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Fwd: Bill Gates takes a big risk on money and politics
by Gunnar Larson 13 May '25

13 May '25

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Devex Newswire <newswire(a)devex.com> Date: Mon, May 12, 2025, 7:05 AM Subject: Bill Gates takes a big risk on money and politics To: <g(a)xny.io> Presented by Concordia. Problems reading this email? Try opening the web version <https://t.devex.com/v/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjJ2p5kqOpDHM1Ql3m0NTE0fKRIfTEx…> <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKND4nFmPynNliO0fv-CMyFtA3mfBJLa…> <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKCS9UVlDdxbHYx6voKTStkV_1rlfZf2…> *PRESENTED BY CONCORDIA <https://t.devex.com/n/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKB85EGQFsitFl9v2tPJ2AojhjSyHm…>* MAY 12, 2025 BY ANNA GAWEL <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjJ0LXCVLvgzqArCy3beGmJ64PCJ2QZJm…> Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates just gave the development world a jolt of much-needed good news, declaring that he's doubling his giving to $200 billion over the next 20 years. We analyze what prompted it and what it means. *Also in today’s edition:* The World Bank orders Africa CDC to cut positions, the U.S. tries to replace the U.N. in Gaza, and more philanthropic buzz. * Happening today: Europe’s development funding is changing. With defense spending up, traditional aid is shifting toward investment that benefits both sides. What does this mean for vulnerable countries and climate action?Join Enabel CEO Jean Van Wetter and former German Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul to discuss Europe’s evolving global role and the future of cooperation. We have few seats remaining, so save your spot now <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKKpa0Gjw1EnbpLSmOGrP7k3oMD43IOV…>.* Opening the flood-Gates [image: Bill Gates.] <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POow22rthIF_AH8OLN8CPKbGr2ie2t7x_…> The Gates Foundation <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKAip7unW4FIZO1ivrTa4MQdQ3_diiPR…> has made big advances over the last 25 years using a methodical, measured approach to philanthropy. But for its 25th anniversary, the world’s biggest development-focused foundation is making a bold bet on the future, pledging to double its giving to $200 billion <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POuljLm84y-KaA5LbhuteuXbhv73228Gv…> over the next two decades — and then *close up shop in 2045*. “It’s *a dramatic gesture by arguably the most important foundation* that we have globally that still reflects this kind of humanitarian ethos that rose and governed so many of our institutions after the Second World War,” Amir Pasic, dean of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjJzLYAsxGOQ1uAnlyBR6GAYfZNP_HhkM…>, tells me. “I was surprised mostly by the timing,” he adds, noting that while most people knew the foundation would eventually wind down, they thought it would be decades after Gates’ death. “I think [the foundation] has been talking about [sunsetting] for some time, and I can only imagine the events of the last three, four months ... at least crystallized in their mind that this is a good opportunity to focus on what they’ve learned over the past 25 years, and double down on those areas where they think they can make the most difference,” Pasic says. The past three to four months is, of course, an allusion to the return of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has taken a sledgehammer to U.S. foreign aid <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKI7hMFp_GE-9NTg-SXiFR-FI26meyDu…>, smashing many of the global health programs Gates has worked to build for decades. Perhaps that’s why Gates met with Trump shortly before he took office, hailing the meeting as a productive one. Today, however, after the president’s scorched-earth policies, the normally reserved Gates has dipped his toe into politics <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POow22rthIF_AH8OLN8CPKbGr2ie2t7x_…>, criticizing the administration’s aid cuts and calling them “horrifying,” “stunning,” and “tragic.” But the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft says he remains optimistic that the progress of the last 25 years can be cemented in the next 20. “*We’re placing our bet on human ingenuity* — on the scientists, health workers, educators, farmers, advocates, and more whose tireless work has already delivered some of the most dramatic gains in human history. They haven’t given up, and neither will we,” Gates wrote in his Optimist newsletter. “*While our timeline is changing, our mission is not*.” *Read:* Risk-averse Gates bets his fortune on the future <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POow22rthIF_AH8OLN8CPKbGr2ie2t7x_…> *+ On May 8, Bill Gates held a discussion and lunch in New York City to celebrate his announcement. Spotted: Michael Bloomberg; journalist Nicholas Kristof; Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi of the African Center for Economic Transformation; Cari Tuna of Open Philanthropy; Ajay Piramal of Piramal Group Foundation; Dr. Tariro Makadzange of Africa Clinical Research Network; and musician Jon Batiste.* A MESSAGE FROM CONCORDIA <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjJ9jZ2jboFpEggaLKybGXEF8g04-mkD_…> *Where diplomacy meets innovation: Concordia Europe Summit 2025* For the first time, Concordia will convene its Europe Summit <https://t.devex.com/n/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjJ9jZ2jboFpEggaLKybGXEF8g04-mk…> in London from June 8 to 10, 2025. This invitation-only event fosters high-level, off-the-record dialogue to drive solutions in energy, security, and economic advancement. Interested in participating? Contact Concordia’s Memberships & Partnerships team <https://t.devex.com/n/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKCgq9lUpGxQQMg8NwGTTq8_hbjPyj…> . Learn more → <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjJ9jZ2jboFpEggaLKybGXEF8g04-mkD_…> Mission alignment The World Bank <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKKz3hO9pwTdZQEwi87Z6PItQW6ETFhk…>, which supports 87 positions at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjJ1fQHGL2-Gh35hkhjk2wetnwd6LH7Tw…>, is directing the Pan-African public health agency to *cut roughly 50% of those positions*, my colleague Sara Jerving writes. Africa CDC has over 520 staff members — excluding short-term consultants — through a mix of funding from African governments and 11 bilateral and multilateral partners. Its financing from the World Bank includes two major grants. Dr. Jean Kaseya, the director-general of Africa CDC, wrote an email to staff last week — which Sara obtained — saying the World Bank directed his agency to begin implementing what he called “significant organizational changes” <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POrHUo-5KRfbBK_1WFNkKZUKcRXXt0g0G…> *to align with the current situation of aid cut[s]* by showing value for money, efficiency, sustainability and impact.” Kaseya said this directive to cut positions came after he met with the World Bank in Washington, D.C. “While we will advocate for the retention of critical positions, we cannot guarantee outcomes,” Kaseya wrote. *Exclusive:* World Bank directs Africa CDC to cut dozens of positions <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POrHUo-5KRfbBK_1WFNkKZUKcRXXt0g0G…> Sponsored by Vitamin Angels *Indonesia revamps its pregnancy supplements to improve maternal health* What’s behind Indonesia’s decision to transition from offering pregnant women iron folic acid to multiple micronutrient supplementation? The country’s Director of Family Health Services Dr. Lovely Daisy and Vitamin Angels’ Quinn Harvey explain. Find out more → <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKC8xL2fGvSTY5QcPINLGfbID9dGTvcy…> Swiss town ain’t big enough for the both of ‘em The Trump administration and Israel are *trying to sideline the United Nations* with a plan to enlist a newly established Geneva-based foundation to run humanitarian operations in the war-torn strip <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POjbW6rOsZ37Uc-AtgCDeIvedpqHWWIdB…>, according to diplomatic and humanitarian sources. On Wednesday, Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, provided an overview to the U.N. Security Council <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKFBidlILXPjNQ9zXPQZ-jIlzEEoI_VM…> on U.S. efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. My colleague Colum Lynch writes that Witkoff and his team have also held meetings with David Beasley, a former South Carolina governor who served as executive director of the World Food Programme <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKLzOMMEjHx4lSgLZNhnizuV7yqtp3X1…>, to participate in the project, according to a source familiar with the matter. A foundation paper circulating in U.N. circles and shared with Devex said the proposed entity’s board of directors would include Nate Mook, former CEO of World Central Kitchen <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKIgdppE2mbUycH2ViZBAEVq2X8svbgH…>, while Beasley is listed as a member of the advisory board — though it says his participation has not been finalized. *The news is not going down well with aid groups*. “Israeli officials have sought to shut down the existing aid system run by 15 UN agencies and 200 NGOs and partners,” said Jens Laerke, Geneva-based spokesperson for the U.N. Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjJ5LNhhkW255BEB8iD2GjoFlUxwkXaz0…>. “It appears to be *a deliberate attempt to weaponize the aid* and we have warned against that for a very long time. Aid should be provided based on humanitarian need to whomever needs it.” *Read:* Trump administration pushes controversial Gaza relief plan on UN <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POjbW6rOsZ37Uc-AtgCDeIvedpqHWWIdB…> <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKIauonoujz8amFKR7SN2HtR2EY0--F_…> *Tomorrow, May 13, join Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group and Natalie Samarasinghe of the Open Society Foundations for a frank discussion about the crossroads facing the United Nations. Space is filling up fast, so register now <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKIauonoujz8amFKR7SN2HtR2EY0--F_…>.* *Cautious rich Asians* Bill Gates is not the only billionaire in town (though he’s definitely one of the most well-known). Asia is home to more than 1,000 billionaires who are expected to collectively sit on a staggering $4.7 trillion in wealth by 2026. While philanthropic giving in the region only accounts for only a small slice of that fortune, *it’s on the upswing*, fueled in part by the explosive growth of tech, the surge of unicorn startups, and booming financial markets, my colleague Ayenat Mersie writes. For comparison, U.S. giving has hovered at around 2% of gross domestic product for decades. If Asian donors were to match that, *an estimated $702 billion could be unleashed*. But right now, Asian philanthropy is a bit of a black box <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POr91FRiPiLQjepZaVSXRuKp4NyyYDSK0…>. Current estimates are hazy because most giving in Asia — as it is in many lower-income countries — tends to be informal and family-based. Many donors also have a more *cautious approach than some of their Western counterparts*, says Luis Alvarado, who heads the Giving to Amplify Earth Action initiative at the World Economic Forum <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjJ60bGCp_RvMxfqSP6aMSnAWZI_LKG-1…> . “These are some of the pain points and tensions of Western philanthropy who push for bigger dollars, bigger figures, bigger banks, bigger big bets, right? Asian philanthropy is trying to grapple with how they want to do it,” Alvarado says. “*I don’t think they want to replicate the Western model*, but they are very committed to outcomes.” *Read:* Asia’s wealth is booming. What about its giving? <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POr91FRiPiLQjepZaVSXRuKp4NyyYDSK0…> [image: Pro] <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKP0plizpUk2fmxteeKi2cXWSSSNHs5p…> *Begin your 15-day free trial of Devex Pro <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKP0plizpUk2fmxteeKi2cXWSSSNHs5p…>* *and instantly access our comprehensive suite of resources: expert analysis, insider briefings, an extensive funding database, curated event listings, and a library of exclusive content <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKM8XmL_1nur-LRv_WDyI724Zbo2AWa6…> designed to keep you ahead.* SPECIAL NOTICE *The insurance breakthrough that development has overlooked* Insurance boosts SDGs by 5.8 points per 1% adoption yet barely appears in development goals. In this sponsored Book Club episode, AXA EssentiALL CEO Garance Wattez-Richard joins Raj Kumar to discuss her book on protecting the middle class through inclusive insurance. Her enterprise now serves 17 million vulnerable customers despite corporate skepticism. The breakthrough insight? Progress isn’t just pushing forward — it’s preventing disasters that pull people back. Listen in → <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjJ2GPDoMGDlOjPXYUpYr4dULjQ82Y7Fj…> In other news In response to severe aid funding cuts, International Rescue Committee President David Miliband *urges redirecting funds* from climate and refugee programs in wealthier nations to lifesaving aid in low-income countries. [ABC News <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKHQzNCz--5x9YaBxtnfx2BVWMUHsqQr…> ] South Africa has criticized the *United States’ plan to resettle white Afrikaners as refugees*. [BBC <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKMwPC_Tccg2NMO7men4_IwXbfyNoR2D…> ] *American foundations are reportedly banding together* to respond to possible changes to their U.S. tax-exempt status. [The Wall Street Journal <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjKN7T8x0NlMAOfmDRMyDcuG13guTba1h…> ] Thank you for reading today’s Newswire, edited by *Fiona Zublin*, copy edited by* Nicole Tablizo*, and produced by *Yula Mediavillo* and* Mariane Samson*. Have a news tip? Email anna.gawel(a)devex.com <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjJ9HZJtjpGlRTiD35_1sd9ySGFrv9FHo…> . *Forwarded by a friend?* Sign up here <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGaYyRjJ1yzMOycVoSymxDrwy0B5NpG8k8DKO1…> to receive the Newswire directly. Devex thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Our editorial content remains independent. Interested in partnering with us? 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Fwd: Ohio Man Charged with Threatening State Public Officials
by Gunnar Larson 13 May '25

13 May '25

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: FBI <fbi(a)subscriptions.fbi.gov> Date: Mon, May 12, 2025, 4:18 PM Subject: Ohio Man Charged with Threatening State Public Officials To: <g(a)xny.io> * National Press Releases * Ohio Man Charged with Threatening State Public Officials A New Albany, Ohio, man has been charged with federal crimes related to sending at least 65 letters and emails to 34 victims—including state public officials, a local TV station, and law enforcement—threatening to kill Ohio public officials. May 12, 2025 Full Press Release <https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/ohio-man-charged-with-threatening-s…> ------------------------------ <https://www.facebook.com/FBI> <https://twitter.com/FBI> <https://www.youtube.com/user/FBI> <https://www.fbi.gov/e-mail-updates?utm_campaign=email-Immediate&utm_medium=…> * You have received this message because you are subscribed to one or more of the following categories: National Press Releases * Manage Subscription <https://delivery.fbi.gov/account-reminder> | Unsubscribe <https://delivery.fbi.gov/subscriber/c57956fe9830b3f02d21fe7a2581942df706f0b…> If you have questions about this service, email us at delivery(a)subscriptions.fbi.gov. Help <https://www.fbi.gov/e-mail-updates?utm_campaign=email-Immediate&utm_medium=…> | Privacy Policy <http://www.fbi.gov/privacy_policy?utm_campaign=email-Immediate&utm_medium=e…> | Visit FBI.gov <https://www.fbi.gov/?utm_campaign=email-Immediate&utm_medium=email&utm_sour…>

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JP Morgan Plans To End UK WeRealize Case Amid Greek Suit
by Gunnar Larson 13 May '25

13 May '25

JP Morgan Plans To End UK WeRealize Case Amid Greek Suit <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/2335957?nl_pk=9aaa8…> By Sophia Dourou J.P. Morgan International Finance has said it intends to drop a legal claim in England that accused fintech company WeRealize of planning to breach the terms of a joint venture agreement in the latest chapter of the protracted legal battle between the business partners. Read full article » <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/2335957?nl_pk=9aaa8…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/2335957?nl_pk=9aaa8…>

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I am so thankful that I got the help I needed with Dr. Seckin and Dr. Chu at Lenox Hill Hospital. After many months of a grumbly appendix, I finally had to seek help the day of our Steve Irwin Gala. After consulting with Dr. Seckin, we agreed that if I flew to New York, he could also check for endometriosis again. Surgery was a success. My appendix was removed, along with another 14 lesions (after having 37 endometriosis lesions and a cyst removed two years ago). I also had a repair to a large hernia I acqu
by Gunnar Larson 13 May '25

13 May '25

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16N8mtHoi8/ I am so thankful that I got the help I needed with Dr. Seckin and Dr. Chu at Lenox Hill Hospital. After many months of a grumbly appendix, I finally had to seek help the day of our Steve Irwin Gala. After consulting with Dr. Seckin, we agreed that if I flew to New York, he could also check for endometriosis again. Surgery was a success. My appendix was removed, along with another 14 lesions (after having 37 endometriosis lesions and a cyst removed two years ago). I also had a repair to a large hernia I acquired through childbirth four years ago. Thankfully, I am on the road to recovery. I appreciate all the kind messages I’ve received, and the support for our Gala in Las Vegas. Credit to Robert for hosting the evening, he did such an incredible job raising funds and awareness for Wildlife Warriors. And thanks to my family for always being there for me. I have so much love for dear Chandler & sweet Grace. Thank you to Mum for being there with me every step of the way. And rest assured, I’ll see you at the next Steve Irwin Gala in Brisbane this November. One day at a time. Time to heal now. Sending my love to you all.

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"...whatever hurts our human family, we can only care about if we know about it. That's my job." Shes a pretty great woman.
by Gunnar Larson 13 May '25

13 May '25

Happy Birthday Dad! "...whatever hurts our human family, we can only care about if we know about it. That's my job." Shes a pretty great woman. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/12HJ66vW4To/

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794 Highlights to a Course in Miracles
by Gunnar Larson 13 May '25

13 May '25

794 Highlights to a Course in Miracles https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v9ATR9oaOWVly5CzRO6r0FRVG8NJ8-J1/view?usp=…

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Congressman Casten: Trump’s Assault on the Rule of Law Is Causing Capital Flight Out of U.S. by Foreign Investors
by Gunnar Larson 12 May '25

12 May '25

https://wallstreetonparade.com/2025/05/congressman-casten-trumps-assault-on… *By Pam Martens and Russ Martens <https://wallstreetonparade.com/about-3/about/>: May 5, 2025 ~* <https://wallstreetonparade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Congressman-Sean-…> Congressman Sean Casten, Democrat of Illinois Donald Trump’s assault on the rule of law is now the ubiquitous and defining feature of his administration. That assault also represents the gravest threat to the national security of the United States, its economic standing, and the stability of the U.S. financial system. Take, for example, what has happened recently. Last Wednesday, Congressman Sean Casten, Democrat of Illinois, stated the following in an open meeting of the House Financial Services Committee: “For the first time in my memory, foreign investors are not only fleeing U.S. equities but are fleeing U.S. Treasuries. I met with banks last week – banks under our jurisdiction – who said that the international community is putting a risk premium on investments in the United States because of regulatory risk and because they question whether the rule of law that they depend on to execute contracts in the United States will be executed as it will be in European markets where that capital is running to. “So, if you need to tell yourself before you go to bed that you’re a deficit buster, fine, but just acknowledge you’re lying. This is not about deficit busting. This is about making rich people richer, and that’s it.” Casten was referring to the latest efforts of the Trump administration to gut regulatory agencies that provide oversight of Wall Street’s entrenched history of fraud and lawlessness. The ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), released a statement last week explaining the latest assaults as follows: “Now is the time for Congress to step up. Instead, Committee Republicans are cosigning this destruction and helping Trump and Co-President Elon Musk dismantle the agencies responsible for helping bring down costs, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau [CFPB]. Today, they are slashing the Bureau’s budget by 70%… “Republicans are also pushing to gut the Financial Stability Oversight Council and Treasury’s Office of Financial Research – agencies designed to prevent another financial crisis like in 2008. They are eliminating funding for affordable housing construction despite a national homelessness crisis. And they are so desperate to do Trump’s bidding that they’re eliminating another agency that doesn’t cost taxpayers anything, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board [PCAOB], which oversees auditors to prevent frauds like Enron and ensure that companies controlled by the Chinese Communist Party are on the up and up.” The plan to kill the PCAOB has received scant media coverage but the language to kill its independence and fold it into the Securities and Exchange Commission appeared in a Memorandum <https://docs.house.gov/meetings/BA/BA00/20250430/118145/HMKP-119-BA00-20250…> released by the Republican leadership of the House Financial Services Committee last Wednesday. Neutering the PCAOB would be completely in line with Trump’s efforts right out of the starting gate. On February 10, Trump issued an Executive Order <https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/pausing-foreign-cor…> that suspended the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for 180 days, giving an all clear to U.S. corporations to bribe officials in foreign countries to get business deals approved. The order bars federal prosecutors from starting any new FCPA investigations, enforcing new actions and orders a review of existing FCPA investigations to “restore proper bounds” on applying the FCPA law. In early March the Trump administration gutted another anti-corruption law, the Corporate Transparency Act, which had become law in 2021. Its goal is to curb anonymous shell companies from money laundering in the U.S. behind a curtain of darkness. It requires that the true owners of these shell companies file beneficial ownership information into a federal registry established by the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and it imposes stiff fines and up to two years in prison for failure to do so. Quietly, with little public notice, on March 2 Trump’s newly installed Treasury Secretary (hedge fund honcho Scott Bessent <https://wallstreetonparade.com/2024/11/donald-trumps-treasury-nominee-made-…>) announced that he would not enforce the Corporate Transparency Act as the law was written. The statement from the Treasury Department said this <https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0038>: “The Treasury Department is announcing today that, with respect to the Corporate Transparency Act, not only will it not enforce any penalties or fines associated with the beneficial ownership information reporting rule under the existing regulatory deadlines, but it will further not enforce any penalties or fines against U.S. citizens or domestic reporting companies or their beneficial owners after the forthcoming rule changes take effect either. The Treasury Department will further be issuing a proposed rulemaking that will narrow the scope of the rule to foreign reporting companies only. Treasury takes this step in the interest of supporting hard-working American taxpayers and small businesses and ensuring that the rule is appropriately tailored to advance the public interest.” In May of last year, Trump was unanimously convicted on 34 felony counts by a 12-member jury in New York of falsifying business records. His credentials on what constitutes ethical business practices would thus seem to be highly suspect. Last evening, the CBS News program, *60 Minutes*, aired a segment on Trump’s assault on law firms <https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-orders-target-law-firms-some-lawyers-say…>, including Big Law firms, which had taken on clients whose interests were adversarial to Trump’s personal, business or political interests. In recent weeks, Trump has signed Executive Orders that barred these law firms from the grounds of federal courthouses where they need access in order to represent clients and threatened to cancel the federal contracts of their clients. A senior partner at one of the law firms told *60 Minutes* that within hours of the Executive Order being signed by Trump, his major clients were threatening to drop the firm as its counsel. Mark Elias, one of the lawyers targeted by name in Trump’s Executive Orders, agreed to be interviewed by *60 Minutes*. Elias had this to say: “It is trying to intimidate them the way in which a mob boss intimidates people in the neighborhood that he is seeking to either exact protection money from or engage in other nefarious conduct. I mean, the fact is that these law firms are being told, ‘If you don’t play ball with us, maybe somethin’ really bad will happen to you.’ ” John Keker is a prominent attorney and Democrat in San Franciso. He was asked by the *60 Minutes* moderator of the segment, Scott Pelley, this: “If the president brings the legal profession to heel what situation is the country in then?” Keker responded: “No rule of law. You’re in a dictatorship. That’s what’s happened in China. It happened in Russia. These are legal systems that look like legal systems, but in fact are controlled by a dictatorship.” On May 1, *Newsweek reported <https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-poll-dangerous-dictator-2066852>* on a new poll that found that 52 percent of Americans view Trump as a “dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy.” *Related Article:* *Trump’s Attacks on Big Law, Universities, and the Media Have a Common Goal: Silence Dissent Against Authoritarian Rule <https://wallstreetonparade.com/2025/03/trumps-attacks-on-big-law-universiti…>*

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[ot][spam][crazy][personal] thinkpad tp25 anniversary edition
by Karl Semich 08 May '25

08 May '25

i’ve been using a gift tp25 for some years. it’s a special lenovo laptop edition that is similar to the t470 and t480. as the years have passed, it gets harder to find information on repairing this laptop online. last time or two ago i replaced the system board, i engaged a long list of substitute part numbers for system boards that would fit and boot. i haven’t found this list again. i originally made it by looking at simple commonalities on support.lenovo.com and ebay.com , but simple search terms do not return as many results now as they did before, and support.lenovo.com is only showing one system board now for my model number. i’m seeing these values in the bios atm: bios ver: N1QETA3W ec ver: N1QHT54W model: 20K70004US unit serial: PF12XKZP board serial: L1HF83M000D cpu: i7-7500u 2.7ghz uuid: 1f4bfcc-2c71-11b2-a85c-955ac813bb93 os license: SDK0J40697 oa3 id: 3305102936368 may have made copy mistakes the problem i have right now is that the system does not charge, instead emitting a pungent smell for some time after the charger is plugged in. i removed the bottom cover but

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Fwd: FOIL Request No. 2023-096828 - Larson - LendingClub.com September 11 Board of Directors
by Gunnar Larson 03 May '25

03 May '25

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> Date: Wed, Oct 23, 2024, 5:40 AM Subject: Fwd: FOIL Request No. 2023-096828 - Larson - LendingClub.com September 11 Board of Directors To: <FOIL.Appeals(a)dfs.ny.gov>, JeanBaptiste, Pascale (DFS) < Pascale.JeanBaptiste(a)dfs.ny.gov> Cc: <letitia.james(a)ag.ny.gov>, Garrett, Carmen (DFS) < Carmen.Garrett(a)dfs.ny.gov>, Reader, Shaun <sreader(a)curtis.com> Dear Department of Financial Services (NY-DFS): xNY.io - Bank.org elects to appeal FOIL Request No. 2023-096828 concerning LendingClub.com's September 11 Board of Directors resignation of the (soon to be) former Superintendent. NY-DFS is aware that LendingClub.com wrote xNY.io - Bank.org back without delay when we contacted them seeking relevant information. NY-DFS is no more special than LendingClub.com and as such our appeal today is now filed. Thank you, Gunnar ✌️ -- Gunnar Larson xNY.io - Bank.org 917-580-8053 ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: JeanBaptiste, Pascale (DFS) <Pascale.JeanBaptiste(a)dfs.ny.gov> Date: Tue, Oct 22, 2024, 3:26 PM Subject: FOIL Request No. 2023-096828 - Larson To: Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> Cc: Garrett, Carmen (DFS) <Carmen.Garrett(a)dfs.ny.gov> Dear Gunnar Larson: Please see the attached determination in response to your FOIL request. Thank you. SENT VIA EMAIL (G(a)xny.io) October 21, 2024 Gunnar D. Larson xNY.io – Bank.org 406 West 25th Street New York, NY 10001 Re: Freedom of Information Law (“FOIL”) Tracking No. 2023-096828 Dear Gunnar D. Larson: I write in response to the FOIL request that you submitted to the New York State Department of Financial Services (“Department”), which has been assigned the above-referenced tracking and requests in pertinent part: “Dear Sir or Madam: Please submit any and all records related to the LendingClub.com September 11 Board of Directors resignation below. The date of the resignation is in question. You may understand the sensitive nature of the date of the resignation Gunnar Larson Sun, Oct 24, 2021, 5:06 PM to Anuj, Investor, Press Hello there: Thank you very much for the reply. Gunnar On Sun, Oct 24, 2021, 11:36 AM Anuj Nayar wrote: Hi Gunnar On September 11, 2021, in connection with her nomination to serve as superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, Adrienne Harris notified us of her resignation, effective September 12, 2021, from the Company’s Board. Details can be found in the 8k filed on 9/15/21 (below) https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK- 0001409970/bbc437e4-2920- 4d5d-8e0d-86bca622f0ca.pdf From: Gunnar Larson Date: Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 9:37 AM To: Investor Relations , Press Cc: Gunnar Larson Subject: [EXT] LendingClub: Current Board of Directors CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Madam or Sir: Good day to you. Surveying market research, I was wondering if you can kindly confirm, from LendingClub's July 15, 2021 press release: Is Ms. Adrienne Harris currently a member of LendingClub's board of directors? https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lendingclub-appoints- adrienne-harris-to-its- board-of-directors-301335198.html#financial- modal [prnewswire.com] Reviewing your website, Ms. Harris is not referenced:https://www.lendingclub.com/company/leadership Bloomberg and other sources do not reference Ms. Harris as a LendingClub board member: https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/LC:US [bloomberg.com] Sending you the very best regards. Thank you, Gunnar -- Gunnar Larson - xNY.io [xny.io] | Bank.org [bank.org] MSc [unic.ac.cy] - Digital Currency MBA [unic.ac.cy] - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip) G(a)xNY.io +1- 646-454- 9107 New York, New York 10001.” Your current request is an exact duplicate of a request that you previously submitted to the Department on January 26, 2022, which was assigned the tracking number 2022- 089773 and reads as follows: “Dear Sir or Madam: Please submit any and all records related to the LendingClub.com September 11 Board of Directors resignation below. The date of the resignation is in question. You may understand the sensitive nature of the date of the resignation. Gunnar Larson Sun, Oct 24, 2021, 5:06 PM to Anuj, Investor, Press Hello there: Thank you very much for the reply. Gunnar On Sun, Oct 24, 2021, 11:36 AM Anuj Nayar wrote: Hi Gunnar On September 11, 2021, in connection with her nomination to serve as superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, Adrienne Harris notified us of her resignation, effective September 12, 2021, from the Company’s Board. Details can be found in the 8k filed on 9/15/21 (below) https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0001409970/bbc437e4-2920- 4d5d-8e0d-86bca622f0ca.pdf From: Gunnar Larson Date: Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 9:37 AM To: Investor Relations , Press Cc: Gunnar Larson Subject: [EXT] LendingClub: Current Board of Directors CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Madam or Sir: Good day to you. Surveying market research, I was wondering if you can kindly confirm, from LendingClub's July 15, 2021 press release: Is Ms. Adrienne Harris currently a member of LendingClub's board of directors? https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lendingclub-appoints- adrienne-harris-to-its-board-of-directors-301335198.html#financial-modal [prnewswire.com] Reviewing your website, Ms. Harris is not referenced:https://www.lendingclub.com/company/leadership Bloomberg and other sources do not reference Ms. Harris as a LendingClub board member: https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/LC:US [bloomberg.com] Sending you the very best regards. Thank you, Gunnar -- Gunnar Larson - xNY.io [xny.io] | Bank.org [bank.org] MSc [unic.ac.cy] - Digital Currency MBA [unic.ac.cy] - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip) G(a)xNY.io +1- 646-454-9107 New York, New York 10001.” On January 19, 2023, the Department denied your previous request pursuant to Public Officers Law § 89(3) as not reasonably described because it did not clearly describe the records sought to enable the Department to conduct a reasonable search for such records. Notwithstanding this denial, the Department advised you that, in August of 2021, the Superintendent resigned from the Board of Directors of the Lending Club, effective September 12,2021. Consequently, the Department considers your current request to be duplicative of the one assigned tracking number 2022-089773, which resulted in a final Department determination. An agency is not required to consider duplicate requests for records for which it has already made a final determination. see Walker v. Roque, 137 A.D.3d 643, 643-44 (1st Dep’t 2016) (affirming dismissal of Article 78 petition because FOIL request at issue was “duplicative of [petitioner’s prior] FOIL request seeking essentially the same materials pertaining to the same criminal case, notwithstanding that the prior request was more detailed than the instant request,” and because petitioner was precluded from challenging denial of prior request); Zarvela v. Banks, 117 A.D.3d 1070, 1071 (2d Dep’t 2014), lv. to appeal denied, 24 N.Y.3d 906 (2014) (affirming denial of petition as a “belated attempt to seek judicial review of [a] prior determination” that was “duplicative” of the instant request); Garcia v. Division of State Police, 302 A.D.2d 755, 756 (3d Dep’t 2003) (affirming dismissal of petition where FOIL request was “nearly identical” to a prior request that agency had denied and “more specific” than an even earlier request FOIL request that was the subject of a prior Article 78 proceeding); Pennington v. Clark, 1 A.D.3d 912, 912 (4th Dep’t 2003) (recognizing that “[i]f two FOIL requests are duplicative, the court may dismiss the proceeding challenging a determination of the latter request, as a belated attempt to seek judicial review of the denial of the first request”) (citations omitted). Additionally, there has been no change in circumstances, i.e., no additional records in possession of the Department since the January 19, 2023 determination. see Corbin v Ward, 160 A.D.2d 596, lv. denied 76 N.Y.2d 706, 706 (1st Dep’t 1990) (petitioner may not “obtain reconsideration of [a] prior request without any change in circumstances”). Based on the foregoing, the Department will not consider your current FOIL request because it is duplicative of a request that you previously submitted, and for which the Department has already made a final determination. Moreover, there has been no change in circumstances since that determination was made. Accordingly, your request is denied as duplicative and is now closed. Pursuant to N.Y. Public Officers Law § 89(4), you may appeal this determination within 30 days by sending an email to FOIL.Appeals(a)dfs.ny.gov. Very truly yours, Pascale Jean-Baptiste FOIL Officer

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[crazy][personal] Contixo TD1 Dragonfly
by Karl Semich 02 May '25

02 May '25

1 2