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☆ Dianne Feinstein didn't reveal she had complications from shingles like brain swelling and facial paralysis: New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Madison Hall | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein was absent from the Senate for nearly three months due to shingles, her office has said. A report from the New York Times, however, noted she was diagnosed with several complications stemming from shingles. According to a New York Times report, which relies on anonymous sourcing, said that Feinstein's shingles moved to her face and neck, leading to balance and vision problems along with partial facial paralysis. As the New York Times noted, post-shingles encephalitis can lead to "lasting memory or language problems, sleep disorders, bouts of confusion, mood disorders, headaches and difficulties walking." Even prior to her shingles diagnosis, reports indicated Feinstein appeared to have mental acuity issues.

☆ Dianne Feinstein suffered more complications from illness than publicly disclosed, New York Times reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Dianne Feinstein, who returned to Washington in May after a months-long absence due to shingles, suffered more complications from the illness than were publicly disclosed, the New York Times reported on Thursday. The shingles caused a rare complication known as encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, the New York Times said, citing two people familiar with the senator's diagnosis. Feinstein on Thursday said she did not have encephalitis, saying it "really has never been diagnosed", according to CNN. I continue to work and get results for California." Reporting by Costas Pitas in Los Angeles; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ What to Know About Post-Shingles Encephalitis
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Benjamin Mueller | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Dianne Feinstein, a Democratic senator from California, returned to the Capitol last week after spending more than two months recovering from shingles. For Ms. Feinstein, 89, the virus also brought on a previously unreported case of encephalitis, a rare but potentially debilitating complication in which the brain swells. Post-shingles encephalitis can cause headache, fever, sensitivity to light, vomiting, confusion, a stiff neck or even seizures. Those include memory or language trouble, sleep disorders, mood disorders, walking difficulty and other cognitive problems. Older patients tend to have the most trouble recovering.

☆ Ramsay Hunt Syndrome: The condition public figures Sen. Dianne Feinstein and pop star Justin Bieber have brought to light
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the 89-year-old California Democrat who was diagnosed with shingles in February, confirmed Thursday she “continues to have complications” from a viral infection called Ramsay Hunt syndrome. “This makes its true frequency more difficult to determine,” the Cleveland Clinic noted. Ramsay Hunt syndrome can also cause hearing loss on the side of the face affected. About 70% of people with Ramsay Hunt will regain complete or “almost complete” function of facial muscles, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment with antiviral therapy seem to improve long-term outcomes,” the Cleveland Clinic notes on its website.

☆ Feinstein Suffered More Complications From Illness Than Were Publicly Disclosed
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Annie Karni | Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When she arrived at the Capitol last week after a more than two-month absence recovering from shingles, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, 89, appeared shockingly diminished. Ms. Feinstein’s frail appearance was a result of several complications after she was hospitalized for shingles in February, some of which she has not publicly disclosed. The shingles spread to her face and neck, causing vision and balance impairments and facial paralysis known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Characterized by swelling of the brain, post-shingles encephalitis can leave patients with lasting memory or language problems, sleep disorders, bouts of confusion, mood disorders, headaches and difficulties walking. And even before this latest illness, Ms. Feinstein had already suffered substantial memory issues that had raised questions about her mental capacity.

☆ US Senator Feinstein still suffering complications from shingles, her office says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Costas Pitas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Dianne Feinstein, who returned to Washington last week after a months-long absence due to shingles, is continuing to suffer from a medical complication known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a spokesperson said on Thursday. Feinstein had also previously suffered encephalitis, her office said, after the New York Times reported on medical conditions that had not been publicly disclosed. Ramsay Hunt Syndrome affects the facial nerve and can cause partial facial paralysis or weakness. First elected to the Senate in 1992, Feinstein had been sidelined since February as she recovered from shingles. "I'm back in Washington, voting and attending committee meetings while I recover from complications related to a shingles diagnosis," Feinstein said in a statement provided earlier on Thursday to the New York Times.

☆ Pelosi's daughter is Dianne Feinstein's primary caregiver at the Capitol, but the former speaker denies using the relationship to help her protégé replace the aging senator
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Since Dianne Feinstein returned to office in May, Nancy Pelosi's daughter has been alongside her. A recent report from Politico suggested Pelosi could be using her daughter to keep Feinstein from retiring, possibly helping Rep. Adam Schiff's chances of replacing her. Pelosi's office denied any political motives for aiding Feinstein. Feinstein, 89, missed several months of votes in the Senate due to her diagnosis in February before returning in May. And earlier this week, Feinstein denied ever missing time away from the Senate due to shingles.

☆ Staff for a 95-year-old federal judge say she is "losing it, mentally" and talking to a dead colleague
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Jack Newsham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Judge Pauline Newman says her fellow appeals judges are trying to force her off the Federal Circuit. She claims she's been "hacked" when she can't find a file or email, the decision quoted staff saying. Her peers say Judge Newman has slowed downOver the years, Judge Newman has established a reputation as a prolific dissenter, frequently and openly disagreeing with her colleagues on issues of patent law. The typical federal judge last year was 68 years old. The judges investigating Newman said allegations about her interactions with staff weren't the only thing that needed to be evaluated.

☆ Dianne Feinstein claimed she hasn't 'been gone' when asked about her lengthy absence from the Senate: 'No, I've been here. I've been voting'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Feinstein insisted to reporters on Tuesday that she hasn't been absent from the Senate. I've been voting," she told LA Times' Ben Oreskes at the Capitol on Tuesday. The 89-year-old senator returned to Washington last week after a nearly 3-month-long absence. "No, I haven't been gone," she told the Times' Ben Oreskes on Tuesday when asked how her Senate colleagues have responded to her return. Feinstein then reportedly deflected a question about lawmakers calling for her to resign before an aide wheeled her away.

CNN —North Carolina’s Republican-led General Assembly moved Tuesday to ban most abortions after 12 weeks, voting to override a veto from Democratic Gov. The state House voted 72-48 along party lines hours after the state Senate voted 30-20 to do the same. A three-fifths vote in both chambers, where Republicans hold supermajorities, was needed to override the governor’s previous rejection of the measure. “We are going to have to kick it into an even higher gear when that veto stamp comes down. Cotham, who had campaigned in favor of abortion rights as a Democrat and sponsored legislation earlier in the legislative session to codify Roe v. Wade, was one of the Republicans who voted for the abortion ban.

☆ Dianne Feinstein's staff makes sure the senator never walks around the Capitol by herself out of concern for what she might say to reporters amid her declining health and old age, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

As her health declined, her staff began to follow her wherever she goes in the Capitol, per Rolling Stone. Feinstein returned to the Senate on Wednesday after spending nearly three months away from Washington due to a shingles infection. For the past few years, Feinstein's staff felt it necessary to ensure the senator is never alone when she walks around the Capitol, sources told Rolling Stone. Jamarcus Purley, a former staff member fired last February for work performance issues, told the magazine that Feinstein's office developed the system without her knowing. Feinstein's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

☆ Dianne Feinstein once mistook GOP Sen. Tim Scott for Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, book says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Dianne Feinstein once mistook two different Black senators, according to a story relayed in a new book. She confused GOP Sen. Tim Scott for Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, saying she'd been rooting for him. Scott reportedly played along, telling Feinstein that her "support means a lot." Scott, a Republican who's served in the Senate since 2013, is said to have played along with Feinstein's apparent confusion. Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 🟧 (@RepDeanPhillips) April 12, 2023But on Wednesday, Feinstein finally returned to the Capitol, continuing to suffer balance and vision impairments.

☆ Gig work value is too great to rush a US overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Julie Su, the president’s choice for labor secretary, has a history of redefining gig work. And while health insurance and retirement savings are valuable perks, gig workers view flexibility in the same way. Half of surveyed gig workers, meanwhile, make less than a quarter of their income from freelancing. Gig work has also grown alongside traditional employment, not at its expense. With most gig workers happy as they are, a one-size-fits-all rethink threatens pointless harm to a growing corner of the economy.

☆ Dianne Feinstein returns to the Senate following a nearly 3-month absence and calls for her resignation from fellow Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein returned to the US Senate on Wednesday. Several fellow Democrats called for her to resign, arguing her absence imperiled their party's agenda. The 89-year-old California Democrat returned this week after spending nearly 3 months away from Washington due to complications from a shingles infection. But her prolonged absence created a deadlock on the Senate Judiciary Committee, preventing Democrats from swiftly advancing nominees to the floor that lacked Republican support. Feinstein arrived at the Capitol just before 3pm on Wednesday and was greeted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

☆ The Age of Dianne Feinstein
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( William Mcgurn | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

William McGurn is a member of The Wall Street Journal editorial board and writes the weekly "Main Street" column for the Journal each Tuesday. Previously he served as Chief Speechwriter for President George W. Bush. Mr. McGurn has served as chief editorial writer for The Wall Street Journal in New York. He spent more than a decade overseas -- in Brussels for The Wall Street Journal/Europe and in Hong Kong with both the Asian Wall Street Journal and the Far Eastern Economic Review. Bill is author of a book on Hong Kong ("Perfidious Albion") and a monograph on terrorism ("Terrorist or Freedom Fighter").

☆ Sen. Dianne Feinstein to Return to Senate After Extended Absence
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Natalie Andrews | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has said she won’t be seeking re-election, left the Senate floor after a vote in February. Photo: EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/REUTERSSen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) is set to return to the Capitol this week, according to her spokesman, after a monthslong absence from the Senate during which Democrats struggled to advance some nominees. Mrs. Feinstein, 89 years old, underwent treatment for shingles in February and has been absent from the Senate since then, missing dozens of votes. She hadn’t provided a timeline for returning to Washington, fueling speculation about her plans and calls from some Democrats for her to resign. Her spokesman said she plans to vote on Wednesday, as the Senate will consider some Biden administration nominations.

☆ Dianne Feinstein set to return to Senate after nearly 3-month absence
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Garrett Haake | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA), who announced she will not be seeking re-election, leaves the Senate floor after a vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., February 14, 2023. WASHINGTON — California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is returning to the Senate after a nearly three-month absence due to health problems, according to a spokesperson for the senator. With Democrats holding just a single-seat advantage in the Senate, Feinstein's absence complicated her party's efforts to confirm some of President Joe Biden's nominees. Feinstein later disputed that her absence had in any way limited the number of nominees advanced by the committee. "I'm confident that when I return to the Senate, we will be able to move the remaining qualified nominees out of committee quickly and to the Senate floor for a vote."

☆ Feinstein Returning to Senate, Bringing Democrats Back to Full Majority
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Annie Karni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It was not clear if Ms. Feinstein, 89, would make it back in time for a vote scheduled for Tuesday night, a spokesman said. But her return to the chamber would restore a Democratic majority to the Judiciary Committee, where Democrats were becoming increasingly concerned about their limited ability to move forward with judicial nominations. Ms. Feinstein, who was hospitalized in February for shingles, for weeks gave no detailed updates about her health as she recovered in San Francisco, and provided no timeline for her planned return to the Senate. Her prolonged absence left her colleagues in the Senate fearing that they would be short a vote not only on the Judiciary Committee but also on other crucial matters. “The bottom line is the business of the committee and the Senate is affected by her absence,” Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

☆ Senate Democrats Seek Accounting of Gifts to Thomas and Other Justices
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

He refused to take part in a recent Judiciary Committee hearing on possible new ethics rules, citing separation of powers issues. In the letter, the Democrats said the information they were seeking from Mr. Crow would help the committee correct shortcomings in the court’s current ethics and disclosure framework. “We’re seeking information on whether individuals with interests before the Supreme Court were able to gain access to Justices through gifts, lodging, and travel from Harlan Crow and his companies,” Mr. Durbin said in a tweet on Tuesday. Mr. Durbin has so far held back from threatening subpoenas to obtain information or compel testimony from the justices or others. Ms. Feinstein signed the new letter to Mr. Crow, but her unavailability could prevent the committee’s Democrats from winning approval of a subpoena, given Republican opposition.

☆ Dianne Feinstein returning to U.S. Senate after health-related absence
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Richard Cowan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Dianne Feinstein, 89, will return to Washington on Tuesday after a months-long absence due to illness, her spokesman said, restoring Democrats' 51-49 majority to full strength. The trailblazing lawmaker had been sidelined since February as she recovered from a bout of shingles, which had led to calls from some fellow Democrats to step aside and allow someone else to take her place. “I’m glad that my friend Dianne is back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a written statement. Democrats' worries were further heightened as lawmakers have been spending 2023 arguing over raising the nation's borrowing authority. Feinstein could provide crucial support for whatever debt limit bill comes before the Senate that would avert a first-ever default on U.S. debt.

☆ Dianne Feinstein is on her way back to Washington after being sidelined with shingles: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein is traveling back to Washington, DC. Feinstein had been away from the Capitol for several months after she contracted shingles. Feinstein, who's 89 years old, hasn't cast a vote in the Senate since her diagnosis in mid-February. Feinstein ultimately asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to find a temporary replacement for her on the Judiciary Committee, but Schumer's attempts were rebuffed by Senate Republicans. In February, Feinstein announced that she will not be running for office again in 2024, and will retire at the end of her term.

CNN —Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who has been away from the Senate since February while recovering from shingles, will return to Washington on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson. Feinstein sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and without her vote on the panel, Democrats said that they would have to delay some of President Biden’s key judicial nominees. In April, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California became the first member of Congress to call on Feinstein to resign. In April, the California senator asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee, and he proposed that Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin take her spot. She needs to get well so she can get back to work,” Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who is also 89, said.

☆ Opinion | Dianne Feinstein Has to Act
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Without Senator Dianne Feinstein, there might never have been an assault weapons ban in 1994. Or the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994. Her absence is a failure that deprives American voters of full representation on legislation and appointments that will affect them for decades to come. (Proxy voting is allowed in the committee, but a proxy cannot be the decisive vote if the committee is otherwise evenly divided, as it often is.) Ms. Feinstein offered to step away from the committee, but Republican senators blocked any effort at appointing a temporary replacement.

☆ New York Times editorial board says Chuck Schumer should pressure Dianne Feinstein to 'return or resign'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The New York Times editorial board said that Chuck Schumer should pressure Dianne Feinstein to "return or resign." "If she cannot fulfill her obligations to the Senate and to her constituents, she should resign and turn over her responsibilities to an appointed successor," the board wrote. According to its website, the New York Times editorial board comprises opinion journalists "who rely on research, debate and individual expertise to reach a shared view of important issues." A group of women Democratic senators, however, told Insider that the calls for Feinstein to resign were sexist and "unprecedented." Noting this point, the New York Times editorial board agreed that in its history, the historically predominately male Senate has had several instances of its male members missing years of legislative session time due to illness.

☆ America Hits Bottom With Trump and Biden in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Joseph Epstein | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

What about Joe Biden? How has it come about that the more-than-likely presidential candidates of our two political parties in 2024 turn out to be Donald Trump and Joe Biden? One can of course be a good man and a poor president. But no one would argue that either Mr. Trump or Mr. Biden is a notably good man. Each has been ethically challenged and found wanting: Mr. Trump by his long experience in the New York real-estate world, Mr. Biden by his 36 years in the Senate.

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