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Category: News

  • Did Mitch McConnell vote against sick leave during 4 separate years?

    Did Mitch McConnell vote against sick leave during 4 separate years?

    Ball, Karen. “Clinton Puts Family Leave Bill into Law.” The Free Lance-Star [Fredericksburg, Virginia], 5 Feb. 1993, p. A1, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-free-lance-star/203536399/.

    Burkes, Paula. “Pending Law Would Provide Families Paid Sick Leave, Expanded FMLA.” The Oklahoman [Oklahoma City, Oklahoma], with Kristin Simpsen, 17 Mar. 2020, p. B5, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman/203546459/.

    Buttigieg, Pete, and Julie A. Su. “S1 Signed.” U.S. Department of Transportation, 25 Sept. 2024, https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2024-09/Blank_DOT%20%26%20%20DOL%20Letter%20-RR%20Paid%20Sick%20Time%209.25.24.pdf.

    “Congress on 2-Week Recess.” Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles-Sequim-West End, Washington], 30 Mar. 2015, p. A5, https://www.newspapers.com/article/peninsula-daily-news/203540559/.

    C-SPAN. https://www.c-span.org/.

    DeFazio, Peter A. “H.Con.Res.119 – Providing for a Correction in the Enrollment of H.J. Res. 100.” United States Congress, 117th Congress (2021-2022), 1 Dec. 2022, https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/119.

    Enzi, Michael B. “S.Con.Res.11 – An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 through 2025.” United States Congress, 114th Congress (2015-2016), https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/11.

    “February 5, 1993: Remarks at the Signing of the Family Medical Leave Act | Miller Center.” Miller Center, 5 Feb. 1993, https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/february-5-1993-remarks-signing-family-medical-leave-act.

    Jalonick, Mary Clare. “McConnell Returns to the Senate for the First Time since His June Hospitalization.” The Associated Press, 14 Sept. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-senate-return-abe03e84e30a174da4076385692b5751.

    Jalonick, Mary Clare. “McConnell Says a Fall Led to His Hospitalization, Breaking Weeks of Silence about Health Condition.” The Associated Press, 12 July 2026, https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-hospitalized-fall-health-senate-d708e9a1f18763fbb961fd3879227ce3.

    Kertscher, Tom. ‘Bernie Sanders Stated on November 29, 2022 in an Interview: In the First Three Quarters of 2022, “the Railroad Industry Made $21 Billion in Profits, Provided $25 Billion in Stock Buybacks and Dividends” and CEOs Are Paid up to $20 Million a Year, While Railroad Workers Have “Zero Guaranteed Sick Leave.”‘ PolitiFact, 8 Dec. 2022, https://politifact.com/factchecks/2022/dec/08/bernie-sanders/bernie-sanders-correct-railroads-net-billions-vast/.

    Kertscher, Tom. “Fact Check: Railroad Workers Had ‘zero Guaranteed Sick Leave’ as Industry Made $21B in Profits.” Houston Chronicle, PolitiFact, 12 Dec. 2022, https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/politifact/article/Fact-check-Railroad-workers-had-zero-guaranteed-17643343.php.

    Legum, Judd, et al. “McConnell, out Sick for Two Months, Voted against Medical Leave 23 Times since 1985.” Popular Information, 13 Aug. 2026, https://popular.info/p/mcconnell-out-sick-for-two-months.

    Lowey, Nita M. “H.R.6201 – Families First Coronavirus Response Act.” United States Congress, 116th Congress (2019-2020), 18 Mar. 2020, https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6201.

    McConnell, Mitch. “Trimming the Budget Fat.” The Tribune-Courier [Benton, Kentucky], 20 Jan. 1993, p. 9A, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-trib-marshall-county-tribune-courie/203538750/.

    McLeod, Paul. “Mitch McConnell Successfully Blocked Mandatory Paid Leave For Workers With COVID.” BuzzFeed News, 22 Dec. 2020, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paulmcleod/paid-sick-leave-ends-coronavirus-mcconnell.

    Murray, Patty. “DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR LEGISLATION TO ALLOW AMERICANS TO EARN PAID SICK TIME.” United States Congress, CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE, 25 Mar. 2015, https://www.congress.gov/114/crec/2015/03/25/161/50/CREC-2015-03-25-pt1-PgS1929-5.pdf.

    ———. “PAID SICK TIME AND PAID LEAVE.” United States Congress, CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE, 18 Mar. 2020, https://www.congress.gov/116/crec/2020/03/18/166/52/CREC-2020-03-18-pt1-PgS1808-3.pdf.

    Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/.

    “On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 1, As Amended ).” United States Senate, 103rd Congress – 1st Session, 4 Feb. 1993, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1031/vote_103_1_00011.htm.

    “On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 6201).” United States Senate, 116th Congress – 2nd Session, 18 Mar. 2020, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1162/vote_116_2_00076.htm.

    “On the Amendment (Murray Amdt. No. 798).” United States Senate, 114th Congress – 1st Session, 26 Mar. 2015, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1141/vote_114_1_00098.htm.

    “On the Amendment (Murray Amdt. No.1559).” United States Senate, 116th Congress – 2nd Session, 18 Mar. 2020, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1162/vote_116_2_00074.htm.

    “On the Concurrent Resolution (H.Con.Res. 119).” United States Senate, 117th Congress – 2nd Session, 1 Dec. 2022, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00371.htm.

    Payne, Donald M. “H.J.Res.100 – To Provide for a Resolution with Respect to the Unresolved Disputes between Certain Railroads Represented by the National Carriers’ Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference and Certain of Their Employees.” United States Congress, 117th Congress (2021-2022), 2 Dec. 2022, https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-joint-resolution/100/all-actions.

    Pecorin, Allison. “Sen. Mitch McConnell Announces He Has Been Discharged from Rehab Facility.” ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026, https://abcnews.com/Politics/mcconnell-discharged-rehab-facility/story?id=135434047.

    “Providing Americans Insured Days of Leave (PAID Leave) Act.” National Women’s Law Center, Mar. 2020, https://nwlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/PAID-Leave-Act-v2.pdf.

    ‘Sen. Mitch McConnell Returns to Senate to Vote for First Time Since June 11’. C-SPAN, 14 Sept. 2026, https://www.c-span.org/clip/us-senate/sen-mitch-mcconnell-returns-to-senate-to-vote-for-first-time-since-june-11/5206407.

    Shepardson, David, and Moira Warburton. “U.S. Congress Averts Railroad ‘Christmas Catastrophe,’ Biden Says.” Reuters, 1 Dec. 2022, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-administration-makes-case-quick-senate-vote-avoid-rail-shutdown-2022-12-01/.

    “Statement From Senator Mitch McConnell.” U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, 12 July 2026, https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/7/statement-from-senator-mitch-mcconnell.

    “The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, as Amended.” U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, 5 Feb. 1993, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla/law.

    Thomas, Richard G. “How They Voted: Federal.” The Republican [Springfield, Massachusetts], 22 Mar. 2020, p. C3, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-republican/203548704/.

    “Update From Senator Mitch McConnell.” U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, 6 Aug. 2026, https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/8/update-from-senator-mitch-mcconnell.

    “U.S. Department of Labor Publishes Guidance on Expiration of Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave for Coronavirus.” U.S. Department of Labor, 31 Dec. 2020, https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20201231-1.

  • Claim Democrats shot 4 presidents, MLK Jr. and Charlie Kirk gets the facts wrong

    Claim Democrats shot 4 presidents, MLK Jr. and Charlie Kirk gets the facts wrong

    Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. | The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute. https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/assassination-martin-luther-king-jr. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

    Assassins | Music Theatre International. 29 Dec. 2020, https://www.mtishows.com/assassins.

    Bullet Speech | Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. https://www.trlibrary.com/bullet-speech. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

    By. “JOHN HINCKLEY REFUSED VOTE IN D.C.” Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sept. 1990, https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1990/09/19/john-hinckley-refused-vote-in-dc/.

    Byman, Daniel, and Riley McCabe. Left-Wing Terrorism and Political Violence in the United States: What the Data Tells Us. Sept. 2025. www.csis.org, https://www.csis.org/analysis/left-wing-terrorism-and-political-violence-united-states-what-data-tells-us.

    C, et al. “John Hinckley, Who Tried To Kill A President, Wins His Freedom.” NPR, 27 July 2016. America. NPR, https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/07/27/487595220/john-hinckley-who-tried-to-kill-a-president-wins-his-freedom.

    Cavendish, Demetria Kalodimos, Steve. “Sara Jane Moore, Who Tried to Kill Gerald Ford, Dies at 95.” Nashville Banner, 24 Sept. 2025, https://nashvillebanner.com/2025/09/24/sara-jane-moore-dies-gerald-ford/.

    Charlie Kirk Murder Suspect Tyler Robinson Pleads Not Guilty as Judge Clears Way for Death Penalty Trial. 2 Sept. 2026, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4jn9q7evpo.

    Chayka, Kyle. “Charlie Kirk and Tyler Robinson Came from the Same Warped Online Worlds.” The New Yorker, 17 Sept. 2025. www.newyorker.com, https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/charlie-kirk-and-tyler-robinson-came-from-the-same-warped-online-worlds.

    Coscarelli, Joe. “A Bullet Casing Quoted ‘Bella Ciao,’ an Antifascist Anthem Now Popular With Video Gamers.” The New York Times, 12 Sept. 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/us/tyler-robinson-bella-ciao-bullet.html.

    Crucible of Empire – PBS Online. https://www.pbs.org/crucible/tl20.html. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

    Deng, Rae. “Charlie Kirk Shooting Suspect an Unaffiliated Voter, Not a Registered Republican.” Snopes, 12 Sept. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/kirk-shooting-suspect-republican/.

    ———. “Posts Falsely Claim Charlie Kirk Shooting Suspect Was a Trump Donor.” Snopes, 12 Sept. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/charlie-kirk-suspect-trump-donor/.

    Duran, Celinet. “Far-Left versus Far-Right Fatal Violence: An Empirical Assessment of the Prevalence of Ideologically Motivated Homicides in the United States.” Criminology, Criminal Justice, Law & Society, vol. 22, no. 2, Aug. 2021. ccjls.scholasticahq.com, https://ccjls.scholasticahq.com/article/26973-far-left-versus-far-right-fatal-violence-an-empirical-assessment-of-the-prevalence-of-ideologically-motivated-homicides-in-the-united-states.

    Editors, HISTORY com. “Gerald Ford Survives First Assassination Attempt | September 5, 1975.” HISTORY, 16 Nov. 2009, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/september-5/gerald-ford-survives-first-assassination-attempt.

    ———. “Malcolm X Assassinated | February 21, 1965.” HISTORY, 24 Nov. 2009, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/february-21/malcolm-x-assassinated.

    ———. “Sirhan Sirhan Receives Death Penalty for Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy | April 23, 1969.” HISTORY, 13 Nov. 2009, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-23/sirhan-sirhan-receives-death-penalty.

    ———. “The Republican Revolution | November 8, 1994.” HISTORY, 9 Feb. 2010, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/november-8/the-republican-revolution.

    “Findings on Martin Luther King, Jr. Assassination.” National Archives, 15 Aug. 2016, https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/select-committee-report/part-2b.html.

    Franklin D. Roosevelt: The American Franchise | Miller Center. 4 Oct. 2016, https://millercenter.org/president/fdroosevelt/the-american-franchise.

    House, The White. “Trump Administration Unleashes Global Campaign to Crush Radical Left Terrorism.” The White House, 16 July 2026, https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/07/trump-administration-unleashes-global-campaign-to-crush-radical-left-terrorism/.

    How Misinformation and Disinformation Fuel Online Radicalization. 5 Dec. 2024, https://www.qu.edu/academics/experiential-learning/course-projects-and-capstones/student-projects/political-extremism-and-online-radicalization/.

    In Remembrance: 40 Years since the Assassination Attempt on President Reagan. https://www.secretservice.gov/reagan40thanniversary. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

    Jasko, Katarzyna, et al. “A Comparison of Political Violence by Left-Wing, Right-Wing, and Islamist Extremists in the United States and the World.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 119, no. 30, July 2022, p. e2122593119. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2122593119.

    Jipson, Art, and Paul J. Becker. “Right-Wing Extremist Violence Is More Frequent and More Deadly than Left-Wing Violence − What the Data Shows.” The Conversation, 17 Sept. 2025, https://doi.org/10.64628/AAI.khvnvmtrk.

    “John Hinckley Jr., Who Shot Ronald Reagan to Impress Jodie Foster, Says He Wishes Her Well.” NBC News, 12 Aug. 2026, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/john-hinckley-jr-jodie-foster-wishes-her-well-rcna592130.

    Jones, Brea. “Posts Make Unfounded Claims About Political Affiliation of John Wilkes Booth.” FactCheck.Org, 22 Apr. 2022, https://www.factcheck.org/2022/04/posts-make-unfounded-claims-about-political-affiliation-of-john-wilkes-booth/.

    Jones, Seth G., and Catrina Doxsee. The Escalating Terrorism Problem in the United States. June 2020. www.csis.org, https://www.csis.org/analysis/escalating-terrorism-problem-united-states.

    Kasprak, Alex. “Trump Shooter Once Donated Money to a Democratic Cause?” Snopes, 15 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-shooter-donation/.

    Kates, Graham, et al. CBS News Investigation: The Secret Double Life of Thomas Crooks, Trump’s Would-Be Assassin. https://www.cbsnews.com/lifeofthomascrooks/. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

    Knight, Athelia, and Neil Henry. “Love Letter Offers Clue To Motive in Shooting.” The Washington Post, 1 Apr. 1981, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/04/01/love-letter-offers-clue-to-motive-in-shooting/2474a225-eeba-47ef-94a1-045db2e0b57b/.

    Murder and Extremism in the United States in 2024 | ADL. https://www.adl.org/resources/report/murder-and-extremism-united-states-2024. Accessed 16 Sept. 2026.

    Orders, Executive. “Designating Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization.” The White House, 22 Sept. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/designating-antifa-as-a-domestic-terrorist-organization/.

    Rascouët-Paz, Anna. “Yes, Trump’s Alleged Would-Be Assassin Was a Republican.” Snopes, 15 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-shooter-republican/.

    Saelee, Mike. Research Guides: James Garfield Assassination: Topics in Chronicling America: Introduction. Research guide. https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-james-garfield-assassination/introduction. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

    Smith, Philip, and T. R. Reid. “Hinckley Seeks Absentee Ballot From Colorado.” The Washington Post, 6 Sept. 1984, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1984/09/07/hinckley-seeks-absentee-ballot-from-colorado/f7db62af-1114-4d87-9e55-d40b85f8a0ae/.

    Wizevich, Eli. “Harvey Milk, One of the World’s First Openly Gay Politicians, Was Assassinated on This Day in 1978.” Smithsonian Magazine, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/harvey-milk-one-of-the-worlds-first-openly-gay-politicians-was-assassinated-on-this-day-in-1978-180985464/. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

  • House Lawmakers Launch Movies, Music, Entertainment & Sports Caucus

    House Lawmakers Launch Movies, Music, Entertainment & Sports Caucus

    EXCLUSIVE: A group of House lawmakers is launching a new caucus focused on the economic and cultural impact of movies, music, entertainment and sports.

    The Movies, Music, Entertainment & Sports (MoMEntS) Caucus is being launched by Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), whose district includes Culver City, and she will co-chair it along with Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Troy Carter (D-LA).

    Kamlager-Dove said in a statement, “America’s creative and entertainment sectors are economic powerhouses, generating more than $1 trillion each year and supporting over five million good-paying jobs. Yet for far too long, Congress has failed to give these industries and the workers and creators who power them the attention and support they deserve.”

    The caucus comes amid an industry push for the establishment of a federal film and TV tax incentive as a way to address the flight of production to other countries.

    The caucus will have a broader focus than TV and film, and also include broadcasting; music; sports and live entertainment; fashion and beauty; gaming, esports, and interactive media; streaming and digital platforms; content creators and the influencer economy; literary and publishing; and visual and performing arts, organizers said.

    Salazar said in a statement that the caucus “will bring lawmakers and creative industries together to better understand the challenges they face, protect creative rights, and keep American talent and innovation leading on the world stage.”

    Carter said the caucus “provides a critical opportunity for us to prioritize America’s creative and entertainment industries, which contribute so much to our nation’s history, economy, and culture.”

    The caucus also will focus on innovation, competition, and responsible platform practices, among other aims.

    Other members of the caucus include Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Rep. André Carson (D-IN), Rep. Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), and Rep. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA).

    Among those praising the formation of the caucus were Recording Academy President Harvey Mason Jr., TKO Group Chief Legal Officer Riché McKnight, TikTok USDS Joint Venture”s head of public policy Nicole Nason and Kathryn Busby, head of orginal programming at Starz.

    Congress also has a Creative Rights Caucus, focused on copyrights, First Amendment rights and intellectual property rights. It is co-chaired in the House by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) and Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL), and in the Senate by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

    Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA) and Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA) appeared on a press call on Tuesday to call for a federal film incentive, telling reporters that legislation is being drafted. President Donald Trump announced his support for a federal film incentive earlier this month.

  • House Lawmakers Form American Film & TV Production Caucus Amid Push For Federal Incentive

    House Lawmakers Form American Film & TV Production Caucus Amid Push For Federal Incentive

    Key House supporters of a federal film & TV incentive are establishing a congressional caucus, as work continues on legislation establishing the nationwide production credit.

    The Congressional American Film & TV Production Caucus will “work to revitalize, strengthen, and expand film production across the United States,” per an announcement on Wednesday.

    The founding members of the caucus include Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA), Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA), Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY).

    The organizers cited the loss of more than 100,000 film and television production jobs since a 2022 peak, and a fall in production spending by 20% while such output grew in the U.K. and Eastern Europe.

    They cited the lure of subsidies offered by foreign countries, and argued that states are unable to compete on their own.

    Supporters of an incentive are emphasizing support on both sides of the aisle.

    President Donald Trump recently announced his support for a federal incentive, and there are hopes among supporters that will generate momentum for congressional action when Congress returns after the midterms.

    Moran, Sánchez, Malliotakis and Suozzi are members of the Ways & Means Committee, which writes tax law. Jack serves on the Rules Committee, essential to getting a bill to the floor.

    Friedman, a former film producer, said in a statement, “Film and television work is leaving this country because 65 other nations decided to compete for these hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs. A national film tax credit is how we bring that work home, and this caucus is a key step to build support for it.”

    Moran said, “Every production that sets up here ripples out, supporting the businesses around it and pumping money into local communities. We need to keep that going and keep American storytelling in America.”

    Supporters have not given any timeline for introduction of legislation, but it could be in the coming weeks. Friedman and Jack appeared in a press call on Tuesday organized by the Motion Picture Association to outline the urgency for a production credit.

  • Why is inflation rising again around the world?

    Rising energy prices are pushing inflation higher again, forcing major central banks to raise interest rates.

    For decades, central banks treated oil shocks as temporary, something to wait out, not hike rates over.

    And that’s because raising rates in this case can slow growth without bringing down the price of a single barrel of oil.

    But this time might be different.

    Oil surged past $100 a barrel last week.

    Six months into the Iran war, the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted and Houthi advances threaten Saudi oil supplies, too.

    Energy costs are feeding through into household and business bills.

    That is forcing policymakers to reconsider the old rulebook even though tighter policy means higher borrowing costs.

    Published On 17 Sep 2026

  • House Lawmakers Launch Movies, Music, Entertainment & Sports Caucus

    House Lawmakers Launch Movies, Music, Entertainment & Sports Caucus

    EXCLUSIVE: A group of House lawmakers is launching a new caucus focused on the economic and cultural impact of movies, music, entertainment and sports.

    The Movies, Music, Entertainment & Sports (MoMEntS) Caucus is being launched by Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), whose district includes Culver City, and she will co-chair it along with Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Troy Carter (D-LA).

    Kamlager-Dove said in a statement, “America’s creative and entertainment sectors are economic powerhouses, generating more than $1 trillion each year and supporting over five million good-paying jobs. Yet for far too long, Congress has failed to give these industries and the workers and creators who power them the attention and support they deserve.”

    The caucus comes amid an industry push for the establishment of a federal film and TV tax incentive as a way to address the flight of production to other countries.

    The caucus will have a broader focus than TV and film, and also include broadcasting; music; sports and live entertainment; fashion and beauty; gaming, esports, and interactive media; streaming and digital platforms; content creators and the influencer economy; literary and publishing; and visual and performing arts, organizers said.

    Salazar said in a statement that the caucus “will bring lawmakers and creative industries together to better understand the challenges they face, protect creative rights, and keep American talent and innovation leading on the world stage.”

    Carter said the caucus “provides a critical opportunity for us to prioritize America’s creative and entertainment industries, which contribute so much to our nation’s history, economy, and culture.”

    The caucus also will focus on innovation, competition, and responsible platform practices, among other aims.

    Other members of the caucus include Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Rep. André Carson (D-IN), Rep. Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), and Rep. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA).

    Among those praising the formation of the caucus were Recording Academy President Harvey Mason Jr., TKO Group Chief Legal Officer Riché McKnight, TikTok USDS Joint Venture”s head of public policy Nicole Nason and Kathryn Busby, head of orginal programming at Starz.

    Congress also has a Creative Rights Caucus, focused on copyrights, First Amendment rights and intellectual property rights. It is co-chaired in the House by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) and Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL), and in the Senate by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

    Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA) and Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA) appeared on a press call on Tuesday to call for a federal film incentive, telling reporters that legislation is being drafted. President Donald Trump announced his support for a federal film incentive earlier this month.

  • Can AI regulation keep America ahead of China?

    Can AI regulation keep America ahead of China?

    As Washington debates how to regulate AI without falling behind China, industry experts say that governance doesn’t have to mean hitting the brakes. Al Jazeera’s ‘This is America’ explores whether rules managing AI’s risks can also give American companies room to innovate.

    Published On 17 Sep 2026

  • House Lawmakers Form American Film & TV Production Caucus Amid Push For Federal Incentive

    House Lawmakers Form American Film & TV Production Caucus Amid Push For Federal Incentive

    Key House supporters of a federal film & TV incentive are establishing a congressional caucus, as work continues on legislation establishing the nationwide production credit.

    The Congressional American Film & TV Production Caucus will “work to revitalize, strengthen, and expand film production across the United States,” per an announcement on Wednesday.

    The founding members of the caucus include Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA), Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA), Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY).

    The organizers cited the loss of more than 100,000 film and television production jobs since a 2022 peak, and a fall in production spending by 20% while such output grew in the U.K. and Eastern Europe.

    They cited the lure of subsidies offered by foreign countries, and argued that states are unable to compete on their own.

    Supporters of an incentive are emphasizing support on both sides of the aisle.

    President Donald Trump recently announced his support for a federal incentive, and there are hopes among supporters that will generate momentum for congressional action when Congress returns after the midterms.

    Moran, Sánchez, Malliotakis and Suozzi are members of the Ways & Means Committee, which writes tax law. Jack serves on the Rules Committee, essential to getting a bill to the floor.

    Friedman, a former film producer, said in a statement, “Film and television work is leaving this country because 65 other nations decided to compete for these hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs. A national film tax credit is how we bring that work home, and this caucus is a key step to build support for it.”

    Moran said, “Every production that sets up here ripples out, supporting the businesses around it and pumping money into local communities. We need to keep that going and keep American storytelling in America.”

    Supporters have not given any timeline for introduction of legislation, but it could be in the coming weeks. Friedman and Jack appeared in a press call on Tuesday organized by the Motion Picture Association to outline the urgency for a production credit.

  • House Lawmaker Requests Emergency Court Hearing After Kennedy Center Closure

    House Lawmaker Requests Emergency Court Hearing After Kennedy Center Closure

    After fencing went up around the Kennedy Center and the main building was closed to the public, a House lawmaker on Thursday called for an emergency hearing, warning that the shutdown violates a judge’s order.

    The board, dominated by allies of President Donald Trump, voted Tuesday for a resolution to immediately close the main building of the complex, citing safety issues while the center has been working on plans for a large-scale renovation. The resolution also pointed to a recent incident in which a portion of the ceiling collapsed to the floor following a recent rainstorm.

    But attorneys for Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), an ex officio member of the center board who has been challenging the closure plan, noted that U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper’s order prohibits a shutdown until he lifted a preliminary injunction, something that he has yet to do. The judge has ruled that renovations could proceed, but a closure could come only after the board made a fuller analysis of its impact.

    Per a court filing, a staffer at a law firm representing Beatty sought to enter the main building on Wednesday but was advised by security that it was closed to the public.

    Cooper has given the center until Thursday morning to respond to Beatty’s motion for an emergency hearing.

    The judge on Tuesday prohibited the board’s latest plan to return Trump’s name to the façade of the complex or to designate its grounds for him. Trump, who serves as the center’s chair, posted on Truth Social that they would seek an expedited appeal, but that the renovation would not proceed if courts rule against the naming plan.

    Beatty has said that she is not opposed to a renovation, but previous plans were to keep the center open as the rehab was carried out in phases.

  • Robert Kraft, who blocked Macklemore performances, faced solicitation charge and appeared in Epstein files

    Robert Kraft, who blocked Macklemore performances, faced solicitation charge and appeared in Epstein files

    Claim:

    Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, who musician Macklemore said orchestrated his removal as an opening act on Ed Sheeran’s tour, once faced a solicitation charge, and his name appears in the files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

    Rating:

    True

    Context

    Kraft faced a charge of solicting prostitution in Florida, but the case was ultimately dropped as it hinged on video that was secretly recorded. Kraft’s name also appears in the Epstein files multiple times, but they do not connect Kraft to Epstein’s crimes and he has not been accused of any involvement in those crimes.

    After rapper Macklemore was dropped as an opening act on singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s 2026 tour over his pro-Palestine stance, a rumor spread that Gillette Stadium and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft once faced a solicitation charge and appeared in the federal government’s files related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

    Macklemore said in an Instagram post that Kraft had orchestrated his removal from Sheeran’s tour after he advocated for Palestinian freedom during a performance. Kraft confirmed in a statement provided to ESPN on Sept. 14, 2026, that he had Macklemore removed as an opening act for shows at Gillette Stadium because the venue has a “longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech.”

    The rumor about Kraft spread on X and Facebook. On X, a post (archived) read, “This is who Ed Sheeran sided with: an Epstein-connected billionaire who was charged with soliciting prostitution”:

    In short, the claim is true. 

    Snopes found Kraft faced charges of “soliciting another to commit prostitution,” according to the Palm Beach County, Florida, clerk’s database. (Readers can verify the information directly by search for Kraft’s name, the offense date of Jan. 19, 2019, and the case number 50-2019-MM-002346-AXXX-NB). However, the case was dismissed after a federal court of appeals upheld a lower court’s decision to throw out video evidence. 

    Further, it is also true that Kraft appears in the Epstein files, largely regarding the solicitation charge he faced. However, the files do not connect Kraft to Epstein’s crimes, and he has not been accused of any involvement in those crimes. 

    The Palm Beach County database shows that the charges against Kraft were filed on Feb. 25, 2019, and he was arrested the following day on misdemeanor offenses allegedly committed on Jan. 19 and 20, 2019. The case status showed it was closed.

    Authorities accused Kraft of paying workers at a massage parlor in Jupiter, Florida, for sex acts. However, his case hinged on a video that was secretly recorded, which Kraft’s attorneys argued was an invasion of his privacy. A federal court of appeals agreed:

    Neither the Florida statutes, nor case law authorize covert audio surveillance to investigate prostitution-related offenses. It follows that the more intrusive video surveillance is also prohibited, providing yet another basis for affirmance.

    This matches information found through links to news reports we identified among the Epstein files on the U.S. Department of Justice website. A search for Kraft’s name turned up 24 documents, the vast majority of which shared news articles reporting on his solicitation charge. 

    In an email exchange between Epstein and attorney Jack Goldberger, Epstein wrote that he was “trying to have” Kraft hire Goldberger for his defense. The Palm Beach County database showed Goldberger was on Kraft’s defense team. 

    In one document containing a death announcement, Kraft is one of the email recipients copied on a message. In an email that Epstein sent to Melanie Spinella, then the assistant of former Apollo Management CEO Leon Black, Kraft is named in a link to a story by The Guardian regarding his ownership of an offshore company the paper said could help him avoid taxes in the U.S. 

    For further reading, Snopes has examined several rumors about Kraft, including the claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin stole a Super Bowl ring from him.