INSIDER
Republican leaders urge colleagues to steer clear of racist and sexist attacks on Harris
Read full article: Republican leaders urge colleagues to steer clear of racist and sexist attacks on HarrisRepublican leaders are warning party members against using overtly racist and sexist attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris as they and former President Donald Trump’s campaign scramble to adjust to the reality of a new Democratic rival less than four months before Election Day.
Texas man indicted for alleged threat to kill US Rep. Waters
Read full article: Texas man indicted for alleged threat to kill US Rep. WatersA federal grand jury in Los Angeles has indicted a Houston man for allegedly calling the office of California U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters several times last year and leaving voice mails threatening to harm the Democratic congresswoman.
How Washington came to rescue US banks
Read full article: How Washington came to rescue US banksAfter a frenetic weekend of round-the-clock briefings, U.S. policymakers took the audacious step of guaranteeing all the deposits of the failed Silicon Valley Bank — even those exceeding the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's $250,000 limit.
Former FTX CEO Bankman-Fried says he will testify to Congress
Read full article: Former FTX CEO Bankman-Fried says he will testify to CongressThe former CEO of the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX said in a tweet Friday that he is willing to testify to Congress next week, but that he will be limited in what he can say and that he “won't be as helpful” as he’d like to be.
House panel to hold hearing on crypto exchange FTX collapse
Read full article: House panel to hold hearing on crypto exchange FTX collapseLawmakers plan to investigate the failure of FTX, the large crypto exchange that collapsed last week and filed for bankruptcy protection, leaving investors and customers staring at losses that could total in the billions of dollars.
New crypto oversight legislation arrives as industry shakes
Read full article: New crypto oversight legislation arrives as industry shakesAfter 13 years, at least three crashes, dozens of scams and Ponzi schemes and hundreds of billions of dollars made and evaporated, cryptocurrencies finally have the full attention of Congress.
Oklahoma-based tribes say followed rules on Freedmen rights
Read full article: Oklahoma-based tribes say followed rules on Freedmen rightsLeaders and representatives of five Oklahoma-based tribes have told a U.S. Senate committee they have followed treaties and court rulings regarding the citizenship of Freedmen and that the federal government should respect their sovereignty.
Crowd, cheers, history as Senate confirms Supreme Court pick
Read full article: Crowd, cheers, history as Senate confirms Supreme Court pickMoments before the Senate began Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation vote to become the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, the chamber filled with the swell of history.
Crypto execs head to Capitol as Congress mulls regulations
Read full article: Crypto execs head to Capitol as Congress mulls regulationsCryptocurrency executives went to Capitol Hill Wednesday to say their fast-growing industry understands more regulation is likely coming, but they don’t want it to squelch the next wave of the internet or send it offshore to other countries.
Progressives see blueprint for next fights in eviction win
Read full article: Progressives see blueprint for next fights in eviction winA rare clash between the Biden administration and congressional Democrats may have created a blueprint for pressuring a White House that needs to walk a tightrope to satisfy all members of its party to pass its ambitious agenda.
EXPLAINER: What happens after foreclosure moratorium ends
Read full article: EXPLAINER: What happens after foreclosure moratorium endsSince early 2020, banks across the U.S. have been banned from foreclosing on homes as part of the federal government’s efforts to assist families feeling economic pain caused by the pandemic.
Bank CEOs tell Congress they'll work to avoid foreclosures
Read full article: Bank CEOs tell Congress they'll work to avoid foreclosuresThe chief executives of the nation’s largest banks have been back in front of Congress, facing questions ranging from bitcoin to their efforts to keep Americans in their homes after government aid to pandemic-hit mortgage holders expires this summer.
Black Freedmen struggle for recognition as tribal citizens
Read full article: Black Freedmen struggle for recognition as tribal citizensAs the U.S. faces a reckoning over its history of racism, some Native American tribal nations that once owned slaves also are grappling with their own mistreatment of Black people.
EXPLAINER: Can Chauvin get his convictions tossed on appeal?
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Can Chauvin get his convictions tossed on appeal?The unique circumstances surrounding Derek Chauvin’s trial in George Floyd’s death could offer the former Minneapolis police officer some shot at winning a retrial on appeal, though most legal experts agree it's a long shot.
Biden to America after Floyd verdict: 'We can't stop here'
Read full article: Biden to America after Floyd verdict: 'We can't stop here'President Joe Biden says the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd “can be a giant step forward” for the nation in the fight against systemic racism.
Maxine Waters' bold words echo civil rights, draw criticism
Read full article: Maxine Waters' bold words echo civil rights, draw criticismWhen Rep. Maxine Waters urged people to be “confrontational” in the pursuit of justice for George Floyd, advocates for racial equity heard a leading Black voice in the nation's long march toward civil rights.
The Latest: Elation and wariness after verdict in Floyd case
Read full article: The Latest: Elation and wariness after verdict in Floyd caseCrowds nationwide are reacting with jubilation but also with deep awareness of the progress left to be made after a jury convicted former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin of murder in the killing of George Floyd.
Ex-cop guilty of murder and manslaughter in Floyd case
Read full article: Ex-cop guilty of murder and manslaughter in Floyd caseFormer Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, the explosive case that triggered worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S. The jury deliberated about 10 hours over two days in a city on edge against another outbreak of unrest.
Biden hails House passage of $1.9T virus bill, now to Senate
Read full article: Biden hails House passage of $1.9T virus bill, now to Senate“We have no time to waste,” Biden said at the White House after the House passage early Saturday. That ships the bill to the Senate, where Democrats seem bent on resuscitating their minimum wage push and fights could erupt over state aid and other issues. Biden said weeks ago that he didn't expect the minimum wage increase to survive the Senate's rules. But those same Senate rules prohibit provisions with only an “incidental” impact on the federal budget because they are chiefly driven by other policy purposes. Republicans oppose the $15 minimum wage target as an expense that would hurt businesses and cost jobs.
Robinhood CEO defends actions in GameStop saga at hearing
Read full article: Robinhood CEO defends actions in GameStop saga at hearing(House Financial Services Committee via AP)WASHINGTON – The CEO of Robinhood defended the trading platform to Congress Thursday for its actions during the GameStop trading saga, while apologizing to customers for restricting their ability to trade at the height of the frenzy. AdTenev said Robinhood imposed the trading restrictions because regulators had increased capital requirements tenfold due to the spike in trading volume. Gill earned a handsome profit and a legion of online followers for making the case for GameStop shares on Reddit and YouTube long before the big price surge in January. Beyond Robinhood’s actions during the GameStop frenzy, lawmakers raised concern about its business model generally and possible downsides of its “democratization” of stock trading. The company offers commission-free trading, but critics say customers pay another, hidden price because Robinhood provides their data on buying and selling to Wall Street firms.
Some in the GOP parrot far-right talk of a coming civil war
Read full article: Some in the GOP parrot far-right talk of a coming civil warSome leftists have used similar language, which Republicans have likened to advocating a new civil war. “At the time of the Civil War, this took the form of Southern white men angry at the idea that the federal government would interfere with their right to own Black slaves. “The favorite son of this city was murdered because of a civil war as he was president. She resigned after she was barraged by calls from Trump supporters, some of whom demanded a military coup to keep Trump in office “no matter what it takes." Silber, the Civil War historian, said she is worried the attack on the Capitol wasn't the last stand for enraged Trump supporters.
Trump impeachment trial to focus on his attacks on election
Read full article: Trump impeachment trial to focus on his attacks on electionWhenever it starts, the impeachment trial will force a further reckoning for the Republican Party and the senators who largely stood by Trump throughout his presidency and allowed him to spread false attacks against the 2020 election. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is open to considering impeachment, having told associates he is done with Trump, but he has not signaled how he would vote. At least four Republican senators have publicly expressed concerns about Trump’s actions, but others have signaled their preference to move on. Under Senate procedure, the trial is to start soon after the House delivers the article of impeachment. After Trump’s first impeachment, in 2019, she withheld the articles for some time to set the stage for the Senate action.
A day of historic impeachment, a Capitol as armed encampment
Read full article: A day of historic impeachment, a Capitol as armed encampmentBut only steps away, outside the chamber doors, there was the look of an armed encampment. The Capitol grounds were wrapped in fences, and scores of other law enforcement officers and troops kept a watchful eye. A replica of the dome that stands atop the Capitol, the Statue of Freedom, resides in the Capitol’s visitor center. The tensions were also apparent inside the House chamber. In the House chamber, there have been Capitol Police officers and civilian door monitors but no screening stations.
A day of historic impeachment, a Capitol as armed encampment
Read full article: A day of historic impeachment, a Capitol as armed encampmentBut only steps away, outside the chamber doors, there was the look of an armed encampment. The Capitol grounds were wrapped in fences, and scores of other law enforcement officers and troops kept a watchful eye. A replica of the dome that stands atop the Capitol, the Statue of Freedom, resides in the Capitol’s visitor center. The tensions were also apparent inside the House chamber. In the House chamber, there have been Capitol Police officers and civilian door monitors but no screening stations.
Capitol police were overrun, little defense against rioters
Read full article: Capitol police were overrun, little defense against riotersThe revelations shed new light on why Capitol Police were so quickly overrun by rioters. One disturbing video shows a bloodied Metropolitan police officer screaming for help as he’s crushed by protesters inside the Capitol building. Still, they advised lawmakers to plan to use the underground tunnels that connect House office buildings to the Capitol. Benedict was at the bomb scene when Capitol Police captains there told him their officers were being overrun. When they began entering the Capitol complex at 2:40 p.m., the hallways were packed with rioters.
Capitol assault a more sinister attack than first appeared
Read full article: Capitol assault a more sinister attack than first appearedTrump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. Minutes later, Pence was taken from the Senate chamber to a secret location and police announced the lockdown of the Capitol. Even before the mob reached sealed doors of the House chamber, Capitol Police pulled Pelosi away from the podium, she told “60 Minutes.”“I said, ‘No, I want to be here,’”she said. Back in the House chamber, a woman in the balcony was seen and heard screaming. When they breached the abandoned Senate chamber, they milled around, rummaged through papers, sat at desks and took videos and pictures.
The unfolding of 'home-grown fascism' in Capitol assault
Read full article: The unfolding of 'home-grown fascism' in Capitol assaultMinutes later, Pence was taken from the Senate chamber to a secret location and police announced the lockdown of the Capitol. Even before the mob reached sealed doors of the House chamber, Capitol Police pulled Pelosi away from the podium, she told “60 Minutes.”“I said, ‘No, I want to be here,’”she said. Back in the House chamber, a woman in the balcony was seen and heard screaming. When they breached the abandoned Senate chamber, they milled around, rummaged through papers, sat at desks and took videos and pictures. These domestic terrorists were in the People’s House, desecrating the People’s House, destroying the People’s House.”___Associated Press writers Dustin Weaver in Washington and Michael Casey in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.
Capitol police were overrun, 'left naked' against rioters
Read full article: Capitol police were overrun, 'left naked' against riotersThe revelations shed new light on why Capitol Police were so quickly overrun by rioters. One disturbing video shows a bloodied Metropolitan police officer screaming for help as he’s crushed by protesters inside the Capitol building. Still, they advised lawmakers to plan to use the underground tunnels that connect House office buildings to the Capitol. Benedict was at the bomb scene when Capitol Police captains there told him their officers were being overrun. When they began entering the Capitol complex at 2:40 p.m., the hallways were packed with rioters.
Fed and Treasury urge Congress to approve more virus relief
Read full article: Fed and Treasury urge Congress to approve more virus relief(Greg Nash/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON – Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urged Congress to approve COVID-19 relief funds without further delay, though Democrats continued to attack a decision by Mnuchin to allow five Fed lending programs to expire during the pandemic. In his most direct comments so far, Powell told the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday that it's “very important” for Congress to provide economic support. Without more assistance, Powell said, people will lose their homes and small businesses will fail. “We are hearing from all over that small businesses are really under pressure," Powell told lawmakers. “There is no justifiable reason for taking these tools away,” Rep. Maxine Waters, chair of the House panel, told Mnuchin.
LA Sheriff to politicians: emphasize trust in justice system
Read full article: LA Sheriff to politicians: emphasize trust in justice systemThis Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, still image taken from video released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, shows Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva taking questions at a late-night news conference about the condition of two Sheriff's deputies in Compton, Calif. (Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department via AP)LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County sheriff on Monday criticized elected officials, sports figures and civic leaders for “fanning the flames of hatred” as America grapples with racism and police brutality, saying they instead should emphasize trust in the criminal justice system. Hundreds marched to the Sheriff’s Department South LA station in Compton on Saturday to protest the fatal shootings of a Black man on Aug. 31 and a Black teenager in 2018. The NBA playoffs were delayed last month when Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and other stars supported the Milwaukee Bucks' decision not to play following Blake's shooting. She said the Sheriff's Department is out of control and called on state Attorney General Xavier Becerra to investigate “the pattern of abuses."
GOP targets Democratic-run California in election gamble
Read full article: GOP targets Democratic-run California in election gamble(AP Photo/Sait Serkan Gurbuz, File)LOS ANGELES Republican candidates eager for a turnaround in heavily Democratic California are spotlighting what they see as a dire threat to families and communities their own states policies. If Joe Biden says hes fighting for the soul of America, Republican candidates say they are fighting for the soul of California. Yet, in an election year that could produce a record Democratic turnout in California, Republican chances of gaining ground are uncertain at best. The California Republican Party was once a national powerhouse, and Orange County was a foundation block in the conservative revolution that sent the former California Gov. The numbers are witnessed at the ballot box: The GOP hasnt won a statewide election since 2006 and George H.W.
Hamilton dedicates F1 pole position to Chadwick Boseman
Read full article: Hamilton dedicates F1 pole position to Chadwick BosemanHamilton will start in pole position for race on Sunday. A superhero died last night so that was really weighing heavy on me today," Hamilton said. I woke up today to the saddest news of Chadwick passing away, Hamilton said. Hamilton, the only black driver in F1, explained the impact both Chadwick and his film character had on him. Ferraris lack of form was such that Leclerc, who won last year from pole position, was happy to qualify in 13th.
Black lawmakers reflect on civil rights then, and now
Read full article: Black lawmakers reflect on civil rights then, and nowMartin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream Speech, yet torn apart by the Black Lives Matter protests against the police shooting of another Black man, this time in Wisconsin. Friday's commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington comes as a new civil rights era is unfolding in real time in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after Sunday's shooting of Jacob Blake. REP. MAXINE WATERS, D-CALIF.Maxine Waters said she started focusing on police violence in 1979 after Los Angeles police shot a Black homemaker, Eula Love, during a confrontation over an unpaid gas bill. Now the highest-ranking Black American in Congress, Clyburn was speaking Friday at a satellite rally in Columbia, South Carolina. So theres a lot of work for Black Lives Matter to do," Clyburn told AP, and I hope to live long enough to help them get it done.
55 years after riots, Watts neighborhood still bears scars
Read full article: 55 years after riots, Watts neighborhood still bears scarsLorinda Lacy, 45, stands outside her party store painted with a mural depicting Martin Luther King Jr. in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. There was violence and looting in some places, including Los Angeles, but not in LAs Watts neighborhood, forever linked to an uprising that broke out in the segregated community 55 years ago and became known as the Watts riots. Black residents, people born here and those who work to make life better in Watts spoke to The Associated Press about the challenges they faced and those that remain. He said the legacy of the Watts riots is something he keeps in mind as he tries to make life better for residents. Were not the same California we were 55 years ago or the city of Los Angeles 55 years ago.
Spirit warns of layoffs; aid for contractors being examined
Read full article: Spirit warns of layoffs; aid for contractors being examinedSeparately, key members of Congress said they are investigating aviation contractors that took federal payroll aid and then laid off thousands of workers. Airlines and airline contractors who received cash from a $32 billion pool of federal payroll aid agreed not to lay off workers until Oct. 1. Airline labor unions are lobbying Congress for six more months of federal aid. Some contractors who received money laid off workers anyway, according to three Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. At Spirit, the pilots union said it was notified Wednesday that 806 pilots could be furloughed, or terminated with rehiring rights.
Trump administration to give Congress full virus loan data
Read full article: Trump administration to give Congress full virus loan dataWASHINGTON After prodding from Democratic lawmakers, the Trump administration has agreed to give Congress but not the public complete data on the millions of small businesses that received loans from a $600 billion-plus coronavirus aid program. Their concession came with a warning to lawmakers not to divulge confidential loan information to the wider public. Last week, the Treasury Department and SBA relented to pressure from lawmakers and watchdogs and agreed to publicly disclose details on which businesses received loans under the program. Under the new agreement, the agencies will provide the complete data on loans of all sizes to the congressional oversight panels. Economists have said the small business loan program has helped, though its hard to know by how much.
Pick for top NY prosecutor won't withdraw from Trump matters
Read full article: Pick for top NY prosecutor won't withdraw from Trump matters(Brendan Smialowski/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON President Donald Trumps pick to be the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan won't say whether he would withdraw from overseeing matters related to Trump in his current job, as Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, or if confirmed as U.S. attorney. Under questioning from Democrats, Clayton pledged to be independent as U.S. attorney but would not commit to stepping aside from matters related to Trump or his associates. Clayton would not say whether he had talked to anyone at Trumps organization or in his family about the nomination. Under her questioning, Clayton declined to say whether he had approached Trump and Barr about the job or whether they had approached him. But those Democrats have already rejected the nomination and say Clayton should withdraw.
The Latest: Mpls union leader says members scapegoated
Read full article: The Latest: Mpls union leader says members scapegoatedFILE - In this July 30, 2018 file photo, Minneapolis Police Union President Lt. Bob Kroll speaks during a news conference in Minneapolis. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP)TOP OF THE HOUR: Minneapolis union president says members scapegoated. Kroll said Tuesday on CBS This Morning he thinks union members are being scapegoated for incompetent department leadership. Police chief Medaria Arradondo said after Floyds death that hes pausing contract negotiations with the union to consider major changes. Anna Hedberg, another union director, says the union had been having great conversations with city leaders and Arradondo before Floyds death.
Mark Zuckerberg to testify before Congress
Read full article: Mark Zuckerberg to testify before Congress(CNN) - Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify before a House committee later this month as Congress scrutinizes the tech giant's plans for a digital currency. Rep. Maxine Waters, the California Democrat who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, said Zuckerberg will be the only witness at the October 23 hearing. Zuckerberg was grilled by Congress last year in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. "Mark looks forward to testifying before the House Financial Services Committee and responding to lawmakers' questions," Facebook said in a statement. Waters has sharply criticized Facebook's plans for a digital currency, known as Libra, and called for Facebook to halt development of the project.
House committee wants Zuckerberg, Sandberg to testify on Libra
Read full article: House committee wants Zuckerberg, Sandberg to testify on Libra(CNN) - Congress is concerned about Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency, and one committee wants to question the folks in charge: Both Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg have been asked to testify before the House Financial Services Committee about Facebook's plans for Libra. Facebook has said Libra will be governed by an independent, third-party organization, the Libra Association, though many of that group's member companies have ties to Facebook. Facebook and the Libra Association have promised not to launch Libra until these regulatory concerns are addressed. Marcus is also among the few initial leaders of the Libra Association. That same month, privacy regulators from around the world including FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra sent a letter to the Libra Association companies asking how Libra users' privacy will be protected.
Regulators: What will Facebook's Libra mean for US financial system?
Read full article: Regulators: What will Facebook's Libra mean for US financial system?The US House Financial Services Committee has scheduled a hearing on Facebook's Libra for July 17, one day after a planned Senate banking committee hearing on the digital currency. But US regulators want to know what that will mean for the American financial system, as well as consumers and investors. Maxine Waters, the Democrat from California who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, released a statement one day after the Libra announcement asking Facebook to halt its development until regulators have a chance to "take action." Given recent user data and privacy scandals at Facebook, lawmakers have expressed concern about the company's ability to handle safely users' financial information. The House Financial Services Committee is also set to hold a hearing Tuesday afternoon on regulation of "the fintech revolution" both in the United States and abroad.