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Analysis: Kanye West’s Biggest Challenge With Owning Parler May Come From Elon Musk https://digitalalaskanews.com/analysis-kanye-wests-biggest-challenge-with-owning-parler-may-come-from-elon-musk/ Analysis by Clare Duffy | CNN Business One week ago, Kanye West was temporarily suspended from Twitter for posting antisemitic tweets. Now, the rapper has agreed to acquire Parler, an alternative social platform popular with conservatives, to prevent ever having “to fear being removed from social media again.” West, who has legally changed his name to Ye, is just the latest controversial figure to bet on a nascent, alternative set of social media platforms favored by conservatives and members of the far-right who profess to feel outrage over content moderation on more mainstream services. After being banned from Twitter following the Jan. 6 insurrection, former President Donald Trump backed Truth Social, an alternative to Twitter. In a slide deck, Trump’s digital media company touted the ambitious possibility of creating not just alternatives to the major social media platforms but also to cloud computing products like Amazon Web Services and payment service Stripe. Separately, Peter Thiel, an influential venture capitalist and Republican donor, invested in Rumble, a conservative alternative to YouTube. Other services, including Gab and Gettr, are also part of what Ben Decker, CEO of digital threat analysis company Memetica, calls an “alt social media ecosystem,” fueled by “the deplatforming of high-profile conservative” figures from other larger platforms in recent years. There are a range of potential reasons why West — an erratic figure known for chaotic business dealings — may have wanted to acquire Parler, a platform that’s been home to election denialism, antisemitism and adherents to the conspiracy theory QAnon. He was likely frustrated with his antisemitic comments being removed from Twitter and Instagram, and for being permanently suspended from the latter. West is also friends with conservative political commentator Candace Owens, who has reportedly encouraged the rapper’s political involvement and whose husband is Parler’s CEO. In a statement included with the Parler announcement on Monday, West alluded to the need for a different, safe space for conservatives, a camp with whom he identifies. “In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves,” he said. West also discussed his planned Parler takeover with Trump, a source familiar with the conversation told CNN Monday, although it was unclear if the two spoke before or after the news of the rapper’s acquisition was made public. But to the extent he is serious about the acquisition, which remains very much unclear, West faces an uncertain path forward that mirrors the challenges for other services promising unfettered “free speech.” For starters, the audience for these alternative platforms remains far smaller than the mainstream services they are competing with. Even if all 40,000 of Parler’s estimated daily active users followed West on the platform, his audience would pale in comparison to the 31.4 million followers he has on Twitter, not to mention Twitter’s more than 200 million daily active users. And despite professing to provide an unrestricted home for fringe content, some services, including Parler, have had to make concessions on content moderation to be allowed on the major app stores. Apple said last year that it had approved Parler’s return to the iOS app store following improvements the company made to better detect and moderate hate speech and incitement, and Google did the same last month. But even with app store approvals, large marketers tend to shy away from running ads alongside content that even whiffs of controversy. Perhaps the biggest wild card of all comes from West’s friend and fellow erratic rich guy, Elon Musk. The billionaire Tesla CEO appears closer than ever to taking over an already established platform, Twitter, with plans to cut back on its content restrictions. (Following the Parler announcement, Musk tweeted, and later deleted, “fun times ahead!” along with a meme showing the two men’s smiling faces superimposed over a cartoon.) Various regulations and business interests may keep Musk from fully committing to letting anything stay on Twitter, in the same way it has for Parler and others. But it might not take much to get right-leaning users, including influential figures, to return to Twitter. Musk has said he would restore Trump’s account on the platform; and while the former president has said he will stick to Truth Social, it’s hard to imagine he wouldn’t at least be tempted to return to Twitter’s much larger megaphone. Shares of the investment vehicle set to take Trump’s Truth Social public slid when Musk first announced his plan to buy Twitter, and fell again earlier this month when Musk revived his proposal to buy it. Likewise, Rumble, which only recently went public via a similar path, saw its stock decline recently when Musk said the deal was back on. Many of the right-leaning figures who have championed alternative platforms have cheered Musk’s plan to take over Twitter, a sign that they might abandon their dedication to a right-leaning social media ecosystem if a more mainstream platform was willing to welcome them back. Radio personality Joe Rogan — who previously discussed a move to Gettr — said in a text message to Musk in April, “I REALLY hope you get Twitter. If you do, we should throw one hell of a party.” Social platforms are attractive in large part because they enable conversations and connections between lots of different kinds of people. With alternative conservative platforms, many users may be discouraged by the echo chamber. “If you go to these platforms, there is one conversation happening,” said Darren Linvill, a Clemson University professor who studies disinformation and inauthentic behavior on social media. Conservative users uninterested in politics may also avoid the alternative platforms because of other objectionable content they host, according to experts who study the space. Putting the political discourse aside, many such platforms also suffer from technical issues and poor user interfaces. Unlike their mainstream rivals, these newer services lack sufficient resources to fix those issues. That could only make it harder to compete with a Musk-owned Twitter. “Elon Musk could buy Twitter and say, ‘Trump, you’re back, Kanye, you’re back,’ and then Kanye is stuck owning a relatively defunct, somewhat irrelevant platform,” said Decker. “The question is going to come down to how serious Elon Musk is about any of this.” The-CNN-Wire & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Read More Here

China Plans To Seize Taiwan On ‘much Faster Timeline,’ Blinken Says https://digitalalaskanews.com/china-plans-to-seize-taiwan-on-much-faster-timeline-blinken-says/ Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused China of speeding up plans to seize Taiwan as Chinese President Xi Jinping looks set to secure a precedent-breaking third term at a Chinese Communist Party congress this week. “There has been a change in the approach from Beijing toward Taiwan in recent years,” Blinken told an event at Stanford University on Monday. This includes “a fundamental decision that the status quo was no longer acceptable and that Beijing was determined to pursue reunification on a much faster timeline,” he said. Blinken did not provide details on the claim of a shorter timeline but said China may be willing to use coercive or forceful means, a prospect that is “creating tremendous tensions.” In a speech Sunday at the Communist Party congress, which takes place every five years, Xi said that the “wheels of history are rolling toward China’s reunification” with Taiwan and repeated intentions of taking the self-governing island of over 23 million people, potentially by force. He said that while China preferred peaceful measures, it would reserve “the option to take all necessary measures.” Tensions between Washington and Beijing have simmered as China faces criticism from Western governments over aggression toward Taiwan and its partnership with Russia. Russia’s war in Ukraine has stoked fears among Taiwanese residents that it could embolden their neighbor China, which claims the island it has never controlled as part of its territory. China has so far refrained from publicly criticizing Russia’s invasion. U.S.-China frictions also heightened after a trip by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to Taiwan and President Biden’s comments that the U.S. military would defend the island in case of an attack by China — comments the White House later played down. While Taiwan does not have U.S. diplomatic recognition, it maintains substantial ties with Washington, including arms sales and trade. In his speech, Xi did not mention the war in Ukraine or China’s ties with the United States, which ordered export bans this month to hit China’s tech and military ambitions. He also described China’s “great rejuvenation” — Xi’s vision of putting the nation at the center of global affairs — as an “irreversible historical process.” Unification with Taiwan is a core part of that vision. In an uneasy stalemate between the two sides for decades, Taiwanese leaders have vowed to defend the island, while Chinese leaders are adamant that it is part of China. Last year, the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that the threat of China’s targeting Taiwan was “manifest during this decade, in fact, in the next six years.” Read More Here

DU Teachers On Strike After Selection Process Leaves Ad Hoc Teachers Jobless | NewsClick https://digitalalaskanews.com/du-teachers-on-strike-after-selection-process-leaves-ad-hoc-teachers-jobless-newsclick/ New Delhi: Rakesh Singh (name changed) was shocked to know that he didn’t make it to the final list of teachers selected for permanent positions at Delhi University’s Daulat Ram College. The 30-something mathematics professor couldn’t believe that his 11-plus years of teaching experience was “not enough” to make the cut. “I am jobless and hopeless. For all these years, I worked hard thinking that I will have a stable life one day. I have no idea about how I will meet my family’s daily needs,” Singh told Newsclick during a strike of DU teachers at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday. At the call of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA), the teachers went on a three-day strike. Hundreds of striking teachers gathered on Tuesday to protest their “displacement” amid the ongoing selection process for permanent faculty in colleges and departments. Since the selection process began in September, more than 60 ad hoc professors have been “displaced”—or relieved from duty—from several DU colleges, including Deshbandhu, Ramjas, Hansraj and Lakshmibai, among others. “In my own department, four out of eight ad hoc professors were shown the door,” alleged Singh. There are nearly 4,500 ad hoc teachers—close to 50% of the total teaching staff—at DU.  The number of ad hoc teachers, recruited to only replace permanent professors for a limited time, sharply increased after 2010.  “Since 2010, there has not been any major drive to select permanent teachers at the university and colleges to fill the increased number of vacancies due to the expansion in OBCs. Though teaching posts were advertised in 2015, 2017 and 2019, the university didn’t conduct interviews in a majority of departments and colleges,” the DUTA said in a memorandum sent to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday. DUTA leaders address the striking teachers at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday. In a massive protest in 2019, DUTA had demanded the one-time absorption of all ad hoc teachers as permanent employees. DUTA president AK Bhagi told Newsclick that the association is raising the same demand even now. “Through our agitations in recent weeks, we were able to get 18 dismissed professors reinstated against new vacancies for ad hoc teachers. We will intensify our protest in the coming days if our demands are not heard,” he said. Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) secretary and Miranda House professor Abha Dev Habib said that even as many ad hoc teachers were dismissed in the past, the ones dismissed this time will not find similar jobs in other colleges. “There has been no official notification but principals of colleges have been verbally instructed to reduce the number of ad hoc teachers,” she alleged. This means, Habib added, that the number of guest faculty at DU colleges will increase in the coming years. “This is why many of the ad hoc teachers are now being dismissed while the university doesn’t mention one-time absorption.” The striking teachers also flayed the DU administration for including “outsiders” in the interview selection panel. According to a report filed by the Indian Express, apart from two or three people from colleges, the other five members—three external experts, a V-C nominee and an observer—are from outside. “Based on a 10-15 interview, a teacher who is considered excellent is suddenly declared unfit,” former DU executive council member Rajesh Jha told Newsclick. Amit Kumar (36), who teaches political science at Motilal Nehru College (evening classes), is worried as well. “There are 10 ad hoc teachers in my department and I don’t want to even think about what will be our fate at the end of the selection process (an advertisement is expected to be released in the coming months),” he told Newsclick. “It is not possible to teach properly when we are so stressed.” Read More Here

Tuesday, October 18, 2022 | TALKERS Magazine – Talk Media Trade https://digitalalaskanews.com/tuesday-october-18-2022-talkers-magazine-talk-media-trade/ ‘CarPro’ Automotive Industry Expert Jerry Reynolds is This Week’s Guest on Harrison Podcast. Since its invention in the early 20th century, the automobile’s impact on society (not to mention radio) has been immeasurable… and it continues to be to this very day. The horseless carriage has shaped our culture and influenced us economically, architecturally, culturally, and even psychologically. Jerry Reynolds is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” Reynolds is a giant in the world of automotive media. With over 40 years in the automotive industry, much of it as a hugely successful Ford dealer in Dallas, he is a trusted source of automotive news, insider insight, and new car reviews. For the past two decades he, along with co-host Kevin McCarthy, has hosted a Saturday midday talk radio show about cars called “CarPro.”  It’s heard for three hours locally on WBAP in the Dallas/Fort Worth market, where Reynolds is a household name, and then for an additional two hours nationally on news/talk stations across America via the CarPro Radio Network. It’s no wonder that the show is such a success – information about automobiles ties in directly with most of the topics discussed on the news/talk format… the economy, the environment, and the day-to-day necessities of living. And a solid show about cars is a magnet for a wide and deep array of potential advertisers. Reynolds’ stated mission is to educate consumers about the car buying process and provide them with the latest information, so listeners can make the best car buying decisions for their needs and budgets. Harrison and Reynolds take an enlightening deep-dive into how today’s automotive industry operates. To listen to the podcast in its entirety, please click here. Salem to Acquire Miami Signals for Conservative Spanish News/Talk Format. The company announces it has entered into an agreement with Actualidad Media Group, LLC to purchase the assets of Class B daytimer WMYM-AM, Kendall, Florida and translator W254DT (98.7 FM) for an undisclosed sum. Salem Media Group executive chairman Edward Atsinger says, “Salem is beginning a new chapter in Miami as we expand our conservative and family themed programming to the Spanish-language audience. Miami is an obvious market for this expansion, and we’re excited to add great signals like WMYM AM 990 and FM 98.7 to our portfolio.” The company says it has a long history in Spanish-language broadcasting starting in 1984 in New York City with WNYM AM 1380, which was sold in the late 1980s and remains in the Spanish-language format today. Currently Salem owns Spanish-language radio stations in Dallas – KLTY-FM 94.9 HD2 and translator FM 102.5 (Spanish Christian Contemporary Christian Music);  KTNO-AM 620 (Spanish Christian Teaching and Talk) in Portland; KRYP-FM 93.1 “El Rey” (Regional Mexican); and in Denver – KBJD AM 1650 (Spanish Christian Teaching and Talk). Cumulus Makes if Official: Rich Valdés to Host Jim Bohannon Show. Last week’s news of Jim Bohannon’s health-related retirement from his longtime late-night Westwood One program indicated that Mark Levin show associate producer Rich Valdés would be assuming hosting duties for the show. Now, Cumulus Media makes it official and says Valdés will be the permanent host for the program that will continue to be called “The Jim Bohannon Show.” Valdés welcomed Levin as his first guest on the program last night (10/170. Levin comments, “Jim Bohannon is a legend. He’s also the #1 gentleman of talk radio. His absence from radio will be deeply felt. But there is no better person to assume that slot than my dear friend and colleague, Richie Valdés. Richie V, aka Mr. Call Screener, has been a fill-in host for me and is superb. He is compelling, entertaining, smart, and an unapologetic patriot. I could not be happier for him and, even more, the great radio audience.” Radio Hall of Fame Names WTOP’s Julia Ziegler ‘One to Watch.’ The Museum of Broadcast Communicationsannounces today that the Radio Hall of Fame names Julia Ziegler, director of news and programming for Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM, Washington as the recipient of its “One to Watch” award. The “One to Watch” award was created in 2018 in honor of radio legend and 2012 Radio Hall of Fame inductee Art Laboe, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 97. Each year, the nominating committee selects what it considers a promising radio personality or team who has demonstrated ratings success, audience growth, and impact on one or more radio stations and their communities. Ziegler began her career at WTOP in 2002 as an intern. From 2015 to 2019, she served as WTOP’s digital news director, where she oversaw the creation and development of WTOP’s digital news products, including WTOP.com, the WTOP app, social media, video, podcasts, smart speakers and more. She was part of the WTOP team that created and produced the award-winning true crime podcast, “22 Hours: An American Nightmare.” She rose to her current position in 2019. Nominating committee chair Dennis Green comments, “It is with great pride that we honor Julia Ziegler with this year’s ‘One to Watch’ award. Julia has literally done it all at a station that is one of the most highly respected in the nation.  From interning at WTOP to working her way up to director of news and programming while setting the station’s path in digital and social media, this recognition is well deserved.  On behalf of the Radio Hall of Fame nominating committee, congratulations, Julia, and continued success!” Wayne Allyn Root Inducted into Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Pictured above is Las Vegas-based, nationally syndicated talk show host Wayne Allyn Root with his wife Cindy at the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame Gala on October 15. Root says he received a letter of congratulations from former President Donald Trump that read, in part, “Congratulations on your induction into the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame! Melania and I send our best wishes to you, your wonderful family, and all those attending the 26th Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame Gala to celebrate your success and the success of your fellow inductees. This extraordinary honor is the result of your lifelong commitment to excellence, principled leadership, and perseverance. Your hard work and determination have provided the foundation for your continued success and exemplify the American Dream.” New Fisher House Program Available November 1. The Fisher House Foundation announces that The Jeff Wyatt Group has a fresh edition of “The Fisher House Story” for 2022 that is available for download on November 1. You can hear the demo and be set to register and download on that date here. “The Fisher House Story – On the Road to 100 Houses” is a talk radio special provided in varying lengths for news/talk radio stations as well as a 30-minute public affairs show for ALL formats in the U.S. and around the world. Fisher House Foundation provides a home away from home for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. Fisher Houses provide temporary free lodging so families can be close to their loved ones during a medical crisis because “A Family’s LOVE is Good Medicine.” The free three-hour, one-hour, 25- and 30-minute radio specials are hosted by longtime Washington, DC talk radio personality Larry O’Connor and will feature stories of our nation’s heroes, the families who serve by their side, and how Fisher House plays a role in their journey. The programs are being produced in time for Veterans Day weekend (November 11) and are perfect for this holiday season, as well as for Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends. For more information on this radio special, available cash and barter free, contact Jeff Wyatt at The Jeff Wyatt Group at 301.518.3640 or jw@thejeffwyattgroup.com. TALKERS News Notes. Data from the third quarter of 2022, according to Comscore, FOX News Digital finished the period as the top-performing news organization in the competitive set in multiplatform minutes and views. FOX News Digital closed out the quarter delivering over 8.5 billion total multiplatform minutes, over 4.3 billion total multiplatform views, and averaged 80 million monthly multiplatform unique visitors…..NRG Media’s news/talk KXEL-AM, Cedar Rapids-Waterloo, Iowa reports that it is replacing “The Jim Bohannon Show” with two programs – an expansion of Starnes Media Group’s “The Todd Starnes Show” and Key Networks’ “No Spin News” with Bill O’Reilly. Station program director Jeff Stein says, “Our audience loves Todd Starnes’ common-sense conservativism and has asked us to find a way to carry the full program. There’s no better way to fill the shoes of a radio hall-of-famer than to provide more of a show that has already proven to be popular with Iowans. Adding ‘No Spin News’ is a logical move, based on the success of both the ‘O’Reilly Morning Update’ and ‘Bill O’Reilly Update’ we air each morning.”…..FOX Sports Radio’s LaVar Arrington – co-host of the network’s weekday morning program “Two Pros and a Cup of Joe” with Brady Quinnand Jonas Knox, and co-host of the nationally-syndicated weekend program/podcast “Up On Game” with TJ Houshmandzadeh and Plaxico Burress – announces today the addition of comedian and social media influencer Bubba Dub to the “Up On Game Presents” lineup with his new show, “Trashh Talk Podcast with Bubba Dub.” Midterm Elections, Russia-Ukraine War, The Economy, Trump Legal Issues, China Politics, Ye-Parler Deal, and British Politics Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (10/17). The numerous debates taking place in advance of the November midterm elections; Vladimir Putin’s kamikaze drone attacks in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; high gas & food prices and the up & down financ...

Exclusive: Bob Woodward Releasing New Audiobook 'The Trump Tapes' With Eight Hours Of Recorded Interviews – Local News 8 https://digitalalaskanews.com/exclusive-bob-woodward-releasing-new-audiobook-the-trump-tapes-with-eight-hours-of-recorded-interviews-local-news-8/ By Jamie Gangel, Elizabeth Stuart and Jeremy Herb, CNN During a December 2019 Oval Office interview with then-President Donald Trump, Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward asked whether his bellicose rhetoric toward North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had been intended to drive Kim to the negotiating table. “No. No. It was designed for whatever reason, it was designed. Who knows? Instinctively. Let’s talk instinct, okay?” Trump said. “Because it’s really about you don’t know what’s going to happen. But it was very rough rhetoric. The roughest.” Trump then instructed his aides to show Woodward his photos with Kim at the DMZ. “This is me and him. That’s the line, right? Then I walked over the line. Pretty cool. You know? Pretty cool. Right?” the president said. Trump’s take on his relationship with Kim — and his admission that he didn’t have a broader strategy behind the threats he made about having a “much bigger” nuclear button — are part of a new audiobook that Woodward is releasing. Titled, “The Trump Tapes,” the book contains the 20 interviews Woodward conducted with Trump from 2016 through 2020. CNN obtained a copy of the audiobook ahead of its October 25 release, which includes more than eight hours of the journalist’s raw interviews with Trump interspersed with Woodward’s commentary. The interviews offer unvarnished insights into the former president’s worldview and are the most extensive recordings of Trump speaking about his presidency — including explaining his rationale for meeting Kim, his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Trump’s detailed views of the US nuclear arsenal. The audio also shows how Trump decided to share with Woodward the letters Kim wrote to him — the letters that helped spark the DOJ investigation into classified documents Trump took to Mar-a-Lago. “And don’t say I gave them to you, okay?” Trump told Woodward. Woodward said in the book’s introduction that he is releasing the recordings in part because “hearing Trump speak is a completely different experience to reading the transcripts or listening to snatches of interviews on television or the internet.” He describes Trump as “raw, profane, divisive and deceptive. His language is often retaliatory.” “Yet, you will also hear him engaging and entertaining, laughing, ever the host. He is trying to win me over, sell his presidency to me. The full-time salesman,” Woodward said. “I wanted to put as much of Trump’s voice, his own words, out there for the historical record and so people could hear and judge and make their own assessments.” Most of the interviews were conducted for Woodward’s second Trump book, “Rage,” which revealed that Trump told Woodward on February 7, 2020, that Covid-19 was “deadly stuff” but still downplayed it publicly. While the blockbuster revelations were published in Woodward’s book, the audio clips of the interviews are a stark reminder of how Trump acted as president and provide a candid look into Trump’s thinking and motivations as he gears up for another potential run for the White House in 2024. ‘Everything is mine’ In the interviews, Trump shares his views about the strongmen he admires — including Kim, Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — and reveals his overarching conviction that he’s the smartest person in the room. In a June 2020 interview, which followed the nationwide protests over George Floyd, Woodward asked Trump whether he had help writing his speech in which Trump declared himself the “president of law and order.” “I get, I get people. They come up with ideas. But the ideas are mine, Bob. The ideas are mine,” Trump told Woodward in a June 2020 interview. “Want to know something? Everything is mine. You know, everything. Every part of it.” The 20 interviews contained in the audiobook begin in March 2016, when Woodward and his then-Washington Post colleague Robert Costa interviewed Trump while he was a presidential candidate. The rest of the interviews were conducted in 2019 and 2020. In the December 2019 interview, Woodward questioned Trump about North Korea’s nuclear program, prompting the president to boast about US nuclear weapons capabilities while seemingly revealing a new — and likely highly classified — weapons system, which was one of the more eye-raising episodes from “Rage.” Woodward says that he never could establish what Trump was referring to, though he notes that Trump’s comment reaffirmed the “casual, dangerous way” the former president treated classified information. “I have built a weapons system that nobody’s ever had in this country before,” Trump told Woodward. “We have stuff that you haven’t even seen or heard about. We have stuff that Putin and Xi have never heard about before.” Throughout the interviews, Trump references his relationship with Putin, blaming the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s election interference for ruining his chances to improve the relationship between the two countries. “I like Putin. Our relationship should be a very good one. I campaigned on getting along with Russia, China and everyone else,” Trump said in a January 2020 interview. “Getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing, all right? Especially because they have 1,332 nuclear f***ing warheads.” In a moment of rare self-reflection, Trump noted that had better relationships with leaders “the tougher and meaner they are.” “I get along very well with Erdogan, even though you’re not supposed to because everyone says what a horrible guy. But you know for me it works out good,” Trump said in a January 2020 interview. “It’s funny, the relationships I have, the tougher and meaner they are, the better I get along with them. You know?” he continued. “Explain that to me someday, okay. But maybe it’s not a bad thing. The easy ones are the ones I maybe don’t like as much or don’t get along with as much.” New audio from Trump’s inner circle Woodward’s audiobook also includes never-before-heard interviews with Trump’s then-national security adviser Robert O’Brien, his deputy Matthew Pottinger, as well as behind-the-scenes audio with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. During a call with Woodward in February 2020, Trump hands the phone over to Kushner to set up interviews with other Trump advisers. “What I heard from the president is basically that I now work for you, so I will make myself available around that schedule and I will make sure I get you a good list,” Kushner said. “I want you to know I have no illusions that you work for me. I know you work for Ivanka, right?” Woodward joked. Kushner laughed. “Okay, fine, you get it. You get it. That’s probably why you’re Bob Woodward. That’s true.” Throughout the recordings, a cast of Trump advisers, allies and family — including Donald Trump Jr., Melania Trump, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Hope Hicks and others — can be heard in the background. The audio gives an inside glimpse of Trump’s inner circle, like an exchange from 2016 when Trump was asked whether he expects government employees to sign non-disclosure agreements, and his son chimed in. “I’m not getting next week’s paycheck until I sign one,” Donald Trump Jr. joked. In the epilogue of “The Trump Tapes,” Woodward declares that his own past assessments critical of Trump’s presidency did not go far enough. In “Rage,” Woodward wrote, “Trump is the wrong man for the job.” Now, Woodward says, “Trump is an unparalleled danger. The record now shows that Trump has led — and continues to lead — a seditious conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election, which in effect is an effort to destroy democracy.” The-CNN-Wire & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Read More Here

WATCH: Will Jan 6 Committee Recommend Prosecuting Donald Trump? https://digitalalaskanews.com/watch-will-jan-6-committee-recommend-prosecuting-donald-trump/ Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat on the January 6 House select committee, says the final decision on whether or not to prosecute former President Donald Trump for his actions that day will ultimately fall on the Dept of Justice. The select committee is expected to release the full report on its probe before the end of the year. Though the committee does not have prosecutorial power, it will be able to make “criminal referral(s)” in its report, should the members so choose. Subscribe to NowThis on YouTube. Must Watch In This Together: Teens Help At-Risk Individuals, Photo Series Celebrates Black Girls Read More Here

Press: Donald Trump, ‘Confidence Man,’ then And Now https://digitalalaskanews.com/press-donald-trump-confidence-man-then-and-now/ AP Photo/Matt York Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Mesa, Ariz. Billed by Axios as “the book Donald Trump fears most,” Maggie Haberman’s “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America” debuted last week as No. 1 best-seller on Amazon and the New York Times. At 508 pages, it’s a challenge. But it’s worth the slog: the best book yet on the mystery man who still remains, two years after being rejected for a second term, the most dominant force in American politics.  The most striking thing about the book is its title. Consider: For the New York Times, Haberman covered Donald Trump full-time for six years. During his four years in the White House, she averaged more than one Trump story a day. She was the Times’s most-read reporter. She’s interviewed Trump dozens of times. He’s called her a “third-rate reporter,” but he gave her three interviews for this book alone — the first one requested by him before she even asked.   Haberman knows Trump better than any other reporter. Yet, after all that access and all that time, what words did she choose to describe Trump? The “Confidence Man,” which is hardly a compliment. Merriam-Webster defines a confidence man as “a person who tricks other people in order to get their money.” And that, my friends, as Haberman skillfully and exhaustively relates, is Donald Trump in a nutshell.  Haberman’s great insight, and her book’s central premise, is that you can’t understand Trump unless you track him from the beginning of his professional career, when he, somewhat reluctantly, joined his father’s real estate firm. (He originally wanted to become an actor.) From that point on, she argues, he’s “frozen in time.” Recounting countless episodes from his New York developer days, she concludes: “He was interested primarily in money, dominance, power, bullying and himself. He treated rules and regulations as unnecessary obstacles rather than constraints on his behavior … He sought an endless stream of praise … His thirst for fame seemed to grow each time he tasted more of it.”  Donald Trump the developer was Donald Trump the president. His M.O. never changed.  Filing countless, worthless lawsuits? It didn’t start in the White House, it started in Queens, when he sued every reporter, contractor or developer who wouldn’t accede to his demands. Not because he expected to win — just to intimidate them. Or, as he admitted after suing his biographer, Tim O’Brien, “just to make his life miserable.”  Telling lies? It didn’t start with the size of the crowd at his Inauguration. As a developer, he  allegedly lied about many things, according to Haberman’s and others’ reporting: his net worth, the value of properties, his ties to the mafia, his prowess with women. Haberman opens her book with a string of lies an 18-year-old Donald Trump  apparently told about the dedication of the Verrazano-Narrows bridge, which he attended with this father.  Haberman reminds us that, essentially, Donald Trump believes in nothing but his own greatness. Everything about him is “transactional.” He was a Republican before joining the Reform Party before becoming a Democrat before becoming a Republican again. He supported abortion rights before he was anti-abortion. He was for universal health care before trying to kill ObamaCare. According to Haberman, he wasn’t even convinced about “building a wall” as a political issue until he saw the enthusiastic response it generated at campaign rallies. Trump is not the first confidence man we’ve encountered. As chronicled by Herman Melville, Mark Twain, Thomas Mann and others, they’re a peculiarly American phenomenon. The only difference is, to our eternal regret, we elected this confidence man president of the United States.  Press is host of “The Bill Press Pod.” He is the author of “From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire.”   Read More Here

House Panel: Trump Made Secret Service Pay Up To $1,100 Per Night At His Hotels https://digitalalaskanews.com/house-panel-trump-made-secret-service-pay-up-to-1100-per-night-at-his-hotels/ U.S. & World Published: Oct. 18, 2022, 8:09 a.m. A view of The Trump International Hotel is seen, March 4, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, file)AP NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s private company arranged for the Secret Service to pay for rooms at his properties in excess of government-approved rates at least 40 times, including two charges for more than $1,100 per room, per night, according to documents released Monday by a congressional committee. The Secret Service was charged room rates of more than $800 per night at least 11 times when agents stayed at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, the Trump hotel in Washington, D.C., and other properties, the Democratic-led House Oversight Committee said. It noted that Trump made over 500 trips to his properties while president. The “exorbitant” rates point to a possible “taxpayer-funded windfall for former President Trump’s struggling businesses,” Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney of New York wrote in a letter Monday to the Secret Service requesting more information. The Secret Service said it had received the letter and was reviewing it. The Trump Organization denied that the Secret Service charges were a problem and said it provided rooms and other services at cost, at big discounts or for free. “The Trump Family is likely the first family in American history to have not profited off of the United States government,” said Eric Trump in a statement. He added, “President Trump funded the vast majority of his campaign with hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money and turned away billions of dollars in real estate deals worldwide.” In total, the Trump Organization charged the agency responsible for protecting the president and his family at least $1.4 million, according to Secret Service records released by the committee. The committee said the total bill was likely higher because the panel only got records through September 2021 and payments for trips abroad were not included. The former president has been repeatedly criticized by Democrats and government watchdogs for what they say were brazen attempts make money from taxpayer funds during his presidency. In addition to money from the Secret Service when he and his family visited his clubs and hotels, Trump played host to foreign officials at his properties, also requiring lodging for accompanying agents. The president tried to arrange for his Trump National Doral Golf Club in Florida to be chosen as the venue for a Group of Seven meeting of global leaders, only to pull back after an outcry of about self dealing. Among the documents released Monday was a bill tied to 2017 trip by Trump’s oldest son, Don Jr., to the Trump International Hotel down the street from the White House. That resulted in a Secret Service room charge of $1,185 per night, more than five times the government-approved per diem rate, the committee said, though the agency is allowed to make exceptions. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read More Here

These Democrats Flipped House In 2018. 2022 Will Be Harder. https://digitalalaskanews.com/these-democrats-flipped-house-in-2018-2022-will-be-harder/ WASHINGTON — (AP) — Moments after she flipped a longtime Republican congressional seat in 2018, Iowa Democrat Cindy Axne declared that “Washington doesn’t have our back and we deserve a heck of a lot better.” Now seeking a third term in one of the most competitive House races, Axne is sounding a similar tone, telling voters she’s delivered for Iowans “while Washington politicians bicker.” But Axne and other Democrats from the class of 2018 are campaigning in a much different political environment this year. The anxiety over Donald Trump’s presidency that their party harnessed to flip more than 40 seats and regain the House majority has eased. In its place is frustration about the economy under President Joe Biden. And many districts that were once competitive have been redrawn by Republican-dominated state legislatures to become more friendly to the GOP. “It was a very different world,” pollster John Zogby said of 2018. “Inflation’s now where we haven’t seen in 40 years and it affects everybody. And this is the party in power. With campaigns, you don’t get to say, ‘But it could have been’ or ’But look at what the other guy did.’” Many swing-district Democrats elected four years ago were buoyed by college-educated, suburban voters, women and young people shunning Trump. That means many defeats for second-term House Democrats could be read as opposition to Trump no longer motivating voters in the same way — even though the former president could seek the White House again in 2024. Trump continues to shape politics in a far more present sense, too. He’s dominated the national Republican Party despite spreading lies about 2020’s free and fair presidential election and now facing a House subpoena for helping incite the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol last year. Tom Perez, who headed the Democratic National Committee from 2017 until 2021, noted that midterm cycles are historically tough for the president’s party and that — plus grim U.S. economic news — would normally raise the question “are Democrats going to get shellacked?” Instead, Perez thinks many of the toughest congressional races remain close because of the strength of Democrats elected four years ago. “All these folks from the Class of ’18, what they have in common is they’re really incredibly competent, accomplished and they’ve earned the trust of voters in their districts across the ideological spectrum,” said Perez, co-chair of the super PAC American Bridge 21st Century. “That, to me, is why we have a chance here, not withstanding the headwinds of the moment, is that incredible combination of candidate quality contrasted with the extreme views of the people who are running against them.” In all, 66 new Democrats won House races in 2018, flipping 41 Republican seats. Their party gave back many of those gains in 2020, with Republicans taking 14 new seats. Those GOP victories included defeating a dozen Democrats elected to the House for the first time the previous cycle. The Democratic House losses were overshadowed by Biden beating Trump. But this time, the ranks of the 2018 Democratic House class further dwindling may draw more attention — especially if it helps the GOP gain the net five seats it needs to reclaim the chamber’s majority. In addition to Axne, Democrats who may be vulnerable include Reps. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Tom Malinowski of New Jersey and Elaine Luria of Virginia. Another Virginia Democrat, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, as well as Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Angie Craig of Minnesota and Sharice Davids of Kansas all also may face tough reelections. “The question is, is it going to have similarities to ’18 or not in the sense of democracy being on the ballot and a reaction to Trump,” former California Democratic Rep. Harley Rouda, who was elected in 2018 but narrowly lost his reelection bid, said of next month’s election. “Based on polling and the primaries, it doesn’t seem like the voting public is holding Republicans responsible for the Big Lie.” Perez is more sanguine: “The midterm election is supposed to be a referendum on the president, but Donald Trump continues to inject himself” into the nation’s politics. House turnover is common among both parties. By early 2018, almost half of the 87 House Republicans newly elected when their party took control of the chamber during the 2010 tea party surge were gone. More lost that November. Still, the 2018 class was notable as the largest influx of first-year House Democrats in four-plus decades, and the chamber’s youngest and most diverse ever. Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, said 2018 was also the largest class of new women elected to the House since 1992, with 35 Democrats and one Republican. But 2020 also saw 28 new women elected to Congress, and some were Republicans who defeated Democrats who’d won for the first time the last cycle. “We had a couple of very strong years in a row, one for Democrats and one for Republicans,” Walsh said of women in the House. She said that means that even if the 2018 House Democratic class gets smaller this year, ”I would not look at one election cycle and say the face of Congress is going back to old, white men.” Republicans, meanwhile, have 32 Hispanic nominees and 23 Black nominees running for the House this cycle — both party records. They say their chances of winning the chamber’s majority are built more on high inflation and crime rates rising in some places than Trump or last year’s insurrection. “We have a choice between commonsense and crazy,” Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. “And Americans will vote for Republicans up and down the ballot as a result.” The Democrats’ 2018 House class won’t dissolve completely. Some incumbents are seeking reelection in safely blue districts, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Lucy McBath of Georgia and Colin Allred of Texas, who was the class’ co-president. Democratic Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens, the other co-president, beat fellow 2018 Democratic House class member Andy Levin when the two incumbents squared off in this year’s Democratic primary based on their state’s new map. One Democratic 2018 House class member ousted in 2020, former New York Rep. Max Rose, is now running to get back to Congress. Another member, New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew, has since become a Republican. Former Virginia Rep. Denver Riggleman was a Republican elected in 2018 but lost his 2020 GOP primary. Riggleman is now appearing in a TV ad praising Spanberger. “She’s trying to change Congress and make it work,” Riggleman says in the ad. “She puts country first.” Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More Here

Ukraine Live Briefing: Russia Targets Power Facilities; Ukrainians Want To Fight Until Victory https://digitalalaskanews.com/ukraine-live-briefing-russia-targets-power-facilities-ukrainians-want-to-fight-until-victory/ After a week of deadly strikes against civilians, Kyiv has accused Russia’s military of continuing attacks on its latest target: Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Multiple facilities in the capital and across the country were struck Tuesday morning, cutting electricity and water supplies and prompting officials to plead with residents to reduce their consumption. About 70 percent of Ukrainians are determined to keep fighting until their country wins the war against Russia, according to a Gallup poll conducted in early September amid strong Ukrainian counteroffensives that recaptured land in the south and east. The majority of Ukrainians backing the war — 91 percent — defined victory as retaking all territories seized by Russia since 2014, including Crimea, Gallup said. Here’s the latest on the war and its ripple effects across the globe. Read More Here

Oil Prices Stable As Economic Fears Offset Supply Woes https://digitalalaskanews.com/oil-prices-stable-as-economic-fears-offset-supply-woes/ LONDON, Oct 18 (Reuters) – Oil prices were stable on Tuesday as the market balanced cuts to OPEC+ production quotas against fears of economic slowdown and lower Chinese fuel demand. Brent crude futures eased by 7 cents, or 0.08%, to $91.55 a barrel by 1127 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 12 cents, or 0.14%, at $85.34. WTI had risen earlier by more than $1 a barrel on a weaker dollar, which makes oil cheaper for buyers holding other currencies. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com But the U.S. dollar index measuring the greenback against six peers rose later in the session, weighing on oil prices in European trading. Also in focus was the Bank of England’s plan to start selling the vast government bond holdings it amassed during the coronavirus crisis. That sent long-dated yields higher , indicating increased risks to financial stability. Meanwhile, China’s fuel demand outlook weighed on sentiment after the world’s top crude oil importer delayed release of economic indicators originally scheduled to be published on Tuesday. No date was given for a rescheduled release. read more On the supply side, U.S. crude oil stocks were expected to have risen for a second consecutive week, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday. Output in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, the biggest U.S. shale oil basin, is forecast to rise by about 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) to a record 5.453 million bpd this month, the Energy Information Administration said. Some price support came from investors increasing long positions in futures after a 2 million barrel per day (bpd) cut to output targets agreed by OPEC+, ANZ Research analysts said in a note. Several members of the oil producer group have endorsed the cut after the White House accused Saudi Arabia of coercing some nations into supporting the move, a charge Riyadh denies. “Even though the production cut is not likely in reality to be even half as high, the U.S. government sees it as an affront … The question now is how the U.S. will react, as this could have a far-reaching impact on the oil market,” Commerzbank said in a note. The Biden administration plans to sell oilfrom the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to cool fuel prices before next month’s congressional elections, sources told Reuters on Monday. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Rowena Edwards in London Additional reporting by Isabel Kua in Singapore Editing by David Goodman Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here

The Discovery Of 4 Dismembered Bodies In An Oklahoma River Turned A Missing Persons Case Into A Murder Probe. Here's What We Know | CNN https://digitalalaskanews.com/the-discovery-of-4-dismembered-bodies-in-an-oklahoma-river-turned-a-missing-persons-case-into-a-murder-probe-heres-what-we-know-cnn/ CNN  —  A set of missing persons reports has turned into a murder investigation after dismembered bodies found in an Oklahoma river were identified as four men who vanished last week, police said. The men – Mark Chastain, 32; Billy Chastain, 30; Mike Sparks, 32; and Alex Stevens, 29 – were reported missing by relatives last Monday night or early Tuesday after leaving Billy Chastain’s Okmulgee, Oklahoma, home on bicycles around 9 p.m. October 9, police have said. The men appear to have been planning to commit a crime when they set out, Okmulgee Police Chief Joe Prentice said Monday, citing a preliminary investigation. All had been shot, he said. Meantime, a person police want to talk with related to the case has been missing as of Saturday night and could be suicidal, the chief said. The person is not a suspect, and no charges have been filed, he said. “I’ve worked over 80 murders in my career. I have worked murders involving multiple victims. I have worked dismemberments, but this case involves the highest number of victims, and it’s a very violent event,” Prentice said. Here’s what we know about the case: A passerby called police Friday after seeing something suspicious in a river outside Okmulgee, a city of about 11,000 people roughly a 35-mile drive south of Tulsa, Prentice previously said. Police arrived, saw remains and found multiple bodies. The bodies were identified as the four missing men – all having been shot and dismembered, the chief announced Monday. “Although the official cause and manner of death is still pending, each victim suffered gunshot wounds,” Prentice said. “All four bodies were dismembered before being placed in the river, and that is what caused difficulty in determining identities.” The remains were recovered over several days, and it’s not clear what kind of evidence investigators will be able to recover. “Whenever water is involved, it makes it much more difficult to identify evidence,” the chief said. Police have not recovered any bicycles, nor the gun used in the killings. While it remains unclear exactly what led up to the men’s deaths, it appears they were planning to commit a crime when they left Chastain’s home, Prentice said, citing a preliminary investigation. The belief is based on “information supplied by a witness who reports they were invited to go with the men to quote, unquote, ‘Hit a lick big enough for all of them,’” the chief said Monday in a news conference. “That is common terminology for engaging in some type of criminal behavior, but we do not know what they were planning or where they planned to do it,” Prentice added. After the men were reported missing, police said they believed at least two of the men had cell phones with them. Investigators traced the phones’ path, finding the devices went to two salvage yards – one about 5 miles from the river, and the other about 10 to 12 miles from the river, Prentice told CNN on Saturday. Police later found “evidence of a violent event” on property adjoining one of those locations, the chief said without elaborating. Police have a person of interest in the case, and no charges have been filed, the chief said Monday. The person, who has denied knowing the four men, is not a suspect but “a person of interest that we’d like to talk to,” Prentice said. But the person has gone missing as of Saturday night and could be suicidal, Prentice said. Now that the case is a murder probe, police will be more tight-lipped about further proceedings “to protect the integrity of the investigation,” Prentice said. Read More Here

Synovia Pharma Brings In Latest Ertugliflozin To Achieve More Efficient Glycemic Control In Type 2 Diabetic Patients https://digitalalaskanews.com/synovia-pharma-brings-in-latest-ertugliflozin-to-achieve-more-efficient-glycemic-control-in-type-2-diabetic-patients/ Diabetes is one of the four major types of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) that make the largest contribution to morbidity and mortality worldwide.  The prevalence of diabetes is increasing in Bangladesh in both urban and rural areas and in 2021, the International Diabetes Federation estimated that 13.1 million people were living with diabetes in Bangladesh and is projected to almost double by 2025, reads a press release.  While managing diabetes, one of the prime concerns of healthcare professionals remains how to reduce HbA1c efficiently without triggering any other comorbidities – such as ASCVD (Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease), HF (Heart Failure), and CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease). SGLT2 (Sodium-glucose Cotransporter-2) Inhibitors, in that context, plays a pivotal role in the diabetes treatment regime as this emerging therapy is versatile and caters to the need of the patients. Hence, when Sanofi Bangladesh started its journey as Synovia Pharma on April 1, the promise was to bring breakthrough new and innovative solutions to cater to the unmet needs of Bangladeshi patients.  Living by that promise, Synovia Pharma brings in the latest SGLT2 inhibitor ERTU (Ertugliflozin) to achieve more efficient glycemic control in Type 2 diabetic patients. Eminent physician Professor AK Azad Khan, national professor and president of the Diabetes Association of Bangladesh graced the launching event of ERTU as the chief guest.  Professor Md Faruque Pathan, Professor of Endocrinology, at BIRDEM General Hospital chaired the program where Professor SM Ashrafuzzaman – professor and president of Bangladesh Endocrine Society was present as the special guest. In the scientific part of the program, Prof Indrajit Prasad – professor and head of Endocrinology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital presented on ‘Diabetes Management Focusing on CVD Outcome’ and Prof Shamim Ahmed – professor, National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology (NIKDU) presented on ‘Diabetes Management Focusing on Renal Protection’. Professor Md Nazrul Islam, professor and chairman, Dept of Nephrology, BSMMU (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital), Mir Jamal Uddin, professor and director of NICVD (National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases), Professor Md Hafizur Rahman, United Hospital, Professor Feroz Amin and head of Endocrinology, BIRDEM (Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine, and Metabolic Disorders,  Dr Shahjada Selim, associate professor, BSMMU and Faria Afsana, associate professor, BIRDEM presented their expert opinion as the Panel of Experts.  The panel elaborately discussed the diabetes scenario of the country and elaborated on the importance of medicines in managing diabetes-associated comorbidities.  In his speech, the special guest of the event Professor SM Ashrafuzzaman said: “As per VERTIS-CV trial of SGLT2 inhibitor evaluated medication’s cardiovascular safety in patients with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor ertugliflozin does not impact the likelihood of heart attack, stroke, or cardiac death in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and established cardiovascular (CV) disease.” “Research also showed the rate of hospitalization for heart failure was lower among study participants treated with ertugliflozin. The study was highlighted during the ‘Results of the evaluation of ERTugliflozin Efficacy and Safety Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial (VERTIS-CV)’ symposium at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA’s) 80th Virtual Scientific Sessions”, said the chairperson of the event Professor Md Faruque Pathan.   The chief guest of the event eminent physician and academic National Professor AK Azad Khan said: “Diabetes has become an epidemic in the world. Moreover, once someone is diagnosed with this disease, it remains for life. However, if kept under complete control this disease can’t harm much and one can live a healthy, normal, and active life by avoiding all kinds of physical complications. There have been many scientific advances in treating diabetes in recent times. In this regard, the SGLT2 inhibitor group of drugs are worth mentioning. Acme Synovia Pharma PLC for making this group of drugs (Ertugliflozin) readily available in Bangladesh. With this drug, patients with diabetes can live a better life.” The welcome address of the event was presented by AKM Rafique, general manager, Sales, Synovia Pharma, and a vote of thanks was presented by Syed AB Tahmeed, director of Marketing, of Synovia Pharma. Read More Here

Post Politics Now: Biden Seeks To Keep Focus On Abortion With Political Address https://digitalalaskanews.com/post-politics-now-biden-seeks-to-keep-focus-on-abortion-with-political-address/ Today, with three weeks remaining until the midterm elections, President Biden will try to keep the issue of abortion in the spotlight as he delivers an address in Washington hosted by the Democratic National Committee. Biden is expected to focus on an issue that Democrats have sought to elevate in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, but one that recent polling shows is not weighing as heavily on voters as the economy and related issues. On Monday, Biden officially launched the website for student loan borrowers to apply to receive up to $20,000 in debt cancellation, holding an event the White House complex to draw attention to the effort. Meanwhile, debates in high-profile midterm contests are continuing around the country. Your daily dashboard 12:15 p.m. Eastern: Biden delivers remarks at the Howard Theatre in Washington. 1:45 p.m. Eastern: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefs reporters. Watch live here. 6:15 p.m. Eastern (3:15 p.m. Pacific): Vice President Harris participates in a moderated discussion in San Francisco on climate change. Watch live here. Got a question about politics? Submit it here. After 3 p.m. weekdays, return to this space and we’ll address what’s on the mind of readers. On our radar: Biden seeking to frame the choice voters have on abortion Return to menu With three weeks remaining until the midterm elections, President Biden will try to keep the issue of abortion in the spotlight on Tuesday as he delivers an address in Washington hosted by the Democratic National Committee. He is expected to focus in the speech on an issue that Democrats have sought to elevate in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, but one that recent polling shows is not weighing as heavily on voters as the economy and related issues. Biden is scheduled to make a short trip to the Howard Theatre, where he “will speak about the choice that voters face this November between Republicans who want to ban abortion nationwide, and Democrats who want to codify Roe into law to protect women’s reproductive freedom,” according to a DNC advisory. Noted: A battle for the white working-class vote in a key Indiana House race Return to menu When Democratic Rep. Frank J. Mrvan was first elected in 2020, he won easily in a working-class district that has been in Democratic hands for nearly a century. Campaigning at the Northwest Indiana Area Labor Federation’s annual awards dinner last week, though, there was an edge in Mrvan’s voice. Reporting from Chesterton, Ind., The Post’s Theodoric Meyer writes that Republicans are targeting the district — a union-heavy Democratic stronghold outside Chicago — this year for the first time in decades in their campaign to retake the House in November. Per our colleague: The latest: Ohio Senate debate filled with recriminations Return to menu A second debate in Ohio’s Senate race was filled with heated exchanges as Rep. Tim Ryan, the Democratic nominee, sought to frame his unexpectedly close race with GOP rival J.D. Vance as a choice between a moderate and an extremist, while Vance tried to tie his opponent to national Democratic leaders. The Post’s Hannah Knowles, Annie Linskey and Mariana Alfaro report that Ryan zeroed in on Vance’s praise for the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, his about-face on former president Donald Trump and his support for far-right lawmakers such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). Vance has been “running around backing these extremists, the most extreme people in the country,” Ryan said. Vance said Ryan has voted in lockstep with President Biden and his party as the Republican nominee sought to undermine the centrist persona that has helped Ryan remain competitive in a solidly red state. The latest: Utah Senate debate features heated exchange over 2020 election Return to menu Utah’s Senate debate grew heated on Monday night as independent candidate Evan McMullin assailed Sen. Mike Lee (R) over his efforts to help Donald Trump find alternate electors to overturn his 2020 loss, drawing applause but also loud boos from the audience. Lee, at one point, demanded an apology from McMullin, who accused the two-term incumbent of “the most egregious betrayal of our nation’s Constitution” and said, “It will be your legacy.” McMullin took aim at Lee’s habit of carrying around a pocket Constitution, saying the document “is not a prop for you to wave about and then, when it’s convenient for your pursuit of power, to abandon without a thought.” The latest: Abrams, Kemp agree on one thing — the other is terrible on crime Return to menu Gov. Brian Kemp (R) and Stacey Abrams (D) spent a significant portion of the Georgia governor’s debate on Monday night criticizing each other over their views on crime and guns. Early in the debate, hosted by the Atlanta Press Club, Kemp asked Abrams how many sheriffs statewide had endorsed her, prompting her to defend her support for law enforcement. “Unlike you, I don’t have the luxury of relying on slogans to describe my position on public safety,” said Abrams, who is trailing in the polls. “I believe that we need safety and justice.” Read More Here

‘Swampy Joe’ Has Spent ‘more Time Off’ Than Trump https://digitalalaskanews.com/swampy-joe-has-spent-more-time-off-than-trump/ Sky News host Paul Murray says Joe Biden has spent more time off than former US president Donald Trump over the same period of time of about two years. “Now remember, Donald Trump used to be criticised a lot for playing golf on the weekends and not being in the White House. “This was an example of him not being serious about his job, if only somebody would do better, please welcome … Biden.” Read More Here

Mo Brooks Calls Trump Fundraising A 'scam'; Promotes ‘truth In… https://digitalalaskanews.com/mo-brooks-calls-trump-fundraising-a-scam-promotes-truth-in/ (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt) U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) called out former President Donald Trump on Monday, accusing him of scamming donors in a fundraising scheme all too common in politics. “Donald Trump symbolic of common fundraising scam,” Brooks said in a tweet. “Emails inundate citizens – begging for $ to help candidates win. Yet, too often, only 9 cents of their sacrifice benefits cause. 91% skimmed by fundraisers. My advice: NEVER give $ to campaign emails.” #DonaldTrump symbolic of common fundraising scam. Emails inundate citizens – begging for $ to help candidates win. Yet, too often, only 9 cents of their sacrifice benefits cause. 91% skimmed by fundraisers. My advice: NEVER give $ to campaign emails.https://t.co/9sWioFvvLg — Mo Brooks (@MoBrooks) October 17, 2022 Brooks referred to a Yahoo! Finance article breaking down Trump’s recent campaign spending. According to Yahoo, a filing with the Federal Election Commission showed Trump spent $22 million in this year’s third quarter after raising $24 million in contributions. That equates to 91 cents for every dollar raised going toward fundraising overhead instead of supporting the campaign. The filing showed Trump spent $7.3 million on SMS text notifications and just under $7.3 million on online ads. Roughly $2.8 million went to cover the cost of rentals of donor lists, his third biggest expense, Yahoo reported. “This problem is common — the rule, not the exception — throughout America, in presidential, congressional, senatorial, governor, etc., races, “ Brooks told 1819 News. Brooks said he’d support a law requiring campaigns to show up front how donation dollars will be spent. “In my humble opinion, there ought to be state ‘truth in campaign soliciting’ laws that require campaigns to disclose in the solicitation how much of the money raised actually goes to the campaign, and how much goes to consultants and solicitors,” Brooks said. “I bet the vast majority of contributors would not contribute if they knew only 9% of what they give helps a candidate win.” Brooks said the “general rule” is that roughly 20% of campaign contributions should go to the candidate. “The range is 10%-50% going to the candidate, depending on a variety of factors,” he said. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com. Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning. Read More Here

JD Vance, Blake Masters, Peter Thiel, And Their Anti-Big Tech Hypocrisy https://digitalalaskanews.com/jd-vance-blake-masters-peter-thiel-and-their-anti-big-tech-hypocrisy/ Senate candidates JD Vance and Blake Masters, and billionaire Peter Thiel.Mother Jones illustration; Drew Angerer/Getty; Christopher Brown/ZUMA; John Lamparski/Getty Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters. It’s become de rigueur for Republicans—especially Republican candidates—to blast away at Big Tech, assailing it for an assortment of ills, such as privacy violations and a presumed (and often unproven) bias against conservatives. Two GOP Senate candidates, in particular, JD Vance in Ohio and Blake Masters in Arizona, have pounded technology companies. Yet both have had connections to tech firms that have spurred privacy concerns, and their Senate bids have each been funded by Big Tech billionaire Peter Thiel, who has founded and financed ventures that prompt similar worries.  In an interview with conservative talk show host Bill Cunningham last year, Vance complained that Big Tech has become “more powerful than our own government” and controls “what you’re allowed to say and what you’re allowed to think in your own country.” He railed against tech companies that don’t respect consumers’ privacy: “They steal their data from them, and then they sell it back to them in the form of targeted ads. That’s really what Silicon Valley is all about.” Vance called for “breaking up these companies” and complained “there are very few senators willing to go after Silicon Valley.” On a Breitbart podcast, he accused Big Tech of “stealing our data and selling it to our enemies, selling it to our enemies, foreign, sometimes the Chinese… There is nothing that says that Google should be allowed to harvest your data as a consumer. Sell it back to you. Sell it to our adversaries.” He characterized the “entire economic engine of Big Tech, of Facebook, of Google, of everyone” as “harvesting your data, it’s effectively spying on you.” On his campaign website, Vance says, “The solution is simple: we need to break up the big tech companies, to reduce their power in our economy and our politics. We also need to ban the theft of our personal information. If they want our data, it’s time they paid for it.” Masters has pushed a similar line, assailing Big Tech companies for perpetrating “acute harms” on the American public regarding data privacy, as he noted on the Andrew Klavan Show earlier this year. “Data privacy in the United States,” he added, “doesn’t exist.” Masters blasted “giant multinational corporations” for taking “our data” and using “it against us every which way.” Appearing on Steve Bannon’s podcast a year ago, he insisted, “We need comprehensive federal data privacy legislation. You own your data; giant multinational corporations do not.” In October 2021, Vance and Masters co-wrote a column for the New York Post in which they claimed Big Tech had manipulated the 2020 election (against Trump), and they blasted Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg for donating $400 million to local election offices—an act they depicted as “election meddling” that demanded investigation. They charged that tech titans and other oligarchs “used their power and money to do everything they could to steal an election.” Despite their anti-Big Tech rhetoric, Vance and Masters each have had deep and profitable ties to the Silicon Valley they decry. Masters, who co-wrote a book with Thiel, worked for him at Thiel Capital, an investment firm, eventually becoming its chief operating officer, and he was president of the Thiel Foundation. Vance was a principal at Mithril Capital Management, Thiel’s venture capital firm. In 2019, he co-founded Narya Capital, a VC firm. To launch the company, he relied on funding from Thiel and two other Big Tech titans, Eric Schmidt, a past CEO of Google, and Marc Andreesen, who co-founded Netscape and the Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz. Google has long been a target of privacy advocates, as well as conservatives who claim it is politically biased against the right, and Netscape was accused of privacy violations in the early 2000s and agreed to a settlement with the New York State attorney general. In short, Vance’s own business was started with financial assistance from the Big Tech crowd he now assails.  As candidates, Vance and Masters have each benefited greatly from Thiel’s largesse. The libertarian-minded, pro-Trump billionaire has contributed $30 million to super-PACS that support the pair, each of whom have been endorsed by Donald Trump. The Washington Post recently reported that Thiel plans to dump another $5 million into Masters’ race, in which Thiel’s former associate is seeking to unseat Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, the former astronaut.  Vance, Masters, and Thiel all have links to the sort of Big Tech companies and activities that Vance and Masters routinely denounce. This is especially true for Thiel. He was one of the first outside investors in Facebook—a prominent target of Vance, Masters, and other right-wingers—and has served on its board since 2005. After Facebook booted Trump off the site following the January 6 assault on the US Capitol, Thiel raised objections to Facebook’s content moderation policies. In February, it was announced he would leave the Facebook board this year.  In 2003, Thiel co-founded Palantir Technologies, a secretive big-data analysis and surveillance company that works for government agencies, the US intelligence community, and private corporations and that has long troubled privacy advocates. (The CIA, through its own venture capital fund, was an early investor.) “Palantir’s data-mining software is used to analyze vast amounts of personal data held by the federal government to make determinations that affect people’s lives with little to no oversight,” Jeramie Scott, senior counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), told Vox. Palantir was also connected to the scandal involving Cambridge Analytica, the data company that improperly obtained Facebook data as part of its work for Trump and other Republican candidates in 2016. A Cambridge Analytica whistleblower claimed multiple senior Palantir employees were part of this effort. Palantir maintained only one of its employees had been involved with Cambridge Analytica “in an entirely personal capacity.” Thiel’s name arose recently in another data privacy controversy. In May, Vice News reported that a location data firm called SafeGraph was selling information regarding visits to clinics that provide abortion services, including Planned Parenthood facilities. This data showed where the people visiting the locations had come from, the duration of their visit to the clinic, and where they went afterward. Vice described SafeGraph’s methodology: “SafeGraph ultimately obtains location data from ordinary apps installed on people’s phones. Often app developers install code, called software development kits (SDKs), into their apps that sends users’ location data to companies in exchange for the developer receiving payment. Sometimes app users don’t know that their phone—be that via a prayer app, or a weather app—is collecting and sending location data to third parties.” The Daily Mail noted this raised “fears that women could be targeted by pro-life groups” and that Thiel and Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, the former head of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence agency, were among the financial backers of the privacy-threatening SafeGraph.  Thiel has also been an investor in Clearview AI, a company that scraped billions of images from the internet to develop facial-recognition software used by law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Secret Service. A 2020 feature on the firm in the New York Times called Clearview AI “the secretive company that might end privacy as we know it.” And as the newspaper reported last year, “The company’s product has been deemed illegal in Canada, and it is being investigated by Britain and Australia for its use of citizens’ personal information. Lawsuits that have been filed against the company in the United States include one in Illinois accusing it of violating that state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act.” This spring, Clearview AI was fined $10 million by the UK’s data protection watchdog for scraping photos of British citizens and ordered to delete all of the data it had amassed on UK citizens. It was also fined $21 million in Italy for violating data protection regulations and has been assailed by regulators in Australia, France, and Germany. As Thiel has served on the Facebook board, developed Palantir, and invested in these other privacy-defying companies, Masters has been his loyal acolyte and at his side as a top official of Thiel Capital from 2014 until this year. On its LinkedIn page, Thiel Capital states that it “provides strategic and operational support for Peter’s many investment initiatives and entrepreneurial endeavors.” Vance, in addition to working at Thiel’s VC shop, invested with him in a start-up with its own data and privacy issues. Last year, Narya, Vance’s company, and Thiel were participants in a $40 million Series B investment in Hallow, a Catholic prayer and meditation app that triggered privacy concerns. An investigation by Buzzfeed earlier this year found that Hallow and other Christian worship apps “have privacy policies that allow them to share user data with business partners for the purposes of targeted advertising and that give them ‘sole discretion’ about when to disclose user information to governments, law enforcement officials, or other ‘private parties.’” A Hallow representative told Buzzfeed it had not exploited its user information for marketing purposes or shared such data with private parties or the government. But Buzzfeed pointed out that its policy would allow Hallow and similar ap...

Anti-Trump Republicans Are Down But Not Out This Midterm Season: The Note https://digitalalaskanews.com/anti-trump-republicans-are-down-but-not-out-this-midterm-season-the-note/ The TAKE with Rick Klein There was perhaps a touch of strident optimism — if not some forgetfulness about 2016 — in former House Speaker Paul Ryan’s prediction last week that it doesn’t matter if former President Donald Trump runs again because he won’t win the GOP nomination. There was also a piece of strategic positioning in Colorado Republican Senate candidate Joe O’Dea saying on CNN over the weekend that he hopes Trump doesn’t run — coupled as it was with a promise to “actively campaign against Donald Trump” if he does. Trump noticed that statement on Monday, following it with a vow that O’Dea won’t get the “MAGA” vote. That went down on the same day that O’Dea happened to be raising money alongside former President George W. Bush, solidifying a place for him on a small but distinct list of current and former Republicans running in competitive races while speaking out publicly against Trump. Some better-known members of that club include Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger — both of whom are hoping to provide proof that there’s life in public office for Republicans who speak out against Trump and his lies about the 2020 election. In Utah, there’s independent Senate candidate Evan McMullin, the former GOP staffer who famously opposed Trump in the state in 2016 and is now running against Republican Sen. Mike Lee. McMullin has the backing of the state Democratic Party and the new political organization of Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill. — and has kept Lee’s Utah colleague, Sen. Mitt Romney, neutral in the race despite Lee’s public requests for help. “I’m not going to Washington, if we prevail, to be a bootlicker for Donald Trump or Joe Biden,” McMullin said Monday night at his debate with Lee. The 2022 landscape is littered with evidence that opposing Trump has no upside for Republicans, from Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney’s primary defeat to MAGA wins in primaries from Arizona to Maryland. But between Trump-endorsed candidates who might lose next month and a few Republicans who might defy expectations, there are some messages still to be delivered. Sen. Lisa Murkowski attends a hearing in Washington, July 19, 2022. Tom Williams/AP, FILE The RUNDOWN with Averi Harper In remarks from Washington on Tuesday, Joe Biden is expected to frame November’s elections as a choice on reproductive rights that are hanging in the balance in states across the country. “The president will speak about the choice that voters face this November between Republicans who want to ban abortion nationwide, and Democrats who want to codify Roe [v. Wade] into law to protect women’s reproductive freedom,” reads a memo from the Democratic National Committee. For Democrats, abortion access has been the centerpiece of the case made to turn out midterm voters. Many point to the overwhelming failure of a Kansas proposal to strip the right to an abortion from the state constitution as proof that it is a galvanizing issue. But there are no guarantees that reproductive rights will translate to Democratic victories as the party tries to hold on to control of Congress. After all, most voters won’t have the opportunity to cast ballots on abortion access alone; and while there are undoubtedly voters who will make their decisions on this single issue, polling suggests it is more likely that voters will be thinking of more than one issue or that other issues, like the economy, will take precedence. The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, from mid-September, found that 84% of respondents called the economy a top issue in their vote for Congress and 76% said the same about inflation. Only 62% called abortion a top issue. Activists protest during a “Bans Off Our Bodies” rally in support of abortion rights at Old Bucks County Courthouse in Doylestown, Pa., Sept. 29, 2022. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images, FILE The TIP with Alisa Wiersema Incumbent Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and Democratic Rep. Val Demings will face off in their only debate on Tuesday evening, some three weeks after Hurricane Ian swept across Florida. The aftermath of the storm is likely to be one of the local issues raising tensions between the two lawmakers, alongside the national discourse over abortion access and crime. Rubio — who is seeking a third term in office — has sought to label Demings a “radical” and portrayed her congressional voting record as being that of a “puppet” to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The attacks echo rhetoric espoused in other battleground Senate contests. But it remains to be seen how they land among voters when aimed at Demings, a former Orlando police chief, who has likewise criticized Rubio’s resistance to Medicare negotiating lower drug prices, among other positions. Although Demings entered the race in the red-leaning state as an underdog, the congresswoman has a fundraising lead on Rubio that could prove to be a critical factor in the last weeks of the election. Demings’ massive fundraising hauls have outpaced Rubio by $28 million as of late last month, according to the latest available Federal Election Commission filings. Meanwhile, Rubio is enjoying a consistent lead in voter surveys: FiveThirtyEight’s analysis of polling averages since August has him up by 4.6 points as of last week. The outcome of Florida’s Senate contest will help determine which party controls the majority in the upper chamber, but the trajectory of the race has implications that could reach beyond this November’s midterm elections. While Florida Republicans have consistently won statewide races in recent years, their margins have been relatively close, which leaves the door open for the possibility of a flip. In 2020, Donald Trump pulled ahead of Joe Biden by just over 3% and in 2018, Gov. Ron DeSantis won the governor’s mansion by less than 1%. Val Demings and Marco Rubio are pictured in a composite image. Getty Images, FILE ONE MORE THING Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the Democratic nominee for governor, is out with a new ad hammering his GOP opponent, state Sen. Doug Mastriano, directly linking him to the QAnon conspiracy theory. The ad dubs Mastriano “an important part of their movement” and surfaces tweets in which Mastriano posted hashtags seemingly in support of the conspiracy theory. The message, along with abortion, is anticipated to be a key part of the Shapiro campaign’s closing argument. Mastriano’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the ad. Power Trip “Power Trip” follows 7 young reporters as they chase down candidates in the lead up to the midterms with George Stephanopoulos guiding them along the way. THE PLAYLIST ABC News’ “Start Here” Podcast. “Start Here” begins Tuesday morning with a look at the “kamikaze” drone attacks in Kyiv. ABC’s Britt Clennett leads us off with reporting from Ukraine’s capital city. Then FiveThirtyEight’s Nathaniel Rakich discusses the districts most likely to decide control of the House. And, ABC’s Sony Salzman talks about the impact of over-the-counter hearing aids for Americans with mild to moderate hearing loss. http://apple.co/2HPocUL WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY President Biden will speak at Howard Theatre in Washington at 12:15 p.m. ET. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff attends a roundtable on voting rights at 2:30 p.m. ET in Colorado. Florida’s Senate candidates Val Demings, the Democratic U.S. House member, and incumbent Republican Sen. Marco Rubio meet for a debate at 7 p.m. ET. Download the ABC News app and select “The Note” as an item of interest to receive the day’s sharpest political analysis. The Note is a daily ABC News feature that highlights the day’s top stories in politics. Please check back Wednesday for the latest. Read More Here

Uterine Cancer, Student Loans, And Hearing Aids | Daily Skimm https://digitalalaskanews.com/uterine-cancer-student-loans-and-hearing-aids-daily-skimm/ Straight Hair, Do Care The Story The use of chemical hair straighteners may lead to a higher risk of uterine cancer. Since when? Yesterday, the National Institutes of Health released a study that found women who frequently used hair straightening products (think: at least four times a year) more than doubled their risk of developing uterine cancer. That’s after the study tracked over 33,000 women between the ages of 35-74 for about 11 years. During that time, 378 uterine cancer cases were diagnosed. And it comes as rates of uterine cancer are on the rise in the US, particularly among Black women. While the research didn’t find a link between straightener use and uterine cancer with race, the risk may be greater for Black women. Why? Of the study participants who reported using straighteners, 60% self-identified as Black women. And researchers say that in addition to using hair straightening or relaxer products more frequently, Black women also start using them at an earlier age than other races and ethnicities. (Worth noting: Black shoppers, according to one report, spend around $473 million annually on hair care, which is a $4.2 billion industry.) While another study found that frequent use of permanent hair dye and chemical hair straighteners can lead to an increased risk of developing breast cancer — with products predominantly used by Black women containing more potentially hazardous ingredients. What else do I need to know? The study doesn’t specify which brands or ingredients participants used, but it does say several chemicals that’ve been found in straighteners — including parabens, bisphenol A, metals, and formaldehyde — could be contributing to the increased risk. Not to mention that chemical exposure in hair products is absorbed at a higher rate through the scalp. And burns caused by straighteners could make things worse. But researchers say more studies are needed to identify which chemicals may be increasing the risk of cancers. theSkimm Growing up, straightening your hair was a rite of passage for many. But in recent years, there’s been a movement to embrace what’s natural. Now, these findings could raise further awareness of the risks — and encourage even more women to go au naturel. Skimm the Midterms: Immigration We’re less than a month out from Election Day. Here’s the latest on one of the big topics voters care about: Last week, President Biden announced he’s expanding Title 42 — in an effort to discourage Venezuelans from attempting to enter the country through the US-Mexico border. Reminder: The pandemic-era order, which was first enacted by the Trump admin, essentially turned away asylum seekers at the border, with the goal of stopping the spread of COVID-19. Some Dems (including Biden) previously criticized the policy. And the Biden admin has even tried fighting it in court. But now, the administration seems to have shifted its stance — a move human rights groups have condemned. It comes as a record number of people have been apprehended crossing the US-Mexico border this year. And as a record number have died on the way.  At the same time, President Biden has made progress on a number of campaign promises surrounding immigration. He’s reversed some of former President Trump’s immigration policies (see: this and this). He’s extended temporary protection for about 150,000 Haitians living in the US. And in August, he introduced a new regulation to codify DACA and replace the 2012 memo that created it. Still, one poll found that 40% of voters trust Republicans to do a better job addressing immigration —compared to 32% of voters who chose Democrats. To keep up with all the midterms latest, you can Skimm your ballot and make sure you’re registered to vote before your state’s deadline. And Also…This What’s making progress… The Department of Education. Yesterday, the Biden admin officially launched the application for its federal student loan forgiveness program. You know, the one that forgives up to $20,000 of student loan debt for certain borrowers. Less than a week after a beta version of the website was launched, it’s now officially opened its doors — meaning borrowers have until Dec 31, 2023, to fill out an application form here. (Pro tip: have info like your name, SSN, DOB, email, and phone number at the ready.) Who qualifies: Those making less than $125,000 a year (or $250,000 for married couples) will be forgiven up to $10,000 in federal loan debt. The Dept of Education will also provide up to $20,000 in debt cancellation to those who received Pell Grants.  One and done: If you’ve already submitted your application during the beta period, the admin says there’s no need to reapply again. What’s got people talking… This drug. Yesterday, the FDA made the case for pulling Makena — a  drug meant to lower the risk of premature births — off the market. For context: the agency granted accelerated approval to Makena in 2011, with the condition that a follow-up study would be conducted. But that ended up showing the drug didn’t reduce premature births or result in healthier outcomes for newborns. And that it actually increased the risk of side effects like blood clots and depression in mothers. So now the FDA wants to yank the pregnancy drug after more than 300,000 women have already taken it. Meanwhile, Makena argues there’s evidence the drug may work in some Black women — who are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. And that, apparently, the inconsistent trial outcomes may be the result of differing patient populations. So it’s asking for time to do further research, while keeping the drug available to those who need it Next up: Drug companies allegedly pull medications voluntarily from the market if follow-up trials aren’t showing effectiveness — but Makena’s refusing to do so. The hearing will reportedly wrap up on Wednesday, when a panel of experts will vote on whether the drug should be tossed. After that, FDA leaders will make a final decision on if it should ultimately be withdrawn.  Who wants his voice heard… Kanye West. Yesterday, Parler announced that West is buying the social media platform — which has positioned itself as a free-speech alternative to Twitter. (ICYMI, the app is popular among conservatives and was temporarily removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for its role in the Jan 6 riots.) The acquisition comes after West was locked out of Twitter and Instagram over antisemitic posts earlier this month. Now, he’s the latest celebrity (see: Elon Musk and former President Trump) to try and acquire a social media platform. Because, West says, he wants to make sure he has the “right to freely express” himself in a world where “conservative opinions” are considered “controversial.” TBD on the value, but the company expects to close the deal by the fourth quarter of 2022. While we’re honoring World Menopause Day…  It’s a good reminder that you’re never too young to talk about it. What could be a game changer for millions… OTC hearing aids. Who we’re ready to Marvel over… Thaddeus ”Thunderbolt” Ross. Read More Here

Stress- An Accompaniment With School Life https://digitalalaskanews.com/stress-an-accompaniment-with-school-life/ New Delhi: Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev’s recent utterances on ‘mental health’ invited ire across the education space and generally too, given that mental health is no more a closeted issue in India. In fact, with celebrities, globally and closer home, waxing eloquence on the subject, it is quite a flavorsome topic of discussion. This article is in no way celebrating what India’s best pace bowler said on World Mental Health Day at a talk called by test prep company Byju’s but just taking a detour on the larger issue, possibly hunting for the crux of the hate trolls that ensued that day.  Centre stage Mental health, and depression, are issues that have taken center stage in the last few decades only, not to say that they never existed before but they have come into the limelight, so to speak. Why they sought societal glare is difficult to answer for anyone but most attribute it to changing times, especially in the education scenario. Today doing well academically is mostly about good marks, good coaching, good placements, good salaries, and good jobs. Learning is just taken for granted, say some. In the years gone by it was not. A school teacher who retired five years ago told The FPJ that earlier she spanked students if they failed to submit their homework but closer to her retirement years, she only sent notes to the errant child’s parents. “I don’t know what changed over time but the bond with students took a turn. Earlier the attachment was different and when we enforced discipline, often the parents thanked us for it. Today, that scenario is impossible because mental health is an issue we have to keep in mind. Parents admit that while they were growing up, there was little or no speak of ‘depression’ or mental health, and all kinds of ‘bad hair days’ eventually turned into good ones but when it comes to their own children they think about many factors. “Can’t pinpoint what changed since we were kids, but today every small change in our child’s behavior we keep a note of, like a diary and we worry about every change as if it were all catastrophic,” said a parent.  Students’ lives changed? When asked whether students these days are in a worse situation to tackle their problems than some generations ago, Mridul Shandilya, Ex-Student (IIT-Bombay MBA) and a Certified Coach said that “some students today are smarter, more mature and in a better frame of mind if I compare with my days as a student. Some students find it difficult to handle problems. “Bottom line – we cannot generalize a trait for today’s students. If we generalize, we are letting ourselves fall into the trap of stereotyping.” When asked whether ‘learning has taken a backstep’ in front of good salaries, Mridul disagreed. “I don’t see learning being taken for granted, but results of that learning in terms of good placements and salaries matter to students. Learning gets rewarded less; the results get rewarded more. Naturally, students want the results. “ Students admitted however that constant social media glare does put pressure on their lives. To this Mridul’s reply was an emphatic yes. “Being excessively connected through Social media creates situations of multitasking (talking in person and online simultaneously) and envy (comparing oneself to someone else). Both multitasking and envy increase pressure.”  Another student who is in his first year PGDM in a b-school in Delhi says that he now knows what depression is all about because he hardly gets time to sleep. “But I also know that I am enjoying my college and studies so I doubt I will ever actually feel depressed. I have to keep enjoying what I do to keep myself sane,” he said. A former student from St Xavier’s College who was mentally depressed in his college years says that he then never knew what he suffered then was called depression. “I just thought I was different since a lot of things worried me and I had a difficult time coping with my problems  but  I got help when I needed it from classmates and teachers  and got over my issues.”   Help/ Stigma RK Verma, Founder of Resonance Eduventures has many Counsellors in his institute in Kota. “They are needed, we don’t want our students to face any kind of depression. We encourage students to talk to them.” Most institutes in Kota have employed counselors to help students get through tiring times. Manny schools in urban cities also have counselors as part of their daily routine. Said a teacher “today one talks of younger students being depressed, it surprises me when that happens.” The same teacher added that it just could be that some homes and parents are not imbibing the kind of values in their children and maybe a support system is wanting which is why things get complicated outside the home and it takes a toll on child’s daily existence. Kapil Dev said the same thing that students faced the music in those days and went about their day. Dr. AK Sengupta, Founder of Higher Education Forum, and former Director SIES College of Management Studies, Navi Mumbai was honest to admit that in his time as a student depression may have existed but there was no outlet. “Today’s generation is better aware as well as more vocal particularly in terms of social media expression. Students of my generation were also depressed but found no appropriate channel,” he says. Depression comes with loads of stigma around it. Students or individuals seeking counseling are sometimes seen as outlanders but in a softer sense. IIM Indore Director Himanshu Rai says that Kapil Dev’s statement mirrors reality. “His statement is a reflection of the biggest challenge the issue of “stress” and “depression” face in our country. Denial of its very existence let alone acknowledging it as an issue which is real and growing at an alarming rate” Dr Rai prefers that “instead of criticizing an individual, I would take it as an indication of the need to bring this conversation mainstream and remove the stigma surrounding it.” (To receive our E-paper on whatsapp daily, please click here. To receive it on Telegram, please click here. We permit sharing of the paper’s PDF on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.) Read More Here

Explosions Reported In Cities Across Ukraine; Zelenskyy Urges Troops To Take More Russian Prisoners https://digitalalaskanews.com/explosions-reported-in-cities-across-ukraine-zelenskyy-urges-troops-to-take-more-russian-prisoners/ Danish police say ‘powerful explosions’ caused Nord Stream gas leaks Climate scientists described the shocking images of gas spewing to the surface of the Baltic Sea as a “reckless release” of greenhouse gas emissions that, if deliberate, “amounts to an environmental crime.” Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Danish police said a preliminary investigation found that “powerful explosions” on two Russian gas pipelines sent gas spewing into the Baltic Sea. The findings appeared to be similar to a crime scene investigation carried out by Sweden’s national security service earlier this month, which reinforced suspicions of “gross sabotage.” A flurry of detonations on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines on Sept. 26 caused what might be the single largest release of methane in history. The explosions triggered four gas leaks at four locations — two in Denmark’s exclusive economic zone and two in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone. Danish police said it was not possible to say when the investigation was likely to be completed. — Sam Meredith Air strikes reported in several Ukrainian cities Police officers stand guard in a street after a drone attack in Kyiv on Oct. 17, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sergei Supinsky | Afp | Getty Images Air strikes have been reported in several Ukrainian cities, prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accuse Russia of terrorizing and killing civilians. Zelenskyy said via Telegram that one person had been killed in a missile strike on a residential building in Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine. “Ukraine is under fire by the occupiers. They continue to do what they do best – terrorize and kill civilians,” Zelenskyy said, according to Reuters. “The terrorist state will not change anything for itself with such actions. It will only confirm its destructive and murderous essence, for which it will certainly be held to account.” Meanwhile, Maria Avdeeva, a security analyst from Kharkiv, described the latest barrage of air strikes as a “massive attack on energy infrastructure facilities.” Avdeeva reported three strikes on an energy facility in the Desnyansky district of Kyiv, two strikes at an energy infrastructure facility in Dnipro in central Ukraine and no electricity or water supplies in Zhytomyr in the north. CNBC has not been able to independently verify this report. — Sam Meredith Zelenskyy urges Ukrainian forces to take more Russian prisoners Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the country’s forces to take more Russian prisoners in order to help free more Ukrainian troops. His comments come shortly after Kyiv and Moscow carried out the largest prisoner swap of the war to date, exchanging a total of 218 detainees, including 108 Ukrainian women. “I am grateful to all involved for this success, and I also thank all those who replenish our exchange fund, who ensure the capture of enemies,” Zelenskyy said during his evening address to the nation. “The more Russian prisoners we have, the sooner we will be able to free our heroes. Every Ukrainian warrior, every frontline commander should remember this,” he added. — Sam Meredith Russian plane crash death toll rises to 13 A senior Russian health official said 13 people were killed after a Russian fighter plane crashed into a nine-story residential building in the southern Russian town of Yeysk, according to Russian news agency Interfax. Videos and images published on social media on Monday showed a large fireball erupting from a residential building in the resort town, near the border with Ukraine. Alexei Kuznetsov, Russian assistant health minister, told the news agency that 13 people had died as a result of the crash, including three children. — Sam Meredith EU approves Ukraine training mission, arms funds High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks during a news conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Brussels, Belgium, February 27, 2022. Stephanie Lecocq | Reuters The European Union approved a military training mission in Europe for thousands of Ukrainian troops and to provide around 500 million euros ($486 million) in extra funds to help buy weapons for the war-torn country. The mission, which will have a headquarters in Brussels and be under the command of French naval officer Vice Adm. Herve Blejean, will initially run for two years with a budget of almost 107 million euros ($104 million). EU headquarters said in a statement that the mission’s aim is to allow the Ukrainian armed forces to “effectively conduct military operations,” so that Ukraine can “defend its territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, effectively exercise its sovereignty and protect civilians.” It said that the EU will provide “individual, collective and specialized training.” Countries that aren’t part of the bloc will be allowed to take part in the training effort. The aim initially is to train about 15,000 Ukrainian troops, chiefly in Poland and Germany — Associated Press Additional 4 million children pushed into poverty due to Russia’s war, UNICEF says A child waits on the train to Poland at the central train station on April 11, 2022 in Lviv, Ukraine. Joe Raedle | Getty Images Russia’s monthslong war in Ukraine coupled with rising inflation has pushed more of the world’s children into poverty, according to a new report by UNICEF. UNICEF, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, says an additional four million children across eastern Europe and Central Asia have been pushed into poverty, a 19% increase since 2021.  “Beyond the obvious horrors of war – the killing and maiming of children, mass displacement – the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine are having a devastating impact on children across eastern Europe and Central Asia,” said Afshan Khan, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. “Children all over the region are being swept up in this war’s terrible wake. If we don’t support these children and families now, the steep rise in child poverty will almost certainly result in lost lives, lost learning, and lost futures,” Khan added. — Amanda Macias Kyiv and Moscow carry out largest prisoner swap of the war so far This handout picture taken ad released by Ukrainian presidential chief of staff, Andriy Yermak on October 17, 2022 shows freed Ukrainian female prisoners posing for a picture after their exchange in an unknown location in Ukraine. Ukraine announced had swapped more than 100 prisoners with Russia in what it said was the first all-female exchange with Moscow after nearly eight months of war. Str | AFP | Getty Images Moscow and Kyiv carried out one of the biggest prisoner swaps of the war so far, exchanging a total of 218 detainees, including 108 Ukrainian women, officials from both sides said. Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s staff, said there were 12 civilians among the freed women. “It was the first completely female exchange,” he wrote on the Telegram messaging app, adding that 37 of the women had been captured after Russian forces took the giant Azovstal steelworks in the port city of Mariupol in May. Separately, Ukraine’s interior ministry said some of the women had been in jail since 2019 after being detained by pro-Moscow authorities in eastern regions. Earlier, the Russian-appointed head of one of the regions said Kyiv was freeing 80 civilian sailors and 30 military personnel. Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) walk after a swap, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in an unknown location, Ukraine October 17, 2022. Andriy Yermak | Ukraine’s Presidential Office via Telegram | via Reuters Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) look out of a bus window, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, as they arrive in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine October 17, 2022. Stringer | Reuters Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) react, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, as they arrive in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine October 17, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service | via Reuters Ukrainian prisoner of war (POWs) reacts, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, as she arrives in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine October 17, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service | via Reuters Ukrainian prisoner of war (POWs) reacts, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, as she arrives in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine October 17, 2022. Stringer | Reuters A Ukrainian prisoner of war (POWs) reacts, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, as she arrives in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine October 17, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service | via Reuters — Reuters Read CNBC’s previous live coverage here: Read More Here

Biden Administration To Release Millions Of More Barrels From Oil Reserve: Report https://digitalalaskanews.com/biden-administration-to-release-millions-of-more-barrels-from-oil-reserve-report/ The Biden administration is planning to release another 10 million to 15 million barrels of oil from the nation’s emergency stockpile in an effort to balance markets and prevent additional increases in gasoline prices. The release of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve would be the latest portion of a 180-million-barrel program that started earlier this year, Bloomberg reported. The administration is also expected to provide details this week regarding its plans to restock the emergency oil stockpile. The Energy Department announced in the spring it was planning a new method of buybacks to permit a “competitive, fixed-price” bid process that would potentially lock prices in prior to crude being delivered. Temporary limits on exports of fuel so more gasoline and diesel will remain in the U.S. is also being considered by the administration. No timeline has been set for a decision on that step, but it will likely not happen before next month’s midterm elections. US GOVERNMENT SAYS ALL AMERICANS WILL PAY MUCH MORE FOR NATURAL GAS THIS WINTER The Biden administration is planning to release another 10 million to 15 million barrels of oil from the nation’s emergency stockpile. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky / AP Images) According to data first compiled in 1982, the U.S. has the lowest seasonal inventories of diesel. The suggestion to limit exports has led to disagreements within the administration. Biden energy adviser Amos Hochstein supports new export controls while Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk has outlined concerns. NEW ENGLAND RISKS WINTER BLACKOUTS AS GAS SUPPLIES TIGHTEN The release of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve would be the latest portion of a 180-million-barrel program that started earlier this year. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images) Energy Department and White House officials have been quietly meeting this week with Exxon Mobil Corp., ConocoPhillips and other oil companies to inform them of what they can expect and to urge them to encourage the production of gasoline and diesel, according to Bloomberg. Oil industry representatives and third-party energy analysts have said limiting fuel exports could result in higher prices in some areas of the country, particularly in the Northeast, which relies on imports. The Energy Department announced in the spring it was planning a new method of buybacks to permit a “competitive, fixed-price” bid process that would potentially lock prices in prior to crude being delivered. (CHRIS DELMAS/AFP / Getty Images) GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE The White House has been attempting to curb rising gas prices and bolster low domestic stockpiles of fuel for the winter season while also responding to the OPEC+ coalition’s decision earlier this month to cut production. Read More Here

Emergency Act Inquiry Continues And U.S. Midterms Looming: In The News For Oct. 18 https://digitalalaskanews.com/emergency-act-inquiry-continues-and-u-s-midterms-looming-in-the-news-for-oct-18/ Testimony is then expected from outgoing councillor Diane Deans, who chaired the local police services board during the crisis and was ousted from the role just after the federal emergency was declared. High-ranking officers from the Ottawa Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police are also slated to speak at the public inquiry this week. The commission is examining the circumstances that led to the emergency declaration Feb. 14 and the measures taken to deal with the protest, which saw the occupation of an area of downtown Ottawa next to Parliament Hill. — Also this … A high-profile ally of former U.S. president Donald Trump is at the centre of an academic controversy at the University of New Brunswick, where the administration has promised an independent review of how he received a Ph.D. in 2013. Doug Mastriano, a retired U.S. army colonel, was a little-known state senator in Pennsylvania until he took an active role in the movement to overturn Trump’s 2020 election defeat. In May, with Trump’s support, he won the Republican nomination to run for state governor, catapulting his far-right campaign into the national spotlight. On Sept. 9, Mastriano’s academic credentials from UNB were called into question when The Associated Press reported allegations from scholars asserting that his doctoral dissertation was plagued by factual errors and amateurish archeology. Mastriano has yet to publicly respond to the allegations. Calls to his Pennsylvania offices — in Chambersburg and Gettysburg — were not returned. — What we are watching in the U.S. … The U.S. midterm elections are fast approaching, with a potential for plenty of surprises. Election Day in 2018 saw Democrats flip more than 40 seats to regain the House majority. Anxiety over Donald Trump’s presidency was a major reason for the strong Democratic showing. But those Democrats elected four years ago are campaigning in a much different political environment this year, with Trump out of office and voters concerned about the economy and crime. Plus, many districts that were once competitive have been redrawn by Republican-dominated state legislatures to become more friendly to the GOP. Those changes are leaving several Democrats in the Class of 2018 facing tough reelections. — What we are watching in the rest of the world … An Iranian female competitive climber left South Korea on Tuesday after competing at an event in which she climbed without her nation’s mandatory headscarf covering, authorities said. Farsi-language media outside of Iran warned she may have been forced to leave early by Iranian officials and could face arrest back home, which Tehran quickly denied. Iran’s Embassy in Seoul denied “all the fake, false news and disinformation” about Rekabi, but posted an image of her from Moscow wearing the hijab. The decision by climber Elnaz Rekabi comes as protests sparked by the September death of a 22-year-old woman detained by the country’s morality police have entered a fifth week. — On this day in 1919 … Pierre Elliot Trudeau was born in Montreal. Well-educated and wealthy, he taught law in Montreal before entering Parliament as a Liberal MP in 1965. He became justice minister in 1967 and succeeded Lester B. Pearson as Liberal leader and prime minister the following year. Trudeau was Canada’s first prime minister born in the 20th century. His government’s legacy includes the 1969 Official Languages Act, and the 1982 patriation of the Constitution with the addition of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Trudeau remained in office until his 1984 retirement, except for a brief period when the Conservatives held power in 1979-80. He died of cancer in Montreal on Sept. 28, 2000. — In entertainment … Danny Masterson, former star of the long-running sitcom “That ’70s Show,” is about to face three women in court who say he raped them two decades ago at a trial whose key figures are all current or former members of the Church of Scientology. Opening statements could begin as early as Tuesday in the Los Angeles trial of the 46-year-old Masterson, and while a judge has expressed her determination not to have the church become the centre of the proceedings, it will inevitably loom large. Masterson is charged with raping the women between 2001 and 2003 in his home, which functioned as a social hub when he was at the height of his fame. Masterson has pleaded not guilty to the charges. One of the women had been Masterson’s longtime girlfriend. Another was a longtime friend, and the third a newer acquaintance. All three were members of the Church of Scientology, as Masterson still is. All three accusers have since left, and they said the church’s insistence that it deal internally with problems between members made them hesitant at first to go to authorities. — Did you see this? Donald Trump’s private company arranged for the Secret Service to pay for rooms at his properties in excess of government-approved rates at least 40 times; including two charges for more than $1,100 per room, per night. That is according to documents released Monday by a congressional committee investigating the former president. The House Oversight Committee said the Secret Service was charged more than $800 per night at least 11 times by his properties. The Trump Organization denied anything improper. It said it provided rooms to the Secret Service at cost or a deep discount, adding that its business did not profit at all from the presidency. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2022 The Canadian Press Read More Here

Former Trump Adviser Says Elon Musk Transmitting A Message For Vladimir Putin – Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) https://digitalalaskanews.com/former-trump-adviser-says-elon-musk-transmitting-a-message-for-vladimir-putin-tesla-nasdaqtsla/ A former adviser to Donald Trump said it’s “very clear” that Tesla Inc TSLA CEO Elon Musk is transmitting a message for Russian President Vladimir Putin. What Happened: Fiona Hill made the comments in a Politico interview when asked about the role Musk is playing to promote peace settlements between Russia and Ukraine in their ongoing conflict. “It’s very clear that Elon Musk is transmitting a message for Putin,” said Hill, adding that the billionaire entrepreneur offered a version of what he recently tweeted at a conference in Aspen in late September. Hill said what makes Musk’s intervention “interesting” is that Putin uses prominent people as “intermediaries” to feel out the political environment. “This is a classic Putin play. It’s just fascinating, of course, that it’s Elon Musk in this instance because obviously; Elon Musk has a huge Twitter following. He’s got a longstanding reputation in Russia through Tesla, the SpaceX space programs and also through Starlink,” she said. See Also: How To Buy Electric Vehicle (EV) Stocks Why It Matters: Musk has denied claims that he discussed Ukraine with Putin. “Putin plays the egos of big men, gives them a sense that they can play a role. But in reality, they’re just direct transmitters of messages from Vladimir Putin,” Hill said. Hill, who specializes in Russian and European affairs and is currently a fellow at the Brookings Institution, said Putin is “basically short-circuiting the diplomatic process.” “All of this is an effort to get Americans to take themselves out of the war and hand over Ukraine and Ukrainian territory to Russia.” This month, Musk ran a Twitter poll about his thoughts related to the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Read Next: Elon Musk’s Starlink, Hard-Pressed For Funding Internet Services In Ukraine, Will Add Donate Option Soon. Here’s Why © 2022 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Read More Here

AP Top News At 4:05 A.m. EDT https://digitalalaskanews.com/ap-top-news-at-405-a-m-edt/ Winter is coming: Ukrainians dig in for brutal season ahead KIVSHARIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — Nine-year-old Artem Panchenko helps his grandmother stoke a smoky fire in a makeshift outdoor kitchen beside their nearly abandoned apartment block. The light is falling fast and they need to eat before the setting sun plunges their home into cold and darkness. Winter is coming. They can feel it in their bones as temperatures drop below freezing. And like tens of thousands of other Ukrainians, they are facing a season that promises to be brutal. Artem and his grandmother have been living without gas, water or electricity for around three weeks, ever since Russian missile strikes cut off the utilities in their town in Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region. Russian warplane crashes near apartment building, killing 13 MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian warplane crashed Monday into a residential area in a Russian city on the Sea of Azov after suffering engine failure, leaving at least 13 people dead, three of whom died when they jumped from upper floors of a nine-story apartment building to escape a massive blaze. A Su-34 bomber came down in the port city of Yeysk after one of its engines caught fire during takeoff for a training mission, the Russian Defense Ministry said. It said both crew members bailed out safely, but the plane crashed into a residential area, causing a fire as tons of fuel exploded on impact. Democrats who flipped Congress in 2018 face hurdles in 2022 WASHINGTON (AP) — Moments after she flipped a longtime Republican congressional seat in 2018, Iowa Democrat Cindy Axne declared that “Washington doesn’t have our back and we deserve a heck of a lot better.” Now seeking a third term in one of the most competitive House races, Axne is sounding a similar tone, telling voters she’s delivered for Iowans “while Washington politicians bicker.” But Axne and other Democrats from the class of 2018 are campaigning in a much different political environment this year. The anxiety over Donald Trump’s presidency that their party harnessed to flip more than 40 seats and regain the House majority has eased. Small town in southern Mexico hosts thousands of migrants MEXICO CITY (AP) — As migrants, especially Venezuelans, struggle to come to terms with a new U.S. policy discouraging border crossings, one small town in southern Mexico is unexpectedly playing host to thousands of migrants camped far from the U.S. border. San Pedro Tapanatepec had 7,000 migrants, about 75% Venezuelans, when The Associated Press visited at the beginning of October. By Monday, Mayor Humberto Parrazales estimated the number had grown to 14,000. The AP could not independently verify that figure. While many Venezuelans had planned to make their way to the U.S. border, the new U.S. policy says only those applying online, and arriving by air, will be admitted. Report: Taliban killed captives in restive Afghan province ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — The Taliban captured, bound and shot to death 27 men in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley last month during an offensive against resistance fighters in the area, according to a report published Tuesday, refuting the group’s earlier claims that the men were killed in battle. One video of the killings verified by the report shows five men, blindfolded with their hands tied behind their backs. Then, Taliban fighters spray them with gunfire for 20 seconds and cry out in celebration. The investigation by Afghan Witness, an open-source project run by the U.K.-based non-profit Center for Information Resilience, is a rare verification of allegations that the Taliban have used brutal methods against opposition forces and their supporters, its researchers said. Student loan forgiveness application website goes live WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday officially kicked off the application process for his student debt cancellation program and announced that 8 million borrowers had already applied for loan relief during the federal government’s soft launch period over the weekend. He encouraged the tens of millions eligible for potential relief to visit studentaid.gov and touted the application form that the president said would take less than five minutes to complete. An early, “beta launch” version of the online form released late Friday handled the early stream of applications “without a glitch or any difficulty,” Biden said. “It means more than 8 million Americans are — starting this week — on their way to receiving life-changing relief,” Biden, accompanied by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, said Monday. UK leader in peril after Treasury chief axes ‘Trussonomics’ LONDON (AP) — The U.K.’s new Treasury chief ripped up the government’s economic plan on Monday, dramatically reversing most of the tax cuts and spending plans that new Prime Minister Liz Truss announced less than a month ago. The move raises more questions about how long the beleaguered British leader can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, said he was scrapping “almost all” of Truss’ tax cuts, along with her flagship energy policy and her promise — repeated just last week — that there will be no public spending cuts. Australia drops recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia has reversed a previous government’s recognition of west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the foreign minister said Tuesday, prompting consternation from Israel. The center-left Labor Party government agreed to again recognize Tel Aviv as the capital. The Cabinet also reaffirmed that Jerusalem’s status must be resolved in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said. Australia remained committed to a two-party solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and “we will not support an approach that undermines this prospect,” Wong said. Israel’s Prime Minister Yair Lapid expressed disappointment in Australia’s changed position. ‘Bad situation’: Soaring U.S. dollar spreads pain worldwide The cost of living in Cairo has soared so much that security guard Mustafa Gamal had to send his wife and year-old daughter to live with his parents in a village 70 miles south of the Egyptian capital to save money. Gamal, 28, stayed behind, working two jobs, sharing an apartment with other young people and eliminating meat from his diet. “The prices of everything have been doubled,” he said. “There was no alternative.” Around the world, people are sharing Gamal’s pain and frustration. An auto parts dealer in Nairobi, a seller of baby clothes in Istanbul and a wine importer in Manchester, England have the same complaint: A surging U.S. ’70s Show’ actor Danny Masterson on trial on 3 rape charges LOS ANGELES (AP) — Danny Masterson, former star of the long-running sitcom “That ’70s Show,” is about to face three women in court who say he raped them two decades ago at a trial whose key figures are all current or former members of the Church of Scientology. Opening statements could begin as early as Tuesday in the Los Angeles trial of the 46-year-old Masterson, and while a judge has expressed her determination not to have the church become the center of the proceedings, it will inevitably loom large. Masterson is charged with raping the women between 2001 and 2003 in his home, which functioned as a social hub when he was at the height of his fame. Read More Here

Tuesday Morning News: October 18, 2022 https://digitalalaskanews.com/tuesday-morning-news-october-18-2022/ WORLD Radio – Tuesday morning news: October 18, 2022 Russia sent drones packed with explosives that struck Ukraine’s capital, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says it’s time to hit Iran with more sanctions, members of the House Armed Services Committee are warning that the United States needs to step up preparations for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to continue flights sending migrants to Democrat-led cities, many students in southwestern Florida are back in class, the Justice Department is pushing for a harsh sentence for former Trump adviser Steve Bannon Firefighters work after a drone attack on buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Oct. 17, 2022 Associated Press Photo/Roman Hrytsyna For WORLD Radio, I’m Kent Covington.  Ukraine » In Ukraine on Monday, police pulled out their sidearms and fired into the clouds above Kyiv, but the Russian suicide drone they were aiming at still found its mark. AUDIO: [Kyiv attack] It was one of many drones packed with explosives that struck Ukraine’s capital, setting buildings on fire and largely collapsing an apartment building, killing four people. It was Moscow’s second barrage of explosive attacks on Kyiv in as many weeks. The assault sowed fear and frayed nerves as blasts rocked the city. But one Kyiv resident said it hasn’t stopped people from living their lives. AUDIO: I think people just carry on as normal as much as they can. The missile on Monday, one of them hit just up the road there, but in the park here, there’s people buying coffees. You can sit and drink a coffee in the park. Ukraine has become grimly accustomed to attacks nearly eight months into the Russian invasion. Iran sanctions » Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says it’s time to hit Iran with more sanctions for supplying drones and other weapons to Russia. KULEBA: [Ukrainian] And US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel warned on Monday … PATEL: Anyone doing business with Iran that could have any link to the flow of arms from Iran to Russia should be very careful. He said Washington won’t hesitate to hit perpetrators with sanctions or other penalties. Meantime, the European Union announced sanctions against Iran over the death of a 22-year-old woman in police custody and for violence against peaceful protests. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on Tehran… BORRELL: To release those detained and to allow normal internet services and flow of information. The EU levied sanctions against 11 people and four entities in Iran. Readiness for conflict with China » Members of the House Armed Services Committee are warning that the United States needs to step up preparations for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. GOP Congressman Michael Waltz: WALTZ: We face a very real chance of Taiwan becoming the next Ukraine within the next 5 to 10 years. Chinese leader Xi Jinping continues to vow that he’ll bring the island under his government’s control … by force if necessary. And President Biden has repeatedly suggested that the United States would defend Taiwan. Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton said Monday that the stakes are incredibly high. MOULTON: We don’t have a plan to fight this war through the Taiwan people the way we’re fighting the Ukraine war though Ukraine. That means that Americans are going to die if Xi invades Taiwan. Moulton said the United States doesn’t have the specific weapons systems and alliances in place yet that would be needed to counter China’s military. DeSantis to resume migrant flights » Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to continue flights sending migrants to Democrat-led cities. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin reports. KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: A spokesperson for the Republican governor said the flights will resume as soon things calm down a bit in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Prior to the storm, two charter flights were scheduled to fly migrants to Delaware and Illinois earlier this month. But officials postponed the flights due to the hurricane. Democrats expressed outrage when the state of Florida flew 50 migrants last month to the Massachusetts resort island of Martha’s Vineyard where former President Obama owns a mansion. Florida lawmakers have authorized $12 million dollars in funds to relocate migrants from the U.S. southern border to sanctuary cities and states. Reporting for WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin. Students returning to school after Hurricane Ian » Meantime, roughly three weeks after Hurricane Ian slammed Florida’s southwest coast, many students in the area’s largest school district are back in class. Christopher Bernier is superintendent of the Lee County School District. He told parents … BERNIER: This may seem like it’s still too soon. We understand. We promise to be sensitive in our reopening, and we will be. Lee County reopened 28 schools yesterday and today. Another 32 have been cleared to reopen soon. The district has almost 120 schools in total. Bannon » The Justice Department is pushing for a harsh sentence for former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more. JOSH SCHUMACHER, REPORTER: In July, a federal jury found Bannon guilty in July of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the House Jan. 6th committee. And prosecutors are now arguing for a hefty sentence, saying he “pursued a bad-faith strategy of defiance and contempt,” and still hasn’t provided the information demanded of him. They want Bannon to serve six months in prison and pay a $200,000 fine. The Justice Department push comes shortly after the committee voted last week to subpoena former President Trump himself. Reporting for WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher. I’m Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org.  WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record. Read More Here

Joe Morelle, La https://digitalalaskanews.com/joe-morelle-la/ Two lifelong residents of the Rochester area, who characterize themselves as party moderates, are candidates in the newly redrawn 25th Congressional District. The election in the newly redrawn 25th Congressional District features two lifelong residents of the Rochester area promoting themselves as moderates within their parties. One, two-term Democratic incumbent Joe Morelle, has spent his entire life in politics, while his challenger, newly minted Republican and first-time office-seeker La’Ron Singletary, boasts of a different kind of public service. Morelle, 65, is running for re-election on a platform that includes reproductive rights, gun control and health care reform. “I think I have a pretty good sense of what people in the community think about and care about,” he said. Neither of Morelle’s two earlier Republican opponents for Congress, Jim Maxwell or George Mitris, had the name recognition of Singletary, a 20-year veteran of the RPD whose tenure as chief ended abruptly after the public learned of the death of Daniel Prude at the hands of Rochester police in March 2020. Prude’s death cast Singletary into the national discussion on policing and public safety. He has campaigned heavily on his law enforcement experience, saying he could help reduce violence in the district through increased support ― both tangible and symbolic ― for police. “People know who La’Ron Singletary is,” he said. “My roots run deep in this community. … People knew me as a police chief who was for the people, who could identify with the people.” National election-watching organizations list NY-25 as safely Democratic, even after it gained more conservative-leaning areas to the south and west of Monroe County during redistricting. Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by 20 points in the (newly constituted) district in 2020. As of Sept. 30, Morelle had raised $1.8 million, with $673,000 on hand. Singletary had raised $542,000, including $100,000 of his own money that he loaned to the campaign, with $92,000 on hand. More:Key dates for the midterm election Joe Morelle Morelle first entered the local political arena more than four decades ago. He served for 28 years in the New York State Assembly, including five years as majority leader, before running to represent the Rochester area in Congress in 2018 after the death of Louise Slaughter. In his first two terms, he has anchored himself firmly to party orthodoxy, voting with President Joe Biden 100% of the time. He opposes some of the more progressive ideas within the Democratic caucus, including Medicaid for All. Among his most significant accomplishments of his last term, he listed a number of pieces of health care legislation: bills that help eliminate surprise medical billing, contain the price of insulin and reform Medicare. Singletary has attacked Morelle for not speaking out against Black Lives Matter protesters and others who have called for a decrease in funding for police. Morelle has never made that statement himself, but Singletary has noted that Morelle marched with protesters in Rochester and did not call local law enforcement to offer support that year. “Joe Morelle sat down on Main Street with individuals who wanted to defund the police while I was at the public safety building trying to quell a city that was burning,” Singletary said during a debate between the two. Morelle has repeated throughout the campaign that he does not support defunding the police but rather would like to add funding as part of a broader campaign to improve public safety. “When I talk to people in communities of color facing violence – they will plead with you not to reduce resources for police,” he said. “But it’s not a binary decision. … We should invest in mental health services; we should invest in wraparound services and things far before someone’s involved in a (crime).” As part of that broader campaign, Morelle favors stricter gun control laws, including universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons. He co-sponsors a number of bills relating to climate change and touted the climate-related components of the Inflation Reduction Act. He said he does not currently see a feasible way to transition away from a car-centered transportation infrastructure to something more sustainable. “America’s DNA is centered to a large degree on cars,” he said. “(High-speed rail) is really, really expensive to do, and I’m not sure we’re in a position right now to do that effectively.” When asked his top priority for a potential next term, he first mentioned reproductive rights: “Making sure the horrendous Dobbs decision doesn’t impact any more rights than it already has.” More:A guide to voter’s rights in New York. La’Ron Singletary Like Morelle, Singletary represents a moderate vision within his party ― which makes sense, since Singletary spent nearly his entire life thus far as a Democrat. He supports universal background checks on weapons purchases, increased spending on the social safety net and full rights and protections for LGBTQ people. He does not believe there was any fraud in the 2020 presidential election, or that election security is a pressing concern in general. Singletary, 42, joined the Rochester Police Department in 2000 and became chief in April 2019. He lasted less than 18 months in that position because of the Daniel Prude incident. He said he believes neither him nor his officers did anything wrong, either on the night Prude died or in the long aftermath. He points to the fact that Attorney General Letitia James brought no charges against the officers involved, and bristled at Morelle’s suggestion that he quit his position in a time of crisis. “I gave 20 years service to this community; was willing to lay down my life for this community,” he said. “I didn’t quit; I stood up for what was right.” Singletary is most passionate about public safety. If elected, he said he would work with the federal Department of Justice to better coordinate responses and also find federal funding for understaffed agencies. As importantly, he said, would be serving as a loud and prominent advocate for the police. “We’re 100 cops short in Rochester,” he said. “That has a burden and an impact on the police officers who are working and it also has an impact on the people who need those resources.” When asked what he thinks about Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on federal law enforcement, Singletary said: “It doesn’t make me think (anything). … If that’s what Donald Trump said, that’s what he said.” On the topic of abortion, Singletary said he would not support a nationwide ban because he believes women should be able to make their own well-informed, empowered decisions. To the extent that lack of resources or a social safety net unfairly weighs on some women, he said, the government should do more to help. At the same time, he said the Supreme Court had “acted prudently” in reversing Roe v. Wade and that states should have the choice to permit or disallow abortions. In states where abortion is now outlawed, he said, women’s choice lies largely in their ability to lobby their state Legislature. On climate change, Singletary said the United States should not take bold action if the up-front economic cost is too high, or if other large nations like China and India are not on board as well. There are currently three Black Republican members of Congress, one in the Senate and two in the House of Representatives. Singletary said he believes the party needs to increase its outreach to Black people and other urban residents. “For so long the Republican party has not attempted to tap into the inner city,” he said. “If you go in there and talk to them, you may find we have a lot in common.” Read More Here

Arizona Statewide Races: Down-Ticket Takeaway – OH Predictive Insights | Prescott ENews https://digitalalaskanews.com/arizona-statewide-races-down-ticket-takeaway-oh-predictive-insights-prescott-enews/ Although cooler weather is making its return to the desert, most of Arizona’s down-ticket races are still stuck in a dead heat. OH Predictive Insights’ (OHPI) latest Arizona Public Opinion Pulse (AZPOP) reveals incumbent Republican Treasurer Kimberly Yee defends her seat with a statistically significant lead over her Democratic opponent, Martin Quezada (46%,35% respectively). As for the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Superintendent of Public Instruction races, no candidate holds more than a 3-point lead over their opponent – all statistically tied. This AZPOP was conducted October 4th – October 6th, 2022 and surveyed 674 Arizona likely voters, giving the survey a margin of error of +/- 3.77%. Treasurer’s Race According to the survey, Yee is the only candidate holding a strong lead over an opposing candidate among likely voters. Incumbent Republican Treasurer, Yee, gains an 11-point lead over Quezada. However, 2 in 10 voters are still undecided. “The dynamic of the Treasurer’s race is interesting because it is the only OHPI-polled race in which the Republican candidate is an incumbent and not endorsed by Trump but still leads by double-digits,” said Mike Noble, OHPI Chief of Research. “This could potentially point to a lower electoral ceiling for candidates following in former President Trump’s model and/or the benefit of incumbency.” Although Yee may not have had the Trump endorsement, she did not sacrifice a statistically meaningful amount of support among key demographics of the GOP base. In fact, Yee is performing better among men (+18), Rural County voters (+34), and voters without a college degree (+22) than any other GOP candidate in Arizona. Yee benefits from her incumbency, but the large shares of undecideds in key voting blocs could impact support come Election Day, which Quezada will likely be relying on. Even so, Yee is in an enviable position among swing voting blocs that any Arizona candidate would covet, particularly Independents, Hispanic/Latinos, and Maricopa County voters. Remaining Down-Ticket Races Except for the election for Arizona Treasurer (the only race on the ballot where an incumbent Republican is defending their seat), the same story can be told for all down-ticket races on the ballot this year: it’s going to be a dead heat. In the races for Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Superintendent of Public Instruction, no candidate possess larger than a 3-point lead over their opponent or higher than 43% support, and no race has less than 17% of undecided voters. The key demographics for both Republicans and Democrats are keeping opposing sides in these three races at a standstill. Key voter blocs of the Democratic candidates (women, Pima County residents, and college-educated voters) and key voter blocs of the Republican candidates (men, Rural County residents, and non-college voters) are supporting their respective parties by similar margins. Three of the key swing blocs of voters (Independents, Hispanic/Latinos, and Maricopa County voters) are, once again, narrowly split. In the Secretary of State and Superintendent of Public Instruction race, the Democratic candidates, Fontes and Hoffman, have a small lead in all three voter blocs. As for the Attorney General race, Hamadeh and Mayes are statistically tied among all three groups. Secretary of State Race Trump-backed Mark Finchem leads within the margin over his Democratic opponent, Adrian Fontes (43%, 41% respectively). Since the September poll, the share of undecideds has decreased by 8 points, with more than half of them throwing their support behind Fontes. Attorney General Race Trump-endorsed Abraham Hamadeh has a within-the-margin lead over Democratic candidate Kris Mayes (42% to 39%). One-fifth of voters are still undecided. Superintendent of Public Instruction Race With no Trump endorsement, Republican candidate Tom Horne is statistically tied with his Democratic opponent Kathy Hoffman, separated by just 1 point. Seventeen percent of voters remain undecided. “With only a few weeks away from the General Election, the relative lack of differentiation between most of Arizona’s down-ticket races points to a hyper-polarized political environment where turning out your base and capturing those few undecided voters will make the difference between victory and defeat,“ said Noble. Methodology: This poll was conducted as a Blended Phone survey utilizing Live Callers, Peer-to-Peer Text, and IVR. Respondent phone-type 60% cell and 40% landline.  The survey was completed by OH Predictive Insights from October 4th to October 6th, 2022, from an Arizona Likely General Election Voter sample. The sample demographics were weighted to accurately reflect gender, region, age, ethnicity, party affiliation, and education based on the most recent U.S. Census estimates and the most current Arizona Secretary of State voter file – the exact percentages can be found in the table below. The sample of 674 Likely Voters yielded a MoE of ± 3.77%. *Numbers may not equal 100% due to rounding. About OH Predictive Insights: As a non-partisan market research, predictive analytics, and public opinion polling firm, Arizona-based OH Predictive Insights provides accurate polling, focus groups, data analytics, and advanced targeted marketing to political and non-political clients alike. With leading professionals in the advertising, communication, polling, and political arenas, OH Predictive Insights serves political and non-political clients looking to improve their footing with key stakeholders and consumers. For more information, please call 480-313-1837 or submit a request online at OHPredictive.com. Read More Here

Southcentral Stays Mild This Week https://digitalalaskanews.com/southcentral-stays-mild-this-week/ ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – There was an upbeat feeling in the air throughout the newsroom on Monday because of the afternoon sunshine and temperatures that touched 50 degrees at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Following last week’s preview of winter — I have to admit — it was nice to see all the positive energy and of course, receive all of the thanks and compliments on the weather (because we make the weather you know!). Remember, though, October is a month of transition and we’ll go through another one here by the end of the week. It will start with a well-developed, strong, and powerful storm system churning northward out of the Pacific into the Gulf of Alaska on Tuesday. Rain will become widespread and heavy across Kodiak Island, coastal Kenai and southern Prince William Sound locations as well as into Southeast with several inches of rain falling by storm’s end late Wednesday. Not good news for an area that has already received nearly 20 inches of precipitation above normal. For this reason, numerous Flood Watches have been issued by the National Weather Service. Winds will also be on the increase starting Tuesday night and continuing into Wednesday night. They will start out of the south and southeast as the low-pressure system approaches, then turn southwestward as the storm moves inland. Sustained winds are forecast to be in the 30 to 40 mph range with gusts as high as 60 mph. A High Wind Watch has been issued for these areas. While there are currently no watches, warnings, or advisories, high surf and beach erosion will also be a threat from this intense storm system. The storm’s direction over toward Southeast and the mountains south and east of town will keep much of the moisture away from Anchorage and the Valleys. We won’t be so lucky with the next system moving out of the west coast and into Southcentral for Thursday and Friday. Temperatures will still be warm enough for largely a rain event in the population centers of the lower elevations. Colder air, however, does move in late Friday and into the weekend, but so too does the dry air, and thus sunny, rather than snowy, skies. Copyright 2022 KTUU. All rights reserved. Read More Here