June 18, 2026

06 Market

Biden announces over 1 million veteran claims related to burn pit and other toxic exposure granted under new law– fortune.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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Excerpt from fortune.com

 

President Joe Biden, aiming to highlight his legislative accomplishments this election year, traveled to New Hampshire on Tuesday to discuss how he’s helped military veterans get benefits as a result of burn pit or other toxic exposure during their service.

“We can never fully thank you for all the sacrifices you’ve made,” Biden said to the veterans and their families gathered at a YMCA. “In America, we leave no veteran behind. That’s our motto.”

In raw numbers, more than 1 million claims have been granted to veterans since Biden signed the so-called PACT Act into law in August 2022, the administration said Tuesday. That amounts to about 888,000 veterans and survivors in all 50 states who have been able to receive disability benefits under the law.

The White House says FDIC chairman to step down following report on agency’s ‘toxic culture’– www.pressdemocrat.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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Excerpt from www.pressdemocrat.com

NEW YORK — Martin Gruenberg, the chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, will step down from his post once a successor is appointed, the White House said Monday.

Gruenberg’s announced departure comes after damning report about the agency’s toxic workplace culture was released earlier this month and political pressure from the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, who called for his resignation earlier in the day.

In a statement, the White House said that President Joe Biden will name a replacement for Gruenberg “soon” and called for the Senate to quickly confirm the person’s nomination.

A Sheriff’s Conspiratorial ‘Election Fraud’ Investigation Is Dividing Kansas’ Largest County– www.huffpost.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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Excerpt from www.huffpost.com

In November, Calvin Hayden spoke to a fringe gathering of “America First” conservatives at a church in Kansas City. He told the crowd at Hope Family Fellowship Church that they were in the middle of a war between good and evil, that the Apple logo reminded him of Eve eating forbidden fruit, and that “a lot of the LGBT stuff and questioning the gender” might really be a Communist Chinese plot to “demasculinize our men and our warriors.” 

Others on the lineup that day included Father James Altman, who had called for Pope Francis’ death two months prior, and Michael Flynn, Donald Trump’s former national security adviser and pardon recipient, who the following month would tell Alex Jones, “We’re moving towards the sound of the guns here, folks, and the sound of the guns is freedom.”

The Scoop: Nuns hit back at Harrison Butker’s controversial speech at Benedictine College– www.prdaily.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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Excerpt from www.prdaily.com

An order of nuns associated with Benedictine College has distanced itself with a recent commencement speech that has drawn national attention to the tiny Catholic liberal arts college in Kansas.

Last week, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker addressed graduates by discussing a number of hot-button topics, including “the tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion,” COVID-lockdowns and LGBTQ+ Pride. But the comments that drew the most attention were those addressed to women in the audience, whom he said had been told “diabolical lies” and that, on the day they received their degree, were “most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”

Giuliani agrees to stop spreading 2020 vote-tampering lies about Georgia election workers– www.kake.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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Excerpt from www.kake.com

A draft of the agreement filed in court Tuesday says Giuliani would be “permanently enjoined from publishing, causing others to publish, and/or assisting in others’ publication of any statements that suggest that Plaintiffs, whether mentioned directly, indirectly, or by implication, engaged in wrongdoing in connection with the 2020 presidential election.”

Justice Samuel Alito: The Republican Party’s man inside the Supreme Court– www.vox.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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Excerpt from www.vox.com

Joe Biden was about to become president, and the Alito household was in distress.

On May 16, the New York Times reported that, during the tense period between the January 6 insurrection and Biden’s inauguration, Justice Samuel Alito’s family displayed an upside-down American flag outside their home. An upside-down flag is a distress signal — a way that soldiers or ships at sea show that they are in extraordinary danger.

Taken in isolation, it’s hard to draw sweeping conclusions from this flag. The Times reports that many supporters of the “Stop the Steal” campaign — former President Donald Trump’s failed effort to overthrow the 2020 presidential election — embraced an inverted American flag to signal their belief that the United States was in grave danger. Alito claims that the flag was raised by his wife “in response to a neighbor’s use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs.”

Trump deletes social media video about election victory referencing ‘Unified Reich’ after facing backlash – WHEE-AM1370– whee.net

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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Excerpt from whee.net

(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden on Friday announced new grants aimed at further desegregating magnet schools, as he marked the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling that desegregated America’s public schools.

“My Department of Education is investing $300 million, including another $20 million announced today to support diversity in our schools,” Biden said in remarks at an NAACP event at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The $20 million in new grants is for school districts in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina and Texas, to create magnet programs geared toward “attracting students from different social, economic, ethnic and racial backgrounds,” the White House said.

Kid Rock uses racial slurs, waves gun around during interview– www.pennlive.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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Excerpt from www.pennlive.com

It seems Kid Rock made quite the impression during an interview with Rolling Stone recently. And what could’ve been a constructive interview quickly turned into an awkward one.

Rolling Stone Reporter David Peisner visited the “American Badass’” rocker’s home in rural Tennessee outside of Nashville for the interview that was published on May 19. During the visit Rock, also known as Robert James Ritchie, used racial slurs – including the n-word multiple times – and waved his gun around.

During the sit-down, Rock mentioned his white butler, whom he nicknamed “Uncle Tom,” a well-known derogatory name in reference to Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1852 anti-slavery novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

Audi furthers EV push into China with new platform agreement– ca.finance.yahoo.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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Excerpt from ca.finance.yahoo.com

Volkswagen’s (VWAGY) Audi is pushing deeper into the Chinese market as US rivals like GM (GM) and Ford (F) look to minimize losses in the region and the US ramps up tariffs on Chinese EVs.

On Monday, Audi announced it had signed a deal with China’s state-owned SAIC to develop new EVs for the mainland.

Audi said the SAIC deal would begin with three new EV models covering the B and C segments — small to midsize vehicles — with the first model entering the market in 2025. Audi said the deal with SAIC will reduce its time to market by more than 30%.

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said the deal “marks a significant milestone in Audi’s China strategy.”

China sanctions Boeing, two U.S. defense contractors for Taiwan arms sales– au.news.yahoo.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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Excerpt from au.news.yahoo.com

BEIJING (AP) — China’s Ministry of Commerce announced sanctions against Boeing and two other defense companies Monday for arms sales to Taiwan, on the day of Taiwan’s presidential inauguration.

The move is the latest in a series of sanctions Beijing has announced in recent years against defense companies for weapons sales to Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China considers as part of its own territory.

China’s Ministry of Commerce placed Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security unit, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, and General Dynamics Land Systems, on what is called an “unreliable entities” list, forbidding their further investment in China, in addition to travel bans on senior management for the companies.

Dominican Republic president declares himself winner in election– www.wral.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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Excerpt from www.wral.com

CNN — (CNN) — Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader declared himself the winner of the weekend’s presidential election in a race where crime and safety were among voters’ biggest concerns.

Official results are still pending, but the election website shows the former businessman leading by a wide margin as two of his top challengers conceded. As of Monday afternoon, Abinader had 57.46% of the votes counted.

 

Votes have been counted in over 99% of the polling stations, according to real-time data from the electoral board, which has yet to declare a winner.

However, on Sunday, both Abinader’s main rivals congratulated Abinader on his win. “Tonight I called President Luis Abinader by phone to recognize his electoral victory and wish him success in his administration,” candidate Leonel Fernandez wrote on X.

Chinese state media hints that Beijing might ‘hit back’ against European probes by targeting wine, dairy and aircraft– fortune.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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Excerpt from fortune.com

Beijing hinted it could retaliate against the European Union in a trade dispute that shows signs of escalating the same way as China’s contest with the US.

If the EU keeps pursuing investigations into Chinese firms then China will “very likely have to take a series of measures to hit back,” said a post on Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account linked to China’s state media. Beijing has regularly used such channels as a way of signaling its thinking about trade.

The EU is investigating Chinese subsidies across a range of industries, threatening tariffs for electric carmakers and keeping firms out of rail and energy tenders. President Xi Jinping visited Europe last month seeking to dissuade the bloc from going down the same path as the US, which last week announced new charges on some imports from China — raising concerns in Beijing that American allies may follow suit.

US Supreme Court Upholds Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Funding Structure – All Things FinReg– www.morganlewis.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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Excerpt from www.morganlewis.com

The US Supreme Court ruled on May 16, 2024 that the funding structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)—which is funded with money from the Federal Reserve rather than the US Congress—does not run afoul of the Appropriations Clause of the US Constitution. The Court’s decision reversed the Fifth Circuit’s ruling that the CFPB’s funding structure was unconstitutional and put a definitive end to the last pending wholesale challenge to the CFPB’s constitutionality.

In the few days since the decision, the ruling has already emboldened the agency to move forward even more aggressively with its regulatory, enforcement, and supervision agenda.

Saudi king Salman lung infection: Saudi Arabia’s 88-year-old King Salman diagnosed with lung infection– economictimes.indiatimes.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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Excerpt from economictimes.indiatimes.com

Saudi Arabia’s 88-year-old King Salman has been diagnosed with a lung infection and is currently receiving antibiotic treatment after experiencing a fever and joint pain. State media reported the news early Monday, following medical examinations at the Royal Clinics at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah.“It was found that there was a lung infection, and the medical team decided that he – may God protect him – should undergo a treatment programme consisting of antibiotics until the infection goes away,” stated the Saudi Press Agency.
King Salman ascended the throne in 2015 and has since appointed his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as the kingdom’s de facto ruler. The crown prince is widely believed to manage the kingdom’s daily affairs.

Moderna Gets Win in COVID-19 Patent Dispute with Pfizer, BioNTech– www.biospace.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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Excerpt from www.biospace.com

Pictured: Sign at the European Patent Office’s headquarters in Germany/iStock, Christian Ader

The European Patent Office has handed Moderna a victory in its patent dispute with Pfizer and BioNTech regarding its COVID-19 vaccine, according to The Financial Times which first reported the development on Friday.

In an oral decision, the European patent authority maintained the validity of Moderna’s patent ‘949 which describes and protects specific alterations to mRNA molecules designed to lower its immunogenicity, bypass the immune system and boost its translation in the body—as well as the potential uses of the modified mRNA.

US State Department Issues Worldwide Security Alert Due to Potential for Attacks on LGBTQ People and Events– www.outsmartmagazine.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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Excerpt from www.outsmartmagazine.com

(CNN) — The US State Department issued a worldwide security alert on Friday due to the potential for terrorist attacks against LGBTQ people and events.

“Due to the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution. The Department of State is aware of the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events and advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution,” the alert read.

The alert comes two weeks before Pride Month begins on June 1. The department warned US citizens to stay alert in locations that tourists often visit “including Pride celebrations and venues frequented by LGBTQI+ persons.”

Earlier this week, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security similarly issued a warning that foreign terrorist organizations and their supporters may target LGBTQ events and venues as Pride Month approaches.

Nebraska mother, daughter charged for illegal abortion after police obtain Facebook messages– ca.movies.yahoo.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 1

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Excerpt from ca.movies.yahoo.com

A Nebraska mother and teenage daughter are facing criminal charges after the teen allegedly got an illegal abortion and police say the two buried the fetus.

While the abortion allegedly occurred before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a constitutional right to abortion, a state law on the books since 2010 bans abortions in Nebraska at 20 weeks.

MORE: New abortion restrictions may push patients to more expensive, complicated care

Norfolk police opened an investigation into then 17-year-old Celeste Burgess on April 26, investigating concerns she had given birth prematurely to a stillborn child, according to an affidavit submitted by the Norfolk Police Investigations Unit that was obtained by ABC News.

Disney Cosplayers Go Union

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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Excerpt from insidethemagic.net

…. Disneyland’s character performers were so disappointed in Disney’s treatment of them that they recently decided to hold a vote to unionize. Many of Disneyland’s cast members are already part of a union, so this is not so unusual. Disneyland’s character performers simply wanted to have the support of a union so they could voice their concerns and air their grievances without fear of retribution.

On Saturday, May 18, a union vote was held, and the performers overwhelmingly voted YES. Disneyland’s character performers will now be a part of the Actors’ Equity Association, which represents many performers who work on Broadway.

Per The Hollywood Reporter:

“They say that Disneyland is ‘the place where dreams come true,’ and for the Disney cast members who have worked to organize a union, their dream came true today,” Actors’ Equity Association president Kate Shindle said in a statement on Saturday. “The next step will be to collaborate with them about improving health & safety, wages, benefits, working conditions and job security. After that we will meet with representatives of the Walt Disney Company to negotiate those priorities into a first contract.”

 

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Red Lobster Files for Chapter 11

pgnewser May 20, 2024 1

The American Seaford restaurant icon, Red Lobster, has announced plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an effort to overcome over $1 billion in debt. It is expected that the majority of restaurants will close over the coming weeks, but no clear closure plan has been yet released.

Red Lobster CEO Jonathan Tibus said of the decision, “This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster. It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth. The support we’ve received from our lenders and vendors will help ensure that we can complete the sale process quickly and efficiently while remaining focused on our employees and guests.”

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Excerpt from thepostmillennial.com

On Sunday, Red Lobster announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and secured $100 million in debtor-in-possession financing commitments from existing lenders. The company was over $1 billion in debt.

The seafood chain noted that while remaining restaurants will continue operating during the proceedings, the number of locations is set to be drastically reduced in the coming weeks.

In a press release, Red Lobster explained that it had entered into a “stalking horse purchase agreement,” meaning the company “will sell its business to an entity formed and controlled by its existing term lenders.”

Sen. Schumer calls for $8 cap on credit card late fees– www.nydailynews.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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Excerpt from www.nydailynews.com

Credit card late fees should be capped at $8, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Sunday, after the U.S. Supreme Court found the federal Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s funding to be constitutional in the face of conservative attacks.

“Junk fees, like late fees on credit cards, are meant to pile up and get so unaffordable that the customer simply drowns in debt — it’s unfair and has got to end,” the New York Dem said in a statement. “The credit card companies are making billions in fees while consumers try and pay all the fees along the way.”

While the average late fee in New York is $21, that can get compounded based on one’s balance, wreaking havoc with a consumer’s debt load, Schumer said. He noted that consumers spent $15 billion on late fees in 2022 alone. Nationally, the typical fee tops $30, the CFPB said earlier this year.

“The goal of a $8 late fee cap is not only alive, but it is likely, and I want it enacted ASAP,” Schumer said. “A cap would be a cushion for many people who don’t skirt their bills but have found that the fees just kill them.”