Robinhood CEO grilled by lawmakers in Congressional hearing

Yahoo Finance’s Alexis Christoforous and Jesse Fried, Harvard Law School Professor, discuss lawmakers grilling Robinhood’s CEO amid Congress’ probe into the GameStop trading frenzy.

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  • Donald and Melania Trump quietly got Covid vaccines last month, reports say

    Unlike other officials, the then president and first lady did not receive their shots on TV Donald and Melania Trump received their vaccines before leaving office, reports say. Photograph: Alex Edelman/AFP/Getty Images Donald and Melania Trump received the coronavirus vaccine before leaving the White House, according to multiple news reports on Monday. Citing unnamed advisers, the New York Times, CNN and other outlets reported that while other officials, including Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and the former vice-president Mike Pence, chose to get their shots publicly to encourage confidence in the vaccines, the Trumps opted to quietly get vaccinated in January. There was no detail on which shot they received or how many doses they had been given. Both Donald and Melania contracted and recovered from Covid-19 during the 2020 presidential campaign. The revelation first came to light after Trump took the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Florida. “Everyone should go get your shot,” he told the audience, prompting questions from reporters about whether he had had his. The speech was the first time Trump has told supporters – who include groups that are the most skeptical of the vaccine – to get their shots. According to Axios, white Republicans have polled as highly vaccine hesitant. Black vax hesitancy makes headlines, but the most reluctant group by far is white Republicans--a much larger group. https://t.co/WPqjSlHNpt pic.twitter.com/ytKlpOSQv4— Deen Freelon (@dfreelon) March 1, 2021 Long before Covid, the former president also helped fuel the anti-vaccination movement in the US, by tweeting conspiratorial claims and questioning scientists. “I think the vaccines can be very dangerous. And, obviously, you know, a lot of people are talking about vaccines with children with respect to autism,” he said in 2009, according to the New York Times. Even as he launched his presidential bid, he repeated misinformation about childhood vaccines from the debate stage. A study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology last May concluded that Trump is “the first US President to be on the record as having anti-vaccination attitudes” and that “Trump voters were significantly more concerned about vaccines than other Americans”. Trump is no longer able to tweet after his account was suspended by the platform, which cited concerns over “the risk of further incitement of violence” following the 6 January attack on the US Capitol. But by encouraging his base that the shot is safe, perhaps he will be able to sway those who were reluctant to get the shot. Even if he has been silent until now on getting the vaccine, the former president has not hesitated to take credit for the rollout. “Never let them forget this was us. We did this,” he said at CPAC. His claim contradicts CNN reporting from January, which showed Biden had to effectively start from scratch when he took office and that there was no vaccine distribution plan left behind by the Trump administration.

  • The latest on NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Allegations of sexual harassment, hiding nursing home COVID-19 deaths

    Here's a rundown of the allegations against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, how he has responded and where the investigations stand.

  • CNN’s Chris Cuomo Awkwardly Acknowledges Allegations Against Brother Andrew Cuomo

    CNNChris Cuomo opened his primetime CNN show Monday night by acknowledging the growing sexual harassment scandal surrounding his brother, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and telling viewers why he “obviously” would not be covering it. “Before we start tonight, let me say something that I’m sure is very obvious to you who watch my show,” the host began. “And thank you for that. You’re straight with me, I’ll be straight with you.”“Obviously, I’m aware of what’s going on with my brother,” Cuomo continued. “And obviously I cannot cover it, because he is my brother. Now, of course CNN has to cover it. They have covered it extensively and they will continue to do so.”>> @ChrisCuomo at the top of @CuomoPrimeTime tonight: "Obviously I am aware of what is going on with my brother. And obviously I cannot cover it because he is my brother. Now, of course CNN has to cover it. They have covered it extensively and they will continue to do so." pic.twitter.com/G49mZYTG4D— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 2, 2021 “I have always cared very deeply about these issues and profoundly so,” Cuomo added, declining to elaborate or name which “issues” he was talking about. “There’s a lot of news going on that matters also, so let’s get after that.”The host was speaking at the end of a day in which a third woman accused the New York governor of inappropriate sexual behavior. But as New York Times reporter Annie Karni posted on Twitter in response, while it may make sense for Cuomo to recuse himself from covering his brother, “What never made sense to me was Chris Cuomo covering him when things were going well for Andrew Cuomo.”Especially during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Cuomo was a frequent guest on his brother’s show, where they would joke around together about calling their mom and memorably performed a playful comedy sketch with a giant test swab at the same time the governor’s office was underreporting nursing home deaths. Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

  • Woman says Cuomo asked to kiss her at a wedding; harassment accuser also rips his apology

    A third woman came forward late Monday to accuse Gov. Andrew Cuomo of an unwanted advance, this time at a wedding in 2019.

  • Cuomo faces new calls to resign as harassment investigation looms

    Three women publicly accuse the governor of sexual harassmentFormer state legislative employees accuse Cuomo of ‘gaslighting’US politics – live coverage Andrew Cuomo: ‘I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry.’ Photograph: Seth Wenig/AFP/Getty Images Sign up for the Guardian’s First Thing newsletter A collective of former New York state legislative employees on Monday denounced Andrew Cuomo’s apology for his past behaviour, after the governor was accused of sexually harassing multiple women, and called for his removal or resignation. Members of the Sexual Harassment Working Group also said they expected more allegations to follow – and accused Cuomo of “gaslighting” his accusers. Letitia James, the state attorney general, meanwhile, announced the first step in mounting an external investigation of the governor’s behaviour. Cuomo’s difficulties were further compounded on Monday night when a third woman went public claiming that he had made her deeply uncomfortable during an encounter at a 2019 wedding reception. Anna Ruch, 33, told the New York Times that she had never met the governor before, yet he still put his hand on her bare back, clasped her head in his hands and said: “Can I kiss you?” “I was so confused and shocked and embarrassed,” Ruch told the newspaper. She added: “It’s the act of impunity that strikes me. I didn’t have a choice in his physical dominance over me at that moment. And that’s what infuriates me.” The Times published a photograph accompanying its report which shows Cuomo looking down at Ruch with her head between his hands. According to the paper the photo was taken on Ruch’s own cellphone by a friend. Cuomo, the son of a former governor and himself a former US housing secretary, is one of America’s most prominent governors. On Sunday he acknowledged for the first time that some of his behaviour towards women “may have been insensitive or too personal”. He also said he would cooperate with an investigation led by the state attorney general. “I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation,” said the Democrat, amid growing criticism from his own party. “To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that.” But the second woman who came forward publicly to accuse him of harassment, Charlotte Bennett, a former aide to the governor, said on Monday that Cuomo “has refused to acknowledge or take responsibility for his predatory behavior”. “As we know, abusers – particularly those with tremendous amounts of power – are often repeat offenders who engage in manipulative tactics to diminish allegations, blame victims, deny wrongdoing and escape consequences,” Bennett said in a statement. “It took the governor 24 hours and significant backlash to allow for a truly independent investigation. These are not the actions of someone who simply feels misunderstood; they are the actions of an individual who wields his power to avoid justice.” They were Bennett’s first public comments since her allegations were published by the New York Times on Saturday.And Rita Pasarell, a member of the Sexual Harassment Working Group, a group of former state workers who have experienced, witnessed or reported sexual harassment by New York legislators, said Cuomo’s comments did not constitute an apology and accused him of “gaslighting” – behaviour meant to disorientate and undermine those making allegations against him.Pasarell told the Guardian: “There is nothing in there where he acknowledges that his behaviour was wrong; he’s not even apologising for his behaviour. He’s only apologising for the victims’ feelings … He’s basically saying the women got it wrong and they misunderstood what he was doing, which is totally insulting.” She added: “What is also really troubling to me about his statement is that he’s not taking any accountability. We have no reason to think he’s not going to repeat this behaviour again. Which is to say the current staff are unprotected. He is not fit to serve because he is not showing an understanding that he needs to commit to not doing these things again.” Pasarell called for Cuomo’s removal or resignation and said she believed the two women’s allegations “were just some examples of many, many instances that we have yet to hear of and I think we will hear of more”. Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City on Monday also criticised Cuomo’s statement: “He just clearly was letting himself off the hook for something that, for the women involved, sounded pretty terrifying.”Cuomo’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Cuomo is accused of asking Bennett about her sex life, including whether she had ever had sex with older men, and making comments that she interpreted as assessing her interest in an affair.Bennett made the allegations days after Lindsey Boylan, another former aide, gave further details of allegations initially made in December. She claims Cuomo made comments about her appearance and subjected her to an unwanted kiss.Cuomo, 63, said he wanted to be a mentor to 25-year-old Bennett. He has denied Boylan’s allegations.At first Cuomo suggested the retired federal judge Barbara Jones should review his behaviour. He later proposed that James, the state attorney general, and the chief New York appeals court judge, Janet DiFiore, appoint a lawyer to produce a report. Under mounting pressure, he agreed to demands for an inquiry led by James. On Monday, James said she had received a formal referral that would enable her to employ an outside law firm to investigate. Democratic assemblyman Ron Kim. Photograph: Hans Pennink/AP On Sunday, the White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said Joe Biden supported an independent review that “should move forward as quickly as possible”. The allegations against Cuomo follow a scandal in which his administration was forced to revise its count of nursing home coronavirus deaths after it was revealed they were severely undercounted. The Democratic assemblyman Ron Kim, who claims Cuomo threatened to “destroy” him over that scandal, a claim a Cuomo adviser has denied, told the Guardian he believed claims of sexual harassment were part of a “pattern of abusive behaviour and him [Cuomo] abusing power”. He said: “I believe the women – Charlotte, Lindsey and other former staffers and journalists who are coming out almost every other day with these stories of his abusive behaviour. Now it’s up to the lawmakers and other authorities to hold [Cuomo] accountable.” Kim called on Cuomo to “remove himself from office”, adding: “It’s very clear that he is unfit to lead our state at this point.”The Republican state senate minority leader, Robert Ortt, has called on Cuomo to resign. The Democratic state senator Alessandra Biaggi tweeted of Cuomo: “It is time for you to go. Now.” New York’s US senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and the congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are among Democrats who demanded an independent investigation. Ed Pilkington contributed reporting

  • As oil prices rally, old OPEC tensions set to rise

    As members of the oil cartel OPEC and its allies meet this week to discuss adjusting output, analysts expect old tensions between oil producer giants to flare up again.

  • 'It was God, I tell you:' Tiny light on cellphone leads to one water rescue as Kentucky endures historic flooding

    Heavy rains pounded Kentucky on Sunday and Monday, sending rivers over their banks and leading to multiple water rescues, mudslides and road closures.

  • 21 Republican governors attack Biden's COVID-19 stimulus bill for 'penalizing' their states

    The governors say allocating relief funds based on unemployment would 'punish' those that didn't fully lock down amid the pandemic.

  • Hong Kong democracy activists headed to court for second day

    A court hearing for 47 democracy activists charged under Hong Kong's national security law was set to resume Tuesday after a marathon session that was adjourned well past midnight after one defendant appeared to collapse and was taken away in an ambulance. The court is weighing whether to grant bail to the activists, who were detained and charged Sunday over their involvement in an unofficial primary election last year that authorities say was part of a plot to paralyze Hong Kong's government. The national security law, which China imposed on Hong Kong eight months ago in response to months of anti-government protests, makes it a crime to overthrow, seriously interfere in, disrupt or undermine Hong Kong's government.

  • 'Dota: Dragon's Blood' trailer gives a clearer view of Netflix's new anime series

    A full trailer has arrived for Netflix's anime series based on 'Dota 2.'

  • Prosecutors investigating Trump are focusing on longtime finance chief: report

    The Trump Organization stalwart has worked with the ex-president for decades

  • Bernie Sanders to force Senate vote on minimum wage hike after ‘disappointing’ ruling

    ‘I regard it as absurd that the parliamentarian, a Senate staffer elected by no one, can prevent a wage increase for 32 million workers’

  • Marjorie Taylor Greene Demonizes Big Tech. She and Her Husband Just Sold Up to $210,000 in Tech Stocks.

    Drew Angerer/GettyWhen she was running for office, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) constantly antagonized tech giants like Facebook for allegedly censoring and silencing pro-Trump Republicans, and vowed to fight what she called the “Silicon Valley Cartel” after being elected to Congress.During her first two months on Capitol Hill, Greene has loudly ratcheted up the anti-tech rhetoric. But shortly after her swearing-in, she quietly moved to offload significant stock holdings in the very same companies she so vehemently denounced—netting a healthy sum in the process.According to her latest financial disclosure form, released on Feb. 19, Greene and her husband sold anywhere from $49,000 to $210,000 worth of shares in Facebook, Google, Apple, and Amazon on Jan. 20.It’s unclear exactly how much Greene and her husband, Perry, made from each individual company stock, since congressional forms only list broad value ranges, but it may have been as much as $65,000 each for the four tech stocks. Some shares were owned jointly between the couple and others were owned solely by her husband.Greene’s only other public financial disclosure form, filed in May 2020 when she was a candidate, lists joint or spousal ownership of up to $65,000 in Apple stock, $30,000 in Facebook stock, $30,000 in Amazon stock, and $15,000 in Google stock. The couple sold these holdings in January at a profit—the official form lists capital gains above $200—but the precise figure is unknown.The Sickening History of Marjorie Taylor Greene’s HometownIn light of the growing push from good-government advocates for lawmakers to sell off their holdings of individual stocks to avoid conflicts of interest, Greene’s sell-off could be perhaps welcomed. But her financial disclosure report shows she remains invested in a number of other companies, from Fortune 500 giants like Goldman Sachs and Lockheed Martin to the sports gambling platform DraftKings and activewear brand Lululemon.There’s also the plain irony that Greene was personally invested in, and later profited off, tech companies that she had excoriated for months as totalitarian tools of evil and social control. A spokesperson for Greene did not respond to requests for comment about her stock sale and why she invested in the companies to begin with.Like many hardcore Trump Republicans, Greene has oriented her politics around “cancel culture” and Big Tech’s alleged censorship of those promoting pro-Trump views. On her social media platforms, where she has hundreds of thousands of followers, Greene posts fresh, steaming outrage about them on a near-daily basis.Facebook, shares of which Greene and her husband sold for up to $65,000 net gain on Jan. 20, have been a constant target for her as a candidate and as a member of Congress. Last September, the platform removed a post from Greene in which she posed with a gun next to images of the progressive “Squad,” on the grounds it incited violence. The GOP candidate claimed she was being canceled and now wears a face mask in Congress with the message “CENSORED.”At various points in 2020, Greene called Facebook racist for promoting a message to support Black-owned businesses during the holiday season and slammed it as anti-semitic for censoring the far-right Islamophobic provocateur Laura Loomer. She also accused Facebook of allowing “ANTIFA” to carry out terrorist attacks and charged that the social media platform had “canceled our kids.”In October, when a Facebook spokesperson tweeted they would not link to a New York Post story on Hunter Biden, the Georgia Republican tweeted in outrage that “the Silicon Valley Cartel has taken the First Amendment and ripped it to shreds.”“When I get to Congress,” declared Greene, “Big Tech will be held accountable!”Ironically, in June 2020, the Facebook investor publicly called on her many thousands of followers to use a competitor instead. “For those of yall tired of being censored by Facebook,” she wrote, “I encourage you to open a Parler account today!”Greene has been less critical of the other tech companies she once owned, but her broadsides against the “Silicon Valley Cartel” leave little room for nuance, especially given Google, Amazon, and Apple’s dominance of the sector.Marjorie Taylor Greene Hangs Anti-Trans Sign Outside Office of Congresswoman With Trans DaughterGreene’s tech stock sell-offs could be interpreted as a sign she wished to sever any financial links to companies she had so stridently opposed. A Greene spokesperson did not respond to questions about why she and her husband sold the shares when they did.Barely two weeks after her stock sale, though, Greene was calling on like-minded conservatives to harness the free market system to develop alternatives to the tech companies she’d previously been financing.“Conservatives must join together to invest, develop, and compete in Big Tech in order to protect our conservative values and speech from the never ending cries of the thought police. This would give people the ability to choose the online “community” they invest themselves in,” tweeted Greene on Feb. 7.“The Silicon Valley cartel controlling social media, free speech, and even targeting to take down rising competition, like Parler, must be stopped. The way to stop it is in the free market, while we still can…”Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

  • France approves AstraZeneca vaccine for over-65s despite President Macron's efficacy claims

    People aged over 65 with existing health problems can be given the AstraZeneca vaccine, France's health minister said on Monday, departing from the government's earlier stance that the vaccine should be for under-65s only. When the AstraZeneca vaccine was approved for use by European Union regulators, France mandated it would only go to eligible people under 65 because data from trials in older age groups was limited. President Emmanuel Macron has claimed the AstraZeneca vaccine was "quasi-effective" for over-65s and on Monday Canada's advisory body on vaccines said the jab was not recommended for that age group due to a lack of research. But new data on the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine has "vindicated" the UK's decision to roll it out to older age groups, England's deputy chief medical officer has said. Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) had taken the view that it was "not immunologically plausible" the vaccine would work in younger age groups and not older ones. A new study from Public Health England (PHE) suggests a single dose of the Pfizer or Oxford vaccine offers dramatic protection against hospital admission and severe disease in older people. The World Heath Organisation has also recommended the jab for over-65s.

  • Third Woman Accuses Cuomo, Says He Asked to Kiss Her

    ReutersA third woman has come forward to publicly accuse New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexually harassing her—and there’s a picture to back her up.Anna Ruch, who worked on the Biden campaign, told The New York Times that Cuomo put his hand on her bare lower back within moments of being introduced at a wedding in 2019.“I promptly removed his hand with my hand, which I would have thought was a clear enough indicator that I was not wanting him to touch me,” she told the paper.By her account, Cuomo called her “aggressive” and placed his hands on her cheeks.“He said, ‘Can I kiss you?’” Ruch recalled. “I was so confused and shocked and embarrassed,” Ruch told the Times, which said her account was corroborated by the friend and photographs that show the governor clasping her face.“I turned my head away and didn’t have words in that moment.”A third woman has accused Governor Cuomo of unwanted touching and sexual attention, saying he placed his hands on her face and asked if he could kiss her at her friend's wedding. A friend took a series of pictures of the incident as it occurred. https://t.co/bgvzBK4vK0 pic.twitter.com/hXvgTvSntQ— Evan Hill (@evanchill) March 2, 2021 Ruch’s account adds a new dimension to the political crisis Cuomo is facing. In a statement on Sunday, he half-apologized for his behavior in a statement, saying women had “misinterpreted” his “playful” banter, which he admitted could be “too personal.”But calls for his resignation are mounting; a former ally, Rep. Kathleen Rice of Long Island, tweeted Monday night that he should step down. “The time has come,” she wrote, with a link to Ruch’s account.Earlier in the day, Cuomo formally made the referral that will allow state Attorney General Tish James to investigate sexual harassment allegations made by ex-aides Lindsey Boylan and Charlotte Bennett. Cuomo Says He’s Sorry His ‘Playful’ Banter Was ‘Misinterpreted’ by Harassment AccusersBoylan, a current candidate for Manhattan borough president, wrote last week that Cuomo gave her a nonconsensual kiss after years of sexual advances.Bennett, a former health aide, said Cuomo repeatedly asked her if she’d be interested in a sexual relationship with an older man and whether she was monogamous in relationships.“I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared,” Bennett said in an interview with the Times. “And was wondering how I was going to get out of it and assumed it was the end of my job.”In a Monday night tweet, Bennett expressed solidarity with Ruch.“Anna — I hear you, I see you. I’m so sorry. His inappropriate and aggressive behavior cannot be justified or normalized. Thank you for your courage and strength. Here for you always,” she said.And Boylan tweeted: “This doesn’t make me feel validated. It makes me feel sick. I feel nauseous thinking about Anna’s experience. I am sending her love and light.”Some Democratic state legislators, including state Assembly members Ron Kim and Yuh-Line Niou, have also called on Cuomo to resign amid the sexual misconduct accusations, as well as alleged mishandling of the state’s nursing homes and their death tolls during the COVID-19 pandemic.Others, such as state Sen. Jessica Ramos, said Cuomo should be stripped of his emergency powers as governor until the conclusion of the investigation, in the wake of the Times’ report on Monday evening.Cuomo Was Always New York’s Bad Guy. Here’s Why He Was Finally Exposed.Cuomo did not immediately comment on Ruch’s claims, with his office pointing instead to his earlier statement, in which he said that he treated members of his staff like family and that his attempts at humor and collegiality had been misconstrued as flirtation.But Ruch is not a member of Cuomo’s staff. And she said she was stunned by Cuomo’s advances in such a public forum after she indicated they were not wanted.“It’s the act of impunity that strikes me,” she said. “I didn’t have a choice in that matter. I didn’t have a choice in his physical dominance over me at that moment. And that’s what infuriates me. And even with what I could do, removing his hand from my lower back, even doing that was not clear enough.”Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

  • Third woman accuses Andrew Cuomo as sexual misconduct inquiry announced

    A third woman has comes forward to accuse Andrew Cuomo of inappropriate behaviour, alleging that he asked to kiss her at a wedding. Anna Ruch says that after she met the New York governor at the 2019 celebration and thanked him for toasting the newlyweds, he placed his hand on her bare lower back.

  • Hate crime charges in stabbing, teen harassed: New York City anti-Asian incidents highlight rise in hate

    Two incidents in New York highlight a rise in hate attacks on Asian Americans amid the pandemic.

  • Georgia House passes GOP voting restrictions bill

    With a vote of 97-72, the Georgia state House on Monday passed a bill supported by Republicans that would roll back voting access. House Bill 531 requires a photo ID for absentee voting, limits weekend early voting days, restricts ballot drop box locations, and sets an earlier deadline to request an absentee ballot. The measure now heads to the state Senate for more debate. State Rep. Barry Fleming (R), the bill's chief sponsor, said it is "designed to begin to bring back the confidence of our voters back into our election system." Democrats and civil rights organizations disagree, arguing that it would make it much harder for people to vote, especially voters of color. State Rep. Renitta Shannon (D) said it is "pathetically obvious" that the bill is in response to Georgia voters turning out in record numbers for November's presidential election, making the state blue for the first time in decades. Voters also showed up in January for the Senate runoffs, when Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock defeated the Republican incumbents, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. This gave Republicans the message "that they were in a political death spiral," Shannon said. "And now they are doing anything they can to silence the voices of Black and brown voters specifically, because they largely powered these wins." Demonstrators marched outside the Capitol on Monday to protest the bill, which the Rev. James Woodall, president of the Georgia NAACP, called one of the "most egregious, dangerous, and most expensive voter suppression acts in this entire nation, rolling back years of hardball progress and renewing our own reputation for discrimination." More stories from theweek.comTrump is back. Did anyone miss him?Trump still has the Republican Party by the throatMost awkward awards show ever?

  • Biden news: Trump ‘got vaccine while president’, as New York AG set to probe Cuomo harassment claims

    Latest updates from Washington DC and beyond

  • Trump and Melania got vaccinated in January; US officials 'deeply concerned' as 29 states see virus cases rise: Latest COVID-19 updates

    "We cannot be resigned to 70,000 cases per day, 2,000 daily deaths," the CDC's Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Monday. Latest COVID-19 news.