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    Corporations take a back seat on Joe Biden's transition team

    Phil Mattera, DC Report @ Raw Story
    November 13, 2020

    Thanks for your support!

    This article was paid for by reader donations to Raw Story Investigates.

    This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers. Not a subscriber? Try us and go ad-free for $1. Prefer to give a one-time tip? Click here.

    Phil Mattera, DC Report @ Raw Story

    Among the many challenges  Joe Biden's administration will have to confront after Donald Trump ends his temper tantrum is deciding what posture to take toward big business.


    There will be a battle for the soul of the new president as corporate Democrats vie with progressives to influence policy in areas such as regulation and antitrust.

    Initial signs are encouraging.

    The Biden transition just released a list of some 500 individuals who will be staffing the Agency Review Teams charged with preparing the way for a transfer of power in all parts of the executive branch.

    Most of the people are from academia, state government, law firms, non-profits, unions, think tanks and foundations.

    Surveying the list of affiliations, I found only about 20 for large corporations. Most of the people are from academia, state government, law firms, non-profits, unions, think tanks and foundations.

    It is likely some of the law firms are there to represent specific corporate interests, but the numerous representatives from progressive public interest, environmental and labor groups should serve as an effective counterweight.

    Unions in Labor Department

    In the Labor Department list there are no law firms or corporations; in their place are representatives from five different unions along with people from the National Employment Law Project and other progressive groups.

    What is particularly significant is the near absence of people affiliated with Wall Street banks.

    The Defense Department list has someone from JPMorgan Chase; Homeland Security has a representative from Capital One; and the International Development group includes someone from U.S. Bank. There is no one from Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Wells Fargo or Morgan Stanley.

    The Treasury Department group is led by someone from Keybank, which is based in Cleveland and ranks about 29th among U.S. banks. Fortunately, the Treasury group also includes representatives from places such as the Center for American Progress, the American Economic Liberties Project and the AFL-CIO.

    Environmentalists at EPA

    Other balancing acts include the list for the Environmental Protection Agency, which includes a representative from Dell Technologies but also from Earthjustice (the lead person) and The Sierra Club.

    Some of the corporations show up in surprising places. Walt Disney is represented on the Intelligence Community list. The cosmetics firm Estee Lauder has someone on the State Department list. Someone from Airbnb is in the National Security Council group.

    Tech Companies at OMB

    Looking at current corporate villains, the one that stands out is Amazon.com. It shows up on two lists—the one for the State Department and the one for the Office of Management and Budget.

    Lyft and Airbnb are also on the OMB list, along with some academics, a consultant, state officials and someone from Meow Wolf, a Santa Fe-based non-profit that produces immersive art experiences.

    Given that OMB oversees regulatory policy, the absence of public interest, union and environmental people raises a concern. Otherwise, it appears that the Biden team is limiting corporate influence in the emerging administration.

    Let’s hope it stays that way.

    This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers. Not a subscriber? Try us and go ad-free for $1. Prefer to give a one-time tip? Click here.

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    'Intentional and cruel': Fox employee rips the network's handling of #MeToo scandal

    Bob Brigham
    January 21, 2021

    Fox News is once again in scandal over sexual harassment in the workplace.

    "On December 18, a U.S. district judge denied Fox News contributor Tyrus' request to dismiss his former Fox Nation co-host Britt McHenry's lawsuit alleging he repeatedly harassed her via lewd, inappropriate text messages," The Daily Beast reported Thursday." Since then, the former professional wrestler has appeared on Fox's airwaves at least ten times, including during the network's New Year's Eve special and three times as a co-host of the highly rated late-afternoon talk show The Five."

    McHenry remains a paid contributor, but has not appeared on-air in months.

    "All I want to do is work," she told The Daily Beast. "But when you flip on the TV and see your harasser once again given on-air promotions, it sends a clear message that solving this appropriately on Fox News' end isn't in the cards."

    "A federal court judge moved all my claims against my abuser forward, and yet it appears as though Fox News simply doesn't care," McHenry said. "Honestly, it feels intentional and cruel."

    Read the full report.

    Orthodox church suspends Ohio priest after he participated in the Capitol invasion: report

    Matthew Chapman
    January 21, 2021

    On Thursday, Newsweek reported that an orthodox priest in Ohio has been suspended over his role in the Capitol riots — and could be booted out of the church altogether.

    "Rev. Mark Hodges, an archpriest affiliated with several orthodox churches in southwestern Ohio, was temporarily barred from fulfilling his usual duties after participating in the January 6 rally that preceded the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol came to light," reported Emily Czachor. "His suspension from priestly responsibilities is due to last three months, and could result in his 'defrocking,' a term to denote permanent removal from his status within the church."

    "Hodges claims the disciplinary action stemmed solely from his presence at the rally, where protesters baselessly challenged the presidential election's outcome, according to an email originally dispatched to the archpriest's family and friends, which he sent to Newsweek on Thursday afternoon," said the report. "However, in additional comments, a spokesperson from the Diocese of the Midwest told Newsweek that its decision was motivated by a collection of factors."

    "Hodges, whose official Facebook page prominently showcases anti-abortion rhetoric, homophobia, transphobia and racism, in addition to unfounded claims related to election fraud," continued the report. "A supporter of Donald Trump, the archpriest has posted countless articles that made clear his alignment with the former president's unsubstantiated allegations that President Joe Biden's election victory was illegitimate."

    In recent weeks, a number of prominent businessmen and community leaders have lost their jobs over their involvement with the invasion, which resulted in the death of five people — and dozens face a number of federal and state charges.

    BUSTED: Republican caught trying to bring gun onto the House floor

    Bob Brigham
    January 21, 2021

    One of the Republicans in Congress who voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election after the deadly insurrection of Trump supporters was shown to be a security risk on Thursday.

    "New security measures outside the U.S. House chamber prevented a Republican lawmaker from bringing a gun onto the House floor Thursday. Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), who has repeatedly flouted the magnetometers that were installed near the House chamber after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, set off the metal detectors while trying to enter. When an officer with a metal detector wand scanned him, a firearm was detected on Harris's side, concealed by his suit coat. Police refused to let Harris in, and the officer signaled a security agent that Harris had a gun on him by motioning toward his own firearm," HuffPost correspondent Matt Fuller reported Thursday.

    "HuffPost witnessed the interaction and later confirmed with a Capitol official that Harris was carrying a gun. HuffPost watched Harris try to get another member to take the gun from him so he could go vote. The member, Rep. John Katko (R-NY), told Harris he didn't have 'a license' and refused to hold the weapon for him," the publication reported. "Harris then left on the elevators and 10 minutes later returned to the House chamber. He placed his cellphone and keys on a desk to the side, did not set off the magnetometer and was allowed to enter the House floor to vote on a waiver to allow retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin to serve as President Joe Biden's defense secretary."

    Harris isn't the only Republican who may be a security risk.

    "During a security briefing with Democratic members early last week, some lawmakers suggested that members should have to go through a metal detector to get on the House floor. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) has said she'll carry a gun around D.C., which does not allow the open carrying of a firearm, and Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) told his local paper that he was armed when insurrectionists stormed the Capitol," HuffPost reported. "On Thursday, HuffPost saw Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Rick Allen (R-GA) and Boebert all refuse to be wanded down after setting off the magnetometer."


    Anyway, I’ll also note that Andy Harris almost got into a fight with some Democratic members on the House floor the… https://t.co/7mbWX5I4I1
    — Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller)1611276087.0


     
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