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Democratic US senator asks Capital One for details on Trump account anti-money laundering review

Democratic US senator asks Capital One for details on Trump account anti-money laundering review

By Nupur Anand NEW YORK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - A Democratic U.S. senator has pressed Capital One Financial for details about an internal anti-money laundering review that the bank said last month led it to close accounts linked to President Donald Trump and his businesses. 
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UN Committee Urges Nations to Consider Slavery Reparations and Restorative Justice

UN Committee Urges Nations to Consider Slavery Reparations and Restorative Justice

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has stated that countries are legally obligated to consider reparations for the transatlantic slave trade and implement restorative justice measures to address the lasting impact of racial discrimination. This guidance, issued on Monday, emphasizes that these obligations stem from a legally binding 1965 convention on racial discrimination, rather than legal standards from the slave trade era. CERD is advocating for comprehensive restorative justice, which includes compensation, restitution, rehabilitation, and structural reforms. The UN General Assembly previously adopted a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade a grave crime against humanity and urged member states to pursue reparations for historical wrongs. While the UN stresses that financial compensation alone is insufficient, it calls for a broad range of remedial measures, both financial and non-financial, along with structural changes. These measures are int...
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President Trump's Proposed Tariffs on Generic Drug Imports Threaten U.S. Healthcare Costs and Supply Chains

President Trump's Proposed Tariffs on Generic Drug Imports Threaten U.S. Healthcare Costs and Supply Chains

President Trump has indicated a potential policy shift that could impose significant tariffs on generic drugs imported into the U.S. While generic medicines were previously exempt from tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals, a July post by President Trump suggested that generic imports could face a 100% tariff in the first year of the policy, escalating to 200% in the subsequent year. This proposal is part of a broader policy push to encourage domestic manufacturing, particularly for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and finished dosage forms. The FDA is aligning with this initiative, with new Generic Drug User Fee Amendments (GDUFA) for 2028-2032 including a $10,000 increase in the foreign facility differential, raising it from $15,000 to $25,000 to cover increased inspection costs for foreign facilities. Additionally, the FDA has proposed a one-time waiver for domestically produced drugs if the API is also produced in the U.S., and amendments to Priority ANDA review to prioritize U.S.-produced drug p...
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Representative Anna Paulina Luna Advocates for Updated Foreign Agents Registration Act to Address Digital Influence

Representative Anna Paulina Luna Advocates for Updated Foreign Agents Registration Act to Address Digital Influence

Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) is actively advocating for updates to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to address the challenges posed by foreign influence in the digital age, particularly within the 'creator economy.' She has introduced the bipartisan Foreign Propaganda Disclosure Act, which aims to close loopholes in foreign disclosure requirements and mandate that online personalities reveal any financial ties to foreign governments. Luna emphasizes that foreign entities and bot networks are increasingly utilizing paid influencers to manipulate digital algorithms and shape American political debates. Her efforts are focused on ensuring transparency, which she believes is critical for protecting national security and American voters from covert foreign propaganda and undisclosed funding that fuels online discourse.
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Senator Catherine Cortez Masto's Office Engages with VGM Government Relations During August Recess

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto's Office Engages with VGM Government Relations During August Recess

During the August recess, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto's (D-Nev.) office engaged in staff-level meetings with VGM Government Relations. This engagement is part of a broader effort by VGM Government Relations to build relationships and expand advocacy opportunities with legislators, candidates, and congressional staff across the country. The organization has been strategically reaching out to both Democratic and Republican offices to garner bipartisan support for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) priorities. These conversations provide valuable opportunities to discuss critical issues such as the DMEPOS Relief Act, the SOAR Act, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act, and broader patient access to home-based care, as well as matters related to the 2028 Competitive Bidding program.
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Massachusetts Eliminates Fetal Viability Standard from Abortion Law

Massachusetts Eliminates Fetal Viability Standard from Abortion Law

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has signed a new law that removes restrictions on when a woman can receive an abortion during her pregnancy. This makes Massachusetts the tenth state in recent years to eliminate the fetal viability standard from its abortion regulations. Historically, viability—the point at which a fetus has a meaningful chance of survival outside the womb—was a key component of abortion law, notably established by Roe v. Wade. This standard allowed states to prohibit abortion only after viability. However, since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion rights advocates in states like Massachusetts are increasingly rejecting viability as an arbitrary, medically imprecise, and stigmatizing concept. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now opposes its use in abortion regulations due to the lack of a single definition or straightforward way to establish viability. Groups such as Pregnancy Justice and the National Institute for Reproductive Health argue that the viability...
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U.S. House Committee Chairman Jason Smith Criticizes Non-Profit Hospitals for 'Hedge Fund' Practices

U.S. House Committee Chairman Jason Smith Criticizes Non-Profit Hospitals for 'Hedge Fund' Practices

U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means Chairman Jason Smith has voiced strong criticism regarding the financial practices of non-profit hospitals, stating they 'look like hedge funds with hospital beds because of how they're acting.' This comment was made in the context of examining the financial statements of large healthcare systems like Advocate Health (Atrium Health). According to the source, Advocate Health, which operated 69 hospitals across six states at the end of 2025, is engaged in a merger spree, acquiring profitable tax-exempt hospitals with minimal upfront cash. The organization reportedly holds $58 billion in untaxed assets, including hedge funds, private equity limited partnerships, stocks, bonds, and self-insurance trust funds. Advocate Health has consolidated the management of all its cash and investments, with its board of directors controlling finances that include legacy entities like the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority. As of June, Advocate reported nearly $30 billion of its $58...
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Representative Anna Paulina Luna Proposes Legislation for Disclosure of Foreign Payments to Political Influencers

Representative Anna Paulina Luna Proposes Legislation for Disclosure of Foreign Payments to Political Influencers

Representative Anna Paulina Luna has introduced legislation aimed at requiring political influencers who receive payments from foreign governments to disclose these financial relationships. This proposal addresses a growing concern that foreign adversaries are leveraging online personalities with large audiences to shape American public opinion and sow political division. The legislation seeks to update existing foreign influence laws, recognizing that the next generation of foreign influence operations often occurs through verified social media accounts, viral content, and podcasts, rather than traditional diplomatic channels or covert operations. Luna's bill emphasizes transparency, asserting that the American public deserves to know if the political commentary they consume is funded by foreign entities like Beijing, Moscow, Tehran, or Doha.
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Rep. Henry Cuellar Co-Sponsors Bill to Reverse VA Home-Based Care Reimbursement Cuts for Rural Veterans

Rep. Henry Cuellar Co-Sponsors Bill to Reverse VA Home-Based Care Reimbursement Cuts for Rural Veterans

Representative Henry Cuellar has joined as an original co-sponsor of the "Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act of 2026." This House bill aims to reverse recent reimbursement cuts made by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for home-based care services. The proposed legislation seeks to restore reimbursement levels to those in effect before January 1, 2026. Additionally, it mandates a 90-day notice period before any future cuts are implemented and requires the VA to provide more detailed information regarding provider access and its rate-setting methodologies. Supporters of the bill highlight the adverse impacts of these cuts in states like Texas and New Mexico, while the VA has previously stated that earlier rates were above market levels. The bill has garnered bipartisan co-sponsors and endorsements from various veteran and home-care organizations. In related financial news, Cuellar disclosed $520,000 in fundraising during Q2 2026, with 65.2% from individual donors, and reported $245,900 ...
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Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Faces New Competition Probe in Turkey Over Generic Drug Access

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Faces New Competition Probe in Turkey Over Generic Drug Access

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Faces New Competition Probe in Turkey Over Generic Drug Access
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House Unanimously Passes Bipartisan Bill to Combat China's Trade Crimes, Co-Sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro

House Unanimously Passes Bipartisan Bill to Combat China's Trade Crimes, Co-Sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro

The U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously passed the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02). This legislation aims to provide the Department of Justice (DOJ) with enhanced tools to investigate and prosecute trade-related crimes, particularly those perpetrated by companies based in the People's Republic of China (PRC). The bill was co-sponsored by a broad coalition of representatives, including Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), the top House Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. The act seeks to address issues such as tariff evasion, illegal transshipment, and forced-labor violations that undermine American workers and industries. Key provisions of the bill include establishing a dedicated structure within the DOJ's Criminal Division for trade crime investigations, strengthening coordination among law enforcement agencies, and requiring annual reports to Congress on the DOJ's efforts.
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Congressman Rulli Introduces GRANITE Act to Counter Foreign Online Safety Regulations on U.S. Websites

Congressman Rulli Introduces GRANITE Act to Counter Foreign Online Safety Regulations on U.S. Websites

Republican Congressman Michael Rulli, an ally of President Trump, has introduced the 'Guaranteeing Rights Against Novel International Tyranny and Extortion' (GRANITE) Act. This bill aims to prevent British regulators from enforcing their online safety rules against U.S.-based websites. Additionally, the GRANITE Act seeks to stop U.S. courts from recognizing or enforcing foreign fines related to online speech. Congressman Rulli stated that foreign bureaucrats should not dictate what Americans can say, emphasizing that any foreign judgment attempting to punish an American for speech protected by the First Amendment would be 'dead on arrival' in U.S. courts. The bill addresses concerns that the UK's Online Safety Act, initially intended to protect children, has expanded to infringe upon the free speech rights of U.S. citizens and unfairly target American businesses through the extraterritorial ambitions of its regulator, Ofcom.