AFN NEWS

Thursday, May 23, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Chuck Sivertsen. A federal judge in New York is refusing to block Congressional subpoenas seeking President Trump’s financial records. U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos ruled the congressional subpoenas seeking records from Deutsche Bank and Capital One and President Trump do have a quote “legitimate legislative purpose.” Lawyers for the House Financial Services and Intelligence Committee say they need access to documents to investigate possible foreign influence in the U.S. political process. Trump’s attorneys asked the judge to block Congress from obtaining the records, saying if the court allows their release, it will mean Congress can issue subpoenas quote “on any matter at any time, for any reason to any person.” Mark Remillard, ABC News, New York.

2) President Trump abruptly ended the meeting with Congressional leaders at the White House, telling Democrats that he won’t work with them unless they stop investigating him. “When they get everything done, I’m all set to, let’s get infrastructure, let’s get drug prices down. In the meantime, we’re doing tremendous work without them.” President Trump told reporters in the Rose Garden that he doesn’t do cover-ups, the term House Speaker Nancy Pelosi used at least twice. “In plain sight in the public domain, this President is obstructing justice and he’s engaged in a cover-up, and that could be an impeachable offence.” Speaking to the Center for American Progress Ideas Conference, Pelosi called today’s meeting strange.

3) According to court documents unsealed today, President Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen exchanged hundreds of calls and texts with Columbus Nova. That’s an American financial firm tied to a wealthy Russian.

4) Authorities say an infant has died after being left in a hot van for hours outside a Florida day care.

5) Wall Street, major indexes closed lower because of a mixed batch of corporate earnings reports. The Dow lost 101 points, the S&P fell 8, the NASDAQ slid 35. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; stocks falling, dragged down by makers of semiconductors after a U.S. federal judge ruled that Qualcomm illegally suppressed competition for cellphone chips; with the Dow falling 101 points, the NASDAQ down 35, S&P 500 down 8. // And Tesla’s stocks dropping 6% today, closing below 200 bucks, a share for the first time since late 2016, as analysts and investors expressed concerns over demand for its lower-priced Model 3 vehicles, management credibility and plans for some hard-core cost cutting. // And you may have to wait a bit for a newly design of the $20 bill. The bill featuring abolitionist Harriet Tubman will no longer be unveiled next year according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Mnuchin telling lawmakers during a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee that a primary reason for the delay is due to counterfeiting issues and no new imagery will be unveiled until 2028. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, May 16, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Chuck Sivertsen. Prioritized visas in modernizing ports of entry, President Trump expected to announce a new immigration plan tomorrow. “Not changing, the number of green cards given out each year, that stays at 1.1 million despite the push from some Republican lawmakers for a dramatic reduction, but what the White House would do is change who makes up that pool? ‘I don’t think most countries are giving us their finest. Do you agree? And that what’s happening and it’s causing tremendous problems with crime.’ Under this proposal, priority for visas would be given to highly skilled workers, applicants with higher education and those of English proficiency. Karen Travers, ABC News, the White House.”

2) Shanahan says DHS (the Department of Homeland Security) has requested troops to build tents at six locations to house up to 7500 detained migrants. It’s further expansion of the military’s role at the southern border.

3) The father of the student killed trying to stop one of two gunmen during the Colorado charter school shooting says it was no surprise to him what Kendrick Castillo did. “We all really, really loved Kendrick, but to carry on his life’s message, we need to be more like him. That’s what this world needs for change,” John Castillo spoke before a

 crowd of about 2,000 at his son’s memorial.

4) Cal Fire has officially determined that last year’s deadly fire in Paradise was caused by PG&E‘s transmission lines. It’s not a big surprise it’s been expected that Pacific Gas and Electric power lines likely caused the Camp Fire on a windy dry day, but legally it’s a problem for PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric). The company links numerous recent big fires to potentially being on the line for a lot of money and liability. PG&E even said the Camp Fire could bankrupt the company if they were to be found liable. Now Cal Fire says it was PG&E’s equipment. ABC’s Alex Stone, Los Angeles.

5) Wall Street, major indexes closed higher, the Dow ended 115 points, the NASDAQ climbed to 88. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; if you’re tired with those scam phone calls, well, help may be on the way. The FCC (the Federal Communications Commission) proposes new rules that will make it legal for phone companies to automatically block robocalls, but it can’t come soon enough, for one report saying that there were more than 23 billion robocalls in the U.S. last year alone. // Look like folks are shopping less. The Commerce Department says retail sales dipped in April for the second time in three months. Americans are cutting back on spending for things like appliances, clothes and cars. // And a major auto recall, I’ll tell you about Ford calling back around 270,000 Fusion models made from 2013 to 2016, apparently a transmission glitch can cause the vehicles to just roll away when the driver thinks to park. // And get ready for crowded roads and airports over the Memorial Day weekend. AAA estimating nearly 43 million Americans planning a getaway for the upcoming holiday. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Connell McShane.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, May 9, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. The Justice Department calls the House Committee vote to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress politically motivated and unnecessary. “Mr. Chairman, there’re 24 ayes and 16 nos.” Party is here. The committee has voted one party line to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt for not turning over the full unredacted Mueller reports. The vote comes after President Trump on Wednesday asserted executive privilege over the report. After a lengthy hearing, both sides accuse the other of nasty manners. Chairman of the Committee Jerry Nadler, “The Trump Administration is taking obstruction of Congress to new heights.” Republican Jim Jordan, “I think it’s all about trying to destroy Bill Barr because Democrats are nervous. He’s going to get to the bottom of everything.” Anyway, this battle left to the court to decide. Serena Marshall, ABC News, Capitol Hill.

2) Sources confirmed to ABC News that the Senate Intelligence Committee has subpoenaed President Trump’s oldest son Donald Trump Jr. He previously met with three congressional committees on the Russia investigation but it’s unclear why the committee wants him to return.

3) The Colorado charter school shooting suspects have appeared in court for the first time. “With long shaggy purple hair, 18-year-old Devon Erickson held his head low. When he looked up, his hair covered his eyes. His finger nails painted in dark color. He wore a red jail uniform. He was given no bail. Prosecutors asking the court documents be sealed in this case. Charge is likely to be filed on Friday when Erickson is due back in court. Alex Stone, ABC News, Highlands Ranch, Colorado. The other juvenile suspect also appeared in court. Brendan Bialy is one of the students who helped subdue one of the shooters along with 18-year-old Kendrick Castillo who was killed. “Ricky charged the shooter and immediately was on top of him with complete disregard for his own safety.” Bialy is a member of the Marine’s Delayed Entry program.

4) Stocks ended the day slightly lower on Wall Street, the S&P fell 5 points, the NASDAQ lost 20, but the Dow gained 2 points. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; on Wall Street stocks ending mixed after swinging between gains and losses throughout the day as investors contended with mixed signals around a potential US-China trade deal with the Dow closing up 2 points, the Nasdaq down 20, S&P 500 down 4. // And after the closing bell, Disney releasing quarterly results and popping in the extended session after reporting earnings in revenue that beat analysts’ estimate for its second quarter as more people flocked to its theme parks and bought its products and services. // And McDonald’s will be adding a handful of items to its menu in the U.S. this summer from its operators from across the globe. The limited time offers include fries with cheese and bacon from Australia and bacon burger topped with Gouda from Spain. The burger giant says it has been adding and subtracting items from its menus as it tries to generate new interest from customers and more than through the Golden Arches. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, May 2, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. Testifying about the Russia investigation before Senate panel, Attorney General William Barr says Congress must stop using the criminal justice process as a political weapon. “The report is now in the hands of the American people. Everyone can decide for themselves. There’s an election in 18 months. That’s very democratic process, but we are out of it.” Barr also says Special Counsel Robert Mueller never intended for his report to be a roadmap for Congress. “I don’t think Bob Mueller was suggesting that the next step here was for him to turn this stuff over to Congress to act upon. That’s not why we conduct grand jury investigations.” Barr was scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, but sources tell ABC News that’s not going to happen.

2) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney calls Riley Howell, one of two students killed yesterday in a UNC Charlotte classroom, a hero for taking on the gunman. “You’re either gonna run, you’re gonna hide and shield, or you’re gonna take the fight to the assailant. Having no place to run and hide, he did the last.” Former student Trystan Andrew Terrell is facing two counts of murder. The motive isn’t clear.

3) Hundreds of Google employees taking part in a sit-in to protest alleged retaliation for last fall’s protest. The November protest was organized after a report that Google paid a former executive $90 million in a severance following the sex assault claim.

4) Interest rates will remain unchanged. “Folk shopping for new homes celebrating the Fed’s decision to keep interest rates between 2.25 and 2.5%. At a Federal Reserve meeting, all board members voting to keep rates the same in part because the economy continues to grow and inflation actually shrank. The Fed Chair saying he sees the U.S. economy on a good path.” ABC’s Andy Field in Washington.

5) Stocks gave up early gains and lowered on Wall Street. The Dow fell more than 100 points today. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network, stocks ending in the red after the Fed left interest rates unchanged. However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference that low inflation may only be transitory, and that comment may have dashed hopes that the Fed would be lowering rates in the future with the Dow falling 164 points, the NASDAQ down 46, S&P 500 down 22. // And chipmaker Qualcomm tanking after hours, after forecasting current quarter revenue largely below Wall Street target, excluding a settlement payment from Apple. The gloomy forecast comes a day after Apple said its sales in China, the world’s largest smartphone’s market, was stabilizing helped by price cut and lower taxes. // And shares of Square dropping after the digital payment company beat estimates on its first-quarter financials but mixed on payment volume and its second-quarter outlook. // And wearable device maker Fitbit reporting better-than expected first-quarter results, benefiting from higher sales of its smartwatches and wearable devices that track daily activities. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.