05/05/2021
There was a young lady of Niger / Who smiled as she rode on a tiger; / They returned from the ride / With the lady inside, / And the smile on the face of the tiger. - William Cosmo Monkhouse
The word swirling around Washington is that the Biden administration, possibly in cooperation with the UK government, is set to strike a deal with Iran for the release of two American and two British hostages. One report out of Iran suggests that up to $7 billion in frozen funds could be the price exacted by the mullahs in Tehran for their return.[1]
At the same time, a similar game of bait-and-humiliate is being played out in the nuclear arena where, once again, Iran is threatening to accelerate its enrichment of weapons-grade uranium unless the US agrees to lift all sanctions against the rogue regime. Incredibly, the administration believes that a return to the failed Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the key to restraining Iran’s ambition to dominate the Middle East. They
Cover for stock handouts
Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, one of the largest investment companies in the world, in 2014 warned U.S. companies to slow down on buybacks and dividends.
“We certainly believe that returning cash to shareholders should be part of a balanced capital strategy; however, when done for the wrong reasons and at the expense of capital investment, it can jeopardize a company’s ability to generate sustainable long-term returns,” he wrote in a letter.
Recent Activity Indicates Companies Leaning to the Pro Side
The rapidly improving economy and stocks at record highs may be fueling a flurry of stock buyback activity in 2021.
USNI News
Report to Congress on State Sponsored Terrorism
May 4, 2021 12:22 PM
The following is the May 4, 2021 Congressional Research Service report, State Sponsors of Acts of International Terrorism Legislative Parameters: In Brief.
From the report
The United States currently designates as state sponsors of acts of international terrorism the governments of Syria, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba. A terrorism designation is but one part in the bilateral relationship between the United States and each of these governments.
Syria. The United States has recognized the government of Syria as a state sponsor of acts of international terrorism from 1979, when restrictions on exports to any country engaged in international terrorism were added to export administration law in 1979.
Caroline Brehman-Pool/Getty Images
Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming holds stock in Coca-Cola, a company other Republicans are boycotting.
Rep. Lois Frankel invests in oil companies and natural-gas utilities despite her environmentalism.
Former Sen. David Perdue this weekend revealed his financial assets four months after losing office.
Members of Congress routinely trade stocks, buying and selling the shares of companies that often have significant business before the federal government and sometimes spend a lot of money to lobby lawmakers.
Insider dug through congressional financial-disclosure records federal lawmakers filed in recent days. Here are the highlights from what we ve found.
For Lummis, Coke is the real thing
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones joins D.C. law firm
Updated 3:47 PM;
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Arent Fox LLP announced today that Jones will join its
Government Relations and Government Enforcement & White Collar division, along with his former senate staff member Cissy Jackson.
Jones was elected in 2017 and served in the U.S. senate from 2018 until leaving office in January 2021, after he lost his Nov. 3, 2020 bid for re-election to U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville.
“Arent Fox’s Government Relations practice is one of the most experienced, effective, and respected lobbying teams in the nation,” the statement said. “Our team offers insight into the inner workings of Capitol Hill and the Executive Branch from former Members of Congress, Administration officials, and senior staff.”