Occupy Banksters & Crony Capitalism & GREED

"How Ivy League Admissions Broke America:" David Brooks Explains | Amanpour and Company | 11/19/24 | 18:14

Columbia Professor Jeffrey Sachs Reveals Shocking TRUTH About Ukraine | Cyrus Janssen | 11/17/24 | 18:45

Trump's messy coalition
Axios | Zachary Basu | 11/20/24

President-elect Trump's Cabinet increasingly resembles a European-style coalition government, staffed with a dizzying array of ideological rivals united - for now - by a grand MAGA vision.

Why it matters: The incoming administration has a little something for everyone: isolationists and hawks, populists and bankers - even a couple of lifelong Democrats who ran for president against Trump.

Some supporters have praised Trump for the eclectic mix of nominees, saying it reflects the broad range of Americans who voted decisively for a new Washington.

But if Trump's first term is any indication, his Cabinet of contradictions also could invite volatility and infighting that eventually spills into public view. ... Read more

New twist in Trump's Treasury race
Axios | Mike Allen | 11/20/24

President-elect Trump is looking more seriously at Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) for Treasury secretary - giving Trump three serious options for one of the few roles where he's taking his time, transition sources tell me.

Hagerty, a former private-equity investor who was Trump's ambassador to Japan, is one of three apparent finalists, along with former Fed governor Kevin Warsh and Apollo CEO Marc Rowan.

Hagerty, 65, has credibility with Wall Street leaders, the markets, foreign leaders and Congress. And he owes his political career to Trump.

"Respected, loyal and great on TV - the total Trump package," a top Republican source said. ... Read more

Trump's victory sparks consumer confidence surge
Axios | Emily Peck | 11/18/24

After years of wondering why there was a disconnect between how Americans feel about the economy (bad) and the actual state of the economy (pretty good), we may have the answer - it was politics all along.

Why it matters: If politics is the main driver of consumer sentiment, then it's no longer nearly as useful as an economic indicator.

The big picture: A real-time measure of consumer sentiment abruptly turned positive last week for the first time since June 2021, as Republican optimism surged on Donald Trump's victory. (See the chart below.)

Biden on Amazon visit says "nobody can reverse" clean energy progress
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 11/18/24

President Biden, as he became the first sitting president to visit the Amazon rainforest on Sunday, touted leaving President-elect Trump the "most significant climate change law."

Why it matters: Biden appeared to acknowledge Trump's pledge to roll back some of his climate initiatives, saying: "I will leave my successor and my country with a strong foundation to build on if they choose to do so. It's true, some may seek to deny or delay the clean energy revolution that's underway in America, but nobody, nobody can reverse it."

Mike Johnson wants Ethics panel to keep potentially damaging Gaetz report secret
Axios | Juliegrace Brufke,Andrew Solender | 11/15/24

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he'll ask the House Ethics Committee not to release a potentially damaging report on the conduct of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), President-elect Trump's attorney general nominee.

Why it matters: Johnson said making the report public would set a "terrible precedent," demonstrating how far he's willing to go to help Trump's nominees.

Gaetz resigned from the House Wednesday - a move that would typically disband the Ethics Committee's investigation - but senators of both parties have said they want to see the panel's findings as they prepare to consider whether to confirm Gaetz.

"I'm going to strongly request that the Ethics Committee not issue the report because that is not the way we do things in the House, and I think that would be a terrible precedent to set," Johnson said, as first reported by Politico. ... Read more

'We all have our eyes wide open': Trump critics brace for dark time of retribution
The Guardian | Andrew Gumbel | 11/15/14

Members of Congress and other US public officials targeted for "retribution" by Donald Trump say they are taking extraordinary security precautions for themselves and their families and are now bracing for scenarios as extreme as the possibility of being rounded up and arrested, after Trump returns to the White House.

Two Democratic House members who have been vocal in their criticisms of Trump and his policy agenda told the Guardian they and their colleagues are preparing for "some pretty surreal and dystopic scenarios". They range from bogus investigations or tax audits of present and former members of the federal government to out-and-out violence inspired by Trump's rhetoric of revenge. ... Read more

The Tipping Points of Climate Change - and Where We Stand | Johan Rockström | TED | 08/14/24 | 18:35

Earth currently experiencing a sixth mass extinction, according to scientists | 60 Minutes | 01/01/23| 13:16

See what three degrees of global warming looks like | The Economist | 2022 | 16:23

Trump's Reelection: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | 12/14/24 | 36:13

Russian defectors, Putin critics suffer mysterious, violent deaths | 60 Minutes | 11/11/24| 22:00

Trump announces Musk will lead new Department of Government Efficiency
Axios | Dave Lawler | 11/14/24

President-elect Trump announced on Tuesday that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut government spending and streamline bureaucracy.

Why it matters: The Musk-Trump political alliance is moving from the campaign into the White House. However, it's unclear what exactly Musk's role will entail - or whether he and Ramaswamy will actually be able to make the kinds of sweeping changes they have proposed.

Trump described the new "department" as "potentially, 'The Manhattan Project' of our time," but he also said it would be advising from "outside of government."

That suggests Musk and Ramaswamy, a wealthy investor and biotech entrepreneur, won't have any power to implement changes, only to advise the White House and executive branch departments on cuts. ... Read more

Donald Trump Has 'Obligations' to Those Who Brought Him to Power-Putin Ally
Newsweek | Jordan King | 11/12/24

AVladimir Putin aide has warned Donald Trump that he is "obliged" to fulfill promises he made during his presidential campaign to bring peace to Ukraine.

The President-elect said repeatedly during his campaign to secure his return to the White House that he would put a stop to the more than two and a half years of war in Ukraine "within 24 hours."

And Nikolai Patrushev, part of the Russian president's inner circle and former Secretary of the Security Council, told the Russian newspaper Kommersant that Trump was duty-bound to act on his words.

Patrushev said: "To achieve success in the elections, Donald Trump relied on certain forces to which he has corresponding obligations. And as a responsible person, he will be obliged to fulfill them. ... Read more

What Trump's mass deportation plan might look like if he wins the election | 60 Minutes | 10/28/24 | 13:05

Trump picks Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary
Axios | Sareen Habeshian | 11/13/24

President-elect Trump nominated Pete Hegseth to serve as Secretary of Defense on Tuesday.

Why it matters: A surprise choice, the TV personality and military vet is a proponent of a non-interventionist "America First" foreign policy, in contrast with Trump's picks for other top national security roles.

Driving the news: Trump in an emailed statement called the Fox News host "a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country."

The president-elect added, "With Pete at the helm, America's enemies are on notice - Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down." ... Read more

Banking System Gives Trump the Middle Finger As His Reckless Plans Emerge | Rebel HQ/TYT | 11/10/14 | 10:24

Behind the Curtain: The Trump, Musk fusion
Axios | Mike Allen, Jim VandeHei | 11/12/24

President-elect Trump and Elon Musk, two billionaires with strikingly similar DNAs, are fusing into a new, powerful governing-media paradigm.

Why it matters: This Trump-Musk fusion seems to grow stronger by the day. The two are working together to shape the new White House, the new Senate and the new Cabinet, plus future foreign relations and governing blueprints.

The pair plots and plans at Trump's Mar-a-Lago, where Musk is often camped out. He's one of only a couple of confidants who attends Cabinet-selection sessions in Trump's makeshift Situation Room. The two amplify their thinking and desires on Musk's X. ...

Robot that watched surgery videos performs with skill of human doctor, researchers report
Science Daily | Johns Hopkins University | 11/11/24

A robot, trained for the first time by watching videos of seasoned surgeons, executed the same surgical procedures as skillfully as the human doctors.

The successful use of imitation learning to train surgical robots eliminates the need to program robots with each individual move required during a medical procedure and brings the field of robotic surgery closer to true autonomy, where robots could perform complex surgeries without human help.

"It's really magical to have this model and all we do is feed it camera input and it can predict the robotic movements needed for surgery," said senior author Axel Krieger. "We believe this marks a significant step forward toward a new frontier in medical robotics." ... Read more

Report: Extreme weather cost world $2 trillion in 10 years, U.S. worst hit
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 11/11/24

Climate-related extreme weather events cost the global economy more than $2 trillion over the past decade and the U.S. was the worst-affected nation, per a report published as leaders gather for the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan Monday.

Why it matters: The damage estimates in the Oxera report for the International Chamber of Commerce for 2014-2023 roughly equate to those of the 2008 global financial crisis and ICC secretary-general John Denton said "the economic impact of climate change" needs a "response of similar speed and decisiveness," per CNN.

What they did: The report's researchers examined nearly 4,000 events that occurred over the 10-year period which impacted 1.6 billion people.

What they found: In the last two full years of the report alone, global economic damages reached $451 billion. That's a 19% rise compared to the previous eight years of the decade, according to the researchers.

The U.S. had the greatest economic losses over the period from 2014-2023 ($934.7 billion), followed by China at $267.9 billion and India ($112 billion). ... Read more

Trump's incoming "Border Czar": Deportation plan is "worst first"
Axios | Mike Allen | 11/11/24

Tom Homan, named Sunday to be President-elect Trump's "Border Czar," said on Fox News this weekend that the new administration's planned deportation operation will target "the worst first" - prioritizing what he called criminal threats and national-security threats.

Homan will be the director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He was acting director in the Trump administration.

Why it matters: ICE agents will take a pivotal operational role in delivering on Trump's promise to "seal the border" and conduct the "largest deportation operation in American history." ... Read more

Trump's Businesses: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | | 11/07/24 | 22:22

Behind the Curtain: America rejected soft liberalism
Axios | Jim VandeHei,Mike Allen | 11/11/24

The deeper they dig into federal and state election results, some Democrats are coming to a harsh, humbling conclusion: America rejected soft liberalism.

Why it matters: You see it in Hispanic men turning against Democrats... L.A. and San Francisco dumping Democrats seen as soft on crime and homelessness... white men taking to podcasts to lament word-policing and strict DEI policies... California voting to undo social justice reforms... a growing number of Democrats scolding their party for condescending political correctness.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn). tweeted Sunday that the left is "out of touch with the crisis of meaning/purpose fueling MAGA. We refuse to pick big fights. Our tent is too small." ... Read more

The REAL Reason MEN VOTED for TRUMP... | Scott Galloway | The Diary Of A CEO Clips | 11/06/24 | 8:46

What Trump's MAGA allies have planned for immigration in Project 2025
magazine | author | date

President-elect Trump has vowed to crack down on immigration and start mass deportations on day one of his presidency, and Project 2025 offers a wider look into what could come next.

The big picture: The 900-page wishlist is a roadmap for the next Republican administration to zero in on initiatives the GOP has long targeted - including a to-do list on immigration.

Trump repeatedly claimed during his campaign that he knew nothing about the right-wing policy map, despite the fact that the Heritage Foundation-backed plan was written by his close allies and supported by his top advisers.

The other side: "The American public, even amidst the election results, opposes the Trump agenda of mass deportation, separation of families, and his promises to 'un-document' and deport some with current legal status," Vanessa Cardenas, executive director of America's Voice, told Axios. ... Read more

Zelensky confirms deadly clashes between North Korean and Ukrainian forces
Axios | Ivana Saric | 11/08/24

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Thursday that North Korean troops have engaged in combat with Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.

Why it matters: The clashes represent a stark escalation in the war as President-elect Trump, who has repeatedly criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine and suggested the country instead make a deal with Russia, prepares to reshape U.S. policy in the region.

The big picture: Zelensky said at a European Political Community Summit press conference Thursday that 11,000 North Korean troops are present in Russia's Kursk region, near the Ukrainian border. ... Read more

House election results: Where the fight for control stands
Axios | Andrew Solender | 11/08/24

They're still counting votes in 25 uncalled House races, but even Democrats admit that Republicans are on track to keep their majority in 2025.

Why it matters: House Democrats are the last shot to prevent a GOP trifecta in D.C. next year. Republicans have retaken the Senate majority, and President-elect Trump will be inaugurated on Jan. 20. ... Read more

Global temperatures likely to exceed key limit for first time
Axios | Andrew Freedman | 11/07/24

With October's initial temperature data in, 2024 will rank as the first calendar year in modern record-keeping in which global average surface temperatures exceed the Paris Agreement's aspirational 1.5°C guardrail.

Why it matters: Holding long-term warming to the 1.5-degree target compared to the preindustrial era is crucial for lowering the risk of triggering climate change tipping points, beyond which potentially catastrophic impacts have a higher likelihood of occurring, studies show.

Holding warming to that target is viewed as necessary for small island states and other extremely vulnerable nations to avoid being wiped out by sea level rise, drought and other threats. ... Read more

Behind the Curtain: The most powerful Republican president of the modern era
Axios | Jim VandeHei,Mike Allen | 11/07/24

Donald J. Trump has vanquished the Bushes, the Clintons, the Bidens, the Obamas - and the entire establishment of both parties.

Why it matters: Trump is stronger than ever, backed by a party wholly remade in his image and opposed by demoralized and defeated Democrats.

Make no mistake: Trump will come to power better organized, better staffed, and exponentially better positioned to dominate his party and the nation than he was last time.

Trump promises to stretch the immense powers of the presidency, with historically wide latitude from a pliant, conservative Supreme Court.

A new conservative media ecosystem - centered on Elon Musk's X - will amplify Trump's power and reshape America's information wars. ... Read more

U.S. ramps up pressure on Israel to address Gaza crisis ahead of deadline
Axios | Barak Ravid | 11/01/24

The Biden administration is ratcheting up pressure on the Israeli government to meet a set of demands from the U.S. to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Why it matters: If Israel fails to fully implement the U.S. demands by Nov. 13, the U.S. could suspend its military assistance to Israel - a step the Biden administration has avoided so far but is gaining more support inside the State Department, according to a U.S. official.

Determining if Israel has met its commitments to the U.S. and whether it has violated U.S. law during the war in Gaza could be the first major decision the Biden administration has to to make during the transition period after the presidential election.

Catch up quick: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin sent a letter on Oct. 13 to their Israeli counterparts with an ultimatum: Israel must take steps within 30 days to improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza or risk the supply of U.S. weapons to Israel being affected. ... Read more

Iran preparing major retaliatory strike from Iraq within days, Israeli intel suggests
Axios | Barak Ravid | 11/01/24

Israeli intelligence suggests Iran is preparing to attack Israel from Iraqi territory in the coming days, possibly before the U.S. presidential election, two Israeli sources tell Axios.

Why it matters: Israel and Iran have been engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat for weeks. Carrying the attack out through pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and not directly from Iranian territory could be an attempt by Iran to avoid another Israeli attack against strategic targets in Iran.

Driving the news: The sources said Israeli intelligence suggests the attack is expected to be carried out from Iraq using a large number of drones and ballistic missiles. ... Read more

Inequality Causing Social Fabric to Unravel, Rebellion in Military Possible - Wilkerson and Jay | theAnalysis-news | 10/31/24 | 39:05

How the Israeli Attack on Iran Could Seed a New World War
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The Intercept | Frank Giustra | 10/26/24

If you ask the average citizen of any country whether their leaders should start wars, almost all would give a resounding "No." The public, overall, opposes war, but tolerates leaders who prioritize power, legacy, and special interests over the wishes of their own people.

This is how we find ourselves recklessly stumbling toward a global conflict that could erupt out of the regional crises currently unfolding.

With its early Saturday morning attack, Israel is on the verge of dragging the U.S. into a regional war with Iran.

Let's start with the Middle East. With its early Saturday morning attack, Israel is on the verge of dragging the U.S. into a regional war with Iran. The plans were drawn up weeks ago and, despite U.S. warnings, Israel went ahead with the bombing.

Though, for the moment, Iran seems to be exercising restraint, U.S. leadership seems to not be up for the challenge of averting this conflagration. The Biden administration has proven ineffective. Not only has it failed to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, the administration is also emboldening Israel by providing military assistance against retaliatory attacks from Iran. ... Read more

Global summit blends AI and biotech
Axios | Alison Snyder | 10/31/24

The Biden administration this week is hosting a first-of-its-kind international summit about the use of artificial intelligence in the life sciences as governments and private industry increasingly push the boundaries of biotechnology.

Why it matters: The convergence of the life sciences and advanced AI could reveal the underpinnings of diseases, help identify new cures or produce more resistant crops. But there are barriers and bottlenecks - and potential risks - to combining the technologies.

The catch: Training today's advanced AI models requires massive amounts of high-quality, standardized scientific data. But there aren't many accessible databases with that information.

Officials hope the AI-Bioscience Collaborative (AIBC) Summit being held Thursday and Friday in Washington, D.C., can begin unlocking troves of data that can be used in the life sciences. The gathering has not been publicly announced. ... ... ... Read more

Trump's vulgar rally becomes a drag on his campaign
Axios | Erin Doherty | 10/29/24

Donald Trump's much-hyped rally in New York has become an own goal that's weighing on his campaign as it tries to sprint to next week's election.

Driving the news: Republicans on Monday tried to stop the fallout from the racist, sexist and vulgar rhetoric by several rally speakers, including a comedian who called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage."

Democrats, Latino groups and others seized on the remarks - and the fact that Trump's campaign approved the speakers - as the latest sign that Trump's divisive rhetoric should disqualify him from a second term. ... Read more

MAGA world's hyper-confidence
Axios | Zachary Basu | 10/29/24

Donald Trump's surrogates, allies and foot soldiers appear supremely confident he'll be re-elected president next week, projecting an air of inevitability inconsistent with what polls portray as a coin-flip election.

A longtime member of Trump's inner circle told Axios: "We've never had data that looks this good."

Why it matters: Trump could win, potentially in a landslide. So could Vice President Harris. And yet the MAGA universe largely refuses to entertain the latter outcome - priming Trump's base for mass distrust, disbelief and denial of a second straight election loss. ... ... ... Read more

How a Russian dark fleet is used to evade international sanctions | 60 Minutes | 10/28/24 | 13:14

Trump identifies a scapegoat in case he loses
Axios | Sophia Cai | 10/29/24

If he winds up losing the election, Donald Trump already has lined up a scapegoat.

Trump is making clear that he'll blame Michael Whatley, the Republican National Committee chair who Trump tasked with building the party's massive "election integrity" team.

Why it matters: It's the latest sign of how Trump's false claims of election fraud in 2020 are at the core of the GOP's identity - and the "if I don't win, they cheated" mantra Trump has continued into the 2024 campaign.

1. Under Whatley - and at Trump's insistence - Republicans say they've amassed 200,000 poll watchers and poll workers across the country.
2. It's an unprecedented program that's partly aimed at collecting evidence of voter fraud at a time when Republicans have filed scores of lawsuits targeting voting eligibility rules, ballot-processing procedures and other issues.
3. Within the GOP, the program is actually a bigger priority than on-the-ground efforts to reach voters.

MAGA speakers unleash ugly rhetoric at Trump's MSG rally
Axios | Alex Thompson | 10/28/24

NEW YORK - Donald Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday opened with speakers who made racist, sexist and crass remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris and Puerto Ricans.

It concluded with speeches from Trump, his wife, Melania, and billionaire Elon Musk arguing that Trump's the hopeful, optimistic choice.

Why it matters: Crude comments at Trump rallies aren't new. But many speakers at the rally unleashed rhetoric unprecedented in modern American history so close to an election. ...

Trump holds campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York | PBS | 10/27/24 | 6:01:29

Former DOJ Official Warns of Potential "Election Crisis" | Amanpour and Company | Amanpour and Company | 10/23/24 | 18:38

How long it took each state to be called in 2020
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magazine | author | date

If 2020 is our guide, it's likely that the 2024 presidential election won't be decided on Election Day.

Why it matters: Any period of uncertainty could see the country thrust into a time of legal drama, paralyzed governance and overall distrust, as Axios' Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen reported.

Because of post-2020 legal changes nationwide - including in all seven swing states — many results could be slower than in 2020, when President Biden declared victory over former President Trump after the Associated Press called Pennsylvania on the Saturday after Election Day. ... Read more

Why Economists Hate Trump's Tariff Plan | WSJ | 10/18/24 | 8:17

America's Last Election Part 1: The Big Lie | If You're Listening | ABC News In-depth | 10/20/24 | 21:00

Trump shrugs off lifetime of scandals
Axios | Zachary Basu | 10/24/24

Driving the news: Days before the election, Trump's former chief of staff, retired four-star Gen. John Kelly, went on the record to warn that the former president is a "fascist" who would rule like a dictator.

"He commented more than once that, 'You know, Hitler did some good things, too,' " Kelly alleged to The New York Times, choosing to speak out after Trump floated using the U.S. military against political enemies.

Kelly, who left the White House in December 2018, also told The Atlantic that Trump wanted the kind of military generals Hitler had - generals who he said were "totally loyal to him." ... Read more

Steve Rattner: Trump's mass deportation and trade war plans will tank the economy | MSNBC | 10/24/24 | 13:41

Donald Trump groped me in what felt like a 'twisted game' with Jeffrey Epstein, former model alleges
The Guardian | Stephanie Kirchgaessner | 10/24/24

A former model who says she met Donald Trump through the late sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein has accused the former president of groping and sexually touching her in an incident in Trump Tower in 1993, in what she believed was a "twisted game" between the two men.

Stacey Williams, who worked as a professional model in the 1990s, said she first met Trump in 1992 at a Christmas party after being introduced to him by Epstein, who she believed was a good friend of the then New York real estate developer. Williams said Epstein was interested in her and the two casually dated for a period of a few months.

"It became very clear then that he and Donald were really, really good friends and spent a lot of time together," Williams said. ... Read more

Trump's closing strategy: Make a splash and attack
Axios | Sophia Cai | 10/23/24

In the closing days of what he says is his last campaign, Donald Trump has launched a strategy combining splashy, attention-getting stunts with dark, apocalyptic messaging.

Why it matters: It's a scaled-up version of a familiar Trump routine - stay in the news, be provocative, deflect.

This strategy led Trump to that fry-cook photo op at a closed McDonald's, and to have a rally with Elon Musk. It's why he's planning a Sunday rally at New York's Madison Square Garden - a storied venue in a state he's highly unlikely to win, but that promises lots of media coverage.

It's also why Trump's messaging - wrapped in personal grievances throughout the campaign — seems to have escalated to a daily hunt for shock value. ... Read more

John Kelly tells NYT Trump said: "Hitler did some good things"
Axios | Sareen Habeshian | 10/23/24

Former President Trump has on multiple occasions praised Adolf Hitler, alleged John Kelly, his longest-serving White House chief of staff, to the New York Times.

The big picture: In a series of audio interviews with the NYT, Kelly raised concerns that Trump would rule like a dictator if elected next month, said he believes the GOP presidential nominee meets the definition of a fascist and claimed that he does not have an understanding of history or the Constitution.

"Certainly the former president is in the far-right area, he's certainly an authoritarian, admires people who are dictators - he has said that. So he certainly falls into the general definition of fascist, for sure," Kelly told the NYT. ... Read more

Americans split on idea of putting immigrants in militarized "camps"
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Axios | Russell Contreras | 10/22/24

A policy proposed by former President Trump to round up and deport undocumented immigrants - even if it requires using military-guarded encampments - has Americans divided, per a new survey.

Why it matters: The survey results come as Trump is promising to carry out mass deportations using a 226-year-old law that allows the federal government to detain "enemy aliens" in times of war.

By the numbers: 50% of Americans surveyed oppose setting up encampments for undocumented immigrants, while 47% favor the idea, according to the annual survey from the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), in partnership with the Brookings Institution. ... Read more

Meta's new facial recognition helps recover accounts, spot fake ads
Axios | Sam Sabin | 10/22/24

Meta is gradually releasing facial recognition technology across Facebook and Instagram to help users locked out of their accounts and to spot scam ads that improperly use a celebrity's image.

Why it matters: This is the first major expansion of Meta's facial recognition system since its 2021 rollback.

The company has also been running a test of the technology to spot so-called "celebrity bait ads," which often rely on AI-generated images of famous people to entice users into buying into whatever scam they're promoting. ... Read more

What La Nina Will do to Earth in 2025
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YouTube.com | Alex McColgan | 09/17/24

Join with me today as we dive into the fascinating climate cycle that became the stuff of legend centuries before we had the science to explain it.

I'm Alex McColgan, the founder of the Astrum brand, and your host on this podcast. Come and listen as I tell you about incredible missions, fascinating discoveries, and everything I've come to love about space.... Read more

Israel gave the White House its demands for ending the war in Lebanon
Axios | Barak Ravid | 10/21/24

Israel gave the U.S. a document last week with its conditions for a diplomatic solution to end the war in Lebanon and allow displaced civilians from both sides of the border to return to their homes, two U.S. officials and two Israeli officials told Axios.

Why it matters: The Israeli Prime Minister's Office gave the paper to the White House ahead of President Biden's envoy Amos Hochstein's visit to Beirut on Monday to discuss a diplomatic solution to the conflict, Israeli officials said.

US intelligence about Israel's plans to attack Iran leaked, sources say | CNN | 10/20/24 | 8:19

One-third of Americans agree with Trump's racist remark on immigrants
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Axios | Russell Contreras | 10/18/24

One in three Americans say that immigrants entering the country illegally today are "poisoning the blood of our country" - language echoing the rhetoric of white supremacists and Adolf Hitler, a new survey finds.

Why it matters: The results suggest that in a nation of immigrants, many Americans have bought into the historically racist rhetoric that Donald Trump has used to stoke anti-immigrant sentiment while promising mass deportations if he's re-elected president.

The big picture: The annual survey from the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), in partnership with the Brookings Institution, measured the nation's deep political divisions in part by checking their feelings toward the phrase "poisoning the blood of our country." ... Read more

Jan. 6 case appendix to be released Friday after judge denies Trump's request
Axios | Lauren Floyd | 10/19/24

The judge in former President Trump's federal Jan. 6 case on Thursday evening rejected his lawyers' request to delay the court-ordered release of a redacted appendix of new evidence from special counsel Jack Smith.

Why it matters: Trump's lawyers said delaying the case until after the election would allow them to submit a counter to the appendix that the special counsel's office filed, but U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan denied their request and ordered Smith's dossier be unsealed with redactions on Friday.

Trump is in a close race against Vice President Kamala Harris and he was seeking to delay the appendix's release until after Nov. 14. ... Read more

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v.s. DONALD J. TRUMP, Defendant | CRIMINAL NO. 23-cr-257

Harris' Independence Day: Takeaways from her interview with Fox News
Axios | Zachary Basu | 10/17/24

Vice President Harris ventured into the lion's den Wednesday to deliver a message that many Americans - including anxious Democrats - have been waiting to hear:

"My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden's presidency," Harris told Fox News' Bret Baier.

Why it matters: In the highest-risk interview of her campaign, Harris took the rare step of distancing herself from the unpopular, aging president she serves - touting a "new generation of leadership" to millions of skeptical Fox News viewers.

Key takeaways
1. Turning the page. ...
2. The border albatross. ...
3. No "basket of deplorables." ...

Between the lines: Both campaigns saw the interview through their own predictable, partisan lenses: Trump's side called it a "train wreck"; Harris' saw it as a "masterclass. ..." Read more

Election Subversion 2024: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | 10/17/24 | 28:43

U.S. titans tighten supply chain grip
Axios | Hope King | 10/17/24

Driving the news: Amazon on Wednesday became the third Big Tech giant in recent weeks to announce ambitions to tap nuclear energy to power surging AI demand.

The company said that it's signed three new agreements to help develop nuclear energy projects: building at least four small modular nuclear reactors (SMR) in Washington state; exploring an SMR project in Virginia; and investing in fuel startup X-energy.

Separately, auto giant GM said today it's investing $625 million more in cash and credit into Canadian mining company Lithium Americas to help start a new joint venture in Nevada. ... Read more

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China controls the bulk of lithium refining, and that will pose a challenge to battery companies and car makers hoping to qualify for lucrative new tax credits.

Meet the billionaires funneling millions into the 2024 race
Axios | Ivana Saric | 10/16/24

A handful of powerful megadonors have played an outsized role in shaping the 2024 presidential race through mammoth donations toward their favored candidates.

Why it matters: The amount of money being injected into 2024 races means this election cycle is poised to become the most expensive federal election ever, according to a new analysis released by the research group OpenSecrets last week.

The big picture: President Biden's replacement on the Democratic ticket by Vice President Kamala Harris spurred "an enormous boost in fundraising" among Democrats, per OpenSecrets. ...

Elon Musk
Timothy Mellon
Miriam Adelson
Dick and Liz Uihlein
Mike Bloomberg
Reid Hoffman & Michelle Yee
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Israel vows to improve Gaza conditions after U.S. threat to withhold weapons
Axios | Barak Ravid | 10/16/24

Israeli officials have been assuring their U.S. counterparts that Israel will act quickly to improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza following an ultimatum from the Biden administration, two Israeli officials tell Axios.

Driving the news: Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin sent a letter to Israeli leaders on Monday warning that shipments of U.S. weapons to Israel could be affected if Israel does not take steps within 30 days to improve the conditions in Gaza, according to a copy of the letter obtained by Axios.

Senior U.S. officials emphasized that the letter was not intended as a pretext for withholding weapons but as an attempt to spur a change in direction from the Israeli government. ... Read more

In photos: Hurricane Milton's aftermath
Axios | Sareen Habeshian | 10/11/24

Hurricane Milton has resulted in at least eight deaths, as officials continued to survey damage from the storm on Thursday.

The big picture: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the death toll from Wednesday night's hurricane was expected to rise in coming days, and the state was working to restore power and replenish fuel supply. Over 2.6 million people remained without electricity as of 8:45pm ET Thursday. ... Lots of photos

Behind the Curtain: The Republican welfare state
Axios | Jim VandeHei,Mike Allen | 10/11/24

Republicans spent decades railing against welfare recipients. Now, they're deeply reliant on them to win elections.

Why it matters: The explosion of people getting 25% or more of their income from government aid - and Republican reliance on their votes - vividly explains the rise of former President Trump and the remaking of the Republican Party.

The big picture: Trump rose to power with the backing of the working class, then reoriented the party to focus on them as much as big business.

This helps explain the massive surge in government spending under Trump, his continued opposition to trade agreements, his scorn for GOP ideas to gut Social Security and Medicare, and his us-vs.-them rhetoric. ... Read more

In photos: Northern lights dazzle skies across the U.S. and world
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 10/11/24

The northern lights returned to skies across the U.S. and the world over Thursday night after a powerful solar storm triggered stunning celestial displays also known as aurora borealis.

The big picture: Extreme G5 geomagnetic conditions were observed reaching the Earth for the first time in 21 years on Thursday and remained at G4 levels overnight, per NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, which warned the storm had the potential to disrupt communications and the electric power grid. ... Lots of pictures