when Israel’s struggle for security was not at the forefront of my mind,” Mr. Lew said. If confirmed, I will uphold President Biden’s commitment to deny Iran a nuclear weapon.”But his declarations did little to deter Republican senators. Senator John Barrasso, Republican of Wyoming, accused Mr. Lew of acting as the Iranian government’s banker by negotiating deals to release funds in exchange for American prisoners. “Preventing this from becoming a multifront war is hugely important for Israel, for the region, for the world,” he said.

Persons: Jacob J, Lew, Biden’s, Biden, Obama, Jim Risch of, Lew of, Lew’s, —, Chuck Schumer, Israel, Thomas R, Nides, Schumer, “, Mr, ” Mr, fides, Marco Rubio, John Barrasso, Barrasso, ” Organizations: Senate Foreign Relations, Israel, Hamas, Republican, Foreign Relations, Mr, Jewish, Investigations, State Department Locations: Israel, Gaza, Jim Risch of Idaho, Iran, United States, Florida, Oman, Tehran, Wyoming, Iranian, U.S, Saudi Arabia

☆ Opinion | Biden’s Unspoken Message in Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( David Firestone | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

President Biden flew into multiple headwinds on his risky trip to show solidarity with Israel on Wednesday. Even before his plane landed at Ben Gurion Airport, several allied Arab leaders announced they would not see him. He offered a small aid package for residents of Gaza and the West Bank, but can’t do much more until Congress functions again. Rocket and shell fire from Gaza and Lebanon resumed within two hours after his plane left Israel. But the trip was still worth making, as much for what went unspoken as for any tangible goals that were achieved.

Persons: Biden, Jack Lew, Obama Organizations: Israel, Wednesday, Ben Gurion, West Bank, Republicans, Senate, Republican Locations: Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, United States, Washington, Iran

☆ US oil production just hit an all-time high. 'Millions of people will die,' if this trend continues, a Stanford climate scientist said.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Seth Borenstein | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

US oil production reached an all-time high last week at 13.2 million barrels per day. If this trend continues, "millions of people will die," Stanford climate scientist Rob Jackson said. And it conflicts with oft-repeated Republican talking points of a Biden "war on American energy." Weekly domestic oil production has doubled from the first week in October 2012 to now. US oil production reached an all time high recently.

Persons: Biden, Rob Jackson, Bill Hare, Hare, John Sterman, Jackson, Samantha Gross, Gross, Stanford's Jackson, Joe Biden, Susan Walsh Biden's, Jared Bernstein, Bernstein, They've, Joshua Boak Organizations: Service, United, Biden, U.S . Department of Energy's Energy, Administration, United Nations, United Arab Emirates, Exxon, Mobil, Cote d'Ivorie, Climate Interactive, Stanford University, Carbon, White, Brookings Institution, Energy, EIA, AP, American Energy, Republican, House Energy, Commerce, White House Council, Economic Advisers, Wildlife Locations: Stanford, United States, Norway, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Shell, Guyana, Cote, Saudi Arabia, Alaska, Washington ,

☆ Republicans are already trumpeting their opposition to accepting Palestinian refugees, even before Israeli forces enter Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementThe conflict between Israel and Hamas has only been raging for 10 days, but Republicans are already preemptively declaring that they oppose accepting Palestinian refugees. "No Gaza refugees in the United States," Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida wrote on Twitter on Monday. Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona claimed on Twitter that Democrats are pushing to "take in a million Palestinian refugees," calling the notion "absurd." AdvertisementAdvertisementDemocrats writ large have not discussed the prospect of accepting refugees from Palestine, aside from some progressive lawmakers. Some Republicans have argued not just that the US doesn't have the capacity for more refugees, but that the Palestinian refugees themselves are undesirable.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, —, Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin, Andy Ogles, Tennessee —, Tiffany, Matt Gaetz, Andy Biggs, Biggs, Jamaal Bowman, Sen, Tom Cotton of Organizations: Republicans, Florida Gov, Service, Hamas, Republican, Palestinian Authority, Senate, Twitter, Monday, New York, Progressives Locations: Israel, Tennessee, United States, GAZA, Florida, Arizona, Palestine, Gaza, York, New York, Iran, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Iowa, resettling, Afghanistan

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