Podcasts about stock act

Chris Cuomo makes the case for banning members of Congress from trading stocks, breaking down the ethical failures, political excuses, and bipartisan corruption that allow lawmakers to profit off legislation. From the Pivot Act and cybersecurity investments to Nancy Pelosi's trades and the toothless STOCK Act, Cuomo explains why the current system fails the smell test and what a simple rule change could do to restore trust in public service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In dieser Folge lernst du eine außergewöhnliche Investorin kennen, die dieses Jahr schon mehr als 65% Rendite gemacht hat und sogar die besten Hedge Fonds Manager der Welt schlägt.Oh, und ihre Geheimnisse verrate ich dir natürlich auch. Kleiner Spoiler: Diese Folge wird dich wahrscheinlich etwas schockieren. In Go Portfolio gibt es eine Mini-Masterclass in der du lernst, wie und wo du ihre Trades (und die ihrer Kollegen) tracken kannst. Hier geht's auf die Warteliste:https://www.investorella.academy/gpwartelisteHier sind die in der Folge genannten Studien:“Trading” Political Favors: 2016 Evidence from the Impact of the STOCK Act, Huang, XuanPerceptions of Political Self‐Dealing? 2020 Abdurakhmonov, Snider, Ridge, HasijaA Dilemma of Self-interest vs. Ethical Responsibilities in Political Insider Trading, 2022, Park, Hanouske, PantzalisEin wichtiger Hinweis: Die Informationen und Inhalte des Investorella Podcasts sowie der Kurse dienen der Information und Weiterbildung. Die Inhalte stellen keine Vermögens- oder Wertpapierberatung dar. Besprochene Finanzprodukte oder Anlagestrategien dienen lediglich als Beispiele, um die Inhalte zu veranschaulichen, und es handelt sich nicht um Kauf-, Verkauf- oder Anlageempfehlungen. Mach immer deine eigenen Recherchen und vergiss nicht, dass Investments nicht nur mit Chancen, sondern auch mit Risiken verbunden sind.Credits:Redaktion/Moderation: Larissa KravitzSchnitt, Post-Produktion: Iris BöhmSounddesign: Jeanne DrachWeiterhören? Wenn du mehr Hörstoff brauchst, dann tauch ins Oh-Wow-Universum ein. Bei uns gibt's spannende Podcasts von und mit tollen, inspirierenden Frauen. Mehr unter www.ohwow.eu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kari Lake returns to the show and shares what questions should be asked during a Trump/Harris debate. Is insider trading still occurring in D.C. despite the 2012 STOCK ACT? We also talk about a distrust of polls and rounding out the discussion with Lake sharing her first act (or three) if she becomes Arizona's next Senator.    —————————————— Please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to the Jeff Oravits Show! RUMBLE   YouTube   ApplePodCasts   AmazonMusic   Spotify        Also on Twitter and www.TalkWithJeff.com   Disclaimer: The information provided on the Jeff Oravits Show does not constitute legal, medical, financial or tax advice.  All information is the opinions of the host's and his guests.  You should always seek the advice of a professional regarding any of these complex issues to make sure all circumstances of your situation are properly considered.   ——————————————

Kerry Lutz and Ross Givens discussed the controversial practice of insider trading by members of Congress, highlighting specific instances where politicians have used privileged information for personal financial gain. They also talked about the Stock Act, which requires politicians to disclose their stock trades with a 45-day lag time, and the challenges and opportunities of tracking corporate insiders for successful stock trading. Ross Givens presented insider buying as a successful strategy for stock investments, emphasizing the importance of identifying clusters of insider buying and sharing examples of stocks that saw substantial gains following significant insider purchases. The discussion underscored the ethical and legal implications of leveraging insider information for trading and emphasized the importance of transparency and equal access to information in the stock market. Find Ross here: tradersagency.com Find Kerry here: FSN and here: inflation.cafe 

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This week I'm joined by the incredibly knowledgable Jennifer Briney of the Congressional Dish podcast to talk all about the government - not politics! Together we dive into scandalous bills that have been passed quietly, speculate on why people (me included) get so disheartened and hopeless when it comes to the government, the UAP/UFO alien hearings, and more - including "Hunter Biden...would you hit?"0:00 Intro to Podcast2:23 Congressional Dish and Jenn Intro7:19 Conspiracy Theories, STOCK Act, Bribes, Money29:23 Aliens35:48 Why isn't the Government accessible to us?39:42 Clinton Blind Items45:43 Wikilieaks51:46 Rapid Fire Questions NextEvo isn't just another CBD company. Their all-natural products are backed by more scientific studies than any other CBD brand, and developed by pharmaceutical professionals. Try NextEvo Naturals capsules, gummies, mints, and topical creams, clinically proven to be better absorbed by your body. Get 20% off your first order of $40 or more at NextEvo.com/fluentlyJenni Kayne is a California brand with summer staples that make getting dressed easier than it's ever been before. Their clothing is minimalist and effortless, but totally refined. From flowy dresses and lightweight cotton cardigans to elevated versions of all your everyday basic, get 15% off their your order jennikayne.com with code "FLUENTLY"HAIRLOVE's Growth Complex is a daily vitamin that brings together the power of beauty and science in a revolutionary product that rebuilds the foundation of each follicle for strong, thick, healthy hair. Go to hairlove.com/fluently for 15% off sitewide products including your first subscription orderWith the Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa Credit Card, you can start building credit with everyday purchases and on-time payments. Continue your credit journey with Chime. Sign up takes only two minutes and doesn't affect your credit score. Get started at chime.com/fluently

In this week's episode of Breaking Battlegrounds, we are honored to welcome a lineup of exceptional guests, each bringing their unique perspectives on pressing issues that matter most to our nation.Our first guest needs no introduction, as he is a dear friend of the show and a prominent figure in the political landscape. Matt Lewis, the acclaimed columnist at The Daily Beast and the author of "Too Dumb to Fail: How the GOP Betrayed the Reagan Revolution to Win Elections (and How It Can Reclaim Its Conservative Roots)," graces our platform once again. Today, Matt joins us to share insights from his newly-released book, "Filthy Rich Politicians: The Swamp Creatures, Latte Liberals, and Ruling-Class Elites Cashing in on America." Next on our show is Congressman James Moylan, representing Guam. As Guam Liberation Day approaches on July 21, Congressman Moylan joins us to shed light on this historic event and its profound significance to the people of Guam. We explore the remarkable journey of resilience and freedom, honoring the spirit of those who have shaped Guam's vibrant history.Our final guest, California State Senator Shannon Grove, enters the conversation with an urgent and compelling topic. She discusses her crucial bill that aims to designate human trafficking as a serious and violent felony. Despite the importance of this legislation, California democrats voted it down. Tune in to learn more about this critical issue and the efforts to combat human trafficking in the Golden State.Subscribe now and stay informed on the latest developments, only on Breaking Battlegrounds!-Connect with us:www.breakingbattlegrounds.voteTwitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_BattleFacebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegroundsInstagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegroundsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegroundsCalled a “first-rate talent” in The Washington Post and “super-smart” by John Heilemann, Matt K. Lewis is a center-right critic of American politics and pop culture.As a journalist, Lewis has earned a reputation as an “independently minded” (Columbia Journalism Review) and “intellectually honest” commentator (Ben Adler, Newsweek). He is a senior columnist for The Daily Beast, and his work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, GQ, The Washington Post, The Week, Roll Call, Politico, The Telegraph, The Independent, and The Guardian. He previously served as senior contributor for The Daily Caller, and before that, as a columnist for AOL's Politics Daily.Lewis dissects the day's issues in conversation with other thinkers, authors, and newsmakers on his podcast Matt Lewis and the News, and co-hosts The DMZ Show with liberal pundit Bill Scher. He has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, C-SPAN, PBS NewsHour, ABC's “Nightline,” HBO's “Real Time with Bill Maher,” and CBS News' “Face The Nation,” and has contributed to radio outlets including NPR and the BBC.Kirsten Powers described Lewis's 2016 book, Too Dumb to Fail: How the GOP Went From the Party of Reagan to the Party of Trump, as “a lively and fascinating read for any person confounded by the state of today's Republican Party.” In 2011, Lewis released The Quotable Rogue: The Ideals of Sarah Palin in Her Own Words, an edited compilation of the Alaska governor's much-discussed public utterances.-Congressman James Moylan proudly serves as Guam's congressional delegate to the 118th United States Congress. As the first Republican to win the seat on Guam in nearly 30 years, Moylan's victory was historic. He is a strong and trustworthy leader who's focused on issues that affect Guamanians most. Moylan believes island residents have a right to know what's happening in their governing offices. Therefore, he has created an open door policy allowing constituents to have their concerns addressed. Moylan's history of service includes his time as a senator in the 35th and 36th Guam Legislature, a Veteran of the United States army and a parole officer at the Department of Corrections. Additionally, Moylan has more than two decades of experience working in the private sector, including healthcare, financial services, and insurance.In his current position, Moylan serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee.  Both Committees address issues that are vital to Guam.Additionally, Moylan is a native of Guam and is from the village of Tumon. He graduated from John F Kennedy High School and continued to the University of Guam where he obtained a  bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice.  Most of all, Moylan is a proud father to Abby and Krissy Moylan.-Senator Shannon Grove was born and raised in Kern County.After graduating from high school, Senator Grove served in the United States Army. While stationed in Frankfurt, Germany she witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.Following her service to our nation, she established a staffing company with her sister-in-law called Continental Labor and Staffing Resources. Senator Grove currently serves as the CEO.Prior to her election to the State Senate, Senator Grove was the first woman veteran elected to the California Legislature as she served the 34th Assembly District from 2010 to 2016.Senator Grove was elected to represent the 16th Senate District in November 2018, which includes portions of Kern, Tulare, and San Bernardino counties. In January 2019, she was elected Leader of the Senate Republican Caucus where she served in that capacity for two years. As the Republican Leader-Emeritus, Grove remains a committed representative working with legislators to advance policies that benefit the constituents, businesses, and communities within Senate District 16.Senator Grove is an advocate for small business, school choice, the developmentally disabled, farmers, and families. She currently lives in Kern County with her husband, Rick. They are the proud parents of five children and eight grandchildren.Transcription:Sam Stone: Welcome to another episode of Breaking Battlegrounds with your host, Sam Stone and Chuck Warren on the line with us right now. Fantastic new book out came out on the 18th. Matt Lewis. He is a friend of the program, columnist for The Daily Beast, author of Too Dumb to Fail How the GOP Betrayed the Reagan Revolution to Win Elections. Yeah, we are not too dumb to fail. That's been proven many, many times. And today he's joining us to discuss his new book, Filthy Rich Politicians The Swamp Creatures, Latte Liberals and Ruling Class Elites Cashing In on America. Matt, thank you for joining us and welcome to the show.Matt Lewis: Well, thanks for having me back.Chuck Warren: So what gave you the idea to write a book about this issue about filthy rich politicians?Matt Lewis: Well, to be honest, it was because I'm a capitalist. And I was I was actually approached by a book agent, believe it or not, who had this idea to rank the 100 richest politicians in America.Chuck Warren: Interesting.Matt Lewis: That was the original idea of the book. It was 100 chapters. Each chapter was just going to be on. Wow. The 100 richest politicians in just how they made their money. And that's how it started. And it evolved, I think, into a much deeper, more important topic, which includes, you know, the original idea, but but goes so much deeper into like, what it all means. And so it was one of those just the stars aligned and I think we ended up writing a great book.Sam Stone: We got the book a few days ago. I've gone through most of it, I admit, to skimming a few portions. Who is the richest politician in America?Matt Lewis: The richest politician in America is JB Pritzker, who's the governor of Illinois. He is an heir to the Hyatt fortune. There are 11 billionaires in his family and interestingly, when he was running for governor in Illinois, there were three billionaires running for the seat last year in 2022.Sam Stone: Well, amazing. You know what I love about Pritzker? I don't know if you've ever read the book Super Mob, but that family got its start with mob financing.Matt Lewis: Well, you know, it's like the Kennedys, you know, I mean, you go back far enough.Chuck Warren: I think we just call those hard money loans today.Matt Lewis: But in in Congress, it would be Rick Scott. Most people and by the way, it's impossible to know the actual net wealth of most politicians because the range have ways of hiding it. And it's reported in broad ranges. But it used to be Darrell Issa. Right now we believe it is Rick Scott, senator from Florida, who's the richest in Congress.Chuck Warren: Well, so why should this matter to the average voter? I mean, so, for example, you know, as a 2020, I believe about half the members of Congress had a median net worth of $1 million. Okay. And there's almost 22 million people in the United States that have that net worth now. Now, most of that's probably in their home, right. Something they've lived in 20, 30 years. And a couple other things.Sam Stone: I mean, half of California has, but it's.Chuck Warren: Still a lot of money. I mean, you know, a population of 350 million, 21, 21, 22 million people are worth $1 million. And, you know, and that seems like a lot of money. But we also realize that's a lot. And it's not in a lot of ways, right? I mean, you can't retire on that per se and just live on it. But why is this important for Americans and why should they demand some reforms on this?Matt Lewis: Well, so the book is about two things. It's about how the rich get elected and how the elected get rich. And I think both things are important. So right now, the average member of Congress is about 12 times richer than the median American household. And so I think you know, look, I don't begrudge rich people from, you know, for running for office. And in fact, there's some ways that I even admire that. But I do think it's it seems likely to me that when and by the way, I should say that this this phenomenon where the average member of Congress is 12 times richer than the rest of us is kind of new. It's been going on for about three decades now. The gap has dramatically widened. And it just stands to reason, to me that when our elected officials are that much richer than the rest of us, there would be some sort of a disconnect or just a worldview difference in terms of connecting with working class Americans. But that doesn't bother me near as much as the second half of the story, which is the fact that once people get elected, they tend to get richer. And I think that is much more corrosive and damaging than just having rich politicians.Chuck Warren: Well, it's true, though. If you have a certain amount of wealth, you have different concerns than somebody who's making 15, $20 an hour. I mean, that's fair, right? And so how can you really relate if you're all full of people who are highly successful financially?Matt Lewis: Totally. I mean, you know, because of, you know, I'm from a very kind of middle class, working class background. My dad was a prison guard in Hagerstown, Maryland, for 30 years. And that's kind of how I grew up. And I live in West Virginia. I went to a little a little college in West Virginia, but I've been blessed to get to, you know, also know some, you know, folks in journalism who come from maybe more privileged backgrounds than me. And there are some of the nicest, kindest, best people. But I'm telling you, they see they see the world differently than I do. And who could blame them? I mean, they've come from wealth, right? They grew up. And I just think we're all formed by our experience. And and it's impossible not to be at some level.Chuck Warren: Absolutely. We're with Matt Lewis. He is a columnist for The Daily Beast. He has come out with a new book that was released this Tuesday. You can get it at at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble wherever you find your books. Filthy rich politicians, the Swamp Creatures, latte liberals and ruling class elites cashed in on America came out this Tuesday, July 18th. All right. So I want to ask a couple of questions, because your book covers many topics, but who are some of the politicians that we have that are married into money or inherited great wealth?Matt Lewis: So you're the first person to ask me this question. I have a whole chapter or a whole section on this. So thank you. Because this is so I ranked well Business Insider ranked the they have a ranking of the 100 richest politicians in America. And so when the appendix of my book I took the richest 25 and then I personally did kind of a deep dive into them how they made their money. And of the richest 25 members of Congress, more than half, 13 of them made their money through inheritance or marriage the.Sam Stone: Really old fashioned way.Matt Lewis: Yes. And I'll give you a few examples. Richard Blumenthal, his father in law, and by the way, it's usually fathers in law for what that's worth. Interesting.Chuck Warren: Interesting.Matt Lewis: Yeah. Richard Blumenthal's father in law is Peter Malkin, who basically owned the Empire State Building. In fact, he was involved in a in a fight with Donald Trump at some point over control of that.Sam Stone: There was a long time when he was the developer in New York, the real estate guy. Yeah.Matt Lewis: Indeed. There's a Texas congressman named Michael McCaul. His father in law runs Clear Channel Communications.Chuck Warren: Oh, wow.Matt Lewis: Rokana, who's a congressman out of California who's starting to really make a name for himself. His father in law owns a trans max or started trans max and also runs Mara Holdings. Wow. And Mitch McConnell, a lot of people were like, how did Mitch McConnell all of a sudden get all this money? And there are like conspiracy theories about.Chuck Warren: That cocaine.Matt Lewis: Mitch And and and by the way, who knows, right? I mean, maybe there's some secret, But but basically what happened is that, you know, Mitch McConnell is married to Elaine Chao and her mom. When her mom died, you know, she inherited a ton of money. And how much how.Chuck Warren: Much she did inherit, how much did she inherit?Matt Lewis: Oh, we're talking you definitely were talking tens of millions of dollars. Yeah. I mean, he became incredibly wealthy overnight and it looks super suspicious, but it's a matter of public record directly correlates to when her you know, it's money from her her father but but she inherited it when when the mother died.Sam Stone: Andy Biggs is a $10 Billion publisher clearinghouse sweepstakes win is starting to look more and more legitimate.Chuck Warren: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. You know.Matt Lewis: You know, what's you know, what's interesting is, is Kevin McCarthy, the current speaker of the House, won the lottery.Chuck Warren: Oh, really? I thought he did the sandwich shops. Did he really?Matt Lewis: Well, what happened is when he was very young, he won $5,000 in the lottery and he used that money to buy like a deli. And that is what led him to Congress. So.Chuck Warren: Oh, that's fascinating. Yeah, but see, that's that's a little more of a that's more of an all-American story. I got $5,000.Sam Stone: Yeah, that's a great story. Yeah.Chuck Warren: Yeah, it is a great story. It's sort of like, um. Oh, what's it what's that movie? Will Ferrell, where he gets sent to prison for insider trading and he's talking to us. He's talking to his father in law and said, I started this business all of myself with this computer and a $9 million loan from my father. And, you know, there's a lot of people like that. Um, so next to insider trading and I want to get into that probably the next segment. How do certain members benefit their family members, either via their connections or congressional campaigns? That happens a lot more than people think. And it always seems like a surprise to people that some kids on the payroll and we've got two minutes here, but can you give a couple of examples how that's happening?Matt Lewis: Totally. I'll give you it's a by the way, it's a bipartisan book. Um, both pretty much everyone's equally guilty of this. And so we'll start with Ilhan Omar, you know, a member of the squad on the left. She has directed millions of dollars, millions of campaign dollars to her husband's consulting firm. Likewise, Bernie Sanders, who, by the way, he became a millionaire from a book deal, but his wife, Jane, he has paid a lot of money to her over the years, including hiring her to be his media ad buyer when she had zero experience doing that. So she's basically getting a cut or a percentage of the money his campaign spends buying TV advertisements.Chuck Warren: Does she do that during the presidential, too?Matt Lewis: That is a good question. I think most of this happened in the his congressional races, like in Vermont senatorial races. But, you know, we're talking about a lot of money. And this one.Sam Stone: There's a lot of money when there's no risk, because he was never in doubt for any of those re-elections. Right. I mean, that's really kind of a.Matt Lewis: And Bernie. Bernie didn't just pay Jane. I mean, he paid her like her children, too. Which brings me to Ron Paul, a Republican who has employed six. In 2012, when he was running for president, he employed six family members, but he was a piker. He paid them a grand total of $300,000. So, you know.Chuck Warren: That's that's that's literally not surprising, though, right?Sam Stone: That that's chintzy, cheap. He's hosing his family.Chuck Warren: Do you think that do you think Congress should crack down on this and just not allow you in campaigns to hire family members?Sam Stone: We got 30s. We're going to. Okay. Going to head to break here in just a moment.Chuck Warren: We're with Matt Lewis. He is the author of a great new book came out this week, Filthy Rich Politicians The Swamp Creatures, Latte Liberals and Ruling Class Elites Cashing In on America. You can find this at Amazon, Barnes and Noble. Wherever you get your book, go buy it. This is a very important. We're going to come back and talk to Matt a little bit about what reforms he thinks need to be done so we can clean this up. This is Chuck and Sam breaking battlegrounds. You can find us at breaking battlegrounds vote. We'll be right back.Advertisement: At Overstock. We know home is a pretty important place and that's why we believe everyone deserves a home that makes them happy. Whether you're furnishing a new house or apartment or simply looking to update and refresh a few rooms, Overstock has every day free shipping and amazing deals on the beautiful, high quality furniture and decor. You need to transform any home into the home of your dreams. Overstock Making dream Homes Come True.Sam Stone: Welcome back to Breaking battlegrounds with your host, Chuck Warrem. I'm Sam Stone. We're continuing on here in just a moment with Matt Lewis, columnist of The Daily Beast, author of Too Dumb to Fail, and his newest book, Filthy Rich Politicians. We're talking about that one today. But folks, if you're looking to get filthy rich, maybe you should give our call. Our friends at Invest Y refy a call, go to their website, invest y refy.com that's invest the letter Y, then refy.com and learn how you can earn up to a 10.25% fixed rate of return on your money. That's right. 10.25% Phenomenal rate of return not correlated to the stock market. The stock market goes up. The stock market goes down, your investment continues, racking up the great interest and great returns for you. So give them give our friends there a call. You can do that at 888 y refy 24 and tell them Chuck and Sam sent you Matt.Chuck Warren: All right. So, so much to cover in your book, but tell us what are reforms of your king for the day? And they said, Matt, you make these changes and we start building a little trust back up in Congress again. What would you do?Matt Lewis: Okay. So the first couple we've talked about, I would the most important is to ban individual stock trading for members of Congress and their family. That is by far the most important thing we can do, because.Chuck Warren: Certainly I want to make one appearance.Matt Lewis: Of insider.Chuck Warren: Trading. Right. I don't want to hurt you, but you made a good point. I listened to on a fellow podcast, which you made this point. It's not even so much about them increasing their wealth. Sometimes it's that they prevent the loss of wealth. So let's use, for example, Senator Barr in North Carolina as an example, if you can share that with our audience.Matt Lewis: Yeah, this is really corrosive. So Senator Senator Richard Burr, he just retired, but he was chairman of the Intel Committee. So like in that capacity, you know, he had access to all sorts of of kind of classified briefings, classified information. And you might remember back in early 2020, like before most Americans realized how damaging Covid 19 was going to be like in terms of shutting down businesses and the economy. Um, Richard Burr dumped hundreds of thousands of dollars of stock in things like Wyndham Hotels, the kinds of things that would be damaged in a global pandemic shutdown. But making matters even worse. Then he picks up the phone and calls his brother in law and within one minute of hanging up with Richard Burr, his brother in law calls his broker and dumps his stock. And so that is the thing. It's it's not just that politicians are able to make money by virtue of what certainly looks like insider trading, but it's it avoids the downfall. And certainly during times of change and crisis, that's when they can really use information to dump stock and avoid like a major catastrophic loss.Sam Stone: Well, and that has the the so as someone who does trade stock issues, the other side of that is if you dump at the start of something like that on an industry like hotels, like airlines, all of that, you're going to get that going two ways. You're going to avoid the loss and then you're going to be able to buy back in at a low point and you're going to know when that low point is hit.Matt Lewis: Absolutely. And and again, think of it. I mean, the average American at this point doesn't know how bad Covid 19 is going to be. We're being told it'll disappear. It'll be, you know, like a miracle. It'll disappear or, you know, two weeks to slow the spread or whatever.Sam Stone: This is when you had De Blasio telling folks, go out in the streets and celebrate the Chinese New Year. Right. I mean, it's literally coinciding with that moment.Matt Lewis: And so that's a classic example, right? Our politicians are telling the public, don't worry, everything's fine. And yet what are they doing? What are they doing with their money? And so I think that is super corrosive. And that's by far, I would say, the most important reform in the book.Chuck Warren: Let me ask you this. I'm a follow up two questions real quick. How many members have siblings or family members that are in the brokerage business or selling and trading stocks? Do you know that you were you able to find that out?Matt Lewis: I it's in the book. I don't recall offhand. Okay. I do know it is in the book. And I will I will say this. I mean, in 20 so in 2012, up until 2012, it wasn't even illegal to engage in insider trading in Congress. It's only been the last decade when that was illegal. Now the problem is policing. And I can tell you that the law it's called the Stock Act that made it illegal has has done very little to alleviate. The problem.Chuck Warren: There's always a loophole, right? There's always some loophole they'll find. All right, what else would you do? What else would you reform?Matt Lewis: Well, we've talked about family. I would I would ban the practice of hiring family for campaigns or official congressional offices. If you want to volunteer on a campaign, by all means. I just. We just wouldn't pay you. I would have a ten year moratorium on lobbying so that after serving in Congress, you can't go out and just start lobbying your former colleagues immediately. You would have a ten year basically ban on that. Some people like Ted Cruz and AOC want a lifetime ban. I don't even know if that would be constitutional right now. It's, I think, two years in the Senate, one year in the House. But like you said, Chuck, I mean, there are ways around it. There's this thing called the Daschle loophole where politicians immediately start lobbying. They just don't register as lobbyists.Chuck Warren: They're consultants. They're consultants.Matt Lewis: Yes. They're yeah, exactly.Chuck Warren: You know, and you know what? You see this a lot, too. I mean, take Congress out of the equation. You see this a lot in legislatures. Legislatures. You know, you see people who couldn't rub two nickels together for their elected to the legislature, which doesn't take as much money. And now they're lobbying and making six high, six digits a year.Sam Stone: Watch every governor's staff, if they've just won their second term, they get into year five. Right. And that whole staff disappears into the lobbying land and they're all rich by year eight.Chuck Warren: Is that something that you think we should push also on the state level? And hopefully, you know, I find out a lot of times if states start pushing something, various states, then it goes to the national level is that's something that people should be pushing their state legislatures to pass?Matt Lewis: I would say definitely I would I would strongly encourage that. And, you know, sometimes states can be the laboratories of democracy. And if these reforms can begin there, that would be very healthy.Chuck Warren: What else? Okay. Lobbying, banning stock, hiring kids and family on campaigns. Those are three great things. What else could be done?Matt Lewis: One of them this is one that is not sexy, but it's book deals, believe it or not. You know, Bernie Sanders, who's a socialist, was asked, how did you become a millionaire? And he said, and I'm paraphrasing, but this is pretty close to the real quote. He said, I wrote a best selling book. If you write a best selling book, you could be a millionaire, too. But but the book deals are really I mean, people are using their their perch, their position to become millionaires. But the worst part of it is the bulk orders, right? So you write a book, but instead of real people buying the book, it's like the National Republican Senatorial Committee buys like 50,000 copies of it. And some of that money very well could trickle back into your pocket. Well, for example.Chuck Warren: For example, Bernie Sanders, I just looked it up, made $170,000 in book royalties in 2022, which almost matches his $174,000 congressional salary.Matt Lewis: There you go. There you go. And I don't think you wrote a book in 2022. No, he's still making royalties.Sam Stone: Well, and you know, the quality of most of these books, you know, they're ghost written or co-written, and most of them are just garbage. And you see these huge payouts, you know, it's not for their incredible insight in that in that no tome.Matt Lewis: Totally. Yeah. These are not this is not Hemingway you know.Chuck Warren: Well with Matt Lewis good friend of the show, daily columnist at The Daily Beast. He has come out with a new book. You can buy It now, Filthy Rich Politicians, the Swamp Creatures, Latte, Liberals and Ruling Class Elites. When we come back, we're going to talk about the latte liberals and what Matt dug in about that. I'm going to.Sam Stone: Bring up Joe Biden also. You can do.Chuck Warren: That as well. That's right. This is breaking battlegrounds. Find us are breaking battlegrounds vote. We'll be right back.Sam Stone: Welcome back to Breaking battlegrounds with your host, Chuck Warren. I'm Sam Stone, continuing on right now with Matt Lewis, friend of the program, columnist for The Daily Beast and author of the new book Filthy Rich Politicians, Swamp Creatures, Latte Liberals and Ruling Class Elites Cashing In on America, available right now at Amazon or your favorite bookseller? Matt As I read it, I did get to the section on the Bidens. And two things I think stand out is, one, they're cashing in less than most of of a lot of these other political families are. But two quite frankly, Matt, the stupidity of their schemes with Hunter Biden and all this stuff when there are so many ways that they could I don't want to say legitimately, but at least entirely legally make huge amounts of money. Did nobody in that family take notes from the Clinton Global Initiative?Matt Lewis: Well, I think if you've seen the pictures of Hunter Biden recently, you know that at least some members of his family are not operating based on reason and logic. Um, Joe Biden kind of has, it seems like I mean, who knows? I mean, I don't know if he's, quote, the big guy who's getting a cut from the Burisma money or whatever, from Hunter. But Joe, according to his actual, you know, disclosure reports, really wasn't all that wealthy compared to most of these politicians until he left the vice presidency. And then he had about three years where he really cashed in. He made about $15 million off of, you know, the usual boring stuff, speeches, book deals, being a adjunct professor, that kind of thing. But the one thing that is clear is that Biden has a long history of his family cashing in on on his name. And it's not just Hunter, it's James and Frank, I think it is, who've been doing this. And, you know, I found that way back in 1988, the first time Biden ran for president. He raised about $11 million. There's a lot of money. In 1988, he raised $11 million, and 20% of that money went to the Biden family or companies that employed the Biden family. So this thing of him spreading the money around to his family has been going on for 25 or 30, I guess 35 years something.Chuck Warren: Yeah. So in 1988, if you go and say, what's the dollar value, then that's worth about 5.1 million today. Yeah, I mean, it's real money. Sam, what are your what's your family doing for you?Sam Stone: I I've got to run for something more significant than city council is what you're saying. Chuck Yeah.Chuck Warren: Matt Let me ask you a question and Sam Biden Biden stuff, but I want to ask you a question. I, I heard you on an interview and I thought this was really interesting. And folks, Matt has just a wonderful wife. And the thing I love about Erin is she is so dang blunt. And you were talking to her about maybe on a walk running for Congress. Would you tell I want to understand really how hard this is to do, first of all, and why there is a certain wealth factor involved with it. I don't think they quite understand. You know, I have a congressional candidate friend who's running right now. He's put 300 grand on his race and just he just said it doesn't seem like it's enough. And that's what I have. That's what it is. Right. Would you explain your conversation and why this is so hard and why we are getting a certain amount of people in office?Matt Lewis: Totally. And this was eye opening for me as someone who's been, you know, in politics for decades, even for me, I had to kind of grapple with this realization. So but so my wife, as you know, Chuck, my wife is a Republican political fundraiser. And while I was writing this book, you know, we went out for a walk and we were talking and I was you know, I live in West Virginia and my congressman is running for Senate against Joe Manchin. And so we were walking. I said, you know, if things were a little different, maybe I someday I could run for Congress. And she's like, oh, you don't have enough money. And I said like, well, what are you talking about? Like, number one, I've been in you know, I know a lot of people. I've been in journalism for a couple of decades and I've got a good network and I'm like, number two, I'm married to a professional Republican fundraiser. Surely I could run for Congress in West Virginia. And she was like, Well, let me put it to you this way. If I didn't know you and you approached me and you wanted to hire me, I would say, come back to me. When you've either donated $300,000 or raise $300,000 from your personal Christmas card list, and then and only then would I introduce you to political action committees and high dollar donors. And that's when it hit me that even I who wrote on the Straight Talk Express with John McCain could not win a congressional seat in West Virginia because I'm not rich enough.Chuck Warren: Well, you need better friends. Yeah.Sam Stone: Yeah. Chuck and I are not going to be able to help you that much there. Matt Lewis, we want to thank you again for joining us. We have just about 30s before we end the segment here, we really appreciate having you on. How do folks stay in touch with all of your work?Matt Lewis: Oh, awesome. Well, first, get filthy rich politicians. Follow me on Twitter at Matt K Lewis and check me out at The Daily Beast.Sam Stone: Perfect. Thank you so much. Once again, Matt, we always love having you on the program. Looking forward to the next round breaking battlegrounds. Back in just a moment.Advertisement: At Overstock. We know home is a pretty important place and that's why we believe everyone deserves a home that makes them happy. Whether you're furnishing a new house or apartment or simply looking to update and refresh a few rooms. Overstock has every day free shipping and amazing deals on the beautiful high quality furniture and decor. You need to transform any home into the home of your dreams. Overstock Making Dream homes Come True.Sam Stone: Welcome back to Breaking Battlegrounds with your host, Sam Stone in studio with me today. Kiley Kipper dragged reluctantly onto the mic once again back.Kiley Kipper: By popular demand. I'm just.Sam Stone: Kidding. People love you, Kiley. They are always happy to talk to you. And you know what else makes people happy? Earning a really high rate of return on their investments. That makes almost everybody I know happy. And folks, if you haven't checked out our friends at Invest Refy.com, you need to do that right now. Go to invest the letter Y then refy.com you can earn up to a 10.25% fixed rate of return. The market goes up, the market goes down, your rate of return stays the same. It is a tremendous opportunity and we highly encourage you to check it out. So again, go on their website, invest y refy.com or give them a call at 888 y refy 24 and tell them Chuck and Sam sent you. Now, our next segment up, we have a returning guest, someone we really enjoyed having on the program last time, Congressman James Moylan of Guam. And we have something actually this is coming out on Saturday, the 22nd. We record on the 21st. And folks, the 21st is a very special day. July 21st is a special day in Guam. Congressman, tell us what's going on.Congressman James Moylan: Sure. I'll be happy to. Hi there, Sam. And hi, Kiley. And we as we greet folks from Guam, we say half a day. So half a day to you both.Sam Stone: And half a day to you as well, sir.Congressman James Moylan: Thank you. So we I was just on the floor today and gave a five minute speech for Congressional Record announcing the celebration of Guam's 79th Liberation Day 79 years ago. Guam was liberated and from during World War two. We also had a ceremony at the war. Let me see. World War II Memorial on July. July 13th here, where we had a wreath laying presentation on the monument at the War Memorial with Guam on it. This is a tradition that has been long ongoing for for quite some time. And we've joined in with our Guam Society of America, the oldest tomorrow group in the nation. We have so many different tomorrow groups throughout the nation, but this is the first and the oldest. We also had other members of Congress that were present. We had the undersecretary of the United States Air Force, Christine Christine Jones, and we also had the commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General Eric Smith, also do a presentation. So what's really happening is to remember this day for celebration. 79 years ago, on July 21st, 19, 1944, Guam, after two years of occupation by the Japanese Imperial Army military, the United States service members landed on our south west part of Guam, to liberate over 20,000 tomorrows and Americans from the occupation of Guam.Congressman James Moylan: The actual the war in World War II were not. Many people know that Guam was actually occupied by the Japanese soldiers, and that day came as an invasion on December 8th of 1941. This is a special day for Guam because we were celebrating the feast of Santa Maria Kamalen, and that's Guam's patron saint. And after people were coming out of church, the sounds of bombs were just dropping and planes flying overhead. And and it drowned out what was a peaceful neighborhood and a great celebration of of of our services there. And that's what started the occupation on Guam. So we're very thankful 79 years later for the liberation Day of Guam, when the Marines came on back on July 21st, 1944. So that's our celebration. And we we're very patriotic and we're we're rededicating ourselves to chorus. And Guam is even even just as important then as it is even more so now with the Indopacom situation and the Communist Chinese party threat for national security and our sister nations out there who are supporting us as well, with the U.S taking the.Sam Stone: Lead that has I mean, that is something that I think is so almost incomprehensible, Congressman, to any American right to you're stepping out of out of a services or a celebration in your country is being bombed around you. And there have to be people there who who lived through that experience, who still have that direct memory. Yes. And that has.Congressman James Moylan: In fact.Sam Stone: Never leave you.Congressman James Moylan: Right. And many of war survivors still tell the stories. And we did have a war survivor here for a celebration here in Washington, DC at the Pacific Memorial. So but my mother was also one. So my mother had told me this story and she was 12 years old at the time. She was coming out of the cathedral with her grandfather. And she she explained the story in this way, that as they were exiting and they see the Japanese zeros flying over and the bombs were coming on down and she's yelling at her grandfather, too, Grandpa, we got to go. We got to go. Let's run, run, run. As an older man, he said, No, just leave me here. And she started she had to pull him so they can run, run for protection and run and hide and get back home to their family. So them with my mother's explanation. And and by the way, my father was in Pearl Harbor at the time of the bombing in Pearl Harbor, too. So every everybody's generations and generations, families have been affected. And the war stories continue to the brutality that was taken against forced labor, forced marches, beheadings, stabbings, grenades and and caves where where locals were were killed and massacred. And it was it was tremendous loss of innocent lives. But that's why we celebrate the. With the Liberation Day coming out, with the Marines, coming out back with US soldiers, with the United States Navy there to re reclaim Guam and give us our freedom back.Congressman James Moylan: And my mother was part of that as well. There was what they called the Bennington Force march, where the Japanese troops used the local residents as a shield, As the Americans were coming onto the shore and coming inland, the Japanese were marching that direction, but using the local folks as a barrier. But of course, you know, the US is not going to kill innocent citizens. And my mom would explain to me as she's climbing up the hills in Menningen when they see the star on on the army, I believe it was an army tank or an army jeep. Then the soldiers would call them over and tell them to keep quiet, keep quiet, just come this way, come this way. And they felt so, so relieved to see the US, see Americans, see the military there. And it was a joyful celebration. And that's why this this has continued in celebrating and remembering in memory of this throughout the nation. We have Guam societies that we have calendars of events for just about every state where there's Guam residents. And they establish their organization and they celebrate to to remember those that have died, that have sacrificed. And if there are survivors to celebrate their lives as well for what we consider the greatest generation.Sam Stone: Congressman, one of the things I think people know from, you know, books and movies like Unbroken a little bit, some of the experience that, for instance, American POWs went through. But I don't think they know enough about what the people of the occupied islands of the Pacific, including Guam, went through. You were just, you know, referencing some of it right there. But that occupation was just absolutely brutal in every regard and with with really little consideration for the humanity of the people of Guam or any of the other islands of the Pacific.Congressman James Moylan: Very true. And and not all were able to talk about it some more. Chose to to forget my my mother's father was imprisoned in Japanese in Japan as well. And then when he came back to the to Guam after the war was over, he died shortly thereafter just from lack of lack of nutrition. So it was very it was it was brutal. And and the rules of war and Geneva Convention, there was there's nothing like that. The forced labor that was placed upon the people, the beheading of of local folks and the fights that went on and and what they had to endure. And you had to bow also to the imperial Japanese Army. And if you didn't, you're whipped and beaten. It was it was a sad day for those almost two and a half years of occupation. And that's why when the Americans came back, it was a great celebration. And since that time, of course, we've grown and we had we're considered per capita, the highest enlistment in the nation, where people joining the military, because of our commitment and the happiness and the joy that the United States came back to claim that U.S territory, which was the U.S territory at the time.Sam Stone: So there are few, few populations on the planet that love America and the ideals of America like the people of Guam.Congressman James Moylan: Yes. And I'm happy to represent as the delegate here. And there's a couple of committees that we were able to get ourselves on. And one is the House Armed Services Committee, which I play a great role in the readiness and also the personnel part. And I focus on on Guam and the Northern Marianas and and the Indopacom region. So we've had also we're able to have within the first quarter, a congressional delegation come through Guam. Second quarter, we just had another one, the House committee, House Armed Services Committee, to include the chairman and several other members of the House to come on up over an experience of what Guam is and what the role was and what it is now for the Indopacom region to defend against communist Chinese threat. And then we're going to have another one through the Natural Resources Committee, Department of Interior Affairs, which I'm a part of also, and the subcommittee specifically regarding our nation's Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands as well. All these nations joining in so we can protect freedom and democracy. Right. And we are against the Communist Chinese party. So I'm very fortunate to represent Guam in these two committees that have a great impact in the Indopacom region. And we're I believe the United States will be here for a long, long time to ensure that the Chinese threat is is deterred by our show of strength with all our other countries that are involved with our democracy.Sam Stone: And people folks out there may not realize that as a territory. Guam, obviously, we're talking to their congressman member right now. Congressman, you don't have a vote on the House floor, but you do have a vote on committee. And I think most people don't recognize that what happens on the House floor is often kind of a dog and pony show, that the actual sausage gets made in those committees that dictates what's actually going to be voted on and how those bills, you know, interact with with the intent of the authors.Congressman James Moylan: Exactly. And we just were discussing the National Defense Authorization Act, the NDAA, which is the one of the biggest budget for the defense of the nation, and so much billions of dollars going into the Indo-Pacific region. Our influence there, we were able to double what we received last last fiscal year for for the island defense. So that's a great influence there. So in committee, yes, we do this and pardon me.Sam Stone: Sorry, we had a little technical glitch right there. Apologize for that. Let's just keep going here. I want to switch up topics just a little bit. We have only two minutes left. Are there any traditional celebrations, the traditional foods like here, obviously July 4th, Independence Day, it's hot dogs, hamburgers, fireworks. Are there celebratory traditions around Guam's Independence Day, their liberation day?Congressman James Moylan: Yes. Unfortunately, this year we didn't have it because we were hit with Super Typhoon Marwar. So we're still recovering from that. However, we'll we get back to our traditions. We usually have a parade with all the branches of the military, all our department agencies and a lot of villages are also represented with floats. It's it's it's a beautiful parade that goes down what's known as Marine Corps Drive. That's our main road on Guam. In addition, people overnight on the sides of the roads and they picnic because it's right next to the beach and they barbecue. We love our fiesta. We call it Fiesta food. We have what's called red rice barbecue chicken, barbecue ribs. And our marinade is delicious. We have a sauce called Vinodhini, which is our hot sauce. And we have something special called Chicken Kelaguen that everybody loves. So.Sam Stone: Congressman, I think we I think we need to check the weather and make some plans for next year to come. There.Congressman James Moylan: There you go. You're more than welcome and you're invited. Please come on down. It's going to be the 80th. And that's where you should have your show coming out of. That'd be great.Sam Stone: I think that sounds like an absolutely fantastic plan. Congressman James Moylan of Guam, thank you so much for joining us once again. We really appreciate having you on the program, folks. Stay tuned for our podcast only segment. You're not going to want to miss this one. Breaking battlegrounds. Back in just a moment.Speaker1: The 2022 political field was intense, so don't get left behind in 2024. If you're running for political office, the first thing on your to do list needs to be securing your name on the web with a your name Web domain from GoDaddy.com. Get yours now.Sam Stone: Welcome to the podcast. Only segment of breaking battlegrounds. In studio with me today the irrepressible haven't broken that out in a while the irrepressible Kiley Kipper. She remains irrepressible folks. She is our producer. She does a fantastic job. We've got Jeremy in the booth, as always, doing a beautiful job on all our audio and on the line. Now, I saw this come out a little while ago and it kind of blew me away. We have Senator Shannon Grove from California's 12th Senate District. Senator Grove has served in the US Army and had the amazing. It had to be amazing. Senator, the experience in Frankfurt, Germany, of watching the fall of the Berlin Wall. She's an advocate for small business school choice, the developmentally disabled farmers and families, and we're having her on today to discuss her proposed amendment to Assembly Bill 2167. Senator, thank you so much for joining us today. We really appreciate having you on the program. Tell us what this amendment was. First, I think this is news that was so much going on in the country, escaped a lot of people, but it really blew me away when I heard about your bill. I'm shocked California didn't have something like this already on the books and then shocked and disheartened at the Democrats response to it.Senator Shannon Grove: No.Senator Shannon Grove: And I appreciate you guys covering this subject matter. I really do. And thank you for having me on. Sb 14 was a simple solution that would just allow us individuals who sell children for sex, sex trafficking, minor children, 0 to 17in age group. It would make it a serious felony in the state of California right now, there's two subsections that deal with this subject matter. And selling a child for sex does not automatically make it a serious felony unless there's coercion, torture, violence, you know, all these different things that go along with it, then it can be considered serious. But I want the actual act of selling the child to be a serious felony.Sam Stone: And it shocks I mean, honestly, it we're sitting here in Arizona, obviously, we've had Republican leadership for a long time. So it's a very different environment. Obviously, every state is different. But this should be a no brainer, right? I mean, so much of the problem and we've dealt with the issue of sex trafficking and child sex trafficking here quite a bit. Obviously, with the border. Arizona is also another hub of that activity, just like California is, unfortunately. But a lot of times it's very difficult to prove those if you can prove any element of it at all. It's really difficult to prove those other elements. This has got to be just hamstringing prosecutors, this current law.Senator Shannon Grove: It really is hamstringing prosecutors. And that's why we work together with our district attorneys, including all the statewide district attorneys, with the exception of 3 or 4. But specifically Nancy O'Malley, the former district attorney of Alameda County, who established the heat unit, the human trafficking exploitation unit. And what happened is, is that that was the first unit set up like that in the nation that was victim centered. She's prosecuted over 850 cases of human trafficking. And one of the big issues that she has is that you can't convict these individuals because this particular bill, SB 14, the language is not on the books. When we first introduced the language, we wanted to make sure everybody was encompassed, that everybody in sex trafficking, labor trafficking were all included. But to get it out of the Senate, we had to narrow it to minors only. So we moved the football a little bit. We got a unanimous vote in the Senate. 40 senators in the state of California, all 40 voted I no abstentions and no no's. Fast forward to the Assembly Public Safety Committee, where the bill dies.Sam Stone: Oh.Sam Stone: I it stuns me. What was to hear that? I mean, it's sort of it's just gross. I mean, quite frankly, it's just gross. They clearly killed it when they they figured it wouldn't draw much attention by killing it in committee. But, my goodness, how how did what did they what did they say? How did these Democrats look at themselves in the mirror?Kiley Kipper: That's what I want to know, is what is their response when you're trying to have these conversations with the people that you work with?Senator Shannon Grove: So, yeah, no. So I did I was, you know, they requested me leadership, requested me to meet with the chair of the committee after it was killed and he wanted me to take an amendment. So let me explain the bill just a little bit more so people get a full grasp of it. If you sex trafficking a minor child in the state of California and you get caught and you get prosecuted, you get sentenced to either four, 8 or 12 years, let's just take the maximum 12 years with California's criminal justice reform laws. You go to school, you go to classes, you're a good behavior in prison. You can get out in less than four years. So let's just take that scenario, which happens quite often. You get out in four years and then you go back to sex trafficking a minor. That's when my bill kicks in and creates a strike offense that when you get busted on your second offense for selling a child for sex, then you have to serve your full 12 years and you have a strike against you, which could, if you continue your bad behavior, you could end up with life in prison. The chair wants me to take an amendment to allow the second offense of sex trafficking, not the first one. When you get convicted, you go to prison. You get out in four years, but then you get out again and you sex trafficker minor do or do another bad felony, something that's listed as a serious or violent felony. He wants me to take an amendment to allow the perpetrator to plea bargain down. I said no. So that's why the bill died.Sam Stone: That that is that is Kiley. That is stunning to me.Kiley Kipper: Just sitting here shaking our heads.Sam Stone: Yeah, My mouth is my mouth is on the bottom of this table right now because can you even.Senator Shannon Grove: Believe we're having this conversation?Sam Stone: No, no, no. Senator, we're talking to Senator Shannon Grove of California's 12th Senate District. She proposed this bill that would have made it a serious and violent felony to traffic minor children for the purposes of sex. That's a really narrow thing. I mean, trafficking any person should be a serious and violent felony. I like your original intent, but I understand cutting it back. You have to make a deal. I cannot comprehend the inhumanity that it takes to not move this out of committee.Senator Shannon Grove: Well, I think it just, you know, with the the media engaging the way they did and Californians raising up their voices and, you know, with the the the exposure that the bill got from dying caused the Public Safety Committee to reverse their decision, you know, 24 hours later. So it still is moving through the building. They are still pushing for amendments. You know, the public safety chair voted for the bill. We got it out of public safety. And now he's on, you know, TV. Every time he turns around going the bill is still flawed. I have to fix this bill. There's nothing wrong with my bill. It says that if you it just simply says you can't. It's a serious felony to to sex traffickers sell a child for sex. It's just ridiculous that you wouldn't be able to get this passed with flying colors. And what's interesting is, is that, like I said, every senator voted for it, including Scott Wiener out of San Francisco, The San Francisco Chronicle, and I'm talking about San Francisco, not normal California, but San Francisco. The San Francisco Chronicle even did an article, you know, against the chair's arguments like like you mean sex trafficking. The minor isn't enough like that. They have to brutalize them. You know, there's a whole list of things that they have to do in order to make it a strike or a default to life in prison. But I mean, branding them with a branding iron instead of tattooing all these different things in the details that will allow you to make it a fallback for the strike able offense. I just want to make it a strike able offense for sex trafficking. A minor like you shouldn't need all these other things. I think sex trafficking, a minor like my witness said it and it's kind of gross, but you have to get this vision in your head. Grown men all over a ten year old child, that in itself should be a serious felony.Sam Stone: Okay. I'm glad to be here. We are, folks, we are recording this just before lunchtime and I started the intermittent fasting thing. And I'm right now really glad that I don't start eating anything till noon because I think I would have thrown up right there. I mean, that's just.Senator Shannon Grove: This is disgusting. It's the hardest bill I've ever. I met parents that whose daughter was trafficked. And I said, How did you find out? You know, you know, tell me your story. She got a text message, a video. She clicked on the video and it was five guys gang raping her daughter. I met a and it's it's disproportionately does affect black women and people of color. If you look at Figueroa Street, the National Coalition of Human Trafficking down there says that 70% of the women that are in their shelters are are black or brown. And then also 55% of them on the streets are black or brown. So for them to say that this disproportionately affects black people, I agree with them in that portion only. They are concerned about the black people that could possibly go to prison for perpetrating these crimes against black women. And I to me, I don't care what color your skin is, I, I don't care what I was in the military. Everybody's green, but I don't care what color your skin is. If you're sex trafficking minors, I do want you to go to prison for a long time. Yeah.Sam Stone: I mean, this this hesitation on their part, it's protecting the evil people and not protecting the innocent ones. And who gives a darn about skin color? That just makes no sense at all.Senator Shannon Grove: But when they can't make an argument on the substance, they always throw in race. And they always do that. They always throw in race. And then you've got these people out there doing the q-anon thing. If they can't make an argument on the substance, they try to distract from the substance. And I keep saying the bill is very simple. If you sex trafficking a minor 0 to 17, you should go to prison.Sam Stone: Well, and part of the backstory behind some of their opposition, I imagine, is what they've been trying to do to essentially legalize or decriminalize however you want to put it, prostitution. But they present it as as a choice for the people that are engaging in that activity. This is not a choice. I mean, this is not somebody. Yeah. Who's who's making a decision about their own life. This is somebody who's being abused in the worst way possible.Senator Shannon Grove: You're exactly right. But when you get into the details, I guess you'd say the the the serious felony doesn't kick in when you traffic a minor because, you know, you just you have to imagine somebody's going, come on, you know, like a family member or do this for dad, do this for mom. You know, whatever a neighbor come on, just do this one time. Well, they're not they're not beating her into submission. They're not. So it doesn't count, right? It just doesn't count. So there are there are it is very, very hard to prosecute a serious felony in the state of California for this because the girls are scared. They're young. They they they're afraid to turn someone in. And so basically, they have to have all these additional things that happen once you sex traffic the minor. And that's why I was trying to make it simple that that selling the child or sex trafficking the child should be enough alone by itself as a serious felony.Sam Stone: I, I.Sam Stone: Would agree, Kylie, in part because when you talk to experts about this, about sex trafficking, particularly a minor, children, you know, even regardless of the physical abuse, what they're using is mental abuse and mental torture to to keep these these young people in a position where they can continue to be exploited. They're tearing their mind apart. Yeah.Kiley Kipper: And it'll never be recovered. Obviously, their life will never be the same.Senator Shannon Grove: I mean, Kiley, you're absolutely right when you think about it. You know, even my survivors that have gone on to have families and you know that I have Odessa Perkins, if you haven't watched her testimony, she really nailed them with her responses. But she was she was trafficked as a minor and went through the anger stage, the criminal stage, the whole bit where she was, you know, didn't function right in society because of the trauma in her. And then you become a survivor versus a victim. Right. And now she's an interventionist. She's a speaker and author. She has a nonprofit where she rescues at risk kids and deters at risk kids and rescues people out of human trafficking. So there is a is a road to recovery. But that doesn't mean that she doesn't deal with this trauma that affected her as a child all of her life, every single day. And the same with Jenna McKay, who does the Jenna McKay Foundation. And you know what's interesting about these two individuals, Odessa is a black a black woman trafficked as a child in a in a poor socioeconomic disadvantaged neighborhood. But Jenna McKay came from a Christian home, no divorce, got a full ride scholarship to Vanguard University and was lured out of that by someone who said they loved her. She fell in love. She thought she they'd been dating for a few months. He asked her to go to Vegas, knock on the door. When they get to Vegas, they exchanged money and men came in and raped her.Kiley Kipper: Wow.Senator Shannon Grove: So there's different stories in this human trafficking realm.Sam Stone: And it takes an enormous amount of courage to be able to come out and tell those stories. But it takes as much courage in the moment to be able to go and tell that story to police. And it just sounds like this, you know, anything you do that adds barriers, that makes it more difficult for them to have the the the resolution in part, I guess, of having their assailant be actually placed in bars and behind bars and face real penalties. That has to be part of the healing process for a lot of them. Right. Is is seeing justice actually happen. And this is this this hesitation by some California Democrats is really denying that.Senator Shannon Grove: It really is. And that's a perfect way to explain it, too. So we're trying to remove barriers. There's barriers now to testimony which you just said. So this bill would remove barriers. It just the act of selling the child for sex would be a serious felony. So there wouldn't be any barriers where you have to meet a certain level or did they beat you? Did they sodomise you? Did they I mean, all these crazy things, right? So just the act. So we're trying to remove the barriers for these these kids to testify. So that's a very good way to put it. Thank you for phrasing it that way.Sam Stone: Fantastic. Senator, anything else that we should be focusing, you know, people should be paying attention to around this upcoming hearings or anything like that. And then secondly, how can they support you in the work you're doing? Because I got to say, especially in California, you're you're swimming upstream in a big way. But they need more voices like yours who provide some balance.Senator Shannon Grove: I appreciate that. So the bill did get out of public safety. It quieted the media down a little bit. So now everybody's off on their what they call summer break. We come back on August 14th and the bill will go before the Appropriations Committee in order to get through one more committee, the opposition, the Democrats that killed the bill originally in public safety and then re voted for the bill two days later or a day and a half later. They are still saying that I they are going to fix this bill and they're going to make me take amendments. There is nothing to fix in this bill, so please stay engaged in the process. You can follow me at Shannon Grove, CA on Instagram, Shannon Grove, CA on Twitter, Shannon Grove, CA on Facebook, or Senator Shannon Grove on Facebook. But and we'll post the, you know, the day that the hearing is going to take place. We'll keep everybody updated on social media. So please stay engaged and to pray for this process because it really is just just a mess the way that the California state legislature operates. And then also, you know, participate in the hearing process. They still allow call ins. You can call in, you can write in, you can you can just participate to support the bill. So thank you, folks.Sam Stone: We have a lot of listeners out there right now who are listening to this who are in California. Make your voice heard. You know, make stand up, exercise your right as a citizen. I think that's incredibly important in this case. They need to hear from voices outside the political process and where people really stand, because I don't see. Senator, thank you so much for joining us. Senator Shannon Grove. I don't see anything at all that needs to be amended in this bill. This needs to pass.Senator Shannon Grove: I agree. Thank you so much for taking the time to interview me and get the message out there. I really appreciate it.Sam Stone: All right. Fantastic. Folks, remember to tune in every week to Breaking Battlegrounds. We're on all your favorite Salem network stations. And you can also download us wherever you find your podcasts, Substack, Spotify. Apple Podcasts. I think we still even post to YouTube, although I've never I've never actually been on our YouTube site. Kiley To find out what's up. It's up. Okay, folks, make sure you're tuning in. That's how we keep the lights on here in this studio. That's how we pay the bills and that's how we continue to bring you stories about what's going on around the country that maybe aren't getting enough coverage like this one. Again, thank you to all of our guests today and particular thanks to our final guest, Senator Shannon Grove of California. It is, as always, been an enlightening and and not always easy journey here with breaking battlegrou

Mike Collins and guests take a closer look at a law aimed at prohibiting members of Congress from profiting from information they know before most of the rest of us. The STOCK Act, on this hour of Charlotte Talks.

Congressman Jim Langevin talks mailer supporting Allan Fung that suggests Langevin also supports him, as well as breaking news that the January 6th panel has subpoenaed former President Donald Trump, the Stock Act, plus what is next for him.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a continued water crisis across the US. We've seen contaminated water on the USS Nimitz. Hawaii had repeated water contamination issues. Camp Lejeune has had lawsuits for all of the fallout from years of contamination. The same government that regulates the civilian population can't seem to get it right. Why should we continue to trust them?   The same argument could be made for all of the issues surrounding the government and secrets kept from the public. Do you trust that they have your best interest at heart? Congress once again has filed to pass the STOCK Act, allowing them to continue to invest in single stocks in which they have insider information. Let's talk about it and more on this Throat Punch Thursday!    Do you want us to mention a specific topic? Leave a comment or find us on Facebook or Instagram and send us a DM.   This podcast was produced and edited by the Dirt Sailor duo. Mark and Shannon are a father/daughter team who both served in the United States Navy. This production is protected by US Copyright. All items are discussed as commentary/opinion.

For weeks, Democrats were committed to pushing the Inflation Reduction Act with claims that it would revive the economy and bring down prices but have remained silent after another month of rising inflation. FOX News Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram discusses the underlying problems and practicality of IRA. Later, he compares IRA to the STOCK Act in 2012 and explains how Republicans may not be completely opposed to the policy, but are still reluctant to go easy on Joe Manchin. With just six weeks from the Midterm Election, the latest FOX News polls among Georgia voters show incumbent Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock is ahead of Republican Herschel Walker by five points, while the incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp widens his lead against Democrat Stacey Abrams. Political Columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Patricia Murphy weighs in on Georgia voters' thoughts on varying issues including inflation, former President Trump, and the candidates running for GA's Senate and Governor seats. Later, she breaks down how Georgia becoming more of a swing state, the keys to watch for as we get prepared, and whether parties or candidates themselves play a bigger role in the race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For weeks, Democrats were committed to pushing the Inflation Reduction Act with claims that it would revive the economy and bring down prices but have remained silent after another month of rising inflation. FOX News Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram discusses the underlying problems and practicality of IRA. Later, he compares IRA to the STOCK Act in 2012 and explains how Republicans may not be completely opposed to the policy, but are still reluctant to go easy on Joe Manchin. With just six weeks from the Midterm Election, the latest FOX News polls among Georgia voters show incumbent Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock is ahead of Republican Herschel Walker by five points, while the incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp widens his lead against Democrat Stacey Abrams. Political Columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Patricia Murphy weighs in on Georgia voters' thoughts on varying issues including inflation, former President Trump, and the candidates running for GA's Senate and Governor seats. Later, she breaks down how Georgia becoming more of a swing state, the keys to watch for as we get prepared, and whether parties or candidates themselves play a bigger role in the race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For weeks, Democrats were committed to pushing the Inflation Reduction Act with claims that it would revive the economy and bring down prices but have remained silent after another month of rising inflation. FOX News Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram discusses the underlying problems and practicality of IRA. Later, he compares IRA to the STOCK Act in 2012 and explains how Republicans may not be completely opposed to the policy, but are still reluctant to go easy on Joe Manchin. With just six weeks from the Midterm Election, the latest FOX News polls among Georgia voters show incumbent Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock is ahead of Republican Herschel Walker by five points, while the incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp widens his lead against Democrat Stacey Abrams. Political Columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Patricia Murphy weighs in on Georgia voters' thoughts on varying issues including inflation, former President Trump, and the candidates running for GA's Senate and Governor seats. Later, she breaks down how Georgia becoming more of a swing state, the keys to watch for as we get prepared, and whether parties or candidates themselves play a bigger role in the race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The STOCK Act hits another roadblock, plus t-minus one day until government funding runs out. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The end game on government funding, plus the latest on the STOCK Act saga. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four days until government funding runs out. Plus, what's next for the STOCK Act and electoral reform. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Taylor, Associate Professor of Accounting at the Wharton School, joins Wharton Business Daily to talk about the STOCK Act and the recent news that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband bought millions of Nvidia stock before a big subsidy vote. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With cable news saying the quiet part out loud for almost 6 years, the new head man at CNN is finally saying the loud part out loud. Cable news SUCKS and so do their ratings in comparison to new media on all areas of the spectrum. Shows like Breaking Points, Ben Shapiro, The Joe Rogan Experience, and many more are blowing their dismal Nielsen ratings out of the galaxy. A short review of the January 6th hearings. Which proved what we already know. Trump is unfit for office, and that can never just be enough for the Democratic establishment. Why are our two main political parties so hell bent on losing their credibility with extra lies, when the truth and what we know are crazy enough?We have more Congress people violating the Stock Act. Not less. Imagine that. As just 23 senators filed their 2021 annual disclosures by the May 16 deadline. With the rest filing for their customary extension giving them until August to do so. Will the American people forget by then? The Saudis and professional golf. Dan's monologue goes over Golf, Genocide, and false equivalence.

61 Democrats & Republicans failed to honor the Stock Act with reporting stock trades and investments that they made. Members of both parties are are going to D.C. and becoming multi-millionaires. https://TheWrants.comFollow The Wrants ShowTwitter: https://Twitter.com/TheWrantsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewrantsInstagram: https://Instagram.com/TheWrantsShow YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC67j5A9ErgsTOP8fpxeZ3WgLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canary Cry News Talk #490 - 05.27.2022 LORD ALGORISM Rules for WW3, Frankenfoods, Crispr, Soulbound Crypto LINKTREE: CanaryCry.Party SHOW NOTES: CanaryCryNewsTalk.com CLIP CHANNEL: CanaryCry.Tube SUPPLY DROP: CanaryCrySupplyDrop.com SUPPORT: CanaryCryRadio.com/Support MEET UPS: CanaryCryMeetUps.com Basil's other podcast: ravel Gonz' New Youtube: Facelikethesun Resurrection Gonz' Video Archive: Facelikethesun.Live App Made by Canary Cry Producer: Truther Dating App   LEAD POLYTICKS/AI Clip: General Milley warns West Point grads, prepare for global war, robot tanks (DailyMail)  →Madison Cawthorne violated STOCK Act, failed to disclose Ethereum purchase (Insider)   CHINA/NWO/RUMORS OF WARS Clip: A. Blinkin, US to counter China's threat to World Order (AP) → China's first carrier drone is “Marine Species” using AI (SCMP) → China admits military exercise around Taiwan as a 'solemn warning' to US (DailyMail)  → '140k soldiers' Leaked Audio Clip Reveals China's Plan To Invade Taiwan (IB Times)    INTRO (M-W-F) B&G Update, V4V/Exec./Asso./Support   FLIPPY The Algorithm Queen Ai-Da paints Queen Elizabeth II for Platinum Jubilee (DailyMail) [Party Pitch/Ravel/CCClips/text alerts]   FOOD/CRISPR Genetically Edited Frankenfoods coming to UK shelves NEXT YEAR! (DailyMail) → CRISPR: Experimental gene editing targets cholesterol-causing genes to clear arteries (GLP) → Note on arteries: World's smallest robot medic can crawl in arteries (Science Focus)   METAVERSE/CRISPR First “Living NFTs,” use CRISPR algos for emergent traits of Kymera (PRNewswire) → Sortium Blockchain Studio  Vitalik Buterin proposes Soul bound tokens for Web3 Identity (Fortune)   AI World Builders put happy face on Superintelligent AI (IEEE) [TREASURE/SPEAKPIPE/BYE YOUTUBE]   GUN CONTROL/MIND CONTROL Tweet: Ben Shapiro tweet supporting more police, top response on false arrest claims → Clip: House Rep. Tony Gonzalez claims shooter arrested 4 years ago *4 years ago, arrests, plot mass shooting in Uvalde scheduled for 4/20/2022 (My SA) → Tweet: Claim, Texas DPS, Texas Rangers say 2 arrested in 2018 not related CDC data shows death cross, gun death higher than motor vehicles for children (AXIOS) [TALENT]   ANTARCTICA Antibiotic resistant bacteria discovered on Antarctica (Jerusalem Post) … reminder of algos in Antarctica → New Algorithms pinpoints meteorite-rich Antarctica (EOS, March '22)  → ECHO Algorithms to monitor Penguins in Antarctica (CNET) → Alien Invasion in Antarctica, just the beginning, Algos identify threats (CNET) [TIME/OUTRO]   EPISODE 490 WAS PRODUCED BY… Executive Producers Hanna G**   Supply Drop Belkis R, Jonathan F, Sir JC Knight of the Technosquatch   Producers Lady Knight Little Wing, Marti K, Christian N, Jackie U, MORV, Tristan S, Sir JC Knight of the Technosquatch, Darrin S, James M, LX Protocol V2, Sir Casey the Shield Knight, Sir Scott Knight of Truth, Veronica D, Gail M, Sir James Knight and Servant of the Lion of Judah   AUDIO PRODUCTION (Jingles, Iso, Music): Jonathan F   ART PRODUCTION (Drawing, Painting, Graphics): Dame Allie of the Skillet Nation, Sir Dove Knight of Rusbeltia   CONTENT PRODUCTION (Microfiction etc.): Runksmash: Basil checks his phone after planting suggestions into Klaus' mind during the trance dance, he is taken aback when he sees 33 missed calls from his mom. He frantically checks his voicemail to hear, “Honey, the animals got in and are going crazy!”   MLC: Machine Gun Flippy was added to many vehicles that Russia had. It was a turning point for them. Russia had started to push Ukraine into corner. Ukraine was begging for the U.S. or N.A.T.O. to intervene. Country after country stayed silent about it. Then that is when Old Man B spoke up and said, “Cornpop was a bad dude. So is Putin. We will send drones to help turn the tides of this, this, you know the thing.” Putin gave the U.S. one final warning not to interfere any further than they have. Both leaders kept threatening back and forth, until…Ukraine's sky filled with American drones. Putin pushed the red button without saying another word.   CLIP PRODUCER Emsworth, FaeLivrin, Epsilon   Timestamps: Mondays: Jackie U Wednesdays: Jade Bouncerson Fridays: Christine C   ADDITIONAL STORIES: …more Uvalde: Uvalde gunman walked through apparently unlocked door, DPS says (HPM)  Uvalde shooter was not confronted by police before entering school, Texas official (KESQ 3)  Police waited to enter Texas school as shooter went on killing spree: witness (NY Post)  Police: Texas gunman was inside the school for over an hour (abc News)  Distressing videos show parents begging cops to stop Texas school shooting (NY Post)  Desperate parents tried to storm Texas school, police waited outside (Telegraph UK)  Mother trying to save children at Uvalde was handcuffed by federal marshals (Post Millennial)  WATCH: Texas Police Confirmed Cops Went In for Their Own Kids, Shooting (Mediaite)  ‘More could have been done': Texas police under scrutiny over response to shooting (theGuardian)  As timeline emerges, police criticized for response to school massacre (WaPo) (Archive)  Anger as police admit hour delay stopping gunman and school was unlocked (Independent UK)  Students mobilize, protest in 34 states (USA Today) …more Polyticks Biden: Allowed to use higher numbers than republicans on Climate affects (ABC) Explosive report, Boris Johnson embraces binge drinking allegations (Indy UK) …more News Woman who was killed in Salem Witch Trials exonerated nearly 330 years later (AP/NPR) 1369 vampires gather, break world record (Indy UK) Crocodiles losing teeth due to lead (Indy UK) Russia is now exposed to a historic debt default: Here's what happens next (CNBC)  US preparing to approve advanced long-range rocket system for Ukraine (CNN)  Patent filed for Transgenic chickens whose hatch will not reproduce (Children's Health Defense) …more Flippy Amazon's newest robot helper is here...and expensive (Mashable)  World's smallest robot medic can crawl in arteries (Science Focus)

While SEC is quick to investigate insider trading such as the one allegedly committed by Elon Musk and his brother, many members of Senate and Congress are in violation of STOCK act, which requires them to report their stocks-related data in a timely manner. Here is a short list of 10 from the 57 reported by Business Insider and a way to fix this problem. #STOCKActViolations #Stocks #Congress #Senate References: 1. https://www.businessinsider.com/congress-staff-violated-stock-act-conflicts-of-interest-possible-2021-12 2. https://www.businessinsider.com/congress-stock-act-violations-senate-house-trading-2021-9#sen-dianne-feinstein-a-democrat-from-california-1

After a private briefing for senators in January 2020 about the coronavirus crisis, North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr sold between $500,000 and $1.5 million in stock shortly before markets tanked. Former Senator Kelly Loeffler also sold millions in stock between the briefing and the market drop. Some public outrage surrounded the news about the Senators capitalizing on insider information, but the news cycle moved on. A few months ago in December, Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper disclosed that he had sold approximately four million dollars worth of stock, conveniently in advance of federal interest hikes. The news was mostly buried. Good government advocacy groups have been raising the volume recently on the call for legislation to prevent members of Congress trading individual stocks. More than a dozen groups signed onto a letter by the Project on Government Oversight sent to Senate leaders calling for Congressional action on insider trading that would be stronger than the 2012 STOCK Act. Andrew Lautz is a Policy and Government Affairs Manager for the National Taxpayers Union and Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette is a Government Affairs Manager at the Project on Government Oversight. They joined the podcast  to discuss the push to ban members of Congress fro trading individual stocks.

In today's Federal Newscast, House Republicans are pressing Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on how she is abiding by the STOCK Act.

President Biden moves to split $7 billion in frozen Afghan funds. Ottawa trucker protesters plan conveys in other cities. Abortions in Texas fall 60% in the month following the implementation of S.B. 8. Nancy Mace humiliates herself in an attempt to win back Trump voters. STOCK Act violator Tommy Tuberville calls the proposed trading ban “ridiculous”. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

David Jolly is an attorney, network political commentator and former Republican Congressman from Florida *Follow him on Twitter: @USRepDavidJolly. The STOCK Act, pressure increasing on Congress to ban trading in the markets.

Should Speaker Pelosi be Censured for advocating for wanting to continue ILLEGAL stock insider trading? Learn about the STOCK Act on Alex Garrett Podcasting?

Should Speaker Pelosi be Censured for advocating for wanting to continue ILLEGAL stock insider trading? Learn about the STOCK Act on Alex Garrett Podcasting?

Should Speaker Pelosi be Censured for advocating for wanting to continue ILLEGAL stock insider trading? Learn about the STOCK Act on Alex Garrett Podcasting?

On this episode, Jason shares his thoughts on the Stock Act and the influx of crime in major cities. Then Jason brings on the stupid, highlighting a booking email mishap at the hands of an MSNBC staffer, and an Oregon man's fraudulent appeal to receive federal COVID-19 relief funds. Later, Jason sits down with his daughter, Ellis Chaffetz Brown to discuss how her husband's Spinal Cord Injury transformed the trajectory of their lives. Ellis shares her story of faith and unconditional love. Keep up with Jason on Twitter: @jasoninthehouse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2012, President Barack Obama signed into law the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, otherwise known as the STOCK Act. The intent was to ban insider trading from members of Congress — a subject that gained national media attention on both sides of the aisle in the months and years after the financial crisis.But the law did not do what it was supposed to.Weston unpacks the STOCK Act and where it falls short and talks with one of the members of Congress who's leading a bipartisan effort to fix the law and put an end to insider trading by members of Congress.Guests:Kedric Payne, Senior Director of Ethics and the General Counsel of the Campaign Legal CenterRep. Chip Roy (R-TX)Additional InformationSwamp Stories PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Air Date 1/5/2022 Today we take a look at a few of the recent failures and challenges facing the Democratic Party in the face of an oncoming wave of anti-democratic forces bent on establishing an entrenched, minority-rule government through aggressive gerrymandering and voter suppression. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com  Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Julie Hollar on Moving Democrats to the Right - CounterSpin - Air Date 11-13-20 Blaming the left has been the practice of elite Democrats and their media abettors for decades. Ch. 2: “Unacceptable”: Rep. Jamaal Bowman Slams Manchin After Senator Says No to Build Back Better Plan - Democracy Now! - 12-20-21 President Biden's signature $1.75 trillion Build Back Better package appears to be dead after Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced on Fox News this Sunday he would not support the plan to expand the social safety net Ch. 3: Nancy Pelosi DEFENDS Stock Trading In Congress - The Young Turks - Air Date 12-6-21 Congress has been noticeably inconsistent when it comes to enforcing the STOCK Act, a law that is supposed to stop insider trading and conflicts of interest for Congress members and high-ranking staffers. Ch. 4: Remembering the legacy of Sen. Harry Reid - All In with Chris Hayes - Air Date 12-28-21 Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has died at the age of 82. Faiz Shakir, a senior adviser to Sen. Reid joins Chris Hayes to discuss his legacy. Ch. 5: Dems control the House by only 3 seats. Here's how redistricting efforts could affect that - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 11-24-21 Political lines are changing, as states across the country redraw their congressional maps — a process with huge implications for the balance of power in Washington, especially heading into 2022 elections. Lisa Desjardins explores. Ch. 6: What Can Biden Do For Voting Rights - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 7-14-21 Ari Berman recaps President Biden's major speech on voting rights which comes at the same time as some GOP-controlled legislatures have pushed ahead new state laws restricting ballot access. Ch. 7: 'These are no ordinary times' Warnock calls for action to stem erosion of democracy - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 12-14-21 Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock talks with Rachel Maddow about the need for Democrats to take it upon themselves to prevent the continued dismantling of democracy in the United States before there is too much damage to repair. Ch. 8: Activism: Demand Democrats Pass Voting Rights and Election Protection Legislation MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 9: Remembering the legacy of Sen. Harry Reid Part 2 - All In with Chris Hayes - Air Date 12-28-21 VOICEMAILS Ch. 10: Thanks for making me coherent - Nick from California New Ch. 11: To essentialize or not - Scott from Canada FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 12: Final comments on why essentializing race or sexual attraction is not good or even correct MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions): Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr  Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent Activism Music: This Fickle World by Theo Bard (https://theobard.bandcamp.com/track/this-fickle-world) Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent Image Credit: Description: Poster on the side of an electric box which reads “SENATORS! MAKE GOOD TROUBLE. DEFEND DEMOCRACY. GET IT DONE! #GetItDone #GoodTrouble #JohnLewis” and a graphic rendering of the late U.S. Representative and Civil Rights Leader John Lewis. Credit: “Good Trouble on Capitol Hill” by Mike Licht, Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/notionscapital/51396502460/in/photolist-2kEB8fi-fTRP7-2miJvy9 | License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode | Changes: Cropped, increased brightness and increased contrast

You can read today's podcast here. You can take the poll about Tangle we mentioned in today's podcast here. Shortly before Christmas break, Business Insider published a series that found 52 members of Congress and 182 senior-level staffers had violated the STOCK Act, which requires members and their familiey members to publicly disclose sales or purchases of individual stocks, bonds and commodity futures within 45 days of their actions. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), whose husband has a reputation for being a prolific stock trader, responded to a question about whether Congress should ban members and their families from trading stocks by saying "no... we're a free market economy. They should be able to participate in that." You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our newsletter is written by Isaac Saul, edited by Bailey Saul, Sean Brady, Ari Weitzman, and produced in conjunction with Tangle's social media manager Magdalena Bokowa, who also created our logo. The podcast is edited by Trevor Eichhorn, and music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tanglenews/support

BONUS EPISODES & PREMIUM ACCESS: https://auxoro.supercast.com This is a solo episode I recorded on the recent release of Hillary Clinton's Masterclass, Pelosi's response to members of Congress violating the Stock Act, & Bezos removing anything other than 5-star reviews for President Xi Jinping's book on Amazon.   THE AUX LINKS: Apple: https://apple.co/3yc6CQXSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3icuZIIOvercast: https://bit.ly/3j1B8qgWebsite: https://www.auxoro.com/Newsletter: https://www.auxoro.com/thesource SOCIAL LINKS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auxoroTwitter: https://twitter.com/AuxoromagFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/auxoromagNewsletter: https://www.auxoro.com/thesourceYouTube: https://bit.ly/3CLjEqF If you enjoy the show, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. It takes less than 60 seconds, helps us appear higher in searches so more people discover the show, and it boosts my ego;) 

Fifty Two Members of Congress in Violation of Stock Act

Dan and Corey open the show wishing you #MerryHolidays as to offend everyone equally. No discrimination here. Corey has a minor correction to make from last week's show regarding suicide rates among adolescent girls as compared to boys. We re-hash a bit of the "oversimplification" of the cause of school shootings.@BusinessInsider has a wonderful running piece going about the United States Congress and its violations of The Stock Act instituted under Barack Obama. It's bipartisan as f**k! Thirteen Republicans and Democrats, their staffers, and more have failures to report, late reports, missed disclosures, and late disclosures about their dealing in our glorious "Free Market". But by all means, keep arguing about who is worse and who is the lesser of two evils...Geopolitics are run by public fear. Russia isn't going to invade Ukraine. And even if they did, it would have a lot to do with the Scooby Doo style meddling that our cracker-jack U.S Government just can't seem to avoid. Shall we talk about the 2014 Coup?How woke is too woke? Perhaps wishing death upon people that aren't even real to prove a point...or something.

Canary Cry News Talk #425 - 12.20.2021  OMICRONUS WEBSITE/SHOW NOTES: CanaryCryNewsTalk.com LINKTREE: CanaryCry.Party SUPPORT: CanaryCryRadio.com/Support MEET UPS: CanaryCryMeetUps.com ravel Podcast (Basil's other podcast) Facelikethesun Resurrection (Gonz' new YouTube channel) Truther Dating experiment   INTRO Gonz Twitter ban is permanent  EPIC OF SHILGAMESH   FLIPPY Stanford, gecko inspired robot hand can grasp with delicate strength (Inceptive Mind)   BUILD BACK BETTER Manchin not backing Dems' $2T bill, potentially dooming it (AP News)   COVID19/I AM WACCINE Globalist fact check, pandemic predictions not evidence of orchestration (Reuters) Elizabeth Warren tests positive (abc News) Ideas: ”Where I live, no one cares about Covid” (The Atlantic)  https://archive.ph/Kv9L6  Gavi rep says pushing more waccine needed (NY Times)   Party Pitch  BREAK 1: Executive Producers, Paypal, Patrons   MIND CONTROL Scientists force Human brain cells into Matrix like simulation (RT)   POLYTICKS Congress, top Capital Hill staff all violate STOCK Act hundreds of times (Insider)   BREAK 2: Art, Reviews, Jingles, Meet Ups   METAVERSE Meta develops AI to bring children's drawings to life (Economic Times)   NEPHILIM UPDATE SNK new track, Nephilim (GRM Daily)    pitch ravel   ADDITIONAL STORIES: Antarctica, Doomsday Glacier could be climate disaster (Times Hub) → Opinion, humanity should not test Antarctica ice sheets (Wapo) Chinese tennis star says assaults claims are untrue (Reuters) What's next: Transhumanism (TownHall) NBA in tailspin with players under health and safety protocols (cbs) Satanist: Satanic Temple requests Tx court religious right to perform abortions (PRNeswire) Space Pope/Satanist: Pope says violence against women is “almost satanic” (Forbes) Gates, Klaus, charged with Genocide in Court Filings (Desert Review) Researchers develop new way to handle nuclear waste (Robot Report) Flippy getting into road construction (YouTube, Cherie) Trump supporters die daily, doesn't believe in masks (Politicus Usa) Video of swedish microchip covid pass goes viral (DailyWire) Klaus says future in children's hands (Asahi Shimbun) Citation over US jab mandate coming in January (Reuters) Most waccine won't prevent Omicron (NY Times)   PRODUCERS ep. 425:   Executive Producer William F**   2022 calendar producers 20.22 monthly Sheryl T Benjamin S Terrell B Ryan F   Producers JC, Sir Aaron J Knight of the Cute Little Piggies, Rhonda B, Jon C, Gail M, Amanda P, MORV, Sir Scott Knight of Truth, Heathersiruss, Palmer B, DrWhoDunDat, Child of God, Runksmash, Sir Holmes Good and Faithful Knight of the Canarium, Sir Sammons Knight of the Fishes, Jimmy R, Sir casey the shield knight, Veronica D, Steven C, Jackie U   TIMESTAMPS: Christine C   JINGLES: Psalm 40   ART: Dame Allie of the Skillet Nation Sir Dove, Knight of Rustbeltia Producer Nanny, Producer Addison   MICROFICTION Runksmash - Basil's phone buzz in his pocket, he stops grooving with Dancy. Getting ready to finish the play test he checks his phone, but sees the text he'd been waiting for! In his rush to get his microphone he rips down his Chris Shilzilla string board.

Congress and top Capitol Hill staff have violated the STOCK Act hundreds of times, but the consequences are minimal, inconsistent, and not recorded publicly. Sen. Joe Manchin vented his anger with the media in the wake of a report that he wanted to drop the child tax credit from President Biden's expansive climate and social spending package. With the Supreme Court now considering Mississippi's abortion after 15 weeks, and apparently open to rolling back half a century of reproductive rights, conservative Republicans in other states are pushing even more extreme bills -- and some big corporations are helping them. Nikki Fried, Florida's agriculture commissioner and a Democratic candidate for governor, has accused Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis of trying to leverage campaign donations over members of the Florida public university system's boards of trustees.Hosts: Ana Kasparian and Cenk Uygur See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Morning Show with Nikki Medoro highlights the debate over the ease of availability for the abortion pill, as well as the many members of Congress violating the STOCK Act which is the law designed to prevent benefitting from insider information. Also, the Federal Reserve set to raise interest rates next year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Morning Show with Nikki Medoro highlights the debate over the ease of availability for the abortion pill, as well as the many members of Congress violating the STOCK Act which is the law designed to prevent benefitting from insider information. Also, the Federal Reserve set to raise interest rates next year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2012, President Barack Obama signed into law the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, otherwise known as the STOCK Act. The intent was to ban insider trading from members of Congress — a subject that gained national media attention on both sides of the aisle in the months and years after the financial crisis.But the law did not do what it was supposed to.In episode 34, Weston unpacks the STOCK Act and where it falls short and talks with one of the members of Congress who's leading a bipartisan effort to fix the law and put an end to insider trading by members of Congress.Guests:Kedric Payne, Senior Director of Ethics and the General Counsel of the Campaign Legal CenterRep. Chip Roy (R-TX)

In Act 2 Travis Stock discusses the natural tendency to further isolate and “go at it alone” when emotional pain is present – and the importance of asking for help. His story continues with a move following his mentor to a ranch California where he was “thrown to the wolves” in some of the best possible and most challenging ways. Travis shares his journey to the work he loves best as a Coach, Lead Instructor and Master Facilitator for the Koelle Institute for Equus Coaching™, and dishes on the profound ways working with horses serves as “beautiful mirrors of how we show up” in our lives.Travis Stock, MSW is a Master Certified Life Coach, Equus Master Facilitator, and teacher.  Travis helps others find what creates balance in their lives by first seeking acceptance of what is.  He utilizes the Equus experience to connect others with the often forgotten wisdom of the body, allowing for more fully explored and developed choices in their lives.Travis has a passion for the balance of masculine and feminine energies in each of us, regardless of gender, and believes in the importance of nurturing a relationship with both types of energy to create a sense of wholeness.  (Click here to read more – http://www.travisstock.com) Travis brings with him interest and experience in the areas of emotions, the LGBT community, transformation of trauma and shame, interpersonal relationships, family systems, men and masculinity, and living open-heartedly.In addition to his coaching, equine and otherwise, Travis hosts "The New Masculine" podcast and you can find him on Instargam at @travers03.

The child of a dental assistant and construction worker who were high school sweethearts, Travis Stock grew up in Tucson, Arizona.  His family were members of a United Methodist reconciling congregation in which same-sex ceremonies, well before Marriage Equality became the law of the land, were not unusual occurrences.Even with that high level of community acceptance of LGBTQ people, Travis reflects on his own experiences of feeling different and separate as a gay boy, pouring himself into perfectionistic pursuits of music and studies as places to hide.Travis' story is one of both hiding and seeking, and toward the end of Act 1, beginning to come to terms with his true self through the well-timed help of one of his professors and the courageous healing work he and his family pursued.Travis Stock, MSW is a Master Certified Life Coach, Equus Master Facilitator, and teacher.  Travis helps others find what creates balance in their lives by first seeking acceptance of what is.  He utilizes the Equus experience to connect others with the often forgotten wisdom of the body, allowing for more fully explored and developed choices in their lives.Travis has a passion for the balance of masculine and feminine energies in each of us, regardless of gender, and believes in the importance of nurturing a relationship with both types of energy to create a sense of wholeness.  (Click here to read more – http://www.travisstock.com) Travis brings with him interest and experience in the areas of emotions, the LGBT community, transformation of trauma and shame, interpersonal relationships, family systems, men and masculinity, and living open-heartedly.In addition to his coaching, equine and otherwise, Travis hosts "The New Masculine" podcast and you can find him on Instargam at @travers03.

Hour 2 Several in Washington, DC are found to have violated the STOCK Act. Audio from WGIG-AM and FM in Brunswick, GA

Seven House lawmakers are facing ethics complaints for violating the Stock Act, which polices insider trading, because of a recent bipartisan trend of lawmakers ignoring disclosure requirements. They say it was an accident. Plus, TikTok accounts are using public disclosures to tell followers when to buy and sell stock based on what congressmembers do. It's a clear sign of the distrust the public has in their officials. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and investigative correspondent Tim Mak.Connect:Subscribe to the NPR Politics Podcast here.Email the show at nprpolitics@npr.orgJoin the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group.Listen to our playlist The NPR Politics Daily Workout.Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter.Find and support your local public radio station.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://donnyferguson.com/2021/08/24/senator-mark-kelly-attempt-to-hide-communist-chinese-investment-may-violate-stock-act/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/donny-ferguson/message

SPACs, conflict minerals, ICOs, ESG, the STOCK Act, the FCPA and more . . . Chris and Kurt sit down with professors Karen Woody of the Washington & Lee University School of Law and James Park of the UCLA School of Law to discuss securities regulatory and enforcement trends that may develop in the Biden Administration.

 Peter Schweizer is the President of Government Accountability Institute and a best-selling author. From 2008-9 he was a consultant to the Office of Presidential Speechwriting in the White House. He has also served as a member of the Ultraterrorism Study Group at the U.S. government's Sandia National Laboratory and is a former consultant to NBC News. His books have been translated into eleven languages and include several New York Times or Washington Post bestsellers.Peter's latest book, Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends was #1 on the New York Times best-seller's listSee also: Cronyism.com#1 New York Times Bestseller!--->FOLLOW Peter on AMAZONPeter Schweizer has been fighting corruption―and winning―for years. In Throw Them All Out, he exposed insider trading by members of Congress, leading to the passage of the STOCK Act.C.J. Cannon's Restaurant Located at the Vero Beach Airport, where the only thing we overlook is the runway! Vero's Voice Magazine The community magazine Vero loves to read! City of Vero Beach Town Hall The City of Vero Beach is a political subdivision of the State of Florid

The House of Representatives is now allowing absent members to vote via members who are physically present on the House floor, in a process called proxy voting, for the first time in US History. In this episode, we examine the unnecessary, unprecedented changes to the way the House passes bills that might also be unconstitutional. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Click here to contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank’s online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North, Number 4576, Crestview, FL 32536 Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD213: CARES Act - The Trillions for COVID-19 Law CD212: The COVID-19 Response Laws Bills H.Res.965 - Authorizing remote voting by proxy in the House of Representatives and providing for official remote committee proceedings during a public health emergency due to a novel coronavirus, and for other purposes. Read the Document Section 1: Allows the Speaker of the House (Nancy Pelosi) to decide if members of the House of Representatives can have another member of the House of Representatives cast their votes for them. She can do this if the Sergeant-at-Arms says that "a public health emergency due to a novel coronavirus is in effect.” Proxy voting will be allowed for 45 days, and then automatically expire, unless the Speaker decides to extend it for an additional 45 days. There are no limits on how often this can be done. If the Sergeant-at-Arms says that the emergency is no longer in effect, the Speaker has to stop allowing proxy voting. Section 2: To choose who will be their proxy, members of the House need to submit a signed letter to the Clerk of the House with the name of their proxy. The letter can be electronic. A member can sign another letter, also allowed to be electronic, in order to revoke a proxy. If a member shows up and votes in person, the proxy authorization is automatically revoked. When the Clerk gets the letter, the Clerk has to notify the Speaker (Nancy Pelosi), the Minority Leader (Kevin McCarthy) and the “members involved”. A member of the House can serve as a proxy for up to 10 other members. The Clerk has to maintain an updated list of the proxy designations and publish them online during any vote conducted using proxy voting. Section 3: If a member is not physically present but has designated a proxy to vote for them, the physically missing member will be counted towards establishing a quorum. Before casing a vote for another member, the physically present member has to “obtain an exact instruction” from the missing member in regards to the vote or quorum call. Before casting a vote for someone else, the physically present member has to announce the vote they will cast for the missing member out loud. Section 4: All committees are allowed to conduct their hearings remotely and committee votes can be cast “while participating remotely”. Witnesses can appear remotely. “Any committee meeting or hearing that is conducted remotely in according with the regulations” written by the Chairman of the Rules Committee (Jim McGovern) “shall be considered open to the public”. They also “shall be deemed to satisfy all requirements for broadcasting and audio and visual coverage”. Closed sessions are not allowed to be conducted remotely, except for the Ethics Committee. Section 5: The Chair of the House Administration Committee (Zoe Lofgren) has to study the technology to be used to conduct remote voting in the House and certify that what she choses is operational and secure. After the technology is certified, the Chairman of the House Rules Committee (Jim McGovern) will write the regulations for remote voting in the House of Representatives. Articles/Documents Article: Clyburn threatens to end in-person coronavirus committee hearings if Republicans won't wear masks by Cristina Marcos, The Hill, June 26, 2020 Article: House bill passed with proxy votes becomes law by James Wallner, LegBranch.org, June 16, 2020 Article: Democrats’ risky plan to ensure Congress can vote during the pandemic, explained By Ian Millhiser, Vox, May 29, 2020 Article: House scraps votes on FISA bill By Niels Lesniewski, Roll Call, May 27, 2020 Article: First proxy votes cast in the House despite GOP opposition, lawsuit By Katherine Tully-McManus, Roll Call, May 27, 2020 Article: Road ahead: Proxy voting begins as House takes up FISA, PPP bills By Lindsey McPherson, Roll Call, May 27, 2020 Article: Justice Department clears 3 senators in stock sales investigation, but Burr's case appears ongoing By Kristine Phillips, USA Today, May 26, 2020 Article: House Republicans sue Nancy Pelosi to block proxy voting rule By Chris Marquette, Roll Call, May 26, 2020 Article: Republicans Sue Pelosi to Block House Proxy Voting During Pandemic By Nicholas Fandos and Michael S. Schmidt, The New York Times, May 26, 2020 Article: The Prior Practice of Proxy Voting in House Committee By EveryCRSReport.com, May 1, 2020 Article: IT’S A SCANDAL THAT WE DON’T KNOW WHO SUPPORTED THE CORONAVIRUS BAILOUT. HELP US FIND OUT. By Lee Fang, Aída Chávez, The Intercept, April 9, 2020 Article: Irate House lawmakers scramble back to D.C. amid fears of coronavirus vote delay By Heather Caygle, Sarah Ferris and Melanie Zanona, Politico, March 26, 2020 Article: Kelly Loeffler and Richard Burr Were Briefed on Coronavirus. Then They Sold Stocks. What Now? By Shane Goldmacher, The New York Times, March 20, 2020 Document: Majority Staff Report Examining Voting Options During the COVID-19 Pandemic by U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules, Office of the Majority, March 23, 2020 Article: Apple Issues iPhone FaceTime Security Warning by Gordon Kelly, Forbes, January 29, 2019 Press Release: Speaker Boehner Swears In Paul D. Irving as House Sergeant at Arms by Speaker Boehner's Press Office, The New York Times, January 16, 2012 Article: Security Concerns Of The Super-Rich by Brian Wingfield, Forbes, October 20, 2010 Additional Resources Twitter Status: Jake Sherman, @JakeSherman, Twitter Twitter Status: Erik Wasson, @elwasson, Twitter Active Proxies: Proxy Letters (116th Congress, 2nd Session), Clerk of United States House of Representatives, May 20, 2020 Vote Result: Roll Call 107 | Bill Number: H. Res. 965, Clerk of United States House of Representatives, May 15, 2020 Officers and Organizations: Sergeant at Arms, United States House of Representatives ABOUT ZOE: Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, United States Congresswoman, Zoe Lofgren, Representing California's 19th District Bill: S. 716 (113th): A bill to modify the requirements under the STOCK Act regarding online access to certain financial disclosure statements and related forms., GovTrack, Apr 13, 2013 Bill: S. 2038 (112th): STOCK (Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge) Act, GovTrack, Mar 28, 2012 Sound Clip Sources Video: Republicans On Coronavirus Committee Refuse To Wear Masks, Capitol News Forum, June 26, 2020 Transcript: House Record, Wednesday, May 27, 2020 Transcript, United States Congressional Record, May 27, 2020 Hearing: H. Res. 965 - Authorizing remote voting by proxy in the House of Representatives and providing for official remote committee proceedings during a public health emergency due to a novel coronavirus, and for other purposes., United States House of Representatives Committee on Rules, May 14, 2020 Watch on YouTube Transcript: 20:45 Rep. Tom Cole (OK): Though the changes are purportedly limited to the present COVID-19 pandemic timeline, the temporary change we make to the rules today becomes the precedent we follow tomorrow. 23:55 Rep. Tom Cole (OK): This proposed rules package fundamentally changes two key rules of the house. First, for the first time in history of the chamber, we are being asked to approve a system of proxy voting for members on the House floor. That rules change also holds open the possibility of moving forward with totally remote voting. Once the chairperson of the house Administration Committee certifies the technology for that use. Second, again, for the first time in our history, we're being asked to approve a measure that would allow committees to operate remotely and approve legislation remotely. 25:05 Rep. Tom Cole (OK): I have real concerns about whether or not any system of remote voting or proxy voting is constitutional. The language of the Constitution clearly contemplates members being physically present in the chamber to conduct business, a move to any other kind of procedure that involves members not being physically present in the chamber to vote and to make a quorum will put the legislation passed by those methods at risk of court challenges. 26:45 Rep. Tom Cole (OK): Rules change we are considering today will allow for remote voting to take effect without an additional vote of the house, and instead only upon certification of technology by one member, Chairperson Lofgren. This is ceding the authority of the Rules Committee and it denies the entire house deliberation on the technology and a vote on making such a consequential change. 31:30 Rep. Jim McGovern (MA): The process of unanimous consent that is allowing bills to pass with just two members in the in the chamber was developed in response to the Spanish flu pandemic, despite the constitution requiring a majority of members to conduct business in both the House and the Senate, use you see to this day. 37:45 Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): Because of social and physical distancing measures currently in place to save lives and prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is unsafe for members to travel back and forth to Washington from their districts and risk exposing potentially thousands of people while in transit. 38:05 Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): It is also unsafe to require thousands of House staff and Capitol Hill employees to commute to work while infections have not even reached their peak in the Washington Metropolitan Area. 38:27 Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): Of course, the founders did not contemplate the technology that is now available to us, which allows us to meet virtually. To see one another, to hear one another, to respond to one another, virtually not in the same room, but in the same box, that we call an iPad or a computer or some other device that allows us to communicate in real time, essentially, in person, virtually. 42:30 Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): First step authorizes the house to begin working on a remote voting system. Such a system would only be used during emergencies like this one. Let me stress that. In the 40 years I have been here there is not an instance where I think this would be justified, until now. 43:00 Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): We are not fundamentally changing the way the house works. Let me be clear we are not changing. There is no advantage to Democrats. No disadvantage to Republicans by using virtual technology. None. Zero. Zip. 45:30 Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): And we are all committed that we would only use it in extraordinary circumstances. I don't believe there's been such a certain circumstance the United States of America since 1918. Over 100 years ago. This may be once in a century experience for our country. 48:00 Rep. Rodney Davis (IL): Talking about a member of congress giving their voting privilege to someone else. There's legitimate constitutional uncertainty with what is being proposed, and it could call into question the validity of any legislation the proxy voting is used for. 53:30 Rep. Jim McGovern (MA): This is the Rules Committee, right? We are one of the smallest committees in Congress. And here we are taking up the entire Ways and Means Committee room, which is one of the biggest committee rooms in Congress. What do you do with the Transportation Committee and the Appropriations Committee, which you know, are significantly larger. Some have suggested that maybe they can meet in the auditorium, or maybe on the House floor, one at a time. We have a huge amount of work to do. There are, in addition to responding to this crisis, and trying to figure out how to get the economy back on its feet again, we have much past bills that we need to get done. I mean, the Defense Authorization Bills, Appropriations Bills, I mean, and the the fact that we cannot function, our committee process just literally can't function the way it should, if we're going to follow CDC guidelines. I mean, that is problematic. So what do we do? We don't meet? We don't address certain issues that need to be addressed? 56:05 Rep. Jim McGovern (MA): And this alternative, which I think incorporates some of the things that are in the press release that you guys released was that, you know, we should operate like the White House, and we all should get tested. We all should move to the front of the line. We're all special enough that even though our constituents can't get tests, people who work in hospitals, first responders, people who are in working in food pantries in homeless shelters, who, quite frankly, should be tested, that Congress the way we can kind of manage this as we all come back, and every time we have a discussion, we'll get tested. I don't know what the reaction would be in minority leaders district but in my district, people think that's tone deaf and think it's wrong, that we're not super special, that we should move to the front of the line. 58:15 Rep. Jim McGovern (MA): But the gentleman referred to the change that was done, that was implemented after 911. When the Republicans were in charge of The House, and in 2005, you changed the rules for a provisional quorum, which would allow in the extreme, two members to constitute a quorum. Now, the Constitution, defines a quorum is the majority of the membership, but under the rules change that was done back then. I mean, you literally could have two members constitute a quorum. I don't think that's constitutional. But nonetheless, that was the plan that was put forward and yeah, it may have taken a long time to put forward but I don't really think it was a very good a good plan. 59:30 Rep. Jim McGovern (MA): We have come together in a bipartisan way on a number of packages that have become now law in which we have literally appropriated the house in a bipartisan way. The Senate in a bipartisan way is appropriated trillions of dollars to help respond to this health crisis, and to help try to protect our economy. We need to do oversight, we need to make sure the money is being spent the way we want it to be spent. I mean, that's one of our jobs and if committees cannot meet because of this pandemic, you know, where they have to wait their turn, you know, because we don't have rooms big enough here for people to meet and follow CDC guidelines, that's a dereliction of our duty. 1:05:00 Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): Because I believe that being virtually present and being present is essentially the same thing in the constitutional consequences of that presence. Because I can vote "aye" here and I can vote "aye" 1000 miles away, and it has the same representation of my constituents. It's just transmitted in a different way. 1:09:05 Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): But why when we have the technology that allows us to do it virtually do we put lives at risk not only here, you're going to go back to Oklahoma at some point in time, and you're going to deal with the folks in Oklahoma and you're going to come from a hotspot. Now, hopefully, you will not have anything to transmit. But we know that that's possible. 1:20:50 Rep. Jim McGovern (MA): The way it worked back then, was that the chair would have a bunch of proxies in his or her pocket and vote however, the chair saw fit without consulting with the member. That is not the way this should work. And that is not what this we're talking about is. What we're talking about is that if you want to give me your proxy, you have to indicate in writing, how you want me to vote on every single vote, and then it will be announced publicly how you voted on the on the House floor. And if Jim McGovern had Rodney Davis, his proxy and I voted, contrary to the way you wanted to it would be announced and there would be a period of time. If I voted, if I somehow abuse my power, for it to be corrected. 1:26:50 Rep. Rodney Davis (IL): Also gives unprecedented power to just the Chairperson of House Administration. Doesn't say she has to consult with me, the ranking member when determining what type of technology to choose and implement before putting forth remote voting on the house floor. Remote voting is much different than proxy voting that allows somebody to sit at home and cast a vote. And yes, there's technology Mr. Chair that could allow that to happen. But in the end, why do we have one person in the majority party determining what technology to use. 1:35:40 Rep. Norma Torres (CA): I have a pre existing condition and when I got on the plane yesterday, I was scared to death. There were people in the screening area of the TSA process that were much too close for my own comfort. And I have made a commitment to my staff to my family that if that plane was more than 70% occupied and there were people, you know, stepping over each other that I would immediately get off of it before taking off cause I am not willing to risk my life for this. 1:49:15 Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): One of the problems we have today is that although people conceptually raise the pandemic that had happened in 1918, could happen again, it was conceptual. And as a result, we were not prepared. Here it is actual. That's why you're sitting with a mask, why I'm sitting with a mask. Why we're distancing, we're in this large room, as the chairman pointed out, where small room would have accommodated the Rules Committee and the witnesses. It is here. It's not conceptual, it's not theoretical. We had 9-11, now had 9-11 knocked out the entire air traffic system, it would have been actual because people would not have been able to get here except drive maybe five days or three days from the west coast. 1:5330* Rep. Jim McGovern (MA): Proposing that we take a baby step, that we'd go with a low tech approach first and as we feel more comfortable, we can evolve. This may shock you, Mr. Woodall, but there are some members of the House who still have flip phones. There are some members of this chamber who are more technologically comfortable than others. There are some members of this house who think bifocals are a radical idea. So I mean, the bottom line is we are trying to deal with the situation in a way that we feel that there's a comfort level and as people get more comfortable, we can then look at other other things. 1:55:05 Rep. Rob Woodall (GA): And it says specifically a member casting a vote or recording the presence of another member as a designated proxy under this resolution shall cast such vote or record such presence pursuant to the exact instruction received from the other member. Now, when Mr. Davis's name is called and I'm holding his proxy, and I speak out and vote, in a way contrary to the Davis instruction, because things do come up on the on the fly and not everything can be consulted with, what is the procedure for resolving that? Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): The theory, not the theory, but I think the the letter of the rule that's being proposed is, if you did not get instructions, you could not vote that proxy. Rep. Rob Woodall (GA): I'm going the other direction. I did receive instructions and I'm voting against those instructions, just like in the electoral college where folks have received instructions to vote for President Trump, but they don't. What is my recourse? As a Member, again most solemn responsibility we have as members is is voting on the House floor. What is my recourse? Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): 'Madam Clerk, he cast my vote incorrectly.' You can email, you can text, you can call. There's so many different methods of technology. 1:56:30 Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): My own view, I will tell you honestly, is that the best way for me to convey my vote is to look into my phone on FaceTime, and say I vote aye or nay, I don't think, I personally don't believe this is a security question. 1:57:10 Rep. Jim McGovern (MA): If you are assuming if you're trying to assert that Mr. Horry(?) would deliberately try to take your vote and use it in a bad way, and that's a question of privilege, and you would have the opportunity to be able to correct it, so hopefully if you're participating remotely, you are following what is going on. You will hear your name announced you will hear how you voted. And if you call him Mr. Horry(?) doesn't want to change your vote and it's a question of privilege, and you have the right to be able to change it that way. 1:57:10 Rep. Jim McGovern (MA): If you are assuming if you're trying to assert that Mr. Hoyer would deliberately try to take your vote and use it in a bad way, and that's a question of privilege, and you would have the opportunity to be able to correct it, so hopefully if you're participating remotely, you are following what is going on. You will hear your name announced, you will hear how you voted. And if you call him, Mr. Hoyer doesn't want to change your vote and it's a question of privilege, and you have the right to be able to change it that way. 2:05:20 Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): Why are we acting quickly? Because the experts tell us and some people believe the experts that this may regenerate itself in September, we may have a flattening. But until frankly, we get a vaccine or a therapeutic that very substantially minimizes the consequences of COVID-19. We're going to have a problem. And if it raises, again, its ugly head in September, we ought to be ready for September is going to be a very busy month for us. And we don't have a lot, it's an election year, so we're going to be off in October, etc, etc. So now is the time that you say we move quickly, we did move quickly, because we need to anticipate we would we all hope this gets better. We all hope we get a vaccine we all hope we get a therapeutic. But if it doesn't, we need to be ready to make sure that Congress is empowered to act on behalf of the American people and to conduct oversight. 2:13:55 Rep. Earl Perlmutter (CO): But we cannot have government come to a grinding halt. In a pandemic, where our own Attending Physician or our public health experts at home or the public health experts here in DC say you guys shouldn't get together because you could drag the disease from Denver to DC or you could take the disease from DC back to Denver. And that's the last thing I want to do. 2:18:00 Rep. Earl Perlmutter (CO): Mr. Hoyer, I understand that this rule terminates at some... This is a temporary rule, is it not? Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD): The life of the Congress, and 45 days in the sense of it has to be recertified. That the cause of the rules being implemented was still present. Rep. Earl Perlmutter (CO): Right, for the rule to be called upon. It has to be the Sergeant at Arms, the Attending Physician and The Speaker. And then it lasts for 45 days, at least the proxy voting and the different things called for in the rule. 2:23:40 Rep. Rodney Davis (IL): We do not oppose, as Republicans, and you can see in the plan that was submitted for the record. We do not oppose remote hearings. We do not oppose utilizing technology. 2:25:05 Rep. Rodney Davis (IL): I do want to clarify some things. Yes, the United States Senate does have a proxy process. But that proxy process, unlike the rule that's being debated today, does not ever allow a proxy vote on the House on the Senate floor. That's something that this rule will allow for today. 2:25:50 Rep. Rodney Davis (IL): That this Congress has not stopped working. This Congress, just a few short weeks ago, had 300 members that came out here. I do understand and I share the concerns of my colleagues in this room about staff, which is why we worked in a bipartisan way before this crisis, to get equipment to every office, so that every office was ready in case they needed to telework, and they did. 3:18:25 Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL): We're living in a house where the work product is coming from the very top and being thrown upon the rest of us, and we're abdicating our responsibility to legislate. If we're honest with ourselves, I believe no one would challenge me when I say the rights and individual prerogatives of the members of the House had been steadily shrinking for decades. It was true when the chairman eloquently made this point when he was the ranking member of this committee, and it's just as true today. Too much power has been taken away from individual members and committees of jurisdiction and transferred to the office of the speaker. With all due respect, this proposal today reinforces what is fast becoming a complete transfer the power of the institution to the speaker. 3:22:55 Rep. Jim Jordan (OH): But understand what's in this proposal. One member can have 10 proxies you know what that means? 22 members with 10 proxies in their back pocket can conduct the business of the American people. 22 - 5% of the United States House of Representatives. 3:56:20 Rep. Michael Burgess (TX): As I read the rule that we're considering today, yes, there's a time limit on the denotation, that this is an emergency and all of this is triggered. But there's an extension available. And that extension is arrived at by the speaker in consultation with the Sergeant at Arms and Attending Physician, two individuals that I hold in very high regard, but they're not constitutional offices. So we're putting some power in the hands of some people that are really not accountable to the people and this being the people's House. That seems to me to be counter to what we should be about. Do either of you have a thought on that? Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL): Well, I think he said it correctly. Rules that we're operating in this house right now will all go out on January 3 at noon, when the new Congress comes in. But between now and then, that can be this perpetual, running 40 five day extension of this all the way up into the very end. And there's no check on that. I mean, it's up to the speaker. And one person and other speakers of important position in the house. But one person can let this thing just roll over and over and over to the end of the Congress. 4:00:45 Rep. Jim McGovern (MA): The alternative to this is to rely on the republican standing rule, which is, well, you could literally redefine a quorum as two people. And again, my friends here, many of them supported it. I did not at the time, but that is what the standing rule is right now that my friends passed post 911 and I think that is unacceptable. 4:09:50 Rep. Joseph Morelle (NY): We'll note though 45 days is the is the amount indicated, but it also suggests on page three, that even during any - whether it's the original 45 day or an additional 45 days is the covered period. The speaker the designee receives further notification from the sergeant of arms in consultation with the attending physician, that the public health emergency due to the Coronavirus is no longer in effect, the speaker shall terminate the covered period. It's not as though the speaker can't - it doesn't say may, it says shall. So, immediately upon so of the speaker, as I read the rule, the speaker says on on May 1, we have a pandemic I've been advised by the sergeant of arms in consultation with the attending physician to put this temporary rule in place. And then two weeks later before the 45 days has terminated. If you receive if the speaker receives another certification or notification in the sergeant of arms that the emergency no longer exists, it is terminated shall terminate, so it wouldn't 45 days in length. 4:02:35 Rep. Jaime Raskin (MD): Mr. Cole posed an interesting question to the panel about whether all of you concurred that you think that the proposed rule here is unconstitutional. And each one of you in Syria them repeated the idea that you thought it was unconstitutional. Now, Mr. Bern, as candidly volunteered that the current rule adopted by a Republican Congress is unconstitutional, which would allow two members to constitute a quorum. Mr. Jordan, what about you? Do you agree the current rule is unconstitutional. Rep. Jim Jordan (OH): As the gentleman well knows, my colleagues in the Freedom Caucus have come to the floor and objected to unanimous consent to pass certain legislation. Rep. Jaime Raskin (MD): You agree you agree with me? Rep. Jim Jordan (OH): We've always had a problem with that? Rep. Jaime Raskin (MD): Do you agree...just a yes or no question. Do you agree with Mr. Byrne, it's unconstitutional? Rep. Jim Jordan (OH): Yeah, I don't like the rule that we've been very clear about that. Rep. Jaime Raskin (MD): You agree? it's unconstitutional. Okay. Is that right? Okay, Mr. Bern, you presumably still agree that it's unconstitutional? Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL): Yes, sir. Okay, if you're gonna be consistent, you have to follow what the Constitution requires. And what's good for the goose is good for the gander. I try to be consistent. Rep. Jaime Raskin (MD): Mr. Bishop, do you believe the current rule is unconstitutional, adopted under the Republican Congress? Rep. Dan Bishop (NC): I've examined it carefully, but I find Mr. Byrne's comments and those that have been made by the Chairman on the point persuasive, it probably is unconstitutional. Rep. Jaime Raskin (MD): Okay. Video: Congress: Trading stock on inside information?, 60 Minutes, 2011 Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)

Understanding what our political leaders are buying and selling for their own portfolios is important for transparency within any country's political and economic system.  Alignment of interests is key.  Today's episode is an interview with investor and entrepreneur Marvin Barron, co-founder of FinePrint, a startup focused on tracking political stocks. Over discussion covers a variety of topics, including: What is the STOCK Act and why does it matter? How political data is now being tracked by investors What is political risk? What can we learn from the investment behavior of our elected officials? Connect with FinePrint at fineprintdata.com, or on Twitter @fineprintdata. Connect with Alex from Stock Stories on Instagram @stockstoryteller, or email alex@stockstoriespodcast.com.

The Department of Justice recently opened investigations into lawmakers who sold millions of dollars in stocks after attending closed-door congressional briefings about the COVID-19 pandemic, soon before the market experienced a sharp downturn. Prior to the 2012 passage of the STOCK Act, however, it was completely legal for members of congress to use private information they received as part of their congressional duties to make trading decisions for their own financial benefit. Unsurprisngly, they frequently did. Craig Holman helped draft and pass the STOCK Act, along with some of the most influential ethical and financial regulations concerning public officials. He's done so as the Capitol Hill lobbyist for Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. Craig joins the Money in Politics podcast to discuss these most recent allegations of insider trading, as well as his other work to fight back against the negative impact of money in politics.

In this thank you bonus episode, some CARES Act updates, including a debunking of a rumor that the CARES Act was written before the crisis, a list of the greedy Senators who used their behind-closed-doors Congressional COVID-19 briefing’s to hit the jackpot on the stock market, and the reason why Boeing hasn’t yet claimed their $17 billion CARES Act gift. Jen then thanks all the producers who make this podcast possible Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Click here to contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank’s online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North, Number 4576, Crestview, FL 32536 Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Articles/Documents Article: EXCLUSIVE: In court filing, FBI accidentally reveals name of Saudi official suspected of directing support for 9/11 hijackers By Michael Isikoff, Yahoo News, May 12, 2020 Article: Sen. Kelly Loeffler Has Sold Nearly All Her Stock. Here’s What She Still Owns. By Ed Lin, Barron's, May 8, 2020 Article: Partly false claim: CARES Act bill introduced in January 2019, hinting at coronavirus conspiracy Reuters, May 7, 2020 Article: From a Miami condo to the Venezuelan coast, how a plan to 'capture' Maduro went rogue By Anthony Faiola, Karen DeYoung and Ana Vanessa Herrero, The Washington Post, May 6, 2020 Article: Behind the rogue and botched attack to kidnap Venezuela's Maduro By Hollie McKay, Fox News, May 5, 2020 Article: Pentagon, Treasury Have $17 Billion Stimulus Money to Lend, But There’s Little Interest By Doug Cameron, The Wall Street Journal, May 3, 2020 Article: Stock Trades After Coronavirus Briefing Complicate Loeffler's Reelection Bid By Claudia Grisales, npr, April 13, 2020 Article: Georgia senator bought stock in personal protective equipment maker amid coronavirus crisis: report By Justine Coleman, The Hill, April 7, 2020 Article: Burr Invites Ethics Probe of Stock Sales After Virus Updates By David Kocieniewski, Bloomberg, March 20, 2020 Article: Burr, Senate Colleagues Sold Stock After Coronavirus Briefings By James V. Grimaldi and Andrea Fuller, The Wall Street Journal, March 20, 2020 Article: Senator Richard Burr Sold a Fortune in Stocks as G.O.P. Played Down Coronavirus Threat By Eric Lipton and Nicholas Fandos, The New York Times, March 19, 2020 Additional Resources YouTube Video: Nuclear Hotseat 462 – NM Nuke Garbage Dump Approved by NRC Behind Covid Smokescreen 5-2-2020, Libbe HaLevy, UCYTV, Nuclear Hotseat Podcast Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)

The U.S. Postal Service is a vital institution. It is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation. Given how important the post office is to our economy and to our lives, why is it constantly in need of "saving"? We get a lesson from Mack Julion, a 20+ year letter carrier and postal union representative on the structure and restrictions of the postal service and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joins us to discuss the proposal to return postal banking services. Our Guests Mack I. Julion began his career as a letter carrier in Chicago, IL, in 1997 and joined Chicago Branch 11. He served his branch as steward, sergeant-at-arms and branch auditor. In 2008, then-NALC President William H. Young appointed Julion to the post of regional administrative assistant (RAA) for Region 3. The next year, Branch 11 elected Julion as branch president. He was re-elected branch president by the members in 2012, 2015 and by acclamation in 2018. Julion is also an arbitration advocate and intervention specialist. NALC President Fredric Rolando appointed Julion as trustee in May 2018 to fill a vacancy before he was elected to the position later that year. Julion also is a member of the Chicago Federation of Labor’s Executive Board and delegate to the National Executive Board of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. In addition, Julion serves on Chicago Amalgamated Bank labor council, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Labor Advisory Board and the Chicago local advisory board for United Way Emergency Food and Shelter Programs. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has been a leader in some of the toughest fights in Washington. She led the effort to repeal the “Don't Ask Don't Tell” policy that banned gays from serving openly in the military; she wrote the STOCK Act, which made it illegal for members of Congress to financially benefit from inside information; and she won the long fight to provide permanent health care and compensation to the 9/11 first responders and community survivors who are sick with diseases caused by the toxins at Ground Zero. Senator Gillibrand brought Democrats and Republicans together to win these legislative victories. Senator Gillibrand believes that accountability and transparency are essential to open and honest government. She was the first member of Congress ever to post her official daily meetings, earmarks, and personal financial disclosures online. She has introduced and sponsored S.2755 - Postal Banking Act.   Reading List Coronavirus Is Threatening One of Government’s Steadiest Services: The Mail - link Trump Called the Postal Service a ‘Joke.’ I’m Trying to Save It. - link Facts about the U.S. Postal Service - link Postal Banking Act - link Delivering on Promises: How Advocates for Postal Banking Can Overcome Political Barriers - link Why the next big bank shouldn’t be the USPS - link

Insider Trading and Politics Insider trading has been known to be an illegal practice for some time. For politicians and lawmakers trading on information not available to the public is really nothing new. However, trading on non-public information for Congress was supposed to theoretically stop in 2012 with the Stock Act that was put in place to prevent these people from taking advantage of their positions for financial gain. With the recent pandemic of COVID-19, many people on Capitol Hill, including lawmakers and congressional aides, have made questionable financial transactions potentially based on information they received that was not public. The alleged misuse of information for financial gain is clearly a problem both legally and from an ethics standpoint, if just not even morally wrong. This podcast episode takes a look at the issue of politicians and how they need to be held accountable for their actions when it comes to profiting from non-public information. Visit Our Website: https://smartstartmoney.com Subscribe to the Podcast:  https://smartstartmoney.podbean.com/ Questions or Comments About the Podcast? Email: info@smartstartmoney.com    

Leslie is joined by Morris Pearl, Chair of the Patriotic Millionaires, a group of hundreds of high-net-worth Americans who are committed to making all Americans better off by building a more prosperous, stable, and inclusive nation. The group focuses on promoting public policy solutions that encourage political equality, guarantee a sustaining wage for working Americans, and ensure that millionaires, billionaires, and corporations pay their fair share of taxes. Leslie and Morris discuss reports that Senators Richard Burr and Kelly Loeffler sold off significant amounts of stock in the immediate aftermath of being briefed on the spread of COVID-19, all while publicly stating that there was no reason for alarm. The Patriotic Millionaires, led by Mr. Pearl, are calling for "resignation and prosecution" in response to the insider trading reports. "Senators Burr and Loeffler have clearly placed their own personal financial interests ahead of the safety and wellbeing of their constituents, and they have no business continuing to act as public servants. They must resign, and their misconduct must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law under the 2012 STOCK Act. The Department of Justice should prioritize investigating and prosecuting these Senators. Our entire government depends on the American people trusting that their elected officials are working with their best interests at heart. By using their official positions to benefit themselves at the expense of the American people, these Senators have betrayed the trust of their communities and constituents, and cracked the very foundations of our democracy at a time when trust in our government has never been more important. Congress should pass laws that would make this kind of misbehavior impossible in the future. It is absurd that members of Congress are allowed to trade stocks at all. No one should personally profit from having the privilege of serving their nation as a legislator." Leslie and Morris also discuss what safeguards are needed in any stimulus/bailout packages to protect working people and fight corporate greed. The website for the Patriotic Millionaires is www.PatrioticMillionaires.org, their Instagram handle is @PatrioticMillionaires, and their Twitter handle is @PatrioticMills. Morris Pearl's Twitter handle is @Morris_Pearl.

Leslie is joined by Morris Pearl, Chair of the Patriotic Millionaires, a group of hundreds of high-net-worth Americans who are committed to making all Americans better off by building a more prosperous, stable, and inclusive nation. The group focuses on promoting public policy solutions that encourage political equality, guarantee a sustaining wage for working Americans, and ensure that millionaires, billionaires, and corporations pay their fair share of taxes. Leslie and Morris discuss reports that Senators Richard Burr and Kelly Loeffler sold off significant amounts of stock in the immediate aftermath of being briefed on the spread of COVID-19, all while publicly stating that there was no reason for alarm. The Patriotic Millionaires, led by Mr. Pearl, are calling for "resignation and prosecution" in response to the insider trading reports. "Senators Burr and Loeffler have clearly placed their own personal financial interests ahead of the safety and wellbeing of their constituents, and they have no business continuing to act as public servants. They must resign, and their misconduct must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law under the 2012 STOCK Act. The Department of Justice should prioritize investigating and prosecuting these Senators. Our entire government depends on the American people trusting that their elected officials are working with their best interests at heart. By using their official positions to benefit themselves at the expense of the American people, these Senators have betrayed the trust of their communities and constituents, and cracked the very foundations of our democracy at a time when trust in our government has never been more important. Congress should pass laws that would make this kind of misbehavior impossible in the future. It is absurd that members of Congress are allowed to trade stocks at all. No one should personally profit from having the privilege of serving their nation as a legislator." Leslie and Morris also discuss what safeguards are needed in any stimulus/bailout packages to protect working people and fight corporate greed. The website for the Patriotic Millionaires is www.PatrioticMillionaires.org, their Instagram handle is @PatrioticMillionaires, and their Twitter handle is @PatrioticMills. Morris Pearl's Twitter handle is @Morris_Pearl.

How Matt and Tony are coping with Coronavirus, Senators caught insider trading after being briefed about the potential pandemic and the legal history of insider trading among Congress.   Check Out Matt’s Film Tasteless - https://tastelessfilm.com/ and his comedy special 40-Year Old Version - https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Ln1EXzKkrtG8YKoI2htoJ Listen to Tony’s standup Album on Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/album/scaredy-cat/918913749 Learn more - http://www.cascademedia.com/show/legally-insane-podcast/ Follow the show and its hosts on Twitter Legally Insane Podcast on twitter - @legallyinsanepod - https://twitter.com/legallynsanepod Legally Insane Podcast on Instagram - @legallyinsanepodcast - https://www.instagram.com/legallyinsanepodcast/ Matt Ritter @mattritter1 - https://twitter.com/mattritter1 Tony Sam @toekneesam - https://twitter.com/ToeKneeSam

Jonathan and Laura discuss the ongoing Covid pandemic, the intersection between politics, the economy, the pandemic, and other topics. Jonathan brings in scientific expertise from his American Plaguecast podcast. We discuss various aspects of the already passed relief bill, the "stage 3" stimulus and relief bill, Mitch McConnell's plan and possible violations of the STOCK Act by United States Senators, along with other political topics, and the surge in gun sales.Articles:https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/secret-recording-intelligence-chairman-warning-donors-about-coronavirus-weeks-ago-969767/?fbclid=IwAR3QeWPueud5SuPWziLeAaCc7ZuhrUp6ddKVM9va5p89wgNa_oF3fjQj0SMhttps://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-15/coronavirus-pandemic-gun-sales-surge-us-californiahttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/seven-family-members-fatally-shot-north-carolina-n1160516

Washington insiders operate by a proven credo: when a Peter Schweizer book drops, duck and brace for impact. For over a decade, the work of five-time New York Times bestselling investigative reporter Peter Schweizer has sent shockwaves through the political universe. Clinton Cash revealed the Clintons' international money flow, exposed global corruption, and sparked an FBI investigation. Secret Empires exposed bipartisan corruption and launched congressional investigations. And Throw Them All Out and Extortionprompted passage of the STOCK Act. Indeed, Schweizer's “follow the money" bombshell revelations have been featured on the front pages of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, and regularly appear on national news programs, including 60 Minutes. Now Schweizer and his team of seasoned investigators turn their focus to the nation's top progressives—politicians who strive to acquire more government power to achieve their political ends. Can they be trusted with more power? In Profiles in Corruption, Schweizer offers a deep-dive investigation into the private finances, and secrets deals of some of America's top political leaders. And, as usual, he doesn't disappoint, with never-before-reported revelations that uncover corruption and abuse of power—all backed up by a mountain of corporate documents and legal filings from around the globe. Learn about how they are making sweetheart deals, generating side income, bending the law to their own benefits, using legislation to advance their own interests, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout her time in Congress, Senator Gillibrand has been committed to open and honest government. She became the first Member of Congress to post her official public schedule, personal financial disclosure, and federal earmark requests online. Senator Gillibrand's number one priority in the U.S. Senate is to rebuild the American economy, by creating good-paying jobs, helping small businesses get loans, and partnering with the private sector to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. She wrote new legislation to strengthen and retool New York's manufacturers, stamp more products with the words “Made in America,” and create new manufacturing jobs in New York. Throughout her time in the Senate, Senator Gillibrand has led on a range of issues, from the fight to repeal the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" that banned gays from serving openly in the military, to passage of the STOCK Act, to finally make it illegal for members of Congress to financially benefit from inside information, to the long fight to provide permanent health care and compensation to the 9/11 first responders and community survivors who are sick with diseases caused by the toxins at Ground Zero. Senator Gillibrand worked to bring Democrats and Republicans together to win these legislative victories.

Former Congressman Tom Price is our new Secretary of Health and Human Services, making him the chief law enforcement officer of health care policy in the United States. In this episode, hear highlights from his Senate confirmation hearings as we search for clues as to the Republican Party plans for repealing the Affordable Care Act. We also examine the 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law in December. Please support Congressional Dish: Click here to contribute with PayPal or Bitcoin Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Mail Contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North #4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD048: The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) CD123: Health or Profits Bill Outline H.R. 34: 21st Century Cures Act Bill Highlights Title I: Innovation Projects & State Response to Opioid Abuse Authorizes funding for research programs, if money is appropriated Authorizes $1 billion for grants for States to deal with the opioid abuse crisis The effects of this spending on the Pay as you Go budget will not be counted Title II: Discovery Creates privacy protections for people who participate as subjects in medical research studies Orders the Secretary of Health and Human Services to a do a review of reporting regulations for researchers in search of regulations to cut, including regulations on reporting financial conflicts of interest and research animal care. Allows contractors to collect payments on behalf of the Secretary of Health and Human Services Title III: Development Gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services additional data options for approving drug applications Expedites the review process for new "regenerative advanced therapy" drugs, which includes drugs "intended to treat, modify, reverse or cure a serious or life-threatening disease or condition" or is a therapy that involves human cells. Allows antibacterial and antifungal drugs to be approved after only being tested on a "limited population" The drugs will have have a "Limited Population" label Speeds up the FDA approval process for new medical devices that help with life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating conditions and that have no existing alternatives. Devices addressing rare diseases or conditions are allowed be approved with lower standards for effectiveness; this provision expands the definition of "rare" by doubling the number of people affected from 4,000 to 8,000. Each FDA employee involved in drug approvals will get training for how to make their reviews least burdensome. Title IV: Delivery The new Secretary of Health and Human Services will have to develop a strategy to "reduce regulatory and administrative burdens (such as doucmentation requirements) relating to the use of electronic health records" Prohibits health information technology developers from certification if their system allows information blocking. Developers, networks, or exchanges caught blocking information can be fined $1 million per violation. "Public-private partnerships" will develop the rules for exchanging health record information. Creates a job in the Medicare & Medicaid Services department for an investigator of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturer complaints. Title V: Savings Reduced funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund Sells more oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Title VII: Ensuring Mental and Substance Use Disorders Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Programs Keep Pace With Technology Authorizes money to be used for mental health services and substance abuse treatment Title IX: Promoting Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Care Creates a telephone and online service to help people locate mental health services and substance abuse treatment centers. Title XIV: Mental health and safe communities Creates a pilot program to test the idea of having court cases with mentally ill defendants heard in "drug or mental health courts" Title XVII: Other Medicare Provisions Prevents the government from canceling contracts with Medicare Advantage organizations due to their failure to achieve a minimum quality rating before 2019. Additional Reading Article: Trump's HHS Nominee Got A Sweetheart Deal From A Foreign Biotech Firm by Jay Hancock and Rachel Bluth, Kaiser Health News, February 13, 2017. Article: Tom Price belongs to a doctors group with unorthodox views on government and health care by Amy Goldstein, The Washington Post, February 9, 2017. Article: New stock questions plague HHS nominee Tom Price as confirmation vote nears by Jayne O'Donnell, USA Today, February 8, 2017. Article: HHS Pick Price Made 'Brazen' Stock Trades While His Committee Was Under Scrutiny by Marisa Taylor and Christina Jewett, Kaiser Health News, February 7, 2017. Article: Tom Price, Dr. Personal Enrichment by David Leonhardt, The New York Times, February 7, 2017. Article: Donald Trump's Cabinet Pick Invested in 6 Drug Companies Before Medicare Fight by Sam Frizell, TIME, January 17, 2017. Article: First on CNN: Trump's Cabinet pick invested in company, then introduced a bill to help it by Manu Raju, CNN, January 17, 2017. Publication: How Repealing Portions of the Affordable Care Act Would Affect Health Insurance Coverage and Premiums, Congressional Budget Office, January 17, 2017. Article: Under 21st Century Cures legislation, stem cell advocates expect regulatory shortcuts by Kelly Servick, Science, December 12, 2016. Article: Highlights of Medical Device Related Provision in the 21st Century Cures Act by Jeffrey K. Shapiro and Jennifer D. Newberger, FDA Law Blog, December 8, 2016. Article: Republicans reach deal to pass Cures Act by end of year, but Democrats pushing for changes by Sheila Kaplan, STAT, November 27, 2016. Article: Introduction to Budget "Reconciliation" by David Reich and Richard Kogan, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, November 9, 2016. Article: PhRMA companies push hard on House bill to ease testing of new drugs by Alex Lazar, OpenSecrets.org, June 16, 2015. References Financial Disclosure: Periodic Transaction Report: Thomas Price, United States House of Representatives, September 6, 2016. OpenSecrets: Senator Mitch McConnell 42 U.S. Code: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Cornell University Law School. Senate Vote: H.R. 34: 21st Century Cures Act Innate Immunotherapeutics:Top 20 Shareholders Innate Immunotherapeutics: Company Overview GovTrack: H.R. 4848 (114th): HIP Act Sound Clip Sources Hearing: Health and Human Services Secretary Confirmation, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, January 18, 2017 (Part 1) and January 24, 2017 (Part 2). Watch on CSPAN Part 1 Part 2 Timestamps & Transcripts Part 1 47:45 Senator Patty Murray: I want to review the facts. You purchased stock in Innate Immunotherapeutics, a company working to develop new drugs, on four separate occasions between January 2015 and August 2016. You made the decision to purchase that stock, not a broker. Yes or no. Tom Price: That was a decision that I made, yes. Murray: You were offered an opportunity to purchase stock at a lower price than was available to the general public. Yes or no. Price: The initial purchase in January of 2015 was at the market price. The secondary purchase in June through August, September of 2016 was at a price that was available to individuals who were participating in a private-placement offering. Murray:It was lower than was available to the general public, correct? Price: I don’t know that it was. It was the same price that everybody paid for the private-placement offering. Murray: Well, Congressman Chris Collins, who sits on President-elect Trump’s transition team, is both an investor and a board member of the company. He was reportedly overheard just last week off the House floor, bragging about how he had made people millionaires from a stock tip. Congressman Price, in our meeting, you informed me that you made these purchases based on conversations with Representative Collins. Is that correct? Price: No. What I— Murray: Well, that is what you said to me in my office. Price: What I believe I said to you was that I learned of the company from Congressman Collins. Murray: What I recall our conversation was that you had a conversation with Collins and then decided to purchase the stock. Price: No, that’s not correct. Murray: Well, that is what I remember you hearing it—say—in my office. In that conversation, did Representative Collins tell you anything that could be considered “a stock tip?” Yes or no. Price: I don’t believe so, no. Murray: Well, if you’re telling me he gave you information about a company, you were offered shares in the company at prices not available to the public, you bought those shares, is that not a stock tip? Price: Well, that’s not what happened. What happened was that he mentioned—he talked about the company and the work that they were doing in trying to solve the challenge of progressive secondary multiple sclerosis which is a very debilitating disease and one that I— Murray: I’m well aware of that, but— Price: —had the opportunity to treat patients when I was in practice. Murray: I’m aware— Price: I studied the company for a period of time and felt that it had some significant merit and promise, and purchased the initial shares on the stock exchange itself. Murray: Congressman Price, I have very limited time. Let me go on. Your purchases occurred while the 21st Century Cures Act, which had several provisions that could impact drug developers like Innate Immunotherapeutics, was being negotiated, and, again, just days before you were notified to prepare for a final vote on the bill. Congressman, do you believe it is appropriate for a senior member of Congress actively involved in policymaking in the health sector to repeatedly personally invest in a drug company that could benefit from those actions? Yes or no. Price: Well, that's not what happened. 1:06:50 Senator Bernie Sanders: The United States of America is the only major country on earth that does not guarantee healthcare to all people as a right. Canada does it; every major country in Europe does it. Do you believe that healthcare is a right of all Americans, whether they’re rich or they’re poor? Should people, because they are Americans, be able to go to the doctor when they need to, be able to go into a hospital, because they are Americans? Tom Price: Yes. We’re a compassionate society— Sanders: No, we are not a compassionate society. In terms of our relationship to poor and working people, our record is worse than virtually any other country on earth; we have the highest rate of childhood poverty of any other major country on earth; and half of our senior, older workers have nothing set aside for retirement. So I don’t think, compared to other countries, we are particularly compassionate. But my question is, in Canada, in other countries, all people have the right to get healthcare, do you believe we should move in that direction? Price: If you want to talk about other countries’ healthcare systems, there are consequences to the decisions that they’ve made just as there are consequences to the decision that we’ve made. I believe, and I look forward to working with you to make certain, that every single American has access to the highest-quality care and coverage that is possible. Sanders: “Has access to” does not mean that they are guaranteed healthcare. I have access to buying a ten-million-dollar home; I don’t have the money to do that. Price: And that’s why we believe it’s appropriate to put in place a system that gives every person the financial feasibility to be able to purchase the coverage that they want for themselves and for their family, again, not what the government forces them to buy. Sanders: Yeah, but if they don’t have any—well, it’s a long dissert. Thank you very much. Price: Thank you. 1:46:34 Senator Michael Bennet: So, I ask you, sir, are you aware that behind closed doors Republican leadership wrote into this bill that any replacement to the Affordable Care Act would be exempt from Senate rules that prohibit large increases to the deficit? Tom Price: As you may know, Senator, I stepped aside as chairman of the budget committee at the beginning of this year, and so I wasn’t involved in the writing of— Bennet: You have been the budget committee chairman during the rise of the Tea Party; you are a member of the Tea Party Caucus; you have said over and over again, as other people have, that the reason you’ve come to Washington is to reduce our deficit and reduce our debt. I assume you’re very well aware of the vehicle that is being used to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This is not— Price: Yes. Bennet: —some small piece of legislation. This is the Republican budget. Price: Yes, I'm aware of the bill. Yes. Bennet: But do you support a budget that increases the debt by $10 trillion? Price: No. What I support is an opportunity to use reconciliation to address the real challenges in the Affordable Care Act and to make certain that we put in place at the same time a provision that allows us to move the healthcare system in a much better direction— Bennet: Do you support the budget that was passed by the Senate Republicans— Price: I support— Bennet:—to repeal the Affordable Care Act that adds $10 trillion of debt to the budget deficit? Price: Well, the reconciliation bill is yet to come. I support the process that allows for and provides for the fiscal year ’17 reconciliation bill to come forward. 2:38:37 Senator Chris Murphy: But do you direct your broker around ethical guidelines? Do you tell him, for instance, not to invest in companies that are directly connected to your advocacy? Because it seems like a great deal: as a broker, he can just sit back, take a look— Tom Price: She. Murphy: —at the positions that you’re taking— Price: She. She can sit back. Murphy: She can—she can sit back— Price: Yeah. Murphy: —in this case—look at the legislative positions you’re taking, and invest in companies that she thinks are going to increase in value based on your legislative activities, and you can claim separation from that because you didn’t have a conversation. Price:Well, that’s a nefarious arrangement that I’m really astounded by. The fact of the matter is that I have had no conversations with my broker about any political activity at all, other than her— Murphy: Then why wouldn’t you tell her— Price: —other than her congratulating— Murphy: Why— Price: —me on my election. Murphy: But why wouldn’t you at least tell her, “Hey, listen; stay clear of any companies that are directly affected by my legislative work”? Price: Because the agreement that we have is that she provide a diversified portfolio, which is exactly what virtually every one of you have in your investment opportunities, and make certain that in order to protect one’s assets that there’s a diversified arrangement for purchase of stocks. I knew nothing about— Murphy: But you couldn’t have— Price: —those purchases. Murphy: But you couldn’t have a diversified portfolio while staying clear of the six companies that were directly affected by your work on an issue? Price: Well, as I said, I didn’t have any knowledge of those purchases. Murphy: Okay. 2:54:20 Senator Elizabeth Warren: One of the companies—it’s the company raised by Mr. Franken, Senator Franken—and that is Zimmer Biomet. They’re one of the world’s leading manufacturers of hip and knees, and they make more money if they can charge higher prices and sell more of their products. The company knows this, and so do the stock analysts. So on March 17, 2016 you purchased stock in Zimmer Biomet. Exactly six days after you bought the stock, on March 23, 2016, you introduced a bill in the House called the Hip Act that would require HHS secretary to suspend regulations affecting the payment for hip and knee replacements. Is that correct? Tom Price: I think the BPCI program to which I think you referred I’m a strong supporter of because it keeps the decision making in the— Warren: I’m not asking you about why you support it. I’m just asking, did you buy the stock, and then did you introduce a bill that would be helpful to the companies you just bought stock in? Price: The stock was bought by a direct—by a broker who was making those decisions. I wasn’t making those decisions. Warren: Okay, so you said you weren’t making those decisions. Let me just make sure that I understand. These are your stock trades, though. They are listed under your name, right? Price: They’re made on my behalf, yes. Warren:Okay. Was the stock purchased through an index fund? Price: I don't believe so. Warren: Through a passively managed mutual fund? Price: No. It’s a broker— Warren: Through an actively managed mutual fund? Price: It’s a broker-directed account. Warren: Through a blind trust? So, let’s just be clear. This is not just a stockbroker, someone you pay to handle the paperwork. This is someone who buys stock at your direction. This is someone who buys and sells the stock you want them to buy and sell. Price: Not true. Warren: So when you found out that— Price: That’s not true, Senator. Warren: Well, because you decide not to tell them—wink, wink, nod, nod—and we’re all just supposed to believe that? Price: It’s what members of this committee, it’s the manner of which— Warren: Well, I’m not one of them. Price: —members of this committee—Well, I understand that— Warren: So, let me just keep asking about this. Price: —but it’s important to appreciate that that’s the case. Warren:Then, I want to understand. When you found out that your broker had made this trade without your knowledge, did you reprimand her? Price: What—what I did was comply— Warren: Well, you found out that she made it. Price: What I did was comply— Warren: Did you fire her? Did you sell the stock? Price: What I did was comply with the rules of the House in an ethical and legal and— Warren: I didn’t ask whether or not the rules of the House— Price: —above-board manner— Warren: —let you do this. Price: —and in a transparent way. Warren: You know, all right. So, your periodic transaction report notes that you were notified of this trade on April 4, 2016. Did you take additional actions after that date to advance[audio cuts out] the company that you now own stock in? Price: I’m offended by the insinuation, Senator. Warren: Well, let me just read what you did. You may be offended, but here’s what you did. Congressional records show that after you were personally notified of this trade, which you said you didn’t know about in advance, that you added 23 out of your bill’s 24 co-sponsors; that also after you were notified of this stock transaction, you sent a letter to CMS, calling on them to cease all current and future planned mandatory initiatives under the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation; and just so there was no misunderstanding about who you were trying to help, you specifically mentioned— Unknown Speaker: Your two minutes are up, Senator Warren. Thank you. Warren: —hip and knee replacement. 2:58:20 Senator Johnny Isakson: This is very important for us to all understand under the disclosure rules that we have and the way it operates, any of us could make the mistakes that are being alleged. I’m sure Senator Franken had no idea that he owned part of Philip Morris when he made the statement he made about tobacco companies, but he has a WisdomTree Equity Income Fund investment, as disclosed in his disclosure, which owns Philip Morris. So, it’s entirely possible for any of us to have somebody make an investment on our behalf and us not know where that money is invested because of the very way it works. I don’t say that to, in any way, embarrass Mr. Franken but to make a point that any one of us who have mutual funds or investment managers or people who do that, it’s entirely possible for us not to know, and to try and imply that somebody’s being obfuscating something or in otherwise denying something that’s a fact, it’s just not the fair thing to do, and I just wanted to make that point. Senator Al Franken: This is different than mutual funds. Isakson: It’s an investment in Philip Morris. Unknown Speaker: Alright. Unknown Speaker: Thank you. Warren: And my question was about what do you do after he had notice. Unknown Speaker: Senator Warren, your time has been generously… Senator Kaine. 3:21:09 Senator Tim Kaine: Do you agree with the president-elect that the replacement for the Affordable Care Act must ensure that there is insurance for everybody? Tom Price: I have stated it here and— Kaine: Right. Price: —always that it’s incredibly important that we have a system that allows for every single American to have access to the kind of coverage that they need and desire. Kaine: And he’s— 3:31:52 Senator Patty Murray: You admitted to me in our meeting that you, in your own words, talked with Congressman Collins about Innate Immuno. This inspired you to you, in your own words, study the company and then purchase its stock, and you did so without a broker. Yes or no. Tom Price: No. Murray: Without a broker. Price: I did not. Murray: You told me that you did this one on your own without the broker. Yes? Price: No, I did it through a broker. I directed the broker to purchase the stock, but I did it through a broker. Murray: You directed the broker to purchase particularly that stock. Price: That's correct. Murray: Yeah. 3:34:42 Senator Patty Murray: Will you commit to ensuring all 18 FDA-approved methods of contraception continue to be covered so that women do not have to go back to paying extra costs for birth control? Tom Price: What I will commit to and assure is that women and all Americans need to know that we believe strongly that every single American ought to have access to the kind of coverage and care that they desire and want. 3:36:38 Senator Patty Murray: The Office of Minority Health was reauthorized as part of the ACA. So will you commit to maintaining and supporting this office and its work? Tom Price: I will commit to be certain that minorities in this country are treated in a way that makes certain—makes absolutely certain—that they have access to the highest-quality care. Murray: So you will not commit to the Office of Minority Health being maintained. Price: I think it’s important that we think about the patient at the center of all this. Our commitment, my commitment, to you is to make certain that minority patients and all patients in this country have access to the highest-quality care. Murray: But in particular—so you won’t commit to the Office of Minority— Price: We—Look, there are different ways to handle things. I can’t commit to you to do something in a department that one, I’m not in—I haven’t gotten it yet— Murray: But you will be. Price: —and— Murray: You will be, and— Price: Let me put forward a possible position that I might find myself in. The individuals within the department come to me and they say, we’ve got a great idea for being able to find greater efficiencies within the department itself, and it results in merging this agency and that agency— Murray: I think—I think that— Price: —and we’ll call it something else. Murray: Yeah. I—okay. Price: And we will address the issues of minority health— Murray: I just have a minute left, and I hear your answer. Price: —in a big, big way— Murray: You’re not committed, okay. Price: —and make certain that it is responsive to patients. Part 2 14:50 Senator Ron Wyden: Congressman Price owns stock in an Australian biomedical firm called Innate Immunotherapeutics. His first stock purchase came in 2015 after consulting Representative Chris Collins, the company’s top shareholder and a member of its board. In 2016 the congressman was invited to participate in a special stock sale called a private placement. The company offered the private placement to raise funds for testing on an experimental treatment it intends to put up for FDA approval. Through this private placement, the congressman increased his stake in the company more than 500 percent. He has said he was unaware he paid a price below market value. It is hard to see how this claim passes the smell test. Company filings with the Australia’s stock exchange clearly state that this specific private placement would be made at below-market prices. The treasury department handbook on private placement states, and I will quote, they “are offered only to sophisticated investors in a nonpublic manner.” The congressman also said last week he directed the stock purchase himself, departing from what he said was typical practice. Then, there’s the matter of what was omitted from the congressman’s notarized disclosures. The congressman’s stake in Innate is more than five times larger than the figure he reported to ethic’s officials when he became a nominee. He disclosed owning less than $50,000 of Innate stock. At the time the disclosure was filed, by my calculation, his shares had a value of more than $250,000. Today his stake is valued at more than a half million dollars. Based on the math, it appears that the private placement was excluded entirely from the congressman’s financial disclosure. This company’s fortunes could be affected directly by legislation and treaties that come before the Congress. 30:49 Senator Orrin Hatch: First, is there anything that you are aware of in your background that might present a conflict of interest with the duties of the office to which you have been nominated? Tom Price: I do not. 51:36 Senator Ron Wyden: Will you commit to not implementing the order until the replacement plan is in place? Tom Price: As I mentioned, Senator, what I commit to you and what I commit to the American people is to keep patients the center of healthcare, and what that means to me is making certain that every single American has access to affordable health coverage that will provide the highest-quality healthcare that the world can provide. 1:24:34 Senator Richard Burr: Are you covered by the STOCK Act, legislation passed by Congress that requires you and every other member to publicly disclose all sales and purchases of assets within 30 days? Tom Price: Yes, sir. Burr: Now, you’ve been accused of not providing the committee of information related to your tax and financial records that were required of you. Are there any records you have been asked to provide that you have refused to provide? Price: None whatsoever. Burr: So all of your records are in. Price: Absolutely. Burr: Now, I’ve got to ask you, does it trouble you at all that as a nominee to serve in this administration that some want to hold you to a different standard than you as a member of Congress, and I might say the same standard that they currently buy and sell and trade assets on? Does it burn you that they want to hold you to a different standard now that you’re a nominee than they are as a member? Price: Well, I—we know what’s going on here. Burr: Oh, we do. Price: I mean— Burr: We do. Price: It’s—and I understand. And as my wife tells me, I volunteered for this, so… 1:26:49 Senator Richard Burr: As the nominee and hopefully—and I think you will be—the secretary of HHS, what are the main goals of an Obamacare replacement plan? Tom Price: Main goals, as I mentioned, are outlined in those principles, that is imperative that we have a system that’s accessible for every single American; that’s affordable for every single American; that is incentivizes and provides the highest-quality healthcare that the world knows; and provides choices to patients so that they’re the ones selecting who’s treating them, when, where, and the like. So it’s complicated to do, but it’s pretty simple stuff. 1:34:58 Senator Johnny Isakson: Any one of us can take a financial disclosure—and there’s something called desperate impact, where you take two facts—one over here and one over there—to make a wrong. Any one of us could do it to disrupt or misdirect people’s thoughts on somebody. It’s been happening to you a lot because people have taken things that you have disclosed and tried to extrapolate some evil that would keep you from being secretary of HHS when, in fact, it shouldn’t be true. For example, if you go to Senator Wyden’s annual report, he owns an interest in BlackRock Floating Rate Income Fund. The major holding of that fund is Valeant Pharmaceuticals. They’re the people we jumped all over for 2700 percent increases last year in pharmaceutical products. But we’re not accusing the ranking member of being for raising pharmaceutical prices, but you could take that extrapolation out of that and then indict somebody and accuse them. Is that not true? 1:51:30 Senator Michael Bennet: I wonder whether you also believe that it’s essential that there be a floor for insurance providers. You know, some of the things that the Affordable Care Act require for coverage include outpatient care; emergency services; hospitalization; maternity and newborn care; prescription drugs; rehab services; lab services; preventative care, such as birth control and mammograms; pediatric services, like vaccines; routine dental exams for children younger than 19. I’m not going to ask you to go through each one of those, but directionally, are we headed to a world where people in rural America have to settle for coverage for catastrophic care; are we headed to a place where there is regulation of insurance providers that say if you are going to be an insurance market, you need—particularly if we’re in a world where your son had crossed state lines —there has to be a floor of the services you’re willing to pay for? Tom Price: I think there has to be absolutely credible coverage, and I think that it’s important that the coverage—that individuals ought to be able to purchase this coverage that they want. 1:56:45 Senator Pat Toomey: When we talk about repeal, sometimes I hear people say, well, we’ve got to keep coverage of pre-existing conditions because, you know, we’ve got to keep that. And when I hear that, I think that we’re missing something here, and here’s what I’m getting at. There’s obviously a number of Americans who suffer from chronic, expensive healthcare needs. They’ve had these conditions sometimes all their lives, sometimes for some other period of time. And for many of them the proper care for those conditions is unaffordable. I think we agree that we want to make sure those people get the healthcare they need. Now, one way to force it is to force insurance companies to provide health-insurance coverage for someone as soon as they show up, regardless of what condition they have, which is kind of like asking the property casualty company to rebuild the house after it’s burned down. But that’s only one way to deal with this, and so am I correct: is it your view that there are other perhaps more effective ways—since, after all, Obamacare’s in a collapse—to make sure that people with these pre-existing chronic conditions get the healthcare that they need at an affordable price without necessarily having the guaranteed-issue mandate in the general population? Tom Price: I think there are other options, and I think it’s important, again, to appreciate that the position that we currently find ourselves in, with policy in this nation, is that those folks, in a very short period of time, are going to have nothing because of the collapse of the market. 2:18:05 Tom Price: Every single individual ought to be able to have access to coverage. 2:29:45 Senator Tim Scott: My last question has to do with the employer-sponsored healthcare system that we’re so accustomed to in this country, that provides about 175 million Americans with their insurance. In my home state of South Carolina, of course, we have about two and a half million people covered by their employer coverage. If confirmed as HHS secretary, how would you support American employers in their effort to provide effective family health coverage in a consistent and affordable manner? Said differently, there’s been some conversation about looking for ways to decouple having health insurance through your employer. Tom Price: I think the employer system has been absolutely a remarkable success in allowing individuals to gain coverage that they otherwise might not gain. I think that preserving the employer system is imperative. That being said, I think that there may be ways in which individual employers—I’ve heard from employers who say, if you just give me an opportunity to provide my employee the kind of resources so that he or she is able to select the coverage that they want, then that makes more sense to them. And if that works from a voluntary standpoint for employers and for employees, then it may be something to look at. Scott: That would be more like the HRA approach where— Price: Exactly. Scott: —employer funds an account, and the employee chooses the health insurance, not necessarily under the umbrella of the employer specifically. Price: Exactly. And gains the same tax benefit. 2:58:00 Tom Price: What I’m for is making certain, again, that the Medicaid population has access to the highest-quality care possible, and we’ll do everything to improve that because right now so many in the Medicaid population don’t have access to the highest-quality care. 3:20:50 Tom Price: Our goal is to make certain that seniors have access to the highest-quality healthcare possible at an affordable price. Senator Bob Menendez: Well, access without the ability to afford it, and I’ll end on this— Price: That's what I said, affordable price. 3:28:45 Senator Sherrod Brown: If you and he are working together, are you going to suggest to him that we find a way in repeal and replace to make sure there is guaranteed healthcare for our nation’s veterans? Tom Price: Well, I think it’s vital, again, as I’ve mentioned before, that every single American have access to affordable coverage that’s of high quality, and that’s our goal, and that’s our commitment. 3:30:52 [regarding a disabled child coverd by Medicaid] Tom Price: We are absolutely committed to making certain that that child and every other child and every other individual in this nation has access to the highest-quality care possible. Senator Bob Casey Jr.: Okay, so not an access—he will have the medical care that he has right now or better—if you can come up with a better level of care, that’s fine—but he will have at least the coverage of Medicaid and all that that entails that he has right now. And that’s either a yes or no; that’s not— Price: No, it’s not a yes or no because the fact of the matter is that in order for the current law to change, you all have to change it— Casey: No, but here’s— Price: —and if I’m given the privilege of leading at the Department of Health and Human Services— Casey: Here’s why it’s yes— Price: and I respond to— Casey: You should stop talking around this. You have led the fight in the House, backed up by Speaker Ryan, for years— Price: To improve Medicaid. Casey: —to block grant Medicaid, okay? Price: To improve Medicaid. Casey: To block grant Medicaid. What that means is, states will have to decide whether or not this child gets the Medicaid that he deserves. That’s what happens. So you push it back to the states and hope it works out… Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations

Rep. Tom Price — Donald Trump’s pick to run HHS — needs to undergo a pair of Senate hearings before being confirmed. But he’s under attack from Democrats, after a series of stories linking Price’s stock trades to legislation that he’s written. As of Tuesday afternoon, Price’s initial hearing on Wednesday is still on. One reason why the timing matters: Trump has said that he won’t release his health reform plan until Price is confirmed. Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), who co-authored the STOCK Act — which led to Price’s stock disclosures — first joins PULSE CHECK to talk about ethical issues in Congress, why she wants the SEC to investigate Price, and why she’s seeing a wave of support for Obamacare (starts at the 2:45 mark). Then after the break, Rodney Whitlock — who served as GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley’s health policy director — explains what to expect in a confirmation hearing, what lawmakers need to do to avoid Price’s fate, and where he thinks Republicans go from here (starts at 17:30). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email ddiamond@politico.com.

7 AM - More with McClintock on the sequester on lack of veteran benefits; Reese Witherspoon DUI; STOCK Act gutted; Fat dude kicked off plane; Anchor who cursed is on the Today show; No diaper potty training.

In the hours before the Boston marathon bombing, President Obama quietly signed a bill gutting the STOCK Act. Full details on the shady way both houses of Congress passed the bill in under two days. Links to Information in this Podcast Music: Money, Money, Money by The Undercover Hippy (found on MusicAlley by mevio) Congressional Dish summary of S.716 Text of S. 716 60 Minutes segment on insider trading in Congress C-SPAN video of the STOCK Act signing ceremony Senate passage of S. 716 took 10 seconds Rep. Eric Cantor's smirky face as he takes 14 seconds to pass S. 716 in the House: Congressional Dish summary of H.R. 882, the bill that sort of stops government contracts from going to corporations with seriously delinquent tax debt. Text of H.R. 882: Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2013 Congressional Dish summary of H.R. 1163, the bill about information security policies. Text of H.R. 1163: Federal Information Security Amendments Act of 2013 Text of H.R. 756: The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act CIA allegedly gave a $600 million contract to Amazon for cloud computing technology Text of H.R. 249: Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2013, which fires Federal workers for having unpaid taxes

The U.S. Senate debates legislation that would make it illegal for members of Congress to trade stocks and bonds using nonpublic information.  On today's show, we take stock in the STOCK Act.