Police question socialist business owner over ‘Most Wanted CEO’ playing cards
A new card game called “Most Wanted CEO” is stirring controversy. The game, created by the self-described socialist apparel company Comrade Workwear, features a deck of cards with prominent CEOs and QR codes linking to pages explaining why they are deemed “evil.”
James Harr, the founder of Comrade Workwear, took to TikTok to explain the game. Harr listed several of the CEOs featured in the deck, including the heads of Walmart, Northrop Grumman, Dow Chemical, Shell and the Sackler family.
The game’s debut comes in the wake of the Dec. 4 killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. Harr praised the assassination in a TikTok video, calling Thompson’s death “good news” and describing the assassin as a hero.
Harr said police visited him on the morning of Monday, Dec. 16.
“Well, the cops showed up at my door this morning,” Harr said. “I guess making CEO Most Wanted playing cards gets you noticed. But don’t worry, I’m all good on the police front of things for now.”
“I’m not suggesting anyone should cause any physical harm to anyone, but I do want people to know who is making their life harder, who is stealing from them, who is deciding that a couple more percentage points of profit is worth the life of your loved ones,” Harr said in the statement.
While polls show that the majority of Americans disapprove of celebrating Thompson’s death, some people have expressed support for the assassin, Luigi Mangione.
A backpack company in San Francisco has faced harassment after it was revealed the owner had tipped off police in an effort to help authorities locate Mangione when he was on the run.
Backpack company under fire for police tip in death of UnitedHealthcare CEO
Threats continue to funnel in surrounding the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and they’re not for the suspected killer. Peak Design, a San Francisco based backpack company, is under fire for its alleged involvement in the case.
Peak Design CEO Peter Dering, and his employees, are receiving backlash after reports he called police with a tip to help find Luigi Mangione, 26.
On Dec. 5, Dering told The New York Times that he called the police tip line when he was alerted about the shooter wearing his company’s design in a surveillance video.
During the interview, Dering said he would do anything to help track the killer down, but said he would have to check with his general counsel to see what details he could release to authorities.
His comments caused some users on social media to turn against the company, calling Dering a “snitch.” TikTok videos now share users recommending to remove serial tags from their backpacks, which are typically used to track them if they are lost or stolen.
The negative public response pushed the CEO to send an email to customers. He said he takes their privacy seriously and misinformation on social media has led to serious threats for him and his employees.
“I ask that you please consider the facts we are providing here and continue to instill trust in the Peak.”
Statement by Peak Design CEO Peter Dering
Dering said hundreds of people called into the tip line when they saw the familiar bag they identified to be one of the company’s.
Following the shooting of Thompson earlier this month in Manhattan, the backpack was later found discarded along with an amount of Monopoly money and a jacket.
Dering confirmed it was the older version of the Everyday Backpack, a product his company currently sells. He wrote Peak Design did not aid the police by providing any customer information, and the bag didn’t have a serial number to identify the owner.
Dering reassured customers he would only comply if a court order pushed him to release buyer details.
Mangione supporters raise tens of thousands of dollars for legal defense
Supporters of Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, are raising tens of thousands of dollars to fund his legal defense. The development is adding to fears among law enforcement that Mangione is being turned into a “martyr” amid rising threats against other CEOs in the wake of Thompson’s murder.
Several online defense funds from anonymous users have popped up for Mangione. That includes one on the crowdfunding site GiveSendGo, which raised over $50,000 from nearly 1,500 donors as of Thursday, Dec. 12.
The defense fund has dubbed itself “The December 4th Legal Committee.” It’s an apparent reference to the day investigators say Mangione gunned down Thompson on the streets of Manhattan.
The fund’s organizer says they do not support violence but believes “in the constitutional right to fair legal representation.”
GiveSendGo told ABC News that it takes concerns about the fundraising campaign seriously but noted that it allows legal defense funds as it believes in “due process.”
Other crowdfunding websites, like GoFundMe, have taken down Mangione’s legal defense funding efforts. The company states that it bars “fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes.”
Mangione’s attorney reportedly said that while his client should be presumed innocent, he doesn’t feel comfortable accepting money from supporters.
Reddit is also taking action against users posting what investigators say is Mangione’s manifesto by removing or restricting links to the document.
While some users accused the platform of censorship, the company said it violates their violent content policy.
Although many praise Mangione’s alleged actions, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called the support “deeply disturbing.”
Prosecutors in New York City are working to secure an indictment against Mangione, who is still in custody in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona on Monday, Dec. 9.
Bill would force Big Health Care to sell pharmacies within 3 years
A group of bipartisan lawmakers introduced legislation that would force companies that own health insurers or pharmacy benefit managers to divest the pharmacies they own. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said they hope to end the “gross conflict of interest that enables these companies to enrich themselves at the expense of patients and independent pharmacies.”
Under this legislation, which is not likely to pass before the end of the session, it would be illegal to directly or indirectly own a pharmacy while owning either an insurance company or pharmacy benefit manager, known as a PBM. Companies that do would have three years to sell off the pharmacy business.
The bill, which targets the biggest health care companies in the world, is called the Patients Before Monopolies Act, or PBM Act.
“It’s a middleman between a drug manufacturer and the pharmacy, and ultimately to the patient who needs the medication,” said Wendell Potter, a former Cigna insurance executive. “And insurance companies used to just hire them or use them to access the medicines and be their consultant.”
But now, major insurance companies own the PBMs.
Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission released an interim report on PBMs’ effect on prescription drug prices. That report found the top three PBMs, all owned by health insurance companies, control around 80% of prescription drug claims for 270 million people.
“PBMs have manipulated the market to enrich themselves — hiking up drug costs, cheating employers, and driving small pharmacies out of business,” Warren said in a statement.
“This legislation will stop the insurance companies and PBMs from gobbling up even more of American health care and charging American families more and more for less,” Hawley added.
The industry pushed back against the assertions from the senators.
“This proposed legislation would severely limit access to safe and affordable pharmacies that patients value and rely on for prescription drugs,” a PBM trade group, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, said in a statement. “The truth is PBM-affiliated pharmacies, including mail-service and specialty pharmacies, have a proven track record of providing convenient, reliable, and affordable options for patients to access prescription drugs.”
In a survey commissioned by PCMA, 90% of responding employers “expressed satisfaction with their PBMs’ clarity and transparency of contract terms,” while 88% “expressed satisfaction with their PBMs’ ability to provide the lowest costs for employees at the pharmacy counter.”
Consolidation in the industry put a lot of power in the hands of PBMs, according to Potter.
CVS bought pharmacy benefits manager Caremark in 2007 for nearly $21 billion. It also owns health insurer Aetna.
Meanwhile, insurer UnitedHealth Group owns Optum, which has the PBM OptumRX.
All three of these companies offer mail-in pharmacy products, and CVS has nearly 10,000 physical locations.
“These companies ultimately saw that there would be a way for them to make excess profits by owning these pharmacy benefit managers,” said Potter, who is now president of the Center for Health and Democracy. “So Cigna’s now more apt to be described as a PBM or pharmacy benefit manager that also happens to own health insurance plans or operate health insurance plans. It’s an entirely different company.”
“I started practicing pharmacy way back in 1980 and PBMs really started out as being nothing but processing,” Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., told Straight Arrow News. “They just process claims. And all of a sudden, formularies became very prevalent, in hospital settings and in other ways, and insurance companies began to understand that they could influence the price of a medication by including them on their primary, on their formulary.”
Formularies are lists of prescription drugs covered by an insurance plan.
“You have patient steering, where the PBMs, the insurance companies, are steering their patients toward their pharmacy, and they reimburse their pharmacies more than they reimburse independent retail pharmacies,” Carter said. “Secondly, you know, there are oftentimes when the independent retail pharmacy can’t even participate, can’t even service the patient.”
Carter said there are many cases where pharmacies are reimbursed less by insurance than the drug costs. Because of issues making ends meet, hundreds of independent retail pharmacies are closing every year.
Meanwhile, major health care companies are gobbling up independent pharmacies, only to close down hundreds of stores a year themselves.
Healthcare execs ‘wanted’ posters pop up in NYC after Thompson’s murder
Following the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week, “wanted” posters for health care and financial executives are now reportedly popping up around New York City. The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced Tuesday, Dec. 10, that it is investigating these threatening images.
The posters include pictures of insurance leaders and Thompson with a red “x” crossing his image out. It’s the latest in a series of incidents sparking fear among business leaders in the wake of Thompson’s fatal shooting on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
The NYPD says it knows of a wave of online threats against executives.
Luigi Mangione, 26, is charged with Thompson’s murder in New York City. Police said they found him with a manifesto condemning what he saw as insurance companies choosing profits over people. Mangione reportedly wrote, “These parasites simply had it coming.”
New York authorities say they’re on the lookout for extremists who may see “Mangione as a martyr” and person to imitate.
Following the shooting of Thompson, social media praise for Mangione has skyrocketed. Many online have called him a “hero,” and others suggested the incident could spark a discussion about healthcare policy in the United States.
In a bulletin on Tuesday, Dec. 10, New York police warned against social media posts in support of Thompson’s killing and said support for Mangione may represent a heightened threat level for high-profile executives.
Federal judge blocks ‘Obamacare’ coverage for DACA recipients
A federal judge this week blocked health care coverage for DACA recipients under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These immigrants, also known as “Dreamers,” are individuals who were brought to the United States illegally as children. Many of them are now adults and only know the U.S. as home.
Last month, a Biden administration rule went into effect, allowing DACA recipients to enroll in a health plan under “Obamacare,” just as the open enrollment period began. The White House had projected the rule would grant more than 100,000 “Dreamers” the ability to sign up for government-funded health care.
The states filed a lawsuit in August, arguing that the Biden administration’s rule would increase costs for the states and encourage immigrants to remain in the U.S. illegally.
Judge Traynor ruled that CMS “acted contrary to law,” adding that the states “are likely to suffer irreparable harm from the expenses associated with carrying out the final rule.”
This ruling means that, unless “Dreamers” are enrolled in health care through their employer, they have no other option for health care coverage unless they purchase directly from an insurer — often at a cost of hundreds of dollars per month.
Upon visiting UnitedHealthcare’s website to explore an individual plan and after filling in the necessary information, the cheapest available plan was $468 a month, with an $8,250 deductible.
Kris Kobach, the attorney general of Kansas and leader of the plaintiffs in the case, responded to the ruling in a post on X, writing: “Big win for the rule of law. Congress never intended that illegal aliens should receive Obama care benefits. Indeed, two laws prohibit them from receiving such benefits. The Biden administration tried to break those laws. But we fought back, and defeated the Justice Department.”
United We Dream, an immigrant advocacy group, called the judge’s ruling detrimental, stating, “Everyone, no matter what their immigration status is, deserves to be able to go to the doctor and access medical care. It is cruel beyond words to deny someone the resources to be able to prioritize their health and well-being and to make rights like healthcare access dependent on where you live.”
In most states, open enrollment for ACA plans runs until Jan. 15, 2025.
UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect fights extradition to NY, denied bail in PA
New details continue to emerge about the man charged with murder in the killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO. And wildfires burn out of control in southern California as strong winds are forecast to make matters worse. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.
UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect fights extradition to NY, denied bail in PA
Luigi Mangione remains in custody in Pennsylvania as he fights extradition to New York one week after authorities say he shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel.
The murder suspect did not waive his extradition to New York. That means Mangione will remain in custody in Pennsylvania as he has 14 days to challenge the detention.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said it will seek a governor’s warrant to force extradition to New York where Mangione faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she will sign a warrant for his extradition to ensure he is “tried and held accountable.”
Watch the @ABC7NY interview where Deputy Commissioner of @NYPDCT Rebecca Weiner and Chief of @NYPDDetectives Joseph Kenny discuss the ongoing investigation regarding the Midtown Manhattan homicide ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/3WH9Y0JkMJ
In court Tuesday, Mangione was denied bail on the felony charges of forgery and carrying a firearm without a license in Pennsylvania.
“He has indicated a plea of not guilty. The only charges that we’ve seen thus far, have been the ones here in Pennsylvania. And we have pled not guilty to those charges,” his attorney Thomas Dickey told reporters.
As the investigation in New York murder continues, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told Fox News they are looking into whether the suspect suffered a back injury and filed any claims with the insurance industry prior to the shooting. Mangione’s roommate in Hawaii told various broadcasts Mangione’s back surgery caused him great pain and he was extremely angry about it.
Mangione had three pages of writing on him when he was arrested inside a Pennsylvania McDonald’s Monday morning, Dec. 9. The NYPD said the notes were addressed to “the feds” and told authorities he acted alone.
Investigators said Mangione may have been inspired by the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and they’re working to determine whether Thompson was the target of “a symbolic takedown” against corporate corruption.
In November, Mangione’s mother had filed a missing persons report for him in San Francisco. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, that came after no one had heard from Mangione since July.
In a statement, Mangione’s family said, “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.”
Fallout from South Korea’s short-lived martial law period
The fallout from South Korea’s martial law declaration widens as the imprisoned former defense minister attempted to take his own life.
Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is currently being detained at a facility in Seoul on alleged collusion with President Yoon Suk Yeol in imposing martial law last week, attempted to take his own life late Tuesday night.https://t.co/aHM6HP5TUS
Authorities said former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun has been moved to an isolation room after an attempt on his own life before his formal arrest warrant was issued Tuesday night. Kim was the first public figure to be detained over the martial law declaration on Dec. 3 and is accused of being the one to recommend the move.
Separately Tuesday, South Korean police said they sent officers to search President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office as part of the investigation into the declaration.
Yoon is now banned from leaving the country as police and prosecutors investigate whether he and his supporters in the government as well as the military committed an insurrection when they sent armed troops into the National Assembly last week to try to prevent lawmakers from gathering to cancel the martial law decree. They were ultimately unsuccessful; lawmakers voted unanimously to end martial law just six hours after it was put in place.
Investigators have vowed to arrest, or at least detain, Yoon, who is still the country’s president. He refused to resign after an impeachment attempt on Saturday, Dec. 8, failed when members of his party left parliament and boycotted the vote.
The country’s main opposition party says it’s preparing a new impeachment motion and a vote on that is expected as early as this Saturday, Dec. 14.
Malibu wildfire reaches more than 3,000 acres, 0% contained
Firefighters in Southern California are battling a raging wildfire that has prompted evacuations and damaged homes in the affluent beach community of Malibu, northwest of Los Angeles. The Franklin Fire has spread to more than 3,000 acres and was 0% contained as of CalFire’s update at 9:47 p.m. PT Tuesday.
The fast-moving inferno broke out late Monday night and quickly grew, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds. Some gusts were reported as strong as 90 miles per hour.
Widespread Red Flag conditions across much of Southern California due to Santa Ana Winds will continue to be a threat to residents and property throughout the week.
The Franklin Fire in L.A. County has already consumed over 2200 acres this morning, forcing many evacuations. For… pic.twitter.com/7diQcNdi6B
More than 1,500 firefighters had been assigned to battle the flames and smoke.
Students, teachers and administrators at Pepperdine University were told to shelter in place as the fire kept getting closer and closer. Final exams were canceled.
There have been no reports of deaths or serious injuries, but officials said the fire has destroyed at least seven homes so far. The National Weather Service forecast days of extreme dry windy weather ahead.
Federal judge blocks sale of Infowars to The Onion
Jones was forced to put the platform up for sale to help pay $1.5 billion in damages that he owes to the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims for falsely claiming the massacre in Connecticut was a hoax.
Tuesday night, a federal bankruptcy judge said there was a lack of transparency in the auction process, and it failed to maximize value for the victims’ families, even though they had given their approval for Infowars to be sold to The Onion for an undisclosed amount of money.
NJ lawmaker calls for ‘limited state of emergency’ over drones
Republican state Sen. Jon Bramnick said mysterious drones seen flying over New Jersey in recent weeks should prompt a “limited state of emergency.” Bramnick said in a statement New Jersey should ban all drones until the public receives an explanation regarding these multiple sightings.
His statement came after the mayors of 21 New Jersey towns wrote a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy demanding action.
The FBI so far has only said it is doing all it can to figure out what is going on and the public can continue to call in tips.
This comes a year after GM grounded its fleet of driverless vehicles after an accident in California that led to Cruise being fined $1.5 million.
GM, which owns about 90% of Cruise, said it intends to buy the remainder of the company and will combine GM and Cruise technical teams. GM cited an “increasingly competitive robotaxi market” as one reason it will no longer fund the business.
Cruise founder Kyle Vogt, who left the company in 2023, reacted to the news on X saying, “In case it was unclear before, it is clear now: GM are a bunch of dummies.”
Pa. McDonald’s ‘review bombed’ after arrest of suspected CEO shooter
A McDonald’s employee’s actions led to the arrest of the man suspected of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Pennsylvania law enforcement praised the worker for a break in the case while some corners of the internet are doing the complete opposite.
The worker has been labeled a “snitch” and a “rat” for tipping off police to the fast-food chain’s Altoona restaurant.
Luigi Mangione, 26, was spotted eating at a local McDonald’s. The employee recognized the man based on photos released by the NYPD during their hunt for the elusive shooter. Thompson was shot in the back on Dec. 4 on the streets of Manhattan in an attack that police call targeted.
The tip from the worker also opened the flood gates to negative reviews inundating Google. Dozens of people left one-star reviews for three McDonald’s locations in Altoona.
“This locations has rats in the kitchen that will make you sick and your insurance isn’t going to cover it,” said one review.
It’s the latest case of “review bombing,” when businesses are slammed with bad reviews for unrelated situations. Another Pennsylvania McDonald’s went through the same thing in October after Donald Trump visited and worked the drive-thru line while on the campaign trail.
Google said the reviews go against its current policy and the company stepped in to remove any comments related to the shooting.
Yelp also made the same decision. The company began shutting down reviews for the locations. A statement also pops up on its website, citing unusual activity.
“This business recently received increased public attention, which often means people come to this page to post their views on the news.”
Statement by Yelp
Thompson’s death has captivated the public and led to discussions on social media surrounding America’s health care industry. Many praise the killer and mock the CEO’s murder.
According to court documents, murder charges have been filed against Mangione in New York. He awaits extradition. The McDonald’s employee who called 911 could receive a $50,000 reward offered by the FBI or the $10,000 New York police posted for the suspect’s arrest.
Mangione faces multiple charges in Pennsylvania for gun and forgery following his arrest.
Suspect charged with murder in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
The man accused of gunning down the CEO of UnitedHealthcare on a New York City sidewalk is charged with murder. And the Biden administration levels allegations of war crimes against two Syrians who were high-raking members of the now ousted regime. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.
Suspect charged with murder in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
After nearly a week of searching, the manhunt for the suspected gunman who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel last week is over. Police said they located the 26-year-old suspect inside a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 300 miles from New York on Monday, Dec. 9.
The New York City Police Department filed first-degree murder charges against Luigi Mangione, according to court documents released Monday night. Mangione also faces charges of possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a forged driver’s license, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Mangione is described as a former high school valedictorian and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, who grew up in Maryland but has also had past addresses in California and Hawaii.
Mangione was taken into custody in Altoona after authorities said a McDonald’s employee recognized him as the person of interest seen in images related to Thompson’s shooting death.
When police arrived on the scene, they questioned Mangione. According to court documents, Mangione “started to shake” when asked if he’d recently been in New York City. Authorities said at first, he lied about his identity.
So proud of @NYPDMTN Detectives, and our Major Case and Homicide Squads, who worked around-the-clock on the homicide investigation in Midtown. I joined them last night to thank them for their dedication. No doubt, their work was instrumental to identifying the person of interest… pic.twitter.com/jAFA7JDcHd
Court documents show he was carrying a black 3-D printed pistol with a silencer. The NYPD said the “ghost gun” found on him was consistent with the one used in the murder. Ghost guns do not have serial numbers.
Police said Mangione also had on him a fake ID, matching the one used by the suspect at a New York City hostel before the shooting, and a three-page written note.
“That document is currently in the possession of the Altoona Police Department as part of their investigation but just from briefly speaking with them, we don’t think that there’s any specific threats to other people mentioned in that document, but it does seem that he has some ill will toward corporate America,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenney said.
Multiple reports Tuesday morning, Dec. 10, claimed those writings included the phrases “these parasites had it coming” and it “had to be done.”
During a press conference Monday evening, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) spoke of how the killing has led to some people online sharing their frustrations and anger over the healthcare system but emphasized that Mangione is not a martyr.
“In some dark corners, this killer’s being hailed as a hero,” Shapiro said. “Hear me on this: he is no hero. The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this [Monday] morning. The real heroes every day in our society are the women and men who put on uniforms like these and go out in our communities to keep us safe. This killer is not a hero. He should not be hailed.”
Mangione will remain in custody in Pennsylvania pending his extradition to New York, which is expected to take place later this week.
Jury finds former US Marine not guilty in NYC chokehold death trial
Tensions remain high in New York after a jury acquitted U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny of all charges on Monday, including criminally negligent homicide, in the chokehold death of a schizophrenic man, whose behavior had some people on the New York subway testifying they feared for their lives.
The caught-on-camera deadly incident from May 2023 saw Penny put Jordan Neely in a chokehold from behind after Neely walked up and down the F train saying “somebody is going to die today”.
Prosecutors said the chokehold lasted too long, was reckless, and resulted in the 30-year-old homeless man’s death. The defense brought an expert in to show Neely was under the influence of the synthetic marijuana drug K2, arguing he died from drug use and a previous medical condition.
Outside the Manhattan courthouse Tuesday, fights broke out as protesters and counter-protesters clashed. After the verdict Neely’s father stated, “There is no justice.”
US charges 2 former Syrian officials with war crimes
The United States has charged two former high-ranking Syrian intelligence officials with war crimes. The DOJ said during Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud oversaw operations of a detention facility where Americans and civilians who had been deemed enemies of the state were tortured.
In other developments in the Middle East, the U.S. has also sent a special envoy to Beirut, Lebanon to find out what happened to Austin Tice. Tice is an American journalist who vanished in Syria 12 years ago.
"We have heard from sources that have been vetted by the U.S. government that Austin is alive." Austin Tice has been missing in Syria for 12 years. Today his brother & sister tell me "every day is a day that Austin should be released and a day that Austin could be released." pic.twitter.com/o08OgOFKEm
On Sunday, Dec. 8, President Joe Biden said he believes Tice is still alive and his administration is committed to bringing him home. Syria has publicly denied holding Tice.
Meanwhile, Israel has launched a large-scale attack on Syria, striking what it called strategic military sites after the fall of the al-Assad government. It also expanded its presence into the Golan Heights, a buffer zone along the country’s border with Syria.
Israel claimed the move is temporary and aimed at ensuring nearby areas are not exposed to any potential security threats, but Iran has appealed to the United Nations Security Council, saying the expansion is a “flagrant violation” of U.N. charter, breaking a 50-year cease-fire agreement.
Hegseth looks to shore up Senate support on Capitol Hill
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary is back on Capitol Hill this week. He’s looking to shore up support from Senate Republicans.
Pete Hegseth met with Senators Joni Ernst and Lindsey Graham on Monday. Both had expressed concerns over allegations against Hegseth of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement of veterans’ charities and excessive drinking.
Hegseth denies a lot of it and says he is changed man. He served in the Army in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Lord & Taylor to relaunch as online discount luxury retailer
Another department store chain is set to make an internet comeback. Lord & Taylor is set to relaunch in 2025 as a discount luxury e-commerce platform offering designer goods and Lord & Taylor-branded products, according to its new owner.
Regal Brands Global acquired the Lord & Taylor intellectual property in September after its previous owner, Saadia Group — which had re-launched the chain as an e-commerce website in 2021 — ceased operations.
Regal Brands reportedly aims to position Lord & Taylor products to compete with other high-end retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.
‘Emilia Perez’ receives most Golden Globe nominations
‘Strong person of interest’ in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO arrested
The New York City Police Department confirmed Monday, Dec. 9, that officials arrested a “strong person of interest” in connection to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Officials named 26-year-old Luigi Mangione as the only person of interest in the case.
Police took Mangione into custody after receiving a tip that he was spotted in Pennsylvania.
Mangione carried a ghost gun, resembling the weapon used to kill Thompson, Pennsylvania police said.
“At this time, he is believed to be our person of interest in the brazen, targeted murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare last Wednesday in Midtown Manhattan,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters.
Handwritten letter reveals motive
The Altoona Police Department in Pennsylvania confiscated multiple fake IDs and a three-page handwritten document from Mangione.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said the document showed Mangione had “ill will toward corporate America.”
Law enforcement sources told the New York Post that social media profiles showed Mangione graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.
His apparent account on book review site GoodReads includes a positive review for the manifesto of “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski.
Brian Thomspon’s killing
Police described Thompson’s shooting as a targeted attack, with footage showing a shooter waiting for the CEO.
The shooting occurred early Wednesday, Dec. 4. Surveillance tracked the suspect’s escape through Midtown Manhattan and into Central Park. The suspect temporarily hid in the park and found his way out of the city, police said.
Bullet casings found at the scene of the shooting had etchings of the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose.” The first two are part of a common phrase describing insurance companies’ approach to avoid paying claims.
Police said the suspect acted alone based on the confiscated letter.