cnbc--2020-06-16--Trump administration wants to replace $600 unemployment benefit with back-to-work bonus

The Trump administration wants to end enhanced unemployment benefits and replace them with a different policy , according to a senior aide .
Federal coronavirus relief legislation enacted in March authorized jobless Americans to receive an extra $ 600 a week in unemployment benefits .
Those payments are scheduled to end after July 31 , which may lead to a sharp decrease in cash flow for the roughly 30 million people currently receiving the benefit .
The unemployment rate in April and May was higher than at any time since the Great Depression .
The Trump administration , in line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 600 payments to end .
The administration believes they provide a disincentive to find work or return to a job , according to Larry Kudlow , White House economic advisor .
More from Personal Finance Trump vs. Biden : Americans split on who 's better for their wallets $ 600 unemployment benefits are 'life-saving ' for this waiter Additional stimulus legislation may be coming The administration supports replacing the enhanced benefits , which are paid on top of traditional state-level benefits , with a cash bonus encouraging people to rejoin the workforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reform measure that would still provide some kind of bonus for returning to work , but it will not be as large and it will create an incentive to work , '' Kudlow , director of the National Economic Council , said Sunday on CNN .
While Kudlow did n't elaborate on the specific form of a return-to-work bonus , a few existing proposals hint at what such a policy may look like .
One from Sen .
Rob Portman , R-Ohio , would replace the $ 600 weekly checks with temporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who return to work .
Recipients would get the $ 450 plus their job 's wages .
Another proposal , from Rep. Kevin Brady , R-Texas , would let workers who accept a job offer keep two weeks ' worth of $ 600 enhanced unemployment benefits .
Normally , if someone finds work , they would lose their unemployment benefits .
The concept is comparable to a $ 1,200 `` hiring bonus , '' Brady said .
However , in their current form , Portman 's and Brady 's policies each have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same expiration date as the $ 600-a-week benefits .
Democrats , on the other hand , want to extend enhanced unemployment benefits .
They passed financial relief legislation in the House that would extend the $ 600 benefits until early next year .
Some Democrats have also proposed gradually reducing the aid by tying it to economic metrics like the state unemployment rate .
( In other words , weekly benefits would decrease as a state 's unemployment rate falls . )
Lawmakers will likely compromise and extend enhanced unemployment benefits in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ income over a `` cliff '' for millions of Americans , according to Ernie Tedeschi , an economist at Evercore ISI .
That 's because states generally replace between 30 % and 50 % of one 's prior wages , Tedeschi said .
( The $ 600-a-week enhancement aimed at fully replacing job wages for the average worker , who makes about $ 1,000 a week . )
`` That [ would be ] a giant benefit cut , '' Tedeschi said .
Republican proposals leapfrog off an unexpected addition of 2.5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , versus an expected loss of around 7.5 million .
States are beginning to reopen their economies and many businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program loans have rehired workers to fulfill a condition of getting that federal aid .
`` This is a turning point in the economy , '' Kudlow said .
`` Besides the great jobs numbers , you 've got a lot of positive green-shoot indicators .
We do n't want to interrupt that [ by extending unemployment benefits ] . ''
However , critics say it 's naive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since mid-March will be able to return to work by the end of July .
Twenty-one million people are still unemployed .
There would need to be nine more months of job growth similar to those seen in May to roughly get back to employment levels in February .
If enhanced unemployment aid ends , potentially coinciding with businesses running out of loan money and households exhausting the one-time stimulus checks they received , Americans may cut spending significantly and cause another wave of job losses , according to economists .
Ioana Marinescu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Pennsylvania , has a policy idea that blends Democratic and Republican ideals , offering a view at what a potential compromise could look like .
The proposal would pay $ 600 a week to workers who have lost their jobs for about four months , regardless of whether they remain unemployed or find new employment .
This `` job losers ' stimulus program '' would keep unemployment benefits intact during a time of fragile economic recovery and also remove any perceived disincentive to work caused by enhanced unemployment benefits , according to @ @ @

Larry Kudlow, director of the U.S. National Economic Council, speaks to members of the media outside the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, June 15, 2020. Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Trump administration wants to end enhanced unemployment benefits and replace them with a different policy, according to a senior aide. Federal coronavirus relief legislation enacted in March authorized jobless Americans to receive an extra $600 a week in unemployment benefits. Those payments are scheduled to end after July 31, which may lead to a sharp decrease in cash flow for the roughly 30 million people currently receiving the benefit. The unemployment rate in April and May was higher than at any time since the Great Depression. The Trump administration, in line with many congressional Republicans, wants the $600 payments to end. The administration believes they provide a disincentive to find work or return to a job, according to Larry Kudlow, White House economic advisor. More from Personal Finance
Trump vs. Biden: Americans split on who's better for their wallets
$600 unemployment benefits are 'life-saving' for this waiter
Additional stimulus legislation may be coming
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The administration supports replacing the enhanced benefits, which are paid on top of traditional state-level benefits, with a cash bonus encouraging people to rejoin the workforce. "The president is looking at a reform measure that would still provide some kind of bonus for returning to work, but it will not be as large and it will create an incentive to work," Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, said Sunday on CNN. While Kudlow didn't elaborate on the specific form of a return-to-work bonus, a few existing proposals hint at what such a policy may look like. One from Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, would replace the $600 weekly checks with temporary payments of $450 a week for those who return to work. Recipients would get the $450 plus their job's wages. Another proposal, from Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, would let workers who accept a job offer keep two weeks' worth of $600 enhanced unemployment benefits. Normally, if someone finds work, they would lose their unemployment benefits. The concept is comparable to a $1,200 "hiring bonus," Brady said.
watch now
However, in their current form, Portman's and Brady's policies each have a July 31 end date — the same expiration date as the $600-a-week benefits. Democrats, on the other hand, want to extend enhanced unemployment benefits. They passed financial relief legislation in the House that would extend the $600 benefits until early next year. Some Democrats have also proposed gradually reducing the aid by tying it to economic metrics like the state unemployment rate. (In other words, weekly benefits would decrease as a state's unemployment rate falls.) Lawmakers will likely compromise and extend enhanced unemployment benefits in some form after July to avoid sending household income over a "cliff" for millions of Americans, according to Ernie Tedeschi, an economist at Evercore ISI. That's because states generally replace between 30% and 50% of one's prior wages, Tedeschi said. (The $600-a-week enhancement aimed at fully replacing job wages for the average worker, who makes about $1,000 a week.) "That [would be] a giant benefit cut," Tedeschi said. Republican proposals leapfrog off an unexpected addition of 2.5 million jobs to the U.S. economy in May, versus an expected loss of around 7.5 million. States are beginning to reopen their economies and many businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program loans have rehired workers to fulfill a condition of getting that federal aid. "This is a turning point in the economy," Kudlow said. "Besides the great jobs numbers, you've got a lot of positive green-shoot indicators. We don't want to interrupt that [by extending unemployment benefits]." However, critics say it's naive to think all Americans who lost their jobs since mid-March will be able to return to work by the end of July. Twenty-one million people are still unemployed. There would need to be nine more months of job growth similar to those seen in May to roughly get back to employment levels in February. If enhanced unemployment aid ends, potentially coinciding with businesses running out of loan money and households exhausting the one-time stimulus checks they received, Americans may cut spending significantly and cause another wave of job losses, according to economists. Ioana Marinescu, an economics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has a policy idea that blends Democratic and Republican ideals, offering a view at what a potential compromise could look like. The proposal would pay $600 a week to workers who have lost their jobs for about four months, regardless of whether they remain unemployed or find new employment. This "job losers' stimulus program" would keep unemployment benefits intact during a time of fragile economic recovery and also remove any perceived disincentive to work caused by enhanced unemployment benefits, according to the proposal.


cnbc--2020-06-18--John Bolton book: Trump asked China for help with 2020 election, offered personal favors to dictator

John Bolton book: Trump asked China for help with 2020 election, offered personal favors to dictators

President Donald Trump asked China 's leader , Xi Jinping , to help him win the 2020 U.S. presidential election , suggesting that China 's boosted purchases of U.S. agricultural products could get him a second term in the White House , former national security advisor John Bolton reportedly writes in his new book .
The Washington Post , which obtained a copy of the forthcoming book , said Bolton wrote that Trump in a one-on-one meeting at the June 2019 Group of 20 summit in Japan with Xi `` stunningly , turned the conversation to the coming U.S. presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capability to affect the ongoing campaigns , pleading with Xi to ensure he 'd win . ''
`` He stressed the importance of farmers , and increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome .
I would print Trump 's exact words but the government 's prepublication review process has decided otherwise , '' Bolton wrote in the book `` The Room Where It Happened : A White House Memoir , '' according to The Post .
The Post also reported that Bolton wrote that Trump at one point said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' and that that country was `` really part of the United States . ''
The Wall Street Journal published a long excerpt of Bolton 's book on Wednesday , a day after the Justice Department filed a lawsuit that seeks to block the book 's release next week , at least temporarily .
The Justice Department late on Wednesday filed an emergency application for a temporary restraining order and a motion for a preliminary injunction against Bolton to prevent the publication of his book , NBC News reported .
The motion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday , four days before the book is scheduled to be released .
In the excerpt , Bolton wrote , `` Trump 's conversations with Xi reflected not only the incoherence in his trade policy but also the confluence in Trump 's mind of his own political interests and U.S. national interests . ''
`` At the opening dinner of the Osaka G-20 meeting in June 2019 , with only interpreters present , Xi had explained to Trump why he was basically building concentration camps in Xinjiang .
According to our interpreter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead with building the camps , which Trump thought was exactly the right thing to do .
The National Security Council 's top Asia staffer , Matthew Pottinger , told me that Trump said something very similar during his November 2017 trip to China , '' the Journal quoted from the book .
`` Trump commingled the personal and the national not just on trade questions but across the whole field of national security , '' Bolton wrote .

President Donald Trump asked China's leader, Xi Jinping, to help him win the 2020 U.S. presidential election, suggesting that China's boosted purchases of U.S. agricultural products could get him a second term in the White House, former national security advisor John Bolton reportedly writes in his new book.
The Washington Post, which obtained a copy of the forthcoming book, said Bolton wrote that Trump in a one-on-one meeting at the June 2019 Group of 20 summit in Japan with Xi "stunningly, turned the conversation to the coming U.S. presidential election, alluding to China's economic capability to affect the ongoing campaigns, pleading with Xi to ensure he'd win."
"He stressed the importance of farmers, and increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome. I would print Trump's exact words but the government's prepublication review process has decided otherwise," Bolton wrote in the book "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir."
The Post also reported that Bolton wrote that Trump at one point said that invading Venezuela would be "cool," and that that country was "really part of the United States."
Trump, in a tweet after midnight Thursday, ripped Bolton over the book.
"A disgruntled boring fool who only wanted to go to war. Never had a clue, was ostracized & happily dumped. What a dope!" the president said.
TRUMP TWEET
Trump also spoke to The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. "He is a liar," the president told the newspaper, referring to Bolton. "Everybody in the White House hated John Bolton."
Bolton himself took to the media to defend himself and launch more attacks against the president. In an interview with ABC News, which will air in full on Sunday night, Bolton said Trump isn't "fit for office" and that he lacks the "competence to carry out the job."
The Wall Street Journal published a long excerpt of Bolton's book on Wednesday, a day after the Justice Department filed a lawsuit that seeks to block the book's release next week, at least temporarily. The Justice Department late on Wednesday filed an emergency application for a temporary restraining order and a motion for a preliminary injunction against Bolton to prevent the publication of his book, NBC News reported. The motion asks the court to schedule a hearing on Friday, four days before the book is scheduled to be released.
In the excerpt, Bolton wrote, "Trump's conversations with Xi reflected not only the incoherence in his trade policy but also the confluence in Trump's mind of his own political interests and U.S. national interests."
"At the opening dinner of the Osaka G-20 meeting in June 2019, with only interpreters present, Xi had explained to Trump why he was basically building concentration camps in Xinjiang. According to our interpreter, Trump said that Xi should go ahead with building the camps, which Trump thought was exactly the right thing to do. The National Security Council's top Asia staffer, Matthew Pottinger, told me that Trump said something very similar during his November 2017 trip to China," the Journal quoted from the book.
"Trump commingled the personal and the national not just on trade questions but across the whole field of national security," Bolton wrote.


cnbc--2020-06-17--Michael Flynn lawyer blasts judge-appointed attorney who opposes dismissing criminal case

Michael Flynn , former U.S. national security adviser , exits federal court in Washington , D.C. , on Monday , June 24 , 2019 .
Michael Flynn 's lawyers accused a federal judge Wednesday of shedding `` any appearance of neutrality '' in the criminal case against President Donald Trump 's former national security advisor .
That claim was made in response to the judge 's appointment of an attorney to oppose the Department of Justice 's request to dismiss the case .
Flynn 's lawyers also said that the judge 's appointee , John Gleeson , `` engaged in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he argued that the Justice Department committed a `` gross abuse of prosecutorial power '' in seeking to drop the case .
The `` sheer duplicity '' of Gleeson 's `` scurrilous arguments '' against the DOJ `` is stunning , '' Flynn 's lawyers wrote in a filing in U.S. District Court in Washington , D.C. Judge Emmet Sullivan had appointed Gleeson , who himself is a former federal judge , to make legal arguments opposing requests by the Justice Department and Flynn to dismiss the case .
Sullivan also asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be held in criminal contempt of court for perjury for twice pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a former Russian ambassador in the weeks before Trump 's inauguration .
He has since sought to withdraw his guilty pleas .
After Gleeson was appointed , Flynn 's lawyers asked a federal appeals court to force Sullivan to drop the case and replace him with another judge for any additional proceedings .
A panel of judges on the U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington , D.C. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flynn , Sullivan and the Justice Department .
The appeals court has yet to rule .
Flynn 's lawyers argued in their filing Wednesday that Sullivan had no legal authority to appoint Gleeson , and that he must grant the requests to dismiss the criminal charge against the retired Army lieutenant general .
`` This court exceeded its authority under the Constitution '' by appointing Gleeson , they wrote .
`` This politically motivated quest to destroy General Flynn has been damaging the Rule of Law , the integrity of venerable institutions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our Constitution , '' the lawyers wrote .
`` This illegal outrage must stop now . ''

Michael Flynn, former U.S. national security adviser, exits federal court in Washington, D.C., on Monday, June 24, 2019.
Michael Flynn's lawyers accused a federal judge Wednesday of shedding "any appearance of neutrality" in the criminal case against President Donald Trump's former national security advisor.
That claim was made in response to the judge's appointment of an attorney to oppose the Department of Justice's request to dismiss the case.
Flynn's lawyers also said that the judge's appointee, John Gleeson, "engaged in a flagrant personal and partisan assault" when he argued that the Justice Department committed a "gross abuse of prosecutorial power" in seeking to drop the case.
The "sheer duplicity" of Gleeson's "scurrilous arguments" against the DOJ "is stunning," Flynn's lawyers wrote in a filing in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
Judge Emmet Sullivan had appointed Gleeson, who himself is a former federal judge, to make legal arguments opposing requests by the Justice Department and Flynn to dismiss the case.
Sullivan also asked Gleeson to advise him on whether Flynn should be held in criminal contempt of court for perjury for twice pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a former Russian ambassador in the weeks before Trump's inauguration. He has since sought to withdraw his guilty pleas.
After Gleeson was appointed, Flynn's lawyers asked a federal appeals court to force Sullivan to drop the case and replace him with another judge for any additional proceedings.
A panel of judges on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., last week heard arguments from lawyers for Flynn, Sullivan and the Justice Department. The appeals court has yet to rule .
Flynn's lawyers argued in their filing Wednesday that Sullivan had no legal authority to appoint Gleeson, and that he must grant the requests to dismiss the criminal charge against the retired Army lieutenant general.
"This court exceeded its authority under the Constitution" by appointing Gleeson, they wrote.
"This politically motivated quest to destroy General Flynn has been damaging the Rule of Law, the integrity of venerable institutions of government, and now the very structure of our Constitution," the lawyers wrote.
"This illegal outrage must stop now."


cnbc--2020-06-17--DOJ takes aim at law that shields tech companies from lawsuits over material their users post

The Department of Justice is taking aim at tech 's liability shield with a new set of legislative proposals released Wednesday .
The proposed reforms are the latest action aiming to weaken legal protection established through Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , a 1990s-era law .
The statute protects online platforms , such as Facebook , Twitter and Google 's YouTube , from being held liable for content their users post on their sites , and also allows them to moderate content in good faith .
The DOJ 's proposed reforms , which would have to be passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would limit the broad protections Section 230 typically provides to the tech industry .
Platforms could lose immunity if they facilitate or solicit federal criminal activity , like trafficking illicit drugs .
It would also create carve-outs for child exploitation , terrorism and cyberstalking , holding tech companies accountable for taking action on such content .
The proposal also would make clear that Section 230 protections can not be used to dispute antitrust claims , a significant statement as the Justice Department is reportedly preparing an antitrust suit against Google for as soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disclosed an antitrust investigation by the Federal Trade Commission .
`` Changing significantly ... the balance of responsibilities and provisions about liability in Section 230 would , in our view , mean less speech of all kinds appearing online , '' said Nick Clegg , Facebook 's vice president of global affairs and communications , in a call with reporters on Wednesday afternoon .
It 's unclear how much support the proposals will gain in Congress .
Both Republicans and Democrats have argued that Section 230 , which was initially envisioned as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deluge of lawsuits , now appears outdated as it protects powerful companies worth hundreds of billions of dollars .
But while Democratic concerns have focused more on holding companies accountable for keeping users safe , Republicans have also placed emphasis on alleged censorship of conservative voices .
Tech companies have repeatedly denied that they censor political speech , but instances where they have removed posts in error have fueled such criticism .
Sen. Mark Warner , D-Va. , a former venture capitalist and a frequent critic of Section 230 , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wary of reforms brought by the Trump administration .
`` While I believe reform of this outdated law is needed , I have serious concerns that under the supervision of Attorney General Barr this effort has been politicized and will be used by the Trump Administration to cow platforms into allowing Trump , dark money groups , and right-wing militias to continue to exploit their tools to sow disinformation , engage in targeted harassment , and suppress voter participation , '' Warner said .
Earlier on Wednesday , Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Section 230 , introduced a new bill that would require platforms to promise to act in good faith in their terms of service .
That would open tech companies up to potential lawsuits from users claiming breaches of contract .

The Department of Justice is taking aim at tech's liability shield with a new set of legislative proposals released Wednesday.
The proposed reforms are the latest action aiming to weaken legal protection established through Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a 1990s-era law. The statute protects online platforms, such as Facebook , Twitter and Google 's YouTube, from being held liable for content their users post on their sites, and also allows them to moderate content in good faith.
The DOJ's proposed reforms, which would have to be passed by Congress to go into effect, would limit the broad protections Section 230 typically provides to the tech industry.
Platforms could lose immunity if they facilitate or solicit federal criminal activity, like trafficking illicit drugs. It would also create carve-outs for child exploitation, terrorism and cyberstalking, holding tech companies accountable for taking action on such content.
The proposal also would make clear that Section 230 protections cannot be used to dispute antitrust claims, a significant statement as the Justice Department is reportedly preparing an antitrust suit against Google for as soon as this summer. Facebook has also disclosed an antitrust investigation by the Federal Trade Commission.
"Changing significantly ... the balance of responsibilities and provisions about liability in Section 230 would, in our view, mean less speech of all kinds appearing online," said Nick Clegg, Facebook's vice president of global affairs and communications, in a call with reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
It's unclear how much support the proposals will gain in Congress. Both Republicans and Democrats have argued that Section 230, which was initially envisioned as a way to protect upstart tech companies from a deluge of lawsuits, now appears outdated as it protects powerful companies worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
But while Democratic concerns have focused more on holding companies accountable for keeping users safe, Republicans have also placed emphasis on alleged censorship of conservative voices. Tech companies have repeatedly denied that they censor political speech, but instances where they have removed posts in error have fueled such criticism.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., a former venture capitalist and a frequent critic of Section 230, said in a statement to CNBC that he is wary of reforms brought by the Trump administration.
"While I believe reform of this outdated law is needed, I have serious concerns that under the supervision of Attorney General Barr this effort has been politicized and will be used by the Trump Administration to cow platforms into allowing Trump, dark money groups, and right-wing militias to continue to exploit their tools to sow disinformation, engage in targeted harassment, and suppress voter participation," Warner said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., another leading critic of Big Tech and Section 230, introduced a new bill that would require platforms to promise to act in good faith in their terms of service. That would open tech companies up to potential lawsuits from users claiming breaches of contract.


cnbc--2020-06-17--Trump-bashing books by president's niece and John Bolton are Amazon bestsellers even before release

Two books expected to be highly critical of President Donald Trump — one by his niece Mary , the other by his former national security advisor John Bolton — are among the top-selling books on online retail giant Amazon even though they have yet to be released .
Bolton 's book `` The Room Where it Happened , '' which the Justice Department sued to block the release of on Tuesday night , was the No .
1 bestseller on Amazon on Wednesday morning based on presale orders , according to the site 's sales tracker .
The suit claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process required of authors who had government security clearance .
Bolton 's book is due to be published Tuesday .
Mary Trump 's book , which President Trump reportedly is considering legal action against , was the No .
5 bestseller on Amazon , more than a month before its official publication date .
Her book , which comes as President Trump is seeking reelection , is titled , `` Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man . ''
A third book , about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selling well on Amazon , according to the site 's sales tracker .
That book , `` The Art of Her Deal , '' was No .
49 on the sales chart a day after it was published by Simon & Schuster — the same publisher of the books by Bolton and Mary Trump .
The book was written by Washington Post journalist Mary Jordan , who reports that the first lady renegotiated the terms of her prenuptial agreement with the president before she moved into the White House with their son , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inaugurated .
Melania Trump 's spokeswoman has called it `` yet another book about Mrs. Trump with false information and sources .
This book belongs in the fiction genre . ''
Daily Beast reporter Lachlan Cartwright on Sunday broke the news that Mary Trump was coming out with a book , which will detail `` harrowing and salacious stories '' about the president .
The news site also reported the book will detail the previously undisclosed fact that Mary Trump was the main source for a Pulitzer Prize-winning series by The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` participated in dubious tax schemes during the 1990s , including instances of outright fraud , that greatly increased the fortune he received from his parents . ''
The Times stories relied on tax returns by the president 's father , Fred Trump Sr. , and other private family financial records , according to The Daily Beast .

Two books expected to be highly critical of President Donald Trump — one by his niece Mary, the other by his former national security advisor John Bolton — are among the top-selling books on online retail giant Amazon even though they have yet to be released.
Bolton's book "The Room Where it Happened," which the Justice Department sued to block the release of on Tuesday night, was the No. 1 bestseller on Amazon on Wednesday morning based on presale orders, according to the site's sales tracker.
The suit claims that Bolton has not finished a review process required of authors who had government security clearance. Bolton's book is due to be published Tuesday. The Justice Department late on Wednesday filed an emergency application for a temporary restraining order and a motion for a preliminary injunction against Bolton to prevent the publication of his book, NBC News reported. The motion asks the court to schedule a hearing on Friday, four days before the book is scheduled to be released.
Mary Trump's book, which President Trump reportedly is considering legal action against, was the No. 5 bestseller on Amazon, more than a month before its official publication date.
Her book, which comes as President Trump is seeking reelection, is titled, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man."
A third book, about first lady Melania Trump, is also selling well on Amazon, according to the site's sales tracker.
That book, "The Art of Her Deal," was No. 49 on the sales chart a day after it was published by Simon & Schuster — the same publisher of the books by Bolton and Mary Trump.
The book was written by Washington Post journalist Mary Jordan, who reports that the first lady renegotiated the terms of her prenuptial agreement with the president before she moved into the White House with their son, Barron, months after the president was inaugurated.
Melania Trump's spokeswoman has called it "yet another book about Mrs. Trump with false information and sources. This book belongs in the fiction genre."
Daily Beast reporter Lachlan Cartwright on Sunday broke the news that Mary Trump was coming out with a book, which will detail "harrowing and salacious stories" about the president.
The news site also reported the book will detail the previously undisclosed fact that Mary Trump was the main source for a Pulitzer Prize-winning series by The New York Times, which alleged that President Trump "participated in dubious tax schemes during the 1990s, including instances of outright fraud, that greatly increased the fortune he received from his parents."
The Times stories relied on tax returns by the president's father, Fred Trump Sr., and other private family financial records, according to The Daily Beast.


cnbc--2020-06-17--Cuomo to propose making Juneteenth a New York state holiday

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday said he will sign an executive order that would make Juneteenth a holiday for state employees , also saying that he will `` propose legislation '' to make it a state holiday for next year .
`` Friday is Juneteenth .
It commemorates the emancipation of slavery in the United States .
It is a day that we should all reflect upon .
It 's a day that 's especially relevant in this moment and history , '' Cuomo said during a press briefing with reporters .
`` I 'm going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added , `` recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday for state employees and I 'm going to propose legislation for next year making it an official state holiday . ''
Juneteenth , a combination of the words June and nineteenth , celebrates the end of slavery in the United States , which occurred on June 19 , 1865 when slaves learned of their emancipation .
New York is just the latest state to move to make the day a formal holiday .
Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that he 's proposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state .
`` It 's time we elevate this , '' Northam said on Tuesday .
`` Not just a celebration by and for some Virginians but one acknowledged and celebrated by all of us . ''
Several companies like the NFL and Nike have also indicated they would make Juneteenth this year a paid holiday for employees .
Cuomo 's announcement comes after weeks of widespread protests over the death of George Floyd , a Black man who was killed by Minneapolis police on Memorial Day .
Floyd , 46 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being subdued during an investigation into whether he had used a counterfeit $ 20 bill .
Now-fired officer Derek Chauvin , 44 , has been charged with second-degree murder among other charges , while three other officers involved have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder .

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday said he will sign an executive order that would make Juneteenth a holiday for state employees, also saying that he will "propose legislation" to make it a state holiday for next year.
"Friday is Juneteenth. It commemorates the emancipation of slavery in the United States. It is a day that we should all reflect upon. It's a day that's especially relevant in this moment and history," Cuomo said during a press briefing with reporters.
"I'm going to sign an executive order today," he added, "recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday for state employees and I'm going to propose legislation for next year making it an official state holiday."
Tweet
Juneteenth, a combination of the words June and nineteenth, celebrates the end of slavery in the United States, which occurred on June 19, 1865 when slaves learned of their emancipation.
New York is just the latest state to move to make the day a formal holiday. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that he's proposing to make Juneteenth an official holiday in the state.
"It's time we elevate this," Northam said on Tuesday. "Not just a celebration by and for some Virginians but one acknowledged and celebrated by all of us."
Several companies like the NFL and Nike have also indicated they would make Juneteenth this year a paid holiday for employees.
Cuomo's announcement comes after weeks of widespread protests over the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by Minneapolis police on Memorial Day.
Floyd, 46, who was unarmed, was asphyxiated after being subdued during an investigation into whether he had used a counterfeit $20 bill.
Now-fired officer Derek Chauvin, 44, has been charged with second-degree murder among other charges, while three other officers involved have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.


cnbc--2020-06-17--Biden leads Trump in six 2020 swing states, CNBC/Change Research poll finds

The poll released Wednesday found Biden leading Trump in all six states for the first time ( though only narrowly in some ) : The survey found the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee leads the incumbent by a 48 % to 45 % margin across Arizona , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , which will determine who wins the White House in November .
Biden 's edge grew from 1 percentage point in the last swing-state poll released two weeks ago .
Trump led in all previous versions of the survey dating back to March .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his edge over President Donald Trump in six 2020 election swing states , according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll .
The CNBC/Change Research poll surveyed 2,408 likely voters across the six states from June 12-14 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points .
The result adds to a series of warning signs for Trump less than five months away from the election .
Biden 's lead in averages of both national and swing state polls has widened in recent weeks as the Trump administration struggles to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls to address police brutality and systemic racism .
Trump 's approval rating has also reached its worst level since February 2019 , according to a FiveThirtyEight average .
About 41 % of respondents to recent surveys compiled by FiveThirtyEight approve of the president , while 55 % disapprove .
Of course , the deficit Trump faces in key electoral college states is hardly insurmountable , and he still has more than four months to make up ground .
The CNBC/Change poll found 45 % of likely voters in the six states approve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while 55 % disapprove .
On police violence and discrimination , 44 % approve of the job the president is doing , while 56 % disapprove .
A majority of respondents , 52 % , said Trump 's response to the police killing of George Floyd and protests for criminal justice reform was harmful .
Only 23 % said it was helpful .
The survey also asked who voters prefer to handle a range of issues .
They gave Biden and Democrats the edge on handling the coronavirus , putting the middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affordable , addressing police violence and discrimination and bringing the country together during times of crisis .
Respondents preferred Trump and Republicans on the economy and getting people back to work .
Likely voters were split on who would better help their pocketbooks .

The poll released Wednesday found Biden leading Trump in all six states for the first time (though only narrowly in some):
The survey found the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee leads the incumbent by a 48% to 45% margin across Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which will determine who wins the White House in November. Biden's edge grew from 1 percentage point in the last swing-state poll released two weeks ago. Trump led in all previous versions of the survey dating back to March.
Former Vice President Joe Biden has expanded his edge over President Donald Trump in six 2020 election swing states, according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll.
The CNBC/Change Research poll surveyed 2,408 likely voters across the six states from June 12-14 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
The result adds to a series of warning signs for Trump less than five months away from the election. Biden's lead in averages of both national and swing state polls has widened in recent weeks as the Trump administration struggles to contain the coronavirus pandemic and meet nationwide calls to address police brutality and systemic racism.
Trump's approval rating has also reached its worst level since February 2019, according to a FiveThirtyEight average. About 41% of respondents to recent surveys compiled by FiveThirtyEight approve of the president, while 55% disapprove.
Of course, the deficit Trump faces in key electoral college states is hardly insurmountable, and he still has more than four months to make up ground.
The CNBC/Change poll found 45% of likely voters in the six states approve of how Trump has handled the coronavirus, while 55% disapprove. On police violence and discrimination, 44% approve of the job the president is doing, while 56% disapprove.
A majority of respondents, 52%, said Trump's response to the police killing of George Floyd and protests for criminal justice reform was harmful. Only 23% said it was helpful.
The survey also asked who voters prefer to handle a range of issues. They gave Biden and Democrats the edge on handling the coronavirus, putting the middle class first, making health care more affordable, addressing police violence and discrimination and bringing the country together during times of crisis.
Respondents preferred Trump and Republicans on the economy and getting people back to work. Likely voters were split on who would better help their pocketbooks.
— Graphic by CNBC's John Schoen
Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.


cnbc--2020-06-17--Skeptical lawmaker pushes Bezos for answers on Amazon moratorium on facial recognition tech

House Oversight and Reform Committee member Rep. Jimmy Gomez ( D-CA ) questions witnesses during a hearing about the 2020 census in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill January 09 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
A Democratic congressman is pushing Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos for more disclosure about the internet giant 's plans to put a one-year hold on police use of its facial recognition software .
Amazon announced last week it was putting the moratorium on police use of its `` Rekognition '' software amid concerns the technology has racial and gender bias .
Corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come under extra scrutiny amid the push for police reform spurred by the police killing of George Floyd , an unarmed black man , in Minneapolis last month .
`` While I am encouraged by the direction Amazon appears to be taking on this issue , the ambiguity of the announcement raises more questions than answers , '' Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California wrote in a letter sent Monday night and obtained by CNBC .
The House Committee on Oversight and Reform , whose members include Gomez , has held hearings on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill regulating the technology .
Amazon said it hopes the moratorium would give Congress sufficient time to pass legislation to regulate the use of the nascent software .
Gomez , though , has argued that Amazon has stalled those efforts by refusing to hand over key information about its use of the technology .
`` After two years of formal congressional inquiries — including bicameral letters , House Oversight Committee hearings , and in-person meetings — Amazon has yet to adequately address questions about the dangers its facial recognition technology can pose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the technology , and its disproportionate impact on communities of color , '' the Los Angeles-area congressman said .
`` Corporations have been quick to share expressions of support for the Black Lives Matter movement following the public outrage over the murders of Black Americans like George Floyd at the hands of police , '' he added .
`` Unfortunately , too many of these gestures have been performative at best .
Calling on Congress to regulate facial recognition technology is one of these gestures . ''
Gomez again pushed for information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the technology giant .
He wants to know what efforts Amazon is taking to ensure customers are n't using the software in violation of the company 's policies .
He asked for internal reports on the accuracy of the software , including the impact of race and gender .
He asked whether the technology is currently integrated with any police body-camera technology or existing public-facing camera networks .
As for the moratorium , Gomez wants to know whether it would extend to local and federal enforcement agencies beyond the police , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Customs Enforcement .
He asked whether Amazon will stop selling Rekognition to police departments during the one-year hold , and what it plans to do with the technology should Congress not pass a bill in that period .
Amazon 's announcement came on the heels of a similar declaration from IBM and ahead of another by Microsoft .
Joy Buolamwini , founder of Algorithmic Justice League , testified to Congress last year about shortcomings in the technology she found as part of her research into the subject for the Massachusetts Institute of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the software was significantly less accurate when used on women and individuals with darker skin .
AWS launched Rekognition in 2016 , describing it in a short blog post at the time as a `` service that makes it easy to add image analysis to your applications '' and to `` detect objects , scenes , and faces in images . ''
Much about its use remains unclear , including which and how many enforcement agencies use the technology .
Gomez 's letter comes as scrutiny from Washington and state governments on big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of respite as the government battled the coronavirus pandemic .
Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo.
, on Wednesday unveiled a bill targeting tech 's liability shield , Section 230 , after President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting the protection last month .
Amazon in particular has faced scrutiny from the New York attorney general over its treatment of workers and reportedly the attorneys general in California and Colorado for potential antitrust investigations .
Bezos has said he is willing to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on the company 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the matter

House Oversight and Reform Committee member Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) questions witnesses during a hearing about the 2020 census in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill January 09, 2020 in Washington, DC.
A Democratic congressman is pushing Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos for more disclosure about the internet giant's plans to put a one-year hold on police use of its facial recognition software.
Amazon announced last week it was putting the moratorium on police use of its "Rekognition" software amid concerns the technology has racial and gender bias. Corporate giants' work with the police has come under extra scrutiny amid the push for police reform spurred by the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in Minneapolis last month.
"While I am encouraged by the direction Amazon appears to be taking on this issue, the ambiguity of the announcement raises more questions than answers," Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California wrote in a letter sent Monday night and obtained by CNBC.
The House Committee on Oversight and Reform, whose members include Gomez, has held hearings on the matter but has yet to introduce a bill regulating the technology. Amazon said it hopes the moratorium would give Congress sufficient time to pass legislation to regulate the use of the nascent software.
Gomez, though, has argued that Amazon has stalled those efforts by refusing to hand over key information about its use of the technology.
"After two years of formal congressional inquiries — including bicameral letters, House Oversight Committee hearings, and in-person meetings — Amazon has yet to adequately address questions about the dangers its facial recognition technology can pose to privacy and civil rights, the accuracy of the technology, and its disproportionate impact on communities of color," the Los Angeles-area congressman said.
"Corporations have been quick to share expressions of support for the Black Lives Matter movement following the public outrage over the murders of Black Americans like George Floyd at the hands of police," he added.
"Unfortunately, too many of these gestures have been performative at best. Calling on Congress to regulate facial recognition technology is one of these gestures."
Gomez again pushed for information he said he has already requested of the technology giant. He wants to know what efforts Amazon is taking to ensure customers aren't using the software in violation of the company's policies. He asked for internal reports on the accuracy of the software, including the impact of race and gender. He asked whether the technology is currently integrated with any police body-camera technology or existing public-facing camera networks.
As for the moratorium, Gomez wants to know whether it would extend to local and federal enforcement agencies beyond the police, such as the Department of Homeland Security or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He asked whether Amazon will stop selling Rekognition to police departments during the one-year hold, and what it plans to do with the technology should Congress not pass a bill in that period.
Amazon's announcement came on the heels of a similar declaration from IBM and ahead of another by Microsoft . Joy Buolamwini, founder of Algorithmic Justice League, testified to Congress last year about shortcomings in the technology she found as part of her research into the subject for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. According to her findings, the software was significantly less accurate when used on women and individuals with darker skin.
AWS launched Rekognition in 2016, describing it in a short blog post at the time as a "service that makes it easy to add image analysis to your applications" and to "detect objects, scenes, and faces in images." Much about its use remains unclear, including which and how many enforcement agencies use the technology.
Gomez's letter comes as scrutiny from Washington and state governments on big technology ramps up again after a few months of respite as the government battled the coronavirus pandemic. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., on Wednesday unveiled a bill targeting tech's liability shield, Section 230, after President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting the protection last month.
Amazon in particular has faced scrutiny from the New York attorney general over its treatment of workers and reportedly the attorneys general in California and Colorado for potential antitrust investigations. Bezos has said he is willing to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on the company's competitive practices amid its own inquiries into the matter


cnbc--2020-06-17--Senate Republicans reveal police reform bill that breaks with Democrats on key issues

Sen. Tim Scott ( R-SC ) is joined by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) ( L ) and fellow Republican lawmakers for a news conference to unveil the GOP 's legislation to address racial disparities in law enforcement at the U.S. Capitol June 17 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
Senate Republicans on Wednesday unveiled their bill to reform the police , the latest effort by lawmakers to overhaul U.S. law enforcement in the face of unrelenting pressure from activists in the wake of George Floyd 's death .
Here 's some of what the Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement agencies to ban the use of chokeholds by tying funding to whether departments have prohibited the practice `` except when deadly force is authorized '' ; • Ramp up data collection efforts to track when an officer 's use of force results in death or serious harm ; • Provide federal money for additional training on alternatives to the use of force ; • Include language recognizing the history of lynching in the United States ; • Require law enforcement agencies to send the attorney general reports on no-knock warrants ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that affect Black men and boys The bill comes a day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would incentivize police departments to update their standards and practices and strengthen efforts to track officer misconduct .
The Senate Republicans ' offering in some ways hews closer to the president 's action than the sweeping legislative proposal put forward last week by congressional Democrats .
The Senate Republicans ' bill has Trump 's total support , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters later Wednesday .
`` It 's a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Republicans , and we hope we can have bipartisan support on that , '' she said .
Unlike the Democrats ' proposal , the Republican bill does not address the issue of qualified immunity , the doctrine that largely shields officers from legal liability unless a plaintiff can show that their constitutional rights were clearly violated .
The Trump administration has said that amending qualified immunity is a `` non starter . ''
The Supreme Court said Monday that it will not hear cases addressing the doctrine of qualified immunity .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of `` no-knock '' warrants in drug cases , as the Democratic bill does , and it would provide new funds to police departments for training .
The 106-page bill , dubbed the JUSTICE Act , is led by GOP Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina , one of three Black senators , and backed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky .
The bill `` speaks to the fact that we believe the overwhelming number of officers in this nation are good people , '' Scott said at a Capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced the legislation .

Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) is joined by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (L) and fellow Republican lawmakers for a news conference to unveil the GOP's legislation to address racial disparities in law enforcement at the U.S. Capitol June 17, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Senate Republicans on Wednesday unveiled their bill to reform the police, the latest effort by lawmakers to overhaul U.S. law enforcement in the face of unrelenting pressure from activists in the wake of George Floyd's death.
Here's some of what the Republicans' bill would do:
Incentivize law enforcement agencies to ban the use of chokeholds by tying funding to whether departments have prohibited the practice "except when deadly force is authorized";
Ramp up data collection efforts to track when an officer's use of force results in death or serious harm;
Provide federal money for additional training on alternatives to the use of force;
Include language recognizing the history of lynching in the United States;
Strengthen penalties for falsifying police reports;
Require law enforcement agencies to send the attorney general reports on no-knock warrants;
Create a commission to study issues that affect Black men and boys
The bill comes a day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would incentivize police departments to update their standards and practices and strengthen efforts to track officer misconduct. The Senate Republicans' offering in some ways hews closer to the president's action than the sweeping legislative proposal put forward last week by congressional Democrats.
The Senate Republicans' bill has Trump's total support, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters later Wednesday. "It's a great bill, it's more great action from Republicans, and we hope we can have bipartisan support on that," she said.
Unlike the Democrats' proposal, the Republican bill does not address the issue of qualified immunity, the doctrine that largely shields officers from legal liability unless a plaintiff can show that their constitutional rights were clearly violated. The Trump administration has said that amending qualified immunity is a "non starter."
The Supreme Court said Monday that it will not hear cases addressing the doctrine of qualified immunity.
The GOP proposal also would not end the use of "no-knock" warrants in drug cases, as the Democratic bill does, and it would provide new funds to police departments for training.
The 106-page bill, dubbed the JUSTICE Act, is led by GOP Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, one of three Black senators, and backed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
The bill "speaks to the fact that we believe the overwhelming number of officers in this nation are good people," Scott said at a Capitol Hill news conference Wednesday morning as he announced the legislation.


cnbc--2020-06-17--Change of plan? Here's what Sweden will do if there's a 'second wave' of the coronavirus

Sweden attracted international attention for not implementing a strict lockdown when the coronavirus first emerged earlier this year , now the country 's chief epidemiologist says that if there 's a `` second wave '' of infections , he will focus more efforts on containing the spread of the virus .
Asked if Sweden was better prepared now for a potential second wave of coronavirus infections , which some experts fear could happen later in the year , Sweden 's Chief Epidemiologist Anders Tegnell was certain it was .
`` I definitely think so .
We are better prepared in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared .
We 'd be up and running a bit more with contact tracing and we also have the immunity in the population which will make things a lot easier in a lot of ways , '' he told CNBC Tuesday .
While a vaccine for the coronavirus is still being developed , scientists are looking at whether exposure to and recovery from Covid-19 leads to long-term immunity ; the jury is still out while that is being researched .
Having a comprehensive contact-tracing system and maintaining recently-improved standards in elderly care homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drawing on lessons learned from Sweden 's experience of the virus over the past few months .
`` We improved a number of things , we improved our handling of the long-term care facilities because the ( infection ) numbers in those are going down quite a lot and we do n't see as many cases there now , which is not the way it used to be .
I think that 's one good thing we 'll keep with us , '' he said .
`` I think the other thing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improve our contact tracing and be really ready to do that as soon as we see major new outbreaks , because I think that 's what we 're going to see now ...
I think it 's really important to be able to handle outbreaks in different parts of Sweden quickly so it ca n't spread too much . ''
The world has not yet seen a `` second wave '' of the coronavirus although it is feared that China could be seeing the start of a new outbreak , with clusters of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By definition , however , a `` second wave '' of the virus means it would need to retreat and reappear , or a new variant would have to emerge , according to Ian Lipkin , a professor of epidemiology and director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University .

Sweden attracted international attention for not implementing a strict lockdown when the coronavirus first emerged earlier this year, now the country's chief epidemiologist says that if there's a "second wave" of infections, he will focus more efforts on containing the spread of the virus.
Asked if Sweden was better prepared now for a potential second wave of coronavirus infections, which some experts fear could happen later in the year, Sweden's Chief Epidemiologist Anders Tegnell was certain it was.
"I definitely think so. We are better prepared in many ways, health care is better prepared. We'd be up and running a bit more with contact tracing and we also have the immunity in the population which will make things a lot easier in a lot of ways," he told CNBC Tuesday.
While a vaccine for the coronavirus is still being developed, scientists are looking at whether exposure to and recovery from Covid-19 leads to long-term immunity; the jury is still out while that is being researched.
Having a comprehensive contact-tracing system and maintaining recently-improved standards in elderly care homes were now priorities, Tegnell said, drawing on lessons learned from Sweden's experience of the virus over the past few months.
"We improved a number of things, we improved our handling of the long-term care facilities because the (infection) numbers in those are going down quite a lot and we don't see as many cases there now, which is not the way it used to be. I think that's one good thing we'll keep with us," he said.
"I think the other thing is to look closely at how we would improve our contact tracing and be really ready to do that as soon as we see major new outbreaks, because I think that's what we're going to see now ... I think it's really important to be able to handle outbreaks in different parts of Sweden quickly so it can't spread too much."
The world has not yet seen a "second wave" of the coronavirus although it is feared that China could be seeing the start of a new outbreak, with clusters of infections recorded in Beijing this week.
By definition, however, a "second wave" of the virus means it would need to retreat and reappear, or a new variant would have to emerge, according to Ian Lipkin, a professor of epidemiology and director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University.


cnbc--2020-06-17--North Korea releases images of it blowing up its liaison office with South

North Korean state media released images Tuesday of what it said was the destruction of the joint liaison office with @ @ @ @ @ Unification Ministry confirmed that the building in the North Korean border town of Kaesong was @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday afternoon local time , NBC News reported .
Rising tensions on the Korean @ @ @ @ @ off communications with the South and threatening to move armed forces back into demilitarized zones @ @ @ @ @ warnings came amid stalled nuclear talks with the U.S. , and could be signal that @ @ @ @ @ it views as `` failed democracy , '' John Park , director of the Korea @ @ @ @ @ School , told CNBC on Monday .

North Korean state media released images Tuesday of what it said was the destruction of the joint liaison office with South Korea.
Seoul's Unification Ministry confirmed that the building in the North Korean border town of Kaesong was demolished "by bombing" on Tuesday afternoon local time, NBC News reported.
Rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula saw North Korea cutting off communications with the South and threatening to move armed forces back into demilitarized zones on the border.
The warnings came amid stalled nuclear talks with the U.S., and could be a signal that Pyongyang is frustrated with what it views as "failed democracy," John Park, director of the Korea Project at the Harvard Kennedy School, told CNBC on Monday.


cnbc--2020-06-18--A liberal who raises tons of money: What Elizabeth Warren could do as Biden's VP pick

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has said she would agree to become Joe Biden 's running mate if he asks her to join him on the Democratic ticket for November 's election .
Warren , who turns 71 on Monday , may well end up there , taking on President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence , as she has emerged as a leader on Biden 's short list .
In the buildup to Biden 's choice , expected by early August , and during the crises stemming from the coronavirus and racial injustice , Warren has been a leading voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party .
She recently found a middle ground with some of her Republican colleagues in agreeing that Confederate names and statues on military bases should be taken down .
While she was not available for an interview , CNBC spoke with people who are among those who know Warren best : members of her progressive grassroots army that were by her side throughout her recent run for president and have been publicly advocating for her to become Biden 's vice president ever since her endorsement in April .
They believe that Warren , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and policy wonk , would be an important progressive voice for Biden on key issues ranging from the economy to health care .
Warren 's fundraising prowess might also give her an edge in the VP vetting process .
A recent fundraiser for Biden and the Democratic National Committee that featured Warren raised $ 6 million as the virtual event lured both small- and large-dollar donors .
That total was more than those raised by Biden events featuring 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Sen. Kamala Harris , who is also in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veteran intelligence officer and a Warren supporter , told CNBC there was an organized effort for people to give $ 2 to $ 50 if they could not attend .
He believes , based on the reaction he and other Warren supporters received through social media , that the small-dollar movement alone may have raised $ 1 million to $ 2 million of that total .
Biden and his team are reportedly considering Warren and other women for a running mate .
Other leading contenders reportedly include Harris , former Obama national security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms .
Warren has consistently led in recent polling that shows most Democrats prefer her to get the job .
A CBS News survey shows Warren ahead of all the other contenders , with 71 % of participants saying she should be considered for the spot .
Thirty-six percent said she should be the pick , ahead of Harris and the other candidates .
The potential for a Warren vice presidential candidacy has received pushback , though , from some wealthy donors , particularly those on Wall Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic policies .
A spokesman for Biden did not return a request for comment for this story .

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has said she would agree to become Joe Biden's running mate if he asks her to join him on the Democratic ticket for November's election.
Warren, who turns 71 on Monday, may well end up there, taking on President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, as she has emerged as a leader on Biden's short list.
In the buildup to Biden's choice, expected by early August, and during the crises stemming from the coronavirus and racial injustice, Warren has been a leading voice for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. She recently found a middle ground with some of her Republican colleagues in agreeing that Confederate names and statues on military bases should be taken down.
While she was not available for an interview, CNBC spoke with people who are among those who know Warren best: members of her progressive grassroots army that were by her side throughout her recent run for president and have been publicly advocating for her to become Biden's vice president ever since her endorsement in April. They believe that Warren, who is known as a detailed planner and policy wonk, would be an important progressive voice for Biden on key issues ranging from the economy to health care.
Warren's fundraising prowess might also give her an edge in the VP vetting process. A recent fundraiser for Biden and the Democratic National Committee that featured Warren raised $6 million as the virtual event lured both small- and large-dollar donors. That total was more than those raised by Biden events featuring 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Sen. Kamala Harris, who is also in the VP running.
Travis Akers, a veteran intelligence officer and a Warren supporter, told CNBC there was an organized effort for people to give $2 to $50 if they could not attend. He believes, based on the reaction he and other Warren supporters received through social media, that the small-dollar movement alone may have raised $1 million to $2 million of that total.
Biden and his team are reportedly considering Warren and other women for a running mate. Other leading contenders reportedly include Harris, former Obama national security advisor Susan Rice, Rep. Val Demings and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Warren has consistently led in recent polling that shows most Democrats prefer her to get the job. A CBS News survey shows Warren ahead of all the other contenders, with 71% of participants saying she should be considered for the spot. Thirty-six percent said she should be the pick, ahead of Harris and the other candidates.
The potential for a Warren vice presidential candidacy has received pushback, though, from some wealthy donors, particularly those on Wall Street who are vehemently against some of her economic policies.
A spokesman for Biden did not return a request for comment for this story.


cnbc--2020-06-18--Federal media chief Michael Pack installs Trump loyalists to leadership posts, memo says

President Donald Trump 's pick to be the CEO of a federal media agency is moving ahead with installing loyal administration officials to key leadership roles .
The newly appointed chief of staff to the U.S. Agency for Global Media [ USAGM ] , once known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors , sent out a memo to staff about the changes that are being made .
The new chief is Emily Newman , who was an advisor to the Department of Homeland Security prior to becoming a leader within USAGM , her financial disclosure report shows .
Beyond adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pack , the chief executive , terminated the membership of longtime board members on Wednesday that have been part of USAGM entities for years , including those on the boards of Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty , Radio Free Asia and the Open Technology Fund .
`` I have terminated your membership on the board , effective immediately , '' Pack said in emails reviewed by CNBC .
Newman said in the memo , which was first reviewed by CNBC , that the changes were being directed by Pack himself and that certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders .
She also appeared to put in a warning to members of the staff about communicating with anyone outside the agency .
`` Until further notice , no actions are to be taken , and no external communications are to be made , without explicit approval from the Chief Operating Officer ; Vice President for Legal , Compliance , and Risk Management ; Deputy Chief of Staff ; or Chief of Staff , '' the memo reads .
The decision to add leaders that , based on their track record , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes after Democrats have voiced concern that Pack could be on on the brink of moving ahead with purging the staff .
Pack , a conservative documentary filmmaker with ties to former White House chief strategists Steve Bannon , wrote a memo to the staff on Wednesday , introducing himself and laying out three objectives , including raise morale at the agency .
`` USAGM consistently ranks at the bottom in surveys of mid-sized Agencies in terms of morale and job satisfaction .
I will make it a priority to improve morale here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
USAGM oversees the Voice of America , a news network that has been publicly under siege by Trump and his allies .
Two network officials have already resigned since Pack was confirmed by the U.S. Senate earlier this month .
Meanwhile , a nonprofit run by Pack is under investigation by the Washington , D.C. , attorney general for potential self-dealing .
Those listed as new department heads within the organization include Michael Williams , who first worked at the Office of Management and Budget and later became a Deputy Assistant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stint as general counsel for the American Suppressor Association , a lobbying group that pushes states to ease restrictions on gun suppressors , according to their website .
Williams will be the vice president for legal , compliance and risk management , the memo says .
Williams also once worked on Trump 's inaugural committee as an associate general counsel and the president 's 2016 campaign as director of election day operations , his financial disclosure report says .
The new director of public affairs is Jonathan Bronitsky , who once worked at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chief speechwriter at the U.S. Department of Justice and held a similar role at the Claremont Institute , a conservative think tank that was once led by Pack himself .
Andre Mendes will be USAGM 's new chief operating officer .
He was previously employed by the U.S. Department of Commerce but , prior to that , had executive leadership roles at the federal media organization .
When reached for comment , Bronitsky said he would work to confirm the roles and past work history of those mentioned in this story .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A White House spokesperson also did not return requests for comment .
One of the Democrats that have sounded the alarm about a potential firing spree at USAGM is Rep. Elliot Engel , ( D-NY ) , the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs .
`` I have learned that Michael Pack , the new CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media , intends to force out a number of the agency 's career senior leadership tomorrow morning , '' Engel said in a recent statement .
`` My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unbiased news organization is in jeopardy under his leadership .
USAGM 's mission is 'to inform , engage , and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy'—not to be a mouthpiece for the President in the run up to an election . ''
Effective immediately , prior delegations of CEO authority have been revoked and re-delegated to the following individuals , until further notice : Effective immediately , the following will report to the USAGM Chief Operating Officer , Andre Mendes : Effective immediately , the following will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legal , Compliance , and Risk Management , Michael Williams : Effective immediately , the following will report to the USAGM Principal Director of Public Affairs , Jonathan Bronitsky : Effective immediately , the following will report to the Deputy Chief of Staff , Diane Cullo : Until further notice , no actions are to be taken , and no external communications are to be made , without explicit approval from the Chief Operating Officer ; Vice President for Legal , Compliance , and Risk Management ; Deputy Chief of Staff ; or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled this week to include discussion of delegations and functions .

President Donald Trump's pick to be the CEO of a federal media agency is moving ahead with installing loyal administration officials to key leadership roles.
The newly appointed chief of staff to the U.S. Agency for Global Media [USAGM], once known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors, sent out a memo to staff about the changes that are being made. The new chief is Emily Newman, who was an advisor to the Department of Homeland Security prior to becoming a leader within USAGM, her financial disclosure report shows.
Beyond adding new leaders to the agency, Michael Pack, the chief executive, terminated the membership of longtime board members on Wednesday that have been part of USAGM entities for years, including those on the boards of Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and the Open Technology Fund.
"I have terminated your membership on the board, effective immediately," Pack said in emails reviewed by CNBC.
Newman said in the memo, which was first reviewed by CNBC, that the changes were being directed by Pack himself and that certain personnel must report to their new department leaders. She also appeared to put in a warning to members of the staff about communicating with anyone outside the agency.
"Until further notice, no actions are to be taken, and no external communications are to be made, without explicit approval from the Chief Operating Officer; Vice President for Legal, Compliance, and Risk Management; Deputy Chief of Staff; or Chief of Staff," the memo reads.
The decision to add leaders that, based on their track record, have had a staunch loyalty to Trump, comes after Democrats have voiced concern that Pack could be on on the brink of moving ahead with purging the staff. Pack, a conservative documentary filmmaker with ties to former White House chief strategists Steve Bannon, wrote a memo to the staff on Wednesday, introducing himself and laying out three objectives, including raise morale at the agency.
"USAGM consistently ranks at the bottom in surveys of mid-sized Agencies in terms of morale and job satisfaction. I will make it a priority to improve morale here," Pack said at the time. USAGM oversees the Voice of America, a news network that has been publicly under siege by Trump and his allies. Two network officials have already resigned since Pack was confirmed by the U.S. Senate earlier this month. Meanwhile, a nonprofit run by Pack is under investigation by the Washington, D.C., attorney general for potential self-dealing.
Those listed as new department heads within the organization include Michael Williams, who first worked at the Office of Management and Budget and later became a Deputy Assistant to the President. He also had a stint as general counsel for the American Suppressor Association, a lobbying group that pushes states to ease restrictions on gun suppressors, according to their website. Williams will be the vice president for legal, compliance and risk management, the memo says.
Williams also once worked on Trump's inaugural committee as an associate general counsel and the president's 2016 campaign as director of election day operations, his financial disclosure report says.
The new director of public affairs is Jonathan Bronitsky, who once worked at the Office of Personnel Management, was a chief speechwriter at the U.S. Department of Justice and held a similar role at the Claremont Institute, a conservative think tank that was once led by Pack himself.
Andre Mendes will be USAGM's new chief operating officer. He was previously employed by the U.S. Department of Commerce but, prior to that, had executive leadership roles at the federal media organization.
When reached for comment, Bronitsky said he would work to confirm the roles and past work history of those mentioned in this story. He did not call back before publication. A White House spokesperson also did not return requests for comment.
One of the Democrats that have sounded the alarm about a potential firing spree at USAGM is Rep. Eliot Engel, (D-NY), the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
"I have learned that Michael Pack, the new CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, intends to force out a number of the agency's career senior leadership tomorrow morning," Engel said in a recent statement. "My fear is that USAGM's role as an unbiased news organization is in jeopardy under his leadership. USAGM's mission is 'to inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy'—not to be a mouthpiece for the President in the run up to an election."
Copy of the memo:
Effective immediately, prior delegations of CEO authority have been revoked and re-delegated to the following individuals, until further notice:
Effective immediately, the following will report to the USAGM Chief Operating Officer, Andre Mendes:
o Deputy Director for Operations
o Chief Financial Officer
o Chief Strategy Officer
o Director of Technology, Services and Innovation
Effective immediately, the following will report to the USAGM Vice President for Legal, Compliance, and Risk Management, Michael Williams:
o General Counsel
o Executive Director
o Chief Risk Officer
Effective immediately, the following will report to the USAGM Principal Director of Public Affairs, Jonathan Bronitsky:
o Chief Global Communications Officer
o Director, Office of Policy
Effective immediately, the following will report to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Diane Cullo:
o Director of Management Services
o Acting Director of Congressional Affairs
Until further notice, no actions are to be taken, and no external communications are to be made, without explicit approval from the Chief Operating Officer; Vice President for Legal, Compliance, and Risk Management; Deputy Chief of Staff; or Chief of Staff. Meetings will be scheduled this week to include discussion of delegations and functions.


cnbc--2020-06-18--Trump-bashing books by president's niece and John Bolton are Amazon bestsellers even before release

Two books expected to be highly critical of President Donald Trump — one by his niece Mary , the other by his former national security advisor John Bolton — are among the top-selling books on online retail giant Amazon even though they have yet to be released .
Bolton 's book `` The Room Where it Happened , '' which the Justice Department sued to block the release of on Tuesday night , was the No .
1 bestseller on Amazon on Wednesday morning based on presale orders , according to the site 's sales tracker .
The suit claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process required of authors who had government security clearance .
Bolton 's book is due to be published Tuesday .
The Justice Department late on Wednesday filed an emergency application for a temporary restraining order and a motion for a preliminary injunction against Bolton to prevent the publication of his book , NBC News reported .
The motion asks the court to schedule a hearing on Friday , four days before the book is scheduled to be released .
Mary Trump 's book , which President Trump reportedly is considering legal action against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Amazon , more than a month before its official publication date .
Her book , which comes as President Trump is seeking reelection , is titled , `` Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man . ''
A third book , about first lady Melania Trump , is also selling well on Amazon , according to the site 's sales tracker .
That book , `` The Art of Her Deal , '' was No .
49 on the sales chart a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schuster — the same publisher of the books by Bolton and Mary Trump .
The book was written by Washington Post journalist Mary Jordan , who reports that the first lady renegotiated the terms of her prenuptial agreement with the president before she moved into the White House with their son , Barron , months after the president was inaugurated .
Melania Trump 's spokeswoman has called it `` yet another book about Mrs. Trump with false information and sources .
This book belongs in the fiction genre . ''
Daily Beast reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Mary Trump was coming out with a book , which will detail `` harrowing and salacious stories '' about the president .
The news site also reported the book will detail the previously undisclosed fact that Mary Trump was the main source for a Pulitzer Prize-winning series by The New York Times , which alleged that President Trump `` participated in dubious tax schemes during the 1990s , including instances of outright fraud , that greatly increased the fortune he received from his parents . ''
The Times stories relied on tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fred Trump Sr. , and other private family financial records , according to The Daily Beast .


cnbc--2020-06-18--Change of plan? Here's what Sweden will do if there's a 'second wave' of the coronavirus


cnbc--2020-06-18--North Korea releases images of it blowing up its liaison office with South

North Korean state media released images Tuesday of what it said was the destruction of the joint liaison office with @ @ @ @ @ Unification Ministry confirmed that the building in the North Korean border town of Kaesong was @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday afternoon local time , NBC News reported .
Rising tensions on the Korean @ @ @ @ @ off communications with the South and threatening to move armed forces back into demilitarized zones @ @ @ @ @ warnings came amid stalled nuclear talks with the U.S. , and could be a signal @ @ @ @ @ what it views as `` failed democracy , '' John Park , director of the @ @ @ @ @ Kennedy School , told CNBC on Monday .


cnbc--2020-06-18--Breonna Taylor case: Kentucky attorney general asks for patience as police killing probe continues

A demonstrator holds a sign with the image of Breonna Taylor , a black woman who was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police Department officers , during a protest against the death George Floyd in Minneapolis , in Denver , Colorado on June 3 , 2020 .
Kentucky 's attorney general on Thursday asked the public to remain patient with his office 's investigation of the police killing of Breonna Taylor , more than three months after the Black emergency medical technician died during a raid on her Louisville home .
`` I can assure you that at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is right , '' Attorney General Daniel Cameron told reporters at a press conference , which did not include announcements of any criminal charges against police involved in the raid .
`` We will find the truth , '' said Cameron , who took over the criminal investigation as a special prosecutor in the case last month .
`` It 's important that we get this right , '' he said .
The attorney general pointedly asked people to refrain from violent protest over the 26-year-old Taylor 's killing .
`` Violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to perpetuate further tragedy , '' Cameron said .
He said he is `` saddened and heartbroken '' by Taylor 's death .
Taylor 's death has attracted nationwide interest and been among the subjects of protests in the weeks since the Minneapolis police killing of a Black man , George Floyd , on Memorial Day .
The officer who knelt on Floyd 's neck for more than seven minutes , Derek Chauvin , has been charged with murder and manslaughter in that case , and three other officers who assisted in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abetting those crimes .
Floyd was being arrested on suspicion of using counterfeit money for a purchase .
All four cops charged in the case have been terminated by the Minneapolis Police Department .

A demonstrator holds a sign with the image of Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police Department officers, during a protest against the death George Floyd in Minneapolis, in Denver, Colorado on June 3, 2020.
Kentucky's attorney general on Thursday asked the public to remain patient with his office's investigation of the police killing of Breonna Taylor, more than three months after the Black emergency medical technician died during a raid on her Louisville home.
"I can assure you that at the end of our investigation, we will do what is right," Attorney General Daniel Cameron told reporters at a press conference, which did not include announcements of any criminal charges against police involved in the raid.
"We will find the truth," said Cameron, who took over the criminal investigation as a special prosecutor in the case last month.
"It's important that we get this right," he said.
The attorney general pointedly asked people to refrain from violent protest over the 26-year-old Taylor's killing.
"Violence and lawlessness will do nothing more than to perpetuate further tragedy," Cameron said.
He said he is "saddened and heartbroken" by Taylor's death.
Taylor's death has attracted nationwide interest and been among the subjects of protests in the weeks since the Minneapolis police killing of a Black man, George Floyd, on Memorial Day.
The officer who knelt on Floyd's neck for more than seven minutes, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with murder and manslaughter in that case, and three other officers who assisted in the arrest have been charged with aiding and abetting those crimes. Floyd was being arrested on suspicion of using counterfeit money for a purchase. All four cops charged in the case have been terminated by the Minneapolis Police Department.


cnbc--2020-06-18--Facebook removes Trump ads containing symbols used by Nazis to identify political prisoners

Facebook on Thursday announced that it removed ads from President Donald Trump 's campaign that contained a symbol associated with Nazis .
`` We removed these posts and ads for violating our policy against organized hate , '' a Facebook spokesman said in a statement .
`` Our policy prohibits using a banned hate group 's symbol to identify political prisoners without the context that condemns or discusses the symbol . ''
The ads contained red downward-pointing triangles , which the Nazis used to mark political prisoners .
The symbol was used in ads by Trump , Vice President Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variation of the ad was targeted primarily to male voters in Texas and had the potential to reach more than 1 million users , according to Facebook 's Ad Library .
Campaign officials contended that the symbol is sometimes used by antifa , a loosely organized coalition of anti-fascists , although it does not appear to be commonly used .
Trump has , without evidence , blamed antifa for violence at protests over the police killing of George Floyd , an unarmed Black man .
ADL , an organization that fights anti-Semitism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Whether aware of the history or meaning , for the Trump campaign to use a symbol – one which is practically identical to that used by the Nazi regime to classify political prisoners in concentration camps -- to attack his opponents is offensive and deeply troubling , '' said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt .
`` It is not difficult for one to criticize their political opponent without using Nazi-era imagery .
We implore the Trump campaign to take greater caution and familiarize themselves with the historical context before doing so .
Ignorance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbols . ''
Facebook 's removal of the ad comes after the company was criticized by its own employees and business partners for not removing or moderating a post by Trump that said `` when the looting starts , the shooting starts . ''
Facebook employees who protested the decision argued that the post from Trump violates Facebook 's community standards , which prohibit language that incites serious violence .
Facebook has also come under fire for its policy of allowing political ads containing false statements , with CEO Mark Zuckerberg maintaining that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of truth . ''

Facebook on Thursday announced that it removed ads from President Donald Trump's campaign that contained a symbol associated with Nazis.
"We removed these posts and ads for violating our policy against organized hate," a Facebook spokesman said in a statement. "Our policy prohibits using a banned hate group's symbol to identify political prisoners without the context that condemns or discusses the symbol."
The ads contained red downward-pointing triangles, which the Nazis used to mark political prisoners. The symbol was used in ads by Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and the Trump campaign.
One variation of the ad was targeted primarily to male voters in Texas and had the potential to reach more than 1 million users, according to Facebook's Ad Library.
Campaign officials contended that the symbol is sometimes used by antifa, a loosely organized coalition of anti-fascists, although it does not appear to be commonly used. Trump has, without evidence, blamed antifa for violence at protests over the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man.
tweet defense
ADL, an organization that fights anti-Semitism, condemned the ads in a statement.
"Whether aware of the history or meaning, for the Trump campaign to use a symbol – one which is practically identical to that used by the Nazi regime to classify political prisoners in concentration camps -- to attack his opponents is offensive and deeply troubling," said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. "It is not difficult for one to criticize their political opponent without using Nazi-era imagery. We implore the Trump campaign to take greater caution and familiarize themselves with the historical context before doing so. Ignorance is not an excuse for appropriating hateful symbols."
Facebook's removal of the ad comes after the company was criticized by its own employees and business partners for not removing or moderating a post by Trump that said "when the looting starts, the shooting starts." Facebook employees who protested the decision argued that the post from Trump violates Facebook's community standards, which prohibit language that incites serious violence.
Facebook has also come under fire for its policy of allowing political ads containing false statements, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg maintaining that the company should not be "arbiters of truth."