Tue, December 17, 2024

by: MSN

Canada overshoots deficit target by C$20 billion as finance minister resigns

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's spending related to the pandemic and other one-off costs blew a bigger than expected hole in the government's budget last year, its fiscal update showed on Monday,

by: Detroit News

DTE Energy-linked nonprofit quietly gave $100,000 to House speaker fund amid outage anger

Legislation requiring new penalties for utility companies over prolonged power outages has stalled out in the Michigan House under Speaker Joe Tate.
Mon, December 16, 2024

by: The New Zealand Herald

Oranga Tamariki reviews of bootcamp participants' death and abscondings not due until 2025

Oranga Tamariki's reviews into one bootcamp pilot participant's death and absconding incidents from two others won't conclude until the new year, the Children's Minister expects. It comes as Minister Karen Chhour accepts she and Oranga Tamariki underestimated the level of scrutiny the 10 pilot participants would be put under,

by: Lincoln Journal Star

Affordable homes and animals: Rooster can remain despite 'wise-size' Lincoln houses

The City Council approved a plan to build 81 "wise size" homes in northwest Lincoln and got assurances from the health department that a rooster on adjacent land can remain.

by: Politico Europe

Slovakia's leaders have started trading insults, revealing a country 'falling apart'

In Bratislava, the president and prime minister don't like each other much. That has repercussions for democracy.

by: Slate

The Only Way To Interpret ABC's Trump Defamation Settlement

On Saturday it was announced that ABC News, and its parent company Disney, had reached a dubious settlement of a defamation lawsuit brought by President-elect Donald Trump, capping off an extraordinary stretch of capitulation by major players in old and new media since October.

by: Florida Politics

Jared Moskowitz reportedly being eyed to lead FEMA under Donald Trump

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Parkland is reportedly a leading candidate to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under President-elect Donald Trump.

by: CNN

Florida Democratic Rep. Moskowitz a top contender to lead FEMA for Trump

Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat, is a top contender to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Donald Trump's administration, two people with knowledge of the president-elect's consideration told CNN.

by: The New York Times

German Government Collapses at a Perilous Time for Europe

Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote, deepening the political turbulence in one of the continent's most powerful economies.

by: The Real News Network

'Incredibly hypocritical': Hunter Biden's pardon and his father's mass incarceration legacy

Hunter Biden's case was always outrageously partisan, but his pardon inevitably casts a harsh light on President Biden's past as a proponent of the War on Drugs.

by: The New York Times

Fact-Checking Trump's First Post-Election News Conference

Musk's DOGE Playbook: Since Trump named Elon Musk to help lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, the tech billionaire has turned to X to single out federal employees and agencies for cuts. Kennedy's Lawyer: Aaron Siri, who is helping Robert F.

by: The Globe and Mail

Eight highlights from the Liberal government's fall economic update

Business-focused tax incentives, $1.3-billion for the border over six years, and putting Terry Fox on the $5 bill

by: Charlotte Observer

NC electors to cast votes on Tuesday for Trump and Vance ahead of 2025 inauguration

North Carolina won't be the only state: Electors across the country will meet in their respective state capitals Tuesday to cast their votes, finalizing necessary formalities before congressional certification next year and the subsequent Jan. 20 inauguration.

by: Mother Jones

Trump Sounds Down to Pardon Eric Adams

On Monday, President-elect Donald Trump said that he would consider pardoning Eric Adams if the New York City mayor is convicted on charges related to accepting bribes and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations.

by: CBC.ca

Federal deficit balloons to $61.9B as government tables economic update on chaotic day in Ottawa

The federal government's fall economic statement — tabled just hours after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland quit cabinet and questioned her government's recent handling of the economy — calls for more than $20 billion in new spending and says the deficit has grown to $61.

by: The New York Times

TikTok Asks Supreme Court to Block Law Banning Its U.S. Operations

The company and its Chinese parent invoked the First Amendment in urging the justices to step in before a Jan. 19 deadline to sell or be shut down.

by: MSN

Governors are lining up behind Trump and pledging to use national guards to boot immigrants from US

Governors are lining up behind Trump and pledging to use national guards to boot immigrants from US - 'We stand ready to utilize every tool at our disposal—whether through state law enforcement or the National Guard—to support President Trump in this vital mission,

by: MSN

Federal government deploying more resources to deal with drone sightings

For the last few weeks, people in New Jersey have reported repeated drone sightings, which have expanded to New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

by: MSN

Live updates: Trump talk drones, vaccines and Cabinet in wide-ranging press conference

Congress has a looming deadline of Friday to avert a government shutdown, and lawmakers are sprinting to reach a deal to keep the government funded. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was expected to unveil the text of a stopgap on Sunday,

by: MSN

Where Ryan Poles' Master Plan Sits and Still Must Take Shape

Now they have GM Ryan Poles and have a president in charge in Kevin Warren who, it appears, has given his GM a chance to move forward into the final year of his deal, with a pat on the back, a very firm hand on the shoulder and no contract extension.

by: MSN

Fact check: Trump makes false claims about immigration, tariffs and global conflicts

President-elect Donald Trump made numerous false claims in a Monday news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

by: MSN

New Jersey Gov. Murphy pardons 33 and commutes 3 women's sentences in first use of clemency

New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday pardoned 33 people and commuted the sentences of three women, one of whom was supported by Kim Kardashian, in the first use of his clemency authority during his administration.

by: CBC.ca

Chrystia Freeland resigns from Trudeau's cabinet and sources say Dominic LeBlanc will replace her

In a shocking move, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced Monday she's resigning from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet — just hours before she was set to deliver the government's fall economic statement.

by: Toronto Star

Chrystia Freeland's resignation triggers chaos and Liberal calls for Justin Trudeau to step down

Deputy Prime Minister Freeland said in a statement that PM Trudeau told her he no longer wants her to serve as Finance Minister and offered another position in cabinet, leading to her resignation.

by: MSN

Trump Hints at Government Conspiracy Behind Mystery Drones

President-elect Donald Trump has claimed without evidence that the government knows where the mysterious N.J. drones are from—but won't tell the public. "For some reason, they want to keep people in suspense,

by: MSN

Trump calls rebel victory in Syria 'unfriendly takeover' by Turkey

Turkey has carried out military strikes inside Syria and has said it is ready to provide armed support to the country's new Islamist-led government set up by the rebels. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's top priority in Syria was to rid the country ...

by: MSN

Former Obama adviser says Donald Trump 'smarter' than him and all his critics

Ex-Obama adviser Van Jones said during an interview that President-elect Donald Trump was smarter than all of his critics, pointing to his successful election campaign.

by: MSN

Trump Eyes Privatization of the United States Postal Service Amid $9.5 Billion Loss

Trump seeks to privatize the USPS after a $9.5 billion loss, citing financial struggles and $80 billion in liabilities. Privatization could reshape consumer shipping, focusing on profitable routes and leaving rural areas underserved.

by: MSN

Trump weighs in on NY mayor, vaccines and drones in freewheeling press conference at Mar-a-Lago

In a freewheeling press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club, President-elect Donald Trump said Monday he would consider pardoning embattled New York Mayor Eric Adams, declared the country was "not going to lose" the polio vaccine and weighed in on the flurry of drone sightings over New Jersey.

by: MSN

Russian military has begun large-scale withdrawal from Syria, US and Western officials say

Russia has begun withdrawing a large amount of military equipment and troops from Syria following the ouster of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, according to two US officials and a western official familiar with the intelligence.

by: MSN

Editorial: Keep Kash Patel away from the FBI: Departing Director Chris Wray is the right kind of leader

FBI Director Chris Wray is resigning several years before the end of his statutory 10-year term for one, terrible reason: Donald Trump had promised to fire Wray when he's sworn in as president next month and install the unqualified and unfit Kash Patel,

by: MSN

Poilievre calls for vote on the fall economic statement after Freeland leaves cabinet

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, speaking after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's surprise resignation from cabinet, called on the Liberals to introduce the fall economic statement and allow for an up-or-down vote in the House.

by: The Globe and Mail

Why did Chrystia Freeland resign and other questions about Trudeau's cabinet crisis, answered

The finance minister's resignation is the latest in a string of ministers who have left Justin Trudeau's cabinet or said they will not run again in recent months

by: The Boston Globe

Jim Leach, Iowa Republican who opposed Iraq invasion, dies at 82

Mr. Leach would later serve as head of the National Endowment for the Humanities during the Obama administration and as interim leader of the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

by: MSN

Italian government approves 10th military aid package for Ukraine

The Italian government has approved its tenth military aid package for Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. Source: European Pravda with reference to ANSA Details: As on previous occasions,

by: MSN

Rising numbers of Indian and Asian Pacific Islander voters in Arkansas

In the United States, Asian Americans are the fastest-growing group of eligible voters, according to the Pew Research Center. Arkansas has had a 16% increase in Asian voter eligibility in 10 years.

by: MSN

Top aide to NYC mayor resigns months after prosecutors search her home and seize her phones

A top aide to New York Mayor Eric Adams abruptly resigned less than three months after investigators from the Manhattan district attorney's office took her phones and searched her house as part of one of several probes that have enveloped City Hall.

by: MSN

Lt. Governor says Texas may purchase border wall material auctioned by federal government

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Texas will buy any pieces of border wall that are being auctioned off in Arizona and donate it to the incoming Trump administration if it makes "economic sense."

by: MSN

Florida Senator Randy Fine files bill to ban political flags in government buildings

Florida State Senator Randy Fine (R-Melbourne Beach) has introduced legislation to prohibit the display of political and ideological flags in government buildings, including schools.

by: MSN

Kent could get mayor and lose district councils as Angela Rayner proposes devolution as part of local government reforms

The government has announced the biggest shake-up in local councils for half a century - but Kent's future direction is far from clear. The English Devolution White Paper launched this afternoon outlines new structures which could see a new mayor for the county and the abolition of all 12 borough and district councils.

by: The Australian Financial Review

Government departments pushed to defer spending ahead of election

Bureaucrats say they are being asked to "re-profile" spending to minimise the size of deficits in time for the federal polls.

by: The Mirror

Every region in England to get a mayor with powers on housing and transport, vows Angela Rayner

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said regional mayors will be handed more powers over housing, transport, education and employment under major devolution plans

by: justthenews

Trump transition calls for gutting subsidies for EVs and charging stations: report

Transition team document reportedly recommends shifting remaining money in Biden's $7.5 billion plan to battery-minerals processing, national defense.

by: USA Today

Randy Fine files bill again to ban Pride, Palestine, other flags at government buildings

Randy Fine, now a state senator, wants to try again to bar state agencies and local governments from putting up flags with a "political viewpoint."

by: MSN

Trump claims 'there's something wrong' with autism rates when asked about vaccines: 'We're going to find out about it'

Trump claims 'there's something wrong' with autism rates when asked about vaccines: 'We're going to find out about it' - Trump also says he is not a fan of mandates as Robert F Kennedy heads to Capito

by: MSN

Trump defends health pick RFK Jr over vaccine stance

Donald Trump defended his nomination of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy for health secretary as the US president elect offered up debunked data linking vaccines and autism in his first post-election news conference on Monday.

by: MSN

In his first post-election news conference, Trump boasts of his popularity

President-elect Donald Trump was upbeat at his first post-election press conference Monday, saying there was a big difference between now and when he took office in 2016: Some of his former adversaries are now being nice to him.

by: MSN

Trump repeats support of polio vaccine, as RFK Jr., allies come under fire

The president-elect told reporters Monday he supports the polio vaccine, as his pick for health secretary is scrutinized for anti-vaccine stances.

Senators, Representatives Introduce Bill That Would Ban Joint Ownership of PBMs and Pharmacies

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Josh Hawley and Representatives Diana Harshbarger and Jake Auchincloss introduced the Patients Before Monopolies Act on Wednesday.

The article discusses a legislative initiative by Senators and Representatives aimed at addressing conflicts of interest within the pharmaceutical supply chain. The proposed bill seeks to ban the joint ownership of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and pharmacies. PBMs act as intermediaries between drug manufacturers, health insurers, and pharmacies, managing drug benefits on behalf of health plans. Critics argue that when PBMs own pharmacies, they can steer patients towards their own pharmacies, potentially increasing costs and reducing competition. This bill, if passed, would prevent such vertical integration, aiming to ensure fair competition and potentially lower drug prices for consumers by eliminating the incentive for PBMs to favor their own pharmacies. The legislation reflects growing concerns over the influence and practices of PBMs in the healthcare sector.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/senators-representatives-introduce-bill-that-would-ban-joint-ownership-of-pbms-and-pharmacies/ar-AA1vYuDg