The US Justice Department on Thursday unsealed criminal charges against more than two dozen North Korean bankers, alleging they were behind an international money laundering scheme that moved some $2.5 billion in violation of US sanctions. Twenty-eight North Korean nationals face a slew of charges related to bank fraud, money laundering and criminal enterprises, in…… MORE
On May 20, Pennsylvania state Rep. Andrew Lewis, a Republican, tested positive for the coronavirus. On May 27 — aka Wednesday — his Democratic colleagues say he finally told them about the positive test — in a statement, no less! Wrote Lewis: “On Monday, May 18, I was tested for COVID-19 and on Wednesday, May…… MORE
The VP pick is coming! The VP pick is coming! OK, not this minute. But soon! At least according to former Vice President Joe Biden, who said he hopes to announce the pick by August 1 during a virtual fundraiser on Wednesday night. “We’re in the process of deciding the basic cut, about whether or…… MORE
The Wisconsin Election Commission has unanimously approved a measure to send absentee ballot applications to about 2.7 million voters ahead of the November general election, an official with the commission tells CNN. Ballot applications will go to all registered voters in the state, except those who have already requested an absentee ballot or have moved…… MORE
Julián Castro launched a new political action committee on Thursday aimed at supporting progressive down-ballot candidates who he believes are “prioritizing people, rather than special interests.” Castro, the former secretary of Housing and Urban Development and presidential candidate in 2020, plans to use the group — called “People First Future” — to “identify and support…… MORE
The US Navy once again challenged Chinese claims in the South China Sea Thursday, sailing the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Mustin near the Paracel Islands. The US Navy has twice sailed warships in a similar effort to challenge Chinese claims to the Paracel and Spratly islands in the last month and carrying out…… MORE
As the coronavirus pandemic disrupts the course of the 2020 election, Rock The Vote is spear-heading a summer-long initiative aimed at registering 200,000 new voters. The effort, “Democracy Summer,” will include a series of trainings, campaigns and events to register, organize and mobilize young voters. The kickoff event is on June 18, with young people…… MORE
President Donald Trump has ramped up his attacks on state plans for mail-in ballots as parallel fights are intensifying over whether hundreds of thousands of people on state rolls may be ineligible to vote. Conservative groups have accelerated their litigation to push state officials to purge voter rolls, in moves that could affect who receives…… MORE
The House voted on Thursday to pass bipartisan legislation to make changes to the Paycheck Protection Program set up to help struggling small businesses with emergency loans during the pandemic, the latest effort on Capitol Hill to address economic fallout from the Covid-19 crisis. The vote was nearly unanimous at 417-1. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie…… MORE
President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting social media companies on Thursday, days after Twitter called two of his tweets “potentially misleading.” Speaking from the Oval Office ahead of signing the order, Trump said the move was to “defend free speech from one of the gravest dangers it has faced in American history.” “A…… MORE
