In a Fox News op-ed, Senator Bernie Sanders warns of a growing divide between the wealthy and the rest of America, arguing that unchecked billionaire influence threatens to establish an oligarchy. He highlights the disproportionate wealth of Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg, whose combined holdings surpass that of the bottom half of the US population. Sanders criticizes the outsized role of billionaires in political campaigns, facilitated by rulings like *Citizens United*, and condemns the concentrated ownership of media and various economic sectors. He concludes that this system undermines democratic principles, urging a fight for an economy that benefits all Americans.
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Following the death of former OpenAI researcher Suchir Balaji, his parents have commissioned an independent autopsy. Balaji, 26, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26th, with the medical examiner ruling his death a suicide. However, Balaji’s parents, questioning the official findings, seek further investigation due to his recent whistleblowing activities against OpenAI, alleging copyright infringement. Balaji’s contributions to OpenAI, including work on WebGPT, were significant.
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Costco’s board of directors unanimously rejected a shareholder proposal from the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) aimed at ending the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The NCPPR, alleging potential discrimination, sought a financial risk assessment of Costco’s DEI programs. Costco countered that its DEI efforts enhance its “treasure hunt” shopping experience by fostering a diverse workforce and improving member satisfaction. The company views the NCPPR’s proposal as a thinly veiled attempt to dismantle DEI initiatives rather than a genuine concern about financial risk. Costco maintains that its DEI programs are legal and beneficial to the company and its members.
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To prevent a government shutdown, a continuing resolution slashed $20 billion from the IRS’s budget, effectively cutting in half the Inflation Reduction Act’s $80 billion investment. This reversal of funding, initially intended to increase audits of high-income earners and reduce the deficit, is projected to add $140 billion to the national debt over ten years. Consequently, the IRS may be compelled to reduce audits of wealthy individuals and corporations first, impacting revenue generation and potentially harming customer service. Republicans, despite the deficit implications, celebrated the cuts, while the Treasury Department warned of severe negative consequences for taxpayers.
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Body-worn camera footage from the Marcy Correctional Facility depicts correctional officers fatally beating a handcuffed inmate, Robert Brooks, resulting in an investigation by the New York attorney general. The video shows officers punching and kicking Brooks, even shoving an object into his mouth and striking him with a shoe. While four officers’ body cameras recorded the visual aspects of the incident, they failed to capture audio. Governor Hochul and the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision condemned the actions, vowing institutional change to prevent future occurrences.
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In response to concerns surrounding potential mass deportations, Mexico is developing a mobile application to aid migrants in the United States. The app functions as a “panic button,” instantly notifying pre-selected family members and the nearest Mexican consulate of imminent detention. Currently undergoing small-scale testing, the app is expected to launch in January and will complement existing consular support and a 24/7 call center. This initiative aims to provide crucial assistance to the estimated 16.3 million Mexican migrants in the U.S., both documented and undocumented.
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President Zelenskyy asserted that mounting evidence implicates Russia in the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan, drawing parallels to the 2014 downing of MH17 by a Russian missile. He offered condolences to Azerbaijan and warned that Russia’s potential disinformation campaign necessitates unified international pressure to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable. The December 25th crash killed 38, with Azerbaijani officials citing evidence of external interference, including perforations in the aircraft’s fuselage. Zelenskyy’s statement highlights the growing suspicion surrounding Russia’s involvement in the tragedy.
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In summary, Thomas Campbell Bolling Von Goetz, 56, was arrested and charged with multiple offenses after disrupting Christmas Eve services at two St. Mary’s County churches. His actions included dropping an onion at one church and, at a second, pouring whiskey into the holy water, threatening parishioners, and assaulting individuals with fruit and a whiskey bottle. Following a medical evaluation, Von Goetz faced charges ranging from assault and disorderly conduct to religious crimes and threats of mass violence. The incidents resulted in significant disruption to the Christmas Eve services.
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A House Ethics Committee report revealed that former Congressman Matt Gaetz violated numerous House rules and standards of conduct, including those prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, and drug use. Despite Gaetz’s denials and attempts to suppress the report, the investigation uncovered evidence of him accepting illicit gifts, paying women for sex, and lying to the State Department. This report, along with a recent investigation into Justice Clarence Thomas’ ethical violations, highlights a concerning trend of attempts to discredit and suppress investigations into Republican figures. The pattern suggests a growing acceptance of misconduct within the party and a deliberate effort to undermine accountability.
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Missile attacks on civilian aircraft have tragically become the leading cause of airline passenger deaths in the last decade, with over 500 fatalities recorded. The recent downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight, allegedly by a Russian missile, marks the third major incident since 2014, following similar attacks in Ukraine and Iran. These incidents significantly outweigh other causes of airline fatalities, including even the deadliest non-missile related crashes. The total death toll from these missile attacks far surpasses that of other major airline accidents in the past ten years. Investigations are ongoing into the most recent incident, with the Kremlin urging caution against premature conclusions.
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John Q. Hosedrinker