It’s Wednesday. The last day of January has arrived!Today is national hot chocolate day — I think the timing is right — then send me your best hot chocolate recipe. 😏 A few years ago a reader sent me an incredibly extreme recipe, so let’s see if we can top it. Here’s what happened today:
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Senate Judiciary Committee slams CEOs of social media platforms Meta, TikTok and X, Previously twitter, This morning at a hearing on child exploitation. Parents showed up with photos of their victim children.
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President Biden’s The team is counting on support from a major pop icon. Have you confirmed your guess yet? Continue reading for more details.
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Plans for Senate Democrats to become Secretary of Homeland Security
Alejandro Mayorkas The purpose of being impeached is to bury it. A vote for this could put the fragile Democratic Party in a difficult position.
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The Federal Reserve Board meets today. No changes in interest rates are expected.
I kate martel A quick summary of this morning and what’s to come. Send tips, explanations, feedback, and cookie recipes to:
cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you?Sign up here.
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Technology company CEOs are on Capitol Hill today for a hearing on online child sexual exploitation on social media platforms.
Who is testifying?: Mr. Meta mark zuckerberg,X Linda Yaccarinoof Snap Inc. Evan Spiegel Discord’s Jason Citron And TikTok’s Shu Gee Choo
📺
Watch the hearing live
💻 Live blog of hearing highlights
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➤ Released before hearing:
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Hours before Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was scheduled to testify Wednesday about child safety online, lawmakers urged his company to increase resources to address the issue. We have released internal documents showing how we rejected the call.”
What we learned from 90 pages of internal emails via New York Times
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“A presidential election likely to be contested between two old men could be swayed by the country’s most famous 34-year-old woman. Taylor Swift“Her astronomical popularity and willingness to speak out on political issues could make her a key player in the 2024 race,” The Hills writes. Nile Stanage. (
the hill)
Biden wants to hang on to some of that fame.: The New York Times reported that the Biden campaign is hoping to secure the support of “dream” Taylor Swift. (new york times)
Meanwhile, conservative social media is obsessed with Swift’s conspiracy theories: There’s a conspiracy theory that the NFL is rigging the game in favor of her boyfriend. travis kelsey team, the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs will face the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on February 11th.
Read Niall Stanage’s column — “The politicization of Taylor Swift”
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Taylor Swift She is probably the most famous pop star in the world and broke records with her Elas tour.At the height of her fame, she’s currently dating a Chiefs player travis kelsey And he’s been playing in his games this season as well. Now that the Chiefs are in the Super Bowl, it’s fueling right-wing conspiracy theories that the NFL is rigging the game in the Chiefs’ favor. According to this theory, that team would win the Super Bowl, just at the right time.
President Biden.
Here are some examples of right-wing media figures promoting this theory.
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Posted by former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy: “I wonder who will win next month’s Super Bowl. And will we get massive presidential support from artificially culturally propped up couples this fall?” Read Ramaswami’s full post
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FOX News host Sean Hannity: “Taylor is saying that the guy they want her to support is kind of stumbling and clumsy and doesn’t even have the energy to give a 30-minute speech, let alone give a 3-hour concert like she does. “Do you understand?” He’s also a very creepy person. She might want to check out those creepy videos, they’re online. ” (
the hill)
- FOX News host Jesse Watters in January: “It’s real. The Pentagon’s intelligence unit has proposed to NATO that Taylor Swift be a resource to combat online misinformation.” The Pentagon pushed back on this Fox News conspiracy theory. (
politiko )
please remember: Swift supported Biden in 2020 and has publicly criticized the former.
president trump . She has not issued a nomination for 2024, and it is unclear whether she wants to enter this race.
hill Dominic Mastrangeloand
Sarakshi Rai Here’s a helpful explainer on the theories involving conservative social media.
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➤ More articles about Saga:
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“Taylor Swift, Donald Trump, and the problem of right-wing abnormality.” : New York Times editorial
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“Right-wing media targets Taylor Swift with absurd conspiracy theories ahead of Super Bowl” : CNN
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“Taylor Swift, Travis Kelsey, and the MAGA Meltdown” : new york times
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“Trump ally vows ‘holy war’ against Taylor Swift” : rolling stone
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“Moderate New York Republicans and House Republican leaders are planning to move forward with a bill addressing state and local tax credits (SALT) within the next week after a group of Empire State lawmakers threatened to block legislative action on the issue.” An agreement has been reached to consider “The Hill,” two people familiar with the matter told The News. ”
hill emily brooks and michael schnell Here’s what we know and why this matters.
read – “New York Republican Party Moderates and Leaders Reach SALT Agreement After House Protest”
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“Senate Democrats likely to kill article of impeachment against Secretary of Homeland Security” Alejandro Mayorkas“If approved by the House, it could be approved by a Senate committee, allowing vulnerable lawmakers to avoid tough election-year votes,” The Hills reported. alexander bolton.
Couldn’t Senate Democrats immediately vote to reject the articles of impeachment?: Yes, but that would put vulnerable Democrats in purple states in a tough position.
^ Specifically : sense. John Tester (Mont), Bob Casey (Pennsylvania), sherrod brown (Ohio) and jackie rosen(Nevada) All are seeking re-election in 2024. A “no” vote could hurt their state.
what would happen instead: “Instead, insiders predict that Democrats will likely seek to refer the matter to a special Senate committee to consider articles of impeachment, which would allow a vote to take place after Election Day.” There is a possibility that you will be exposed.”
please remember: Democrats have not publicly revealed their plans. (the hill)
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🍫 celebrate : Today is National Hot Chocolate Day!
😯
No, I’m making Elmo sad. : Elmo from “Sesame Street” posted a frank question on X (formerly Twitter). “Elmo is just checking in! How’s everyone doing?” The post has been viewed more than 177 million times, with user X giving Elmo bad news. (the hill)
- fromCongressman Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida):“Not good. I serve in Congress.”
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from @David Levitt: “Elmo, I’m suffering from existential dread here.”
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from @Use cigarettes: “Elmo, I just got fired.”
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from @Seamus_Malek: “Elmo, I’m getting serious, I’m at my limit.”
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What a fluffy guy! :Member of Parliament Andy Kim (DN.J.) posted a photo of an adorable puppy. Kim captioned the photo: “Some days at the Capitol are better than others.” 📸 photograph
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It contains the House of Representatives and the Senate. president biden and vice president harrisI’m in Washington DC (always eastern)
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1pm : White House Press Secretary Karine Jean PierreBrief reporter. 💻 live stream
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1:15 p.m.:Biden and Harris have lunch together.
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2:15pm: 2 votes in the Senate. Voting will be held again around 5:30pm 🗓️ Today’s topic
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2:30pm : Chairman of the Federal Reserve System
Jerome PowellHolding a press conference regarding interest rates.Interest level not expected to change. 💻 live stream
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4pm: First chamber vote. Final voting is scheduled for around 8pm 🗓️ Today’s topic
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6 pm : Harris and the Second Gentleman
Doug EmhoffHost a reception to celebrate Chinese New Year.
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The February announcement was just made.: Biden is scheduled to visit East Palestine, Ohio, about a year after a train derailment that spilled toxic chemicals. However, no specific date has been announced. (the hill)
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