AFN NEWS ON THE HOUR

Thursday, June 14, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Richard Cantu. Carrying around debt is getting more expensive. “No surprise from the Federal Reserve announcing that it’s raising interest rates 1/4 of a percent from 1 and 3/4 to 2%. It’s also calling for up to four rate hikes this year in total. In other words, one or two more by the end of 2018. One of the main reasons for the decision, unemployment falling to 3.8% in May to a low that we haven’t seen in nearly two decades.” ABC’s Daria Albinger.

 

2) President Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen is looking for new legal representation in his federal criminal case. “Michael Cohen’s attorneys have been rushing to review nearly 4 million items seized from him back in April, but now ABC News has learned those attorneys, Stephen Ryan and Todd Harrison, are not expected to represent Cohen going forward. No replacement lawyers have been named and we’re told Cohen is likely to cooperate now with federal prosecutors.” ABC’s Aaron Katersky.

 

3) Tennessee Republican Senator Bob Corker for now stymied in his bid to pass amendment requiring congressional approval for tariffs says he thinks the GOP is acting like a cult, because members fear President Trump. “Not a good place for any party that they end up with a cult-like situation as it relates to a president that happens to be of, purportedly, of the same party.” Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, an ally of the President, said he would not dignify caucus comment with a response.

 

4) The outcome was never in doubt in any emergency session. The UN General Assembly voted to blame Israel for the violence in Gaza and rejected the U.S. call to condemn Hamas for attacks on Israel.

 

5) Antarctica is melting faster than ever. An international team of ice experts reports the frozen continent lost almost 3 trillion tons of ice since 1992 enough to cover all of Texas with nearly 13 feet of water. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network, America is taking a hike, the Federal Reserve hiking interest rates by 1/4 points for the second time this year on Wednesday. Of course, this means consumers pay more when they borrow money or use their credit cards, but still also make more money from higher savings rates. // Stocks taking ahead of word of two more hikes that are coming this year. The Dow, NASDAQ and S&P500 all closing lower. // It looks like a majority of students are planning to work once a school year is over. A new report from OppLoans finds 63% of teens and young adults already have a job lined up for the summer. Nearly half says they’ll use some money for college or living expenses. // And if you already have a job and feeling sleepy at work, __ __ __ __. Nine out of ten employers telling the National Safety Council that tired employees are having a negative effect on their business, and more than half saying they have workers actually fall asleep on the job. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Charles Payne.

 

AFN NEWS ON THE HOUR

Friday, June 8, 2018 Thursday

 
 

1) From ABC News, I’m Richard Cantu. The summit, before the summit, “I think I am very well prepared. I don’t think I have to prepare very much.” President Trump in the Oval Office says he prepares to leave for Singapore, and what would be a historic summit with North Korean Leader Kim. “About attitude, it’s about willingness to get things done.” Later appearing with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, heard here through a translator “We will have greater peace and stability, and also this will be a dramatic and transformational moment.”

 

2) House Republicans huddled trying to find agreement between conservatives and moderates on helping DREAMer immigrants stay in the U.S. legally. Supporters are three votes shy of a procedural measure that would force a showdown on the issue. Speaker Paul Ryan says the discharge position would not be productive. “Our new deadline is not to have a deadline but to work with our members to get things done in aborted discharge petition, so obviously time is of the essence.”

 

3) A federal judge in Baltimore sentenced former Police Sergeant Wayne Jenkins to 25 years in prison. He led a corrupt police task force. “Authorities say he falsified records and stole drugs and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from people detained or arrested by his Gun Trace Task Force. Jenkins pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of racketeering, robbery and more. He is the second member of the now disbanded task force to be sentenced. Three more members of that task force scheduled to be sentenced this week.” ABC Mark Remillard.

 

4) A failure of a water treatment plant in southern Iowa has forced thousands of residents in nine counties to boil tap water before using. It’s been going on since Sunday and will be this weekend at the earliest before repairs are made.

 

5) Anticipating blood-shed during a mass protest on the border of Gaza tomorrow, Israeli military aircraft dropped leaflets across the Gaza Strip, warning residents to stay far from the border during the demonstration.

 

6) On Wall Street, stocks closed mixed, the Dow up 95 points, the NASDAQ down 54. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network, American household net wealth topping $100 trillion for the first time ever during the first three months of the year. A big boost in home values helping offset some declines in stock portfolios. // Meantime, if you look to buy that dream house, you might wanna act fast. According to real estate website Trulia, home sold in April stayed on the market for 64 days. That’s the fastest turnaround since the housing crash more than a decade ago. // And you’re gonna need some more bucks to buy coffee at Starbucks. It’s raising the price of a regular cup of coffee by 10-20 cents in most U.S. stores. Price is staying the same for its specialty drinks, at least for now. // And how about display hang-up? According to a new report from tracking service YouMail, Americans were bombarded with more than 4 billion robocalls last month, the most ever. That’s up more than 50% from the same time last year. With the Fox Business Report, I am David Asman.

 

AFN NEWS ON THE HOUR

Thursday, May 31, 2018　

 
 

1) From ABC News, I’m Richard Cantu. Weinstein indicted. A grand jury in New York City has indicted Harvey Weinstein on charges of rape in the 1st and 3rd degrees and 1st-degree criminal sexual act. The indictment coming after the disgraced movie mogul declined to appear before the grand jury. Indictment means barring a plea. Weinstein will stand trial. He remains free on a $10 million bond.

 

2) Now in New York City, North Korean diplomat Kim Yong-chol scheduled for dinner tonight with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as the Trump Administration strives to make s summit with North Korean leader Kim happen next month. White House Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders: “We are preparing and expect that to take place on June 12th and we will be ready if it does on June 12th, and if it’s not, then we will be ready to take place on July 12th.”

 

3) “Don’t blame the Ambien,” says the maker of Ambien. Roseanne Barr blaming the sleep aid for the tweet that got her hit ABC show cancelled. Pharmaceutical Sanofi says racism is not a known side effect. The President took to Tweeter to complain about ABC’s apology to Valerie Jarrett, a former Obama advisor, targeted by Barr’s tweet to complain he hasn’t received an apology from Disney, corporate master of ABC and ESPN, “Where was Bob Iger’s apology to the White House staff for Jemele Hill calling the President and anyone associate with him a white supremacist, to Christians around the world for Joy Behar calling Christianity a mental illness?” Jemele Hill is on ESPN, Joy Behar on ABC’s “The View.”

 

4) Texas Governor Greg Abbott making dozens of recommendations in the wake of the Santa Fe High School massacre, among them more armed teachers and school staff. As one Santa Fe student said at one of the round tables. She said and I quote; arming teachers and not knowing who’s armed, that is what we need. The Texas Governor wants more than $120 million to help schools implement his recommendations.

 

5) Wall Street now closed up 306 points. The NASDAG gained 66. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; stocks rebounding big turn Wednesday, following Tuesday’s sell-off. The Dow, the NASDAQ, and S&P 500 all way up as investors shake off worries about a potential trade war and political uncertainty in Italy. // The payroll company ADP (Automatic Data Processing) says private companies added 170,000 jobs for the month. That is a healthy pay but fewer than expected. // Attention, Walmart workers! You can now go to college on the cheap. The nation’s biggest retailer says it will pay for employees to get a bachelor’s degree in business or supply management, not free though. Workers will have to kick in one dollar a day to sign up at one of three different universities with online programs. // Some good news for people who will be taking a flight this summer. J.D. Power says consumer satisfaction with airlines is up. It’s up for seven straight years. In fact, it is all at its highest level since J.D. Power began tracking satisfaction 14 years ago. With the Fox Business Report, I am Maria Bartiromo.

 

AFN NEWS ON THE HOUR

Thursday, May 24, 2018

  

1) From ABC News, I’m Richard Cantu. Now, Mr. President, you may not block critics from your Twitter feed, so says a federal judge in New York City ruling that doing so is a free speech violation. “This ruling isn’t really a loss for Trump or a win for his critics. It’s a victory for the openness of the Internet generally and Twitter feed specifically. The court held it would violate the First Amendment for the President to be able to pick and choose who gets to see and respond his messages on Twitter.” ABC News legal analyst Royal Oakes. In the statement the Justice Department says it disagrees with the judge and is considering its next steps.

 

2) President Trump’s put a name on his latest attempt to discredit Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. The President now calling it Spy-gate on an unproven theory that the fed spied on his campaign. Former FBI Director James Comey called it wrong and described what went on as spy. Outside the White House, “I did a great service for our country by firing James Comey.” Two Republicans, allies of the President, sit down tomorrow with Federal Intelligence and law enforcement officials going over highly classified information about an FBI source who spoke with members of the Trump campaign. No Democrats, Minority Leader Charles Schumer says that’s wrong. “Leader Pelosi and I are sending a letter to Attorney General Rosenstein and Director Wray to request they reconsider holding the meeting at all and if they move forward to do so in a bipartisan fashion,” __ __, congressional sources tell ABC News that the White House is expected to arrange a bipartisan briefing.

 

3) Trying to quell the firestorm over national anthem protests, NFL owners unanimously approved new policy decreeing players can stay in the locker room during the Star Spangled Banner. But if they’re on the field, they better be standing. Commissioner Roger Goodell, “If anyone is on the field and is disrespectful to the anthem or the flag, there will be a fine from the league against the team.”

 

4) And update on Wall Street with the Dow closing 52 points higher, and the NASDAQ gaining 47. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; taking a vacation form going on vacation, only around 1/3 of workers telling bankrate.com that they plan to use all of their time off this year. Some of those who do maybe take their staycation because nearly one in four says they really can’t afford vacation this summer. // And if you can’t afford a trip, maybe ask your kids for a loan. According to the company RoosterMoney, kids between ages of 4 and 14 are saving nearly 1/3 of their allowances. // For the matter who pays you to get away, you might want to wait until late fall to go anywhere. That’s because US Airlines are expecting more than 246 million people to travel between the beginning of June and the end of August and that’s a record high. // Fifteen percent of workers telling CareerBuilder that they fought with coworkers about temperature in the office, and the majority say that being too hot or too cold hurts their productivity. With the Fox Business Report, I’m David Asman.

 

 AFN NEWS ON THE HOUR

Thursday, May 17, 2018　

 

1) From ABC News, I’m Richard Cantu. The White House story today has North Korea threatens to pull out of the next month summit with President Trump over the U.S. demanding to denuclearize. “This is something that we fully expected,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders says. It’s all part of the bargaining. “The President is very used to being ready for tough negotiations and if they wanna meet, we’ll be ready, and if they don’t, that’s OK, too. We’ll continue with the campaign of maximum pressure. That’s the case.” The summit’s scheduled for June 12th in Singapore.

 
2) The President released his financial disclosure report of footnote state. He reimbursed attorney Michael Cohen for as much as $250,000 for expenses last year. But there’s no mention of 130 grand paid to Stormy Daniels. The report says the President didn’t have to disclose the payment to Cohen, but did so in the interest of transparency.

 

3) Gina Haspel cleared a big hurdle to becoming CIA director by a 10-to-5 vote in the Senate Intelligence Committee recommending her confirmations. “Setting her up free, final senate vote in the coming days to be CIA director. Two of the committee seven Democrats sided with Republicans and backing her including the Committee’s top Democrat Mark Warner. The support followed Haspel’s acknowledgement that the CIA should not have conducted enhanced interrogation.” ABC’s Serena Marshall on Capitol Hill.

 

4) An environmental mystery; levels of the most common kind of ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbon (CFC 11) phased out over the last three decades have been rising since 2013. Federal planetary scientist Steve Montzka wrote a story, wrote a study published in the journal Nature. “The production of this gas was phased out about a decade ago, so we expected that its decline rate would have increased rather than slowed down.” Steve thinks CFC 11 might be bleeding off from products including building insulation manufactured before its production was banned.

 

5) Wall Street now closed up 63 points. The NASDUQ was a 47-point gainer. You’re listening to ABC News.

 

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From the Fox Business Network, for the 3rd consecutive year the No.1 financial regret for Americans is not saving enough for retirement followed by no emergency savings. The new survey by Bankrate.com also finding 1 in 4 have no plan to fix their money problems. // No regret for investors on Wall Street Wednesday, the Dow rising along with the other major indexes. Russell 2,000 which tracks smaller companies closing at all-time high. // For some real concerns about real state, a new report from the company ValueInsured shows more than 2/3 believe the housing market is unhealthy. Rising home prices and rising interest rates are the big reasons why. // Amazon wants to make shopping at Whole Foods more appetizing. The company is now offering its Amazon Prime members at 10% discount and some items are already on sale. The program launches in Florida on Wednesday and goes nationwide this summer. With the Fox Business Report, I am David Asman.