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WASHINGTON — It was a busy year for Congress, which passed a slew of consequential bills, most of which enjoyed support from both parties. As two years of full Democratic control come to an end, here are five of the most significant bills passed in 2022. The Electoral Count Reform Act will revise the 1887 Electoral Count Act to make clear the vice president cannot discount electoral votes. It’ll raise the threshold for objections from one member of each the House and Senate to one-fifth of both chambers. The legislation came about after the new 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court voted last summer to overturn Roe v. Wade, prompting critics to fear that it could do the same to same-sex marriage rights.

☆ 'It’s corn!,' 'Dark Brandon' and 'girl explaining': A look at the most notable memes of 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kahlan-Rosenblatt.Jpg | Kalhan Rosenblatt | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

Here's NBC News' roundup of the 10 most notable memes of 2022. 'Dark Brandon'The meme, which started on Twitter in early 2022, depicts President Joe Biden as a laser-eyed edge-lord. 'Girl explaining'The "girl explaining" meme actually began going viral in 2019 in Spanish-speaking circles, according to Know Your Meme. Whether it's explaining what the Inflation Reduction Act is or why the Brooklyn Library is "fine free," the most shouty memes of 2022 were conveyed through the "girl explaining." That's because the corn kid, a 7-year-old named Tariq, became one of the year's most viral memes.

So yeah, I’m proud of it,” McConnell said, hailing it as an “extremely important” win for conservatives. He said it’ll mean they no longer “pay a ransom on the domestic side” in order to secure hefty military spending. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill.. said he’s “disappointed” in the unequal spending levels but argued that the Kentucky Republican was using his leverage. Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks alongside Sens. Democrats say McConnell was pushing for deals due to the rising support in the Democratic Party in recent years to end the filibuster.

☆ Options trading shows signs of a market bottom in first quarter of next year, says Susquehanna's Murphy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | 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 EmailOptions trading shows signs of a market bottom in first quarter of next year, says Susquehanna's MurphyChris Murphy, Susquehanna co-head of derivatives strategy, joins the 'Halftime Report' to discuss if investors could see a rally in equity markets, where he sees the next move in equity markets going and what else Murphy will watch for signs the market is forming a bottom.

☆ It's been a decade since the Sandy Hook shooting. Here are the names and pictures of the 27 victims, including 20 children, who were murdered that day.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Michal Kranz | Rebecca Harrington | Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Twenty children and six staff members were killed in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012. It was the deadliest mass shooting at an elementary school in US history. The 20-year-old gunman also killed his mother that day and shot himself after the massacre. "Sad for the searing loss, that hurts like hell every Dec 14th for those parents, my friends. Here are all 27 people killed in the deadliest elementary school shooting in US history.

“Nearly every single state in the nation has passed at least one significant gun safety law since Sandy Hook,” concluded the report, first obtained by NBC News. Gun violence has gone from being a political third rail to a kitchen table topic in just ten years. Nearly every American will know a victim of gun violence in their lifetime.”Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., hugs Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga., at the Giffords Gun Violence Memorial in front of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., on June 7. Still, gun safety advocates face tall hurdles to achieving other goals, like banning semi-automatic assault-style weapons and large-capacity ammunition. Republicans just won control of the House, almost certainly ending hopes for stricter gun laws for the foreseeable future.

CNN —A Republican senator became emotional as he spoke in deeply personal terms about the importance of mental health care in America. A loved one, a friend, someone you know, that has serious mental illness.”For Cassidy, the issue is personal. Or, we can say we’re going to attempt to do something about it,” he told CNN. In May, Cassidy, alongside Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, introduced legislation to expand and improve upon a bipartisan mental health measure that had expired in September. “Whether or not it’s passed, at the end of the year, I can’t tell you that,” Cassidy told CNN.

☆ Lawmakers explain why they went to Qatar for the World Cup despite human rights concerns: 'There are no perfect countries'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Qatar's hosting of the 2022 World Cup has been controversial, given the country's human rights record. The congresswoman also suggested that the 2026 World Cup may prompt similar conversations about human rights abuses in North America. "We are slated to host the World Cup next with Mexico and Canada," she said, referring to the 2026 World Cup. "The spotlight of the World Cup has caused Qatar to make a lot of important reforms to their employment law." According to Human Rights Watch, LGBTQ people have been subjected to arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment in detention.

Come next year, Democrats will have unilateral subpoena power in many committees to compel investigative targets to provide documents and testimony — without needing GOP support. “Our committees will have greater oversight ability, subpoena power. Subpoena power can deal with corporate corruption and inequities, and other problems throughout the country,” he said. “And if using subpoena power becomes necessary, then that’s something we can do.”Other Democrats floated industries that could be the targets of the party's subpoena powers. “But having subpoena power for CEOs and billionaires who think they don’t have to come to Congress to explain themselves will be very valuable.”

☆ Video: Senator defends Qatar visit despite human rights concerns
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy tells CNN's Dana Bash that Qatar is a "complicated partner" and that he met with human rights leaders there while attending the World Cup.

☆ Sen. Murphy proposes not funding police departments that don't enforce gun safety laws, such as the red flag laws
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Chris Murphy proposed defunding law enforcement agencies that don't enforce gun laws. Many counties that have red flag gun laws have said they will refuse to enforce them, Murphy said. Colorado officials said the 22-year-old suspected gunman should have triggered the state's red flag law, but officers at the El Paso County Sheriff's Office refused to utilize the red flag law. "The majority of counties in this country have declared that they are not going to enforce state and federal gun laws. The laws that we're talking about passing, red flag laws, assault weapons bans, they're wildly popular.

☆ Sen. Chris Murphy doesn't think Democrats have 60 votes for assault weapons ban
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) discusses President Biden's push to pass an assault weapons ban and where he thinks the votes stand in the US Senate.

☆ Joe Biden, who turns 80 on Sunday, may struggle to win voters concerned about his age in 2024. But he's also the 'guy who knows how to beat Donald Trump.'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"He knows he can beat Trump," Jim Moran, a former Democratic House member from Virginia, told Insider. As Trump trashed Biden while announcing his third presidential bid, Biden responded with a video detailing the low points of Trump's record on Twitter, writing "Donald Trump failed America." "The obligation would be cataclysmic, existential, monumental," the friend told Insider in an August interview. On Friday, the progressive "Don't Run Joe" campaign released a birthday greeting for Biden, urging him not to seek re-election. "If our focus is on winning, then going with the guy who knows how to beat Donald Trump is a pretty smart play," Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, previously told Insider.

☆ Cathie Wood's Innovation ETF draws $1 billion despite a 60% loss. Here's why investors are standing by her
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Rather, Cathie Wood's loyal investors have been doubling down on her disruptive strategy this year. Wood's flagship Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK) has reeled in $1.3 billion in new money year to date despite a 60% loss, and that is among the top 3% of all exchange-traded funds in the U.S., according to FactSet. Because of the slight weighting, they could afford to be more loyal and patient despite the drastic drawdown. The Innovation fund is focused on advanced technology companies in areas such as genomics, robotics, internet and fintech. She has been buying the dip in her favorite growth names all year, and so have many of her investors.

☆ Biden says Elon Musk's relationships with foreign countries are 'worthy of being looked at'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

President Joe Biden said Elon Musk's ties with foreign countries are "worth being looked at." A Saudi prince and a Qatari sovereign fund's subsidiary are major investors in Musk's Twitter. "I think that Elon Musk's cooperation and, or, technical relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at," he told reporters at a White House press conference. White House officials had earlier denied reports that it was planning a security review of Musk's dealings with Twitter. "The national security review, that is not true," said White House press secretary Karine-Jean Pierre on October 24.

☆ The US is quietly extracting concessions from Saudi Arabia after Mohammed bin Salman humiliated Biden
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Saudi Arabia has made moves to placate the US after a recent feud over oil. Diplomatic ties between the Biden White House and the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, are being tested as never before in a series of high-stakes diplomatic encounters. Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Moscow in May 2017. Biden himself said there would be "consequences" for Saudi Arabia, though did not specify what they'd be. "These are mutual interests keeping the US and Saudi Arabia interested in the bilateral partnership.

☆ Biden says Elon Musk’s relationships with foreign countries 'worthy of being looked at'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Lauren-Egan-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Lauren Egan | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — Asked whether Elon Musk posed a threat to national security, President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the billionaire’s “relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at.”“I think that Elon Musk’s cooperation and/or technical relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at,” Biden told reporters at the White House. “Whether or not he is doing anything inappropriate — I’m not suggesting that — I’m suggesting it’s worth being looked at. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and the new owner of Twitter, has significant business interests in China. That helped prompt Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., to call for an investigation into the national security implications of Saudi Arabia’s stake. But Musk has important relationships with the U.S. government, too, and those have continued under the Biden administration.

☆ President Biden says Elon Musk's relationships with other countries are worth looking into
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In this article TSLATWTR Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTJoe Biden, left, and Elon Musk Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters; Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAsked on Wednesday whether Tesla , SpaceX and Twitter CEO Elon Musk posed a threat to national security, President Joe Biden said that the centi-billionaire's "relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at." Biden said, "Elon Musk's cooperation and/or technical relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at. Throughout 2022, Musk has accused the President of ignoring his electric vehicle venture, Tesla, despite its success, and favoring legacy automakers and their unions. The kingdom of Qatar also participated in Musk's Twitter deal. The Ukrainian government, which generally praises SpaceX and Musk, is now looking for alternatives to Starlink, Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said last Thursday.

☆ Democratic upset in U.S. midterms could roil markets, options mavens say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Saqib Iqbal Ahmed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, Nov 8 (Reuters) - An unexpected result in Tuesday’s U.S. midterm election could roil markets positioned for relative calm, options strategists said. Control of the U.S. Congress is at stake in Tuesday's midterms, with Republicans favored by polls and betting markets to win control of the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate. At the individual stock level, certain names have the potential for higher election-related volatility, strategists at Goldman Sachs said in a note earlier this month. Meanwhile, shares of tobacco company Philip Morris International Inc (PM.N) could be volatile around regulatory restrictions, Goldman’s analysts wrote. Reporting by Saqib Iqbal Ahmed in New York Editing by Ira Iosebashvili and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Elon Musk sells at least $3.95 billion worth of Tesla shares after Twitter deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk has sold at least another $3.95 billion worth of shares in his electric car company Tesla after closing his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter. According to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission published Tuesday, Musk sold 19.5 million more shares of Tesla. Musk sold almost $22 billion worth of Tesla shares in 2021, a year when the stock jumped over 50%. This year, he sold over $8 billion worth of Tesla stock in April and another roughly $7 billion worth in August. On Aug. 9, Musk told fans he was done selling Tesla shares to fund a possible Twitter acquisition.

WASHINGTON — Which party controls Congress next year could have big implications for Twitter — and its new “Chief Twit,” Elon Musk. A Jordan spokesman had no comment about Musk and Twitter, but Republicans expect the company will be more cooperative with any future GOP investigations with Musk at the helm. But upon taking control of Twitter, Musk said he would first form a “content moderation council,” and Yoel Roth, head of Safety and Integrity at Twitter, insisted that the company’s policies on hate speech have not changed. “If Elon Musk has said now that he’s going to start a content moderation board, that was one good sign, but I continue to be concerned about that,” Klobuchar said. Other Democrats are raising national security concerns about how Musk financed the $44 billion Twitter deal.

WASHINGTON — Sen. Chris Murphy on Monday called for an immediate investigation into the national security implications of Saudi Arabia's stake in Twitter after Elon Musk’s takeover of the social media company. “The purpose of these reviews is clear: to protect the national security interests of the United States and American citizens,” Murphy wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who leads CIFIUS. Late last week, Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding Company and the private office of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said they would help Musk finance his Twitter deal by rolling over their ownership of shares of the company worth about $1.89 billion, according to a statement tweeted by Alwaleed. Together all the way @Twitter,” Prince Alwaleed tweeted. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, led by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, owns nearly 17 percent of Kingdom Holding, according to Reuters.

☆ Democratic U.S. senator wants probe into Saudi firm's stake in Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Chris Murphy said on Monday he wants a U.S. national security review of a Saudi Arabian conglomerate's stake in Twitter Inc after Elon Musk's takeover of the social media company. "The deal is in line with the long-term investment strategy which Kingdom Holding Company is known for," the statement said. Alwaleed's Kingdom Holding is 16.9% owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Banks including Morgan Stanley (MS.N) and Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) committed to provide $13 billion in debt financing. Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington Editing by Franklin Paul and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The Elon Musk wrecking ball
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Editor’s Note: A version of this story appeared in CNN Business’ Nightcap newsletter. New York CNN Business —Elon Musk bought a $44 billion fixer-upper, and he’s not wasting any time gutting the joint. If you spent the weekend trying to ignore the news, like I did, let’s catch up on what the Musk wrecking ball has targeted so far:And yes, this is all Textbook Musk. Musk himself has long favored using Twitter rather than an PR team to break news about his other companies like Tesla. And for that I turn to my colleague Frank “Craven” Pallotta, CNN Business’ resident expert on all things Hollywood and horror.

☆ Senate Democrat wants national security investigation of Saudi Arabia’s role in Elon Musk-Twitter deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN Business —Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy is calling on the federal government to investigate national security concerns raised by Saudi Arabia’s role in Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter. The Connecticut Democrat urged the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, known as CFIUS, to conduct an investigation into the “national security implications” of the Saudi involvement. Even though Musk already closed his takeover of Twitter late last week, it may still be subject to national security review. Earlier this month, Twitter shares dropped after Bloomberg News reported Biden officials are in early discussions about possibly subjecting some of Musk’s ventures to national security reviews, including the Twitter deal. “We do now know of any such conversations,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement on October 21.

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