Sen. John Curtis is calling on Congress to look into Trump Jr.’s foreign relationships, business dealings and financial benefits tied to his father
Republican Sen. John Curtis (Utah) has sent a letter to leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee asking them to investigate the President Trump’s and former President Joe Biden’s business dealings and to subpoena Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden to testify before Congress. Curtis said that reports about foreign interests using Trump Jr. and Biden…
The Hill•Alexander Bolton22 Sept
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refuses to count four measles deaths in the state though doctors are ‘seeing new forms’ of disease The US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its measles dashboard on Friday – but it’s still not counting four measles deaths in Pennsylvania, where the outbreak appears to be accelerating and cases are appearing in ways providers have never seen before. Members of Congress on Monday requested an “immediate briefing” on the decision to change how measles deaths are reported as cases continue to rise throughout the United States, reaching levels not seen in decades. A possible measles exposure was reported in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia last week. Continue reading...
The Guardian•Melody Schreiber22 Sept
Coverage of the new White House memorandum on combating cybercrime quickly reached the privateer label. CNN called the participants “cyber privateers,” invoking the image of government-sanctioned raiders working the high seas of cyberspace, hauling in digital booty. The reality is considerably less romantic. The administration has tried to create a private offensive cyber program using an exception buried in outdated legislation, and that has shaped how the program must be constructed. For this reason and others, the proposed framework will likely not attract the talent needed to address transnational cybercrime meaningfully.Within a single month, Congress and the White House each
War on the Rocks•Justin Hardy22 Sept
Paris: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent review of the world soccer body's decision-making, in a move that could help him regain support after the withdrawal of a controversial private investment plan. "First, I will ask the Council whether it wishes to commission an independent external review of FIFA’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and recommend potential improvements," Infantino wrote to the FIFA Council and all 211 member association presidents in a letter seen by Reuters. He also said he would propose consultations with confederations, member associations and other stakeholders on strengthening FIFA's decision-making. The proposals would examine who has a say in major initiatives, including the respective roles of the president, Bureau, Council and Congress, and how to improve transparency and accountability. Infantino faced a fierce backlash over his proposal to sell a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial rights, including the World Cup, to private investors. The plan was abandoned in July after opposition and boycott threats, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF subsequently calling for changes to FIFA's leadership. His opponents have been struggling to find a candidate to challenge Infantino, who will be running for re-election in March in Rabat. Sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters this month that he still had enough votes to win, prompting opponents to focus on curbing his powers. Infantino said the abandoned plan had explored whether selling a minority stake in a FIFA-controlled commercial company could raise more money for football development. It would not have involved giving up control over sporting decisions, he said. But the proposal became public before it could be presented in full to the Council and member associations, according to Infantino. "I recognise that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not," he wrote in the letter sent on Monday. "It remained a proposal, not a decision, and was always subject to the necessary approvals of the Council and the Member Associations. It has now been withdrawn and will not proceed." Infantino said he had heard differing ideas about who should decide major strategic questions. Some favoured requiring unanimous agreement in the Bureau, while others wanted such matters put directly to Congress and the member associations. "My role is not to pre-judge that discussion. Those who support a particular model should have the opportunity to set out their case clearly," he wrote. Suggestions received by the October 15 Council meeting could be discussed there, with later submissions also considered within a deadline yet to be specified. Any changes to FIFA's statutes would need Congress approval. Infantino also said member associations' positions on proposals or governance matters would not affect their treatment by FIFA, whose development and solidarity programmes would continue under existing rules. "No association’s treatment will depend on its position on any proposal or institutional matter," he wrote. "I remain fully committed to leading FIFA and confident in what we can achieve together."
Several members of Congress voiced strong opposition about a reported plan to create a panel of political appointees to sign off on NIH grants
STAT•Anil Oza and Chelsea Cirruzzo21 Sept
LOS ANGELES (AP) — This pair of lawsuits are the first to be filed after the recent passage of laws by California and Congress, which strengthen U.S.-based claims to artwork that were forcibly taken from Jewish families during World War II.
Religion News Service•Susanna Granieri21 Sept
Despite claims about the historic productivity of this session of Congress, lawmakers passed less legislation than in previous years and ceded political power to the White House.
As conflict escalates in the Strait of Hormuz, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has introduced legislation to repeal a 34-year-old ban on direct U.S. aid to Azerbaijan to bolster the strategic Middle Corridor energy route.
The Hill•Hollie McKay, opinion contributor21 Sept
Years of flat funding are stretching the District of Columbia Courts thin, placing a system relied on by thousands each day under what officials describe as unsustainable pressure. It’s left administrators, judges and clerks to juggle an ever-growing caseload and heightened security needs with a budget that hasn’t kept pace. “We have certainly reached a critical inflection point,” said…
The Hill•Sophie Brams21 Sept
The ongoing regulatory uncertainty hampers crypto market stability, deterring investment and innovation while impacting future price forecasts.
CryptoBriefing•Estefano Gomez21 Sept
We’re 43 days away from the midterms. Here’s the state of play.
The New York Times•Shane Goldmacher21 Sept
What do a rare earth mine in Brazil and a graphite mine in Mozambique have in common? Both have received significant United States government funding. The rub? Neither was subject, when the financing was committed, to the corporate governance standards that American listed companies are: an independent board, an independent audit committee, and audited disclosure to shareholders.There are strong national and economic security justifications for the recent push to use equity strategically to build secure American supply chains. Congress created the Development Finance Corporation in 2018 and the CHIPS program office in 2022, and has adopted a sharply faster pace
War on the Rocks•Stephen Rodriguez21 SeptRestoring full gambling loss deductions may boost the gaming industry but could increase the federal deficit by $2 billion over a decade.
CryptoBriefing•Editorial Team21 Sept
The delay in US AI regulation risks ceding global leadership to regions like the EU, potentially impacting American tech competitiveness.
CryptoBriefing•Editorial Team20 Sept
To preserve the unique commercial and educational model of intercollegiate athletics amidst numerous legal challenges, Matthew Mitten argues that Congress should pass the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act.
The Hill•Matthew Mitten, opinion contributor20 Sept
A one-time $250 million boost from Congress let Brand USA operate with a nearly fully funded budget after a dramatic cut to federal funding — but that extra funding is about to run dry.
Skift Airlines•Bailey Schulz20 Sept
ASPCA senior vice president Nancy Perry argues that Congress must pass Goldie's Act to address the USDA's chronic failure to enforce the Animal Welfare Act and protect dogs from systemic abuse.
The Hill•Nancy Perry, opinion contributor19 Sept
The White House says the president's 28,700 trades are automated and hands-off.
The incident raises the possibility that top secret weapons technology may have been exposed to a foreign adversary — including China.