Technology industry stakeholders and policy advocates testified on the establishment and enforcement of digital trade rules before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade. Several topics were discussed, including global regulatory standards, challenges posed by cross border regulations, data privacy concerns, and mitigating intellectual property theft. They also addressed attempts by authoritarian countries, such as China and Russia, to reshape global norms in relation to digital trade and the free flow of information.
Former officials from the departments of Defense and Homeland Security joined policy advocates at a hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee examining the risks associated with replacing career civil servants with political appointees. The hearing focused on an executive order from the Trump administration, known as "Schedule F," that would have taken away workforce protections of civil servants if not deemed loyal to the administration. The order, which would have impacted close to 50,000 career civil servants, was rescinded at the start of the Biden administration before it could take effect. The witnesses testified on the risks associated with the implementation of "Schedule F," such as the loss of institutional knowledge and expertise, increased instability in government, heightened national security concerns, and a rapid slowdown in government functions and services.
Tech executives representing Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft testified on how their companies may prevent the spread of foreign disinformation on social media platforms amid the upcoming 2024 elections. Topics focused around how these companies would crack down on propaganda originating from Russia, China, and Iran while not suppressing Americans' freedom of speech, as well as how artificial intelligence could be used to both create and combat disinformation.
Cook Political Report Founder Charlie Cook lead a discussion on analyzing the 2024 election with a panel comprised of political journalists and analysist. They talked about strategy, the path to victory, and competitiveness in key battleground states for both the Democratic and Republican nominees, Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump. The discussion was hosted by the Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs at Louisiana State University.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit heard oral argument in TikTok Inc. v. Merrick Garland, a lawsuit brought on by Chinese company ByteDance over a law that forces it to either sell its ownership of TikTok in the U.S. or have TikTok be banned in the United States. Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act in April 2024, which was signed into law by President Biden that same month. Attorneys Andrew Pincus and Jeffrey Fisher, who respectively represented ByteDance and content creators, argued that the law was unconstitutional under the First Amendment. Justice Department appellate attorney Daniel Tenny, however, argued that TikTok presented national security concerns with regard to data collection and content manipulation.
President Biden described the Federal Reserve's point-five percent interest rate cut as a "declaration of progress" rather than a "declaration of victory." The president also noted his administration's policies that he says helped lower inflation. President Biden went on to make clear that while the rate cut is good, the economy still has room to improve. His remarks at the Economic Club of Washington, DC came with a little more than three months left in his presidency.
Despite losing the popular vote, Republican Governor Rutherford Hayes of Ohio defeated New York Democratic Governor Samuel Tilden in a contentious election that led to negotiations between Republicans and Democrats to determine the winner, resulting in what became known as the Compromise of 1877.
Civil War historian Gary Gallagher talked about the importance of the victory at the 1862 Battle of Second Manassas for the Confederate cause. This talk was part of a conference hosted by the University of Virginia Center for Civil War History in Charlottesville.
Author Christopher Minty talked about the organization and political culture of loyalists in New York during the lead up to the American Revolution. George Washington's Mount Vernon hosted this event.
Civil War historian Gary Gallagher talked about the importance of the victory at the 1862 Battle of Second Manassas for the Confederate cause. This talk was part of a conference hosted by the University of Virginia Center for Civil War History in Charlottesville.
Author Christopher Minty talked about the organization and political culture of loyalists in New York during the lead up to the American Revolution. George Washington's Mount Vernon hosted this event.
Despite losing the popular vote, Republican Governor Rutherford Hayes of Ohio defeated New York Democratic Governor Samuel Tilden in a contentious election that led to negotiations between Republicans and Democrats to determine the winner, resulting in what became known as the Compromise of 1877.
Washington Post opinion columnist Dana Milbank discusses his latest book "Fools on the Hill" and Historian and Bipartisan Policy Center senior fellow Tevi Troy discusses his latest book "The Power and the Money."
