Latest news with #TheHill
The Hill
23 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump commutes sentence for donor Imaad Zuberi
President Trump has commuted the sentence of top political donor Imaad Zuberi, who had been sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2021 after giving illegal campaign contributions to former President Biden and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). A White House official confirmed Trump commuted his sentence to The Hill's sister network NewsNation on Wednesday. Zuberi had pleaded guilty in 2019 and 2020 to tax evasion, lobbying top U.S. officials while working as a foreign agent, campaign finance violations and obstruction of justice. Alongside the 12-year sentence, U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips ordered Zuberi to pay close to $16 million in restitution and a nearly $2 million fine. 'I'm deeply sorry and, of course, humiliated,' Zuberi previously told Phillips. 'I have no excuse for what I've done.' Zuberi has also been accused of putting together meetings with U.S. and foreign politicians as well as being behind a straw donor plot. 'Everyone wants to come to Washington to meet people,' Zuberi said in a decade-old email in which he was attempting to put together a meeting between the president of Guinea and a congressman, according to the AP. 'We get request(s) for meeting(s) from all scumbag of the world, warlords, kings, queens, presidents for life, military dictators, clan chiefs, tribal chiefs and etc.' The New York Times previously reported that Zuberi donated over $1.1 million in the three months following Trump's first election to committees linked with the president and the GOP after previously backing former President Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in her 2016 bid for the presidency.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
President Trump pardons former Gov. John G. Rowland – 'wonderful final resolution'
Twice-convicted Republican Gov. John G. Rowland has been pardoned by President Donald Trump, according to multiple media reports. . Rowland's possible pardon had been rumored in political circles recently, but it did not become official until Wednesday. CNN, The Hill, and other outlets reported the pardon online. In an email to The Courant, Rowland wrote : 'I am deeply humbled and appreciative. I have been blessed with a wonderful family and friends that have been through a great deal over the years. This is a wonderful final resolution.' Word spread quickly late Wednesday afternoon at the state Capitol in Hartford, where longtime Rowland loyalists and members of his administration have since become lobbyists. Various officials declined to comment. Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@
The Hill
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Hill
What could the ‘big, beautiful bill' mean for power prices?
The Big Story The legislation guts massive subsidies for climate-friendly energy sources, including wind and solar power. © Gerry Broome, Associated Press file Provisions slashing energy subsidies are expected to have significant ramifications on not only the nation's greenhouse gas emissions but also energy prices. A recent analysis from BloombergNEF said that a repeal of the green tax credits would result in 17 percent less renewable construction. It said that the cut, combined with growing electricity demand, is 'a recipe for spiking power prices.' Ethan Zindler, policies and countries analyst with BloombergNEF, said that for analysis purposes, the changes made in the House bill are akin to a full repeal. 'The tax code at the moment helps to reduce the cost of electricity for consumers from renewables, which today account for the vast majority of what gets added to the grid,' he said. 'If you remove those supports, then developers will simply seek to charge more, and in a number of cases, utilities will be forced to pay more, and those costs will flow through to consumers.' Several analyses estimate that electric bills could rise noticeably as a result. A Rhodium Group estimate has found that keeping the tax credits in place could save consumers 2 to 4 percent on their electric bills in 2030 and 2 to 5 percent in 2035. Aurora Energy Research has found that removing the tax credits will increase electric bills by an average of 10 percent — or $142 per year — by 2040. Read more about the bill's overall impacts from colleagues and me at Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, I'm Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: Louisiana Republicans help kill anti-fluoride bill Republicans in the Louisiana House stifled a proposal on Wednesday that would have banned the addition of fluoride in public water systems — rejecting a burgeoning movement backed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Bipartisan proposal would make looting a felony during disasters A new bipartisan bill aims to crack down on looting during natural disasters by making theft a felony in areas under federal disaster declaration. Antirenewable bills die quietly in GOP-controlled Texas Legislature A slate of bills targeting the Texas renewables industry are now doomed after missing a key deadline in the state House. In Other News Branch out with a different read from The Hill: RFK Jr. may bar government scientists from publishing in medical journals Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he will ban government scientists from publishing in leading medical journals and proposed creating an 'in-house' publication by the department. What We're Reading News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: GOP tax bill will clear Senate 95% intact, House chairman predicts (The Washington Examiner) BLM official escorted out of building after DOGE conflict (Politico) What Others are Reading Two key stories on The Hill right now: Trump pardons former GOP Rep. Michael Grimm amid clemency spree President Trump on Wednesday took a slew of clemency actions, including pardoning former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) and commuting the sentence of a former Chicago gang leader. Read more Trump responds to TACO trade criticisms: 'You call that chickening out?' President Trump on Wednesday bristled when asked about a new Wall Street term based on his tendency to reverse his tariff threats, defending his approach and dismissing the question as 'nasty.' Read more Opinions in The Hill Op-eds related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill: Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here
The Hill
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Hill
Trump, Fannie and Freddie
The Big Story President Trump has vowed the government would keep its guarantees behind mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac amid a push to take the two public. © The Associated Press 'Our great Mortgage Agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, provide a vital service to our Nation by helping hardworking Americans reach the American Dream — Home Ownership,' Trump posted Tuesday evening on Truth Social. 'I am working on TAKING THESE AMAZING COMPANIES PUBLIC, but I want to be clear, the U.S. Government will keep its implicit GUARANTEES, and I will stay strong in my position on overseeing them as President,' Trump added. Trump last week posted on social media that he was giving 'very serious consideration' to release both companies from government conservatorship. The two are publicly traded, government-sponsored companies. They have been controlled by the government since the 2008 financial crisis. Privatizing them again could rattle financial markets and the mortgage market, though advocates have argued it would spur competition and help the government's budget. The Hill's Brett Samuels has more here. Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter, I'm Aris Folley — covering the intersection of Wall Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads Key business and economic news with implications this week and beyond: Fed minutes show rising unemployment, stagflationary risks Minutes from the May meeting of the Federal Reserve's interest rate-setting committee show stagflationary risk to the economy as a result of new White House trade policies and higher projections for unemployment through the next couple of years. Nvidia beats expectations with strong quarterly earnings despite export controls Nvidia posted strong quarterly earnings Wednesday, beating Wall Street's expectations despite new export controls imposed by the Trump administration limiting the sale of some of its advanced chips to China. Trump responds to TACO trade criticisms: 'You call that chickening out?' President Trump on Wednesday bristled when asked about a new Wall Street term based on his tendency to reverse his tariff threats, defending his approach and dismissing the question as 'nasty.' White House to send DOGE cuts package to Congress as Speaker promises quick action The Trump administration will send Congress a package to claw back $9.4 billion in funding next week, an Office of Management and Budget spokesperson confirmed to The Hill, as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) pledges to 'act quickly' on codifying cuts spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Tax Watch Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' pits Senate GOP moderates against conservatives Senate Republicans are deeply divided over President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' which the House passed by a single vote last week, setting up a battle in the upper chamber between moderates and conservatives that is likely to drag on well into July. GOP senators are vowing to rewrite the bill, but they're still weeks away from putting together a package that can muster the 51 votes it needs to pass, according to GOP senators and aides. Centrist GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) are facing off against conservatives such as Sens. Ron Johnson (Wis.), Rick Scott (Fla.) and Mike Lee (Utah) over potential cuts to Medicaid, the phaseout of renewable energy incentives and other deficit-reduction measures that conservatives say don't go far enough. The Medicaid cuts also divide conservatives, with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) warning they could be bad policy and politically suicidal. It has all left observers skeptical the debate in the Senate will end in June. — Alexander Bolton has more here. Tax Watch is a regular feature focused on the fight over tax reform and extending the 2017 Trump tax cuts this year. Email a tip The Ticker Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: In Other News Branch out with more stories from the day: Elon Musk criticizes Trump's 'big beautiful bill,' a fracture in a key relationship WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk is criticizing the centerpiece of President Donald Trump's legislative … The Hill Event Invest In America Wednesday, June 4 at 8 a.m. EDT — Washington, D.C. Join The Hill for a half-day summit featuring titans from Washington and Wall Street, focused on solutions-oriented conversations that will deliver insights into the future of the domestic and global economy, covering everything from tariffs, investing, AI, crypto, taxes and more. Good to Know Business and economic news we've flagged from other outlets: What Others are Reading Top stories on The Hill right now: Trump pardons former GOP Rep. Michael Grimm amid clemency spree President Trump on Wednesday took a slew of clemency actions, including pardoning former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) and commuting the sentence of a former Chicago gang leader. Read more Morning Report — Trump expands list of targets for his ire Editor's note: The Hill's Morning Report is our daily newsletter that dives deep into Washington's agenda. To subscribe, click here or fill out the box below. Read more What People Think Opinions related to business and economic issues submitted to The Hill: You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here
The Hill
7 hours ago
- Health
- The Hill
Kennedy takes on ‘conflicts of interest' in medical journals
The Big Story Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to prohibit government scientists from publishing work in medical journals and instead publish work in new 'in-house' publications. © The Hill, Greg Nash During a Tuesday episode of the podcast 'The Ultimate Human,' Kennedy threatened to stop government scientists from publishing in journals like The Lancet, the New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA because they are beholden to the pharmaceutical industry. All three of those journals have published original, peer-reviewed research for decades and contribute to the distribution of scientific information across the planet. Kennedy called the journals 'corrupt,' adding that they only spread propaganda from pharmaceutical companies and are no longer scientifically credible. The forthcoming 'in-house' journals will replace the trio as the pre-eminent scientific journals. 'They are going to become the pre-eminent journals, because if you get NIH funding it is anointing you as a good, legitimate scientist,' he said. The podcast episode aired the same day Kennedy announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would stop recommending the COVID-19 vaccine to children and pregnant women. Kennedy's comments also come a week after the Trump administration released its long-awaited MAHA report, which contradicted several medical conventions related to vaccines and medications previously deemed safe to use. Kennedy has long believed that medications like vaccines and psychiatric drugs are overused in the U.S. and causing some health problems among children. In the report, the Trump administration expresses concern over American children taking too many medications, noting that more children are taking stimulant drugs, antidepressants, antipsychotics and asthma medication than they did 30 years ago. 'There is a concerning trend of overprescribing medications to children, often driven by conflicts of interest in medical research, regulation, and practice,' the report reads. 'This has led to unnecessary treatments and long-term health risks.' Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: Even low levels of lead exposure may worsen academic performance: Study Academic achievement among adolescents may be affected by early childhood lead exposure at much lower levels than previously assumed, according to a new study. Just a small climb in blood concentrations of this toxic metal — still within the range currently deemed acceptable by public health agencies — was associated with worse performance on standardized tests, scientists found in the study, published Wednesday in Environmental … Texas Senate approves bill strictly defining man and woman based on reproductive organs The Texas Senate has sent legislation to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) that would strictly define genders across state law based on male and female reproductive organs — potentially creating new hurdles for transgender and intersex Texans whose gender identity would revert to the sex they were assigned at birth in state records. Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris confirmed to The Hill on Wednesday that the governor plans to approve the … Missouri Supreme Court leaves abortion ban in place Abortion is now banned in Missouri again after the state's highest court overturned two lower court rulings blocking its abortion ban. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled a district judge used the wrong standard in two rulings — one in December and another in February — that allowed abortions to resume in the state. Abortion has been almost entirely banned in Missouri since the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. Missourians … In Other News Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Senate Democrats preview Medicaid messaging in new ad The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee rolled out a new ad hitting Senate Republicans over President Trump's legislative agenda as the upper chamber prepares to take up the bill. Around the Nation Local and state headlines on health care: What We're Reading Health news we've flagged from other outlets: What Others are Reading Most read stories on The Hill right now: Trump responds to TACO trade criticisms: 'You call that chickening out?' President Trump on Wednesday bristled when asked about a new Wall Street term based on his tendency to reverse his tariff threats, defending his approach … Read more Trump pardons former GOP Rep. Michael Grimm amid clemency spree President Trump on Wednesday took a slew of clemency actions, including pardoning former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) and commuting the sentence of … Read more Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here
