Washington, D.C
In DC, Musk’s Twitter deal is either a free speech victory or fuel to tax the rich
Relying who you ask in Washington, D.C., Monday’s information that Twitter’s board has accepted Elon Musk’s $44 billion provide to purchase the corporate and take it personal both marks the return of free speech on-line or proof that billionaires like Musk should pay greater taxes.
“Free speech is making a comeback,” tweeted Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, rating member on the Home Judiciary Committee that final week requested Twitter’s board to protect paperwork associated to Musk’s provide, signaling a possible probe ought to Republicans take again management of the chamber.
“#TaxtheRich,” tweeted Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wisc.
These had been the 2 distinguished themes from lawmakers on the fitting and left, respectively, surrounding information of the deal. The reactions spotlight how in another way each side see the core points within the tech trade, underscoring why Congress has but to go laws that would significantly affect the sector, on subjects together with digital privateness, antitrust and content material moderation.
On the fitting, optimism about “free speech” on Twitter stems from Musk’s personal critiques of the platform’s content material moderation practices. Musk referred to as Twitter “the digital city sq.” in a press release accompanying the press launch of the information.
At an earlier public look after he disclosed his provide to purchase the corporate, Musk stated he typically prefers “time-outs” to everlasting bans, which suggests there could possibly be a path for former President Donald Trump to return to the platform if he so chooses. Twitter banned Trump from the platform following his tweets across the Jan. 6 rebellion on the U.S. Capitol final yr. On the time, Twitter stated it made the choice “as a result of threat of additional incitement of violence.”
“Massive Tech can not proceed to silence individuals — they aren’t and shouldn’t be the arbiters of reality,” tweeted Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., rating member on the Home Vitality and Commerce Committee, which has labored on privateness and content material moderation payments. “It’s time to substitute Massive Tech censorship with the battle of concepts and I’m looking forward to a brand new free speech course at @Twitter.”
“At the moment is an encouraging day for freedom of speech,” tweeted Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who has launched laws to limit on-line platform’s legal responsibility defend round content material moderation. “I’m hopeful that Elon Musk will assist rein in Massive Tech’s historical past of censoring customers which have a distinct viewpoint.”
In the meantime, many Democratic lawmakers who tweeted about Musk’s buy centered extra on his shopping for energy than the potential affect on Twitter’s product.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., tweeted, “This deal is harmful for our democracy. Billionaires like Elon Musk play by a distinct algorithm than everybody else, accumulating energy for their very own achieve. We’d like a wealth tax and powerful guidelines to carry Massive Tech accountable.”
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., tweeted that the $44 billion worth of the deal is “lower than 17% of his estimated $264.6B web value. Billionaires like Musk pay decrease tax charges than firefighters, lecturers, and nurses. If that sounds absurd, it is as a result of it’s. We’d like a Billionaire Minimal Revenue Tax.”
“If they will afford to purchase Twitter, they will afford to pay their justifiable share in taxes,” Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., tweeted earlier than the information grew to become official.
“It is absurd that one particular person can afford to purchase Twitter for greater than $40 billion whereas working households throughout this nation have to decide on day by day between shopping for groceries or their pharmaceuticals,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., wrote previous to the official announcement.
“Only a reminder that from 2014-2018, Elon Musk paid an efficient tax charge of three.27%,” she wrote after the information of the finalized deal. “The typical working household pays a median tax charge of 13%. It is time for a wealth tax on this nation.”
In the meantime on the White Home, press secretary Jen Psaki declined to touch upon the particular transaction however stated, “as a basic matter, irrespective of who owns or runs Twitter, the president has lengthy been involved in regards to the energy of huge social media platforms, the facility they’ve over our on a regular basis lives.”
She added that President Joe Biden has lengthy supported reforms to carry tech platforms accountable for hurt stemming from their providers, together with by reforming tech’s authorized legal responsibility defend Part 230, enacting antitrust reforms and requiring transparency.
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WATCH: Elon Musk decides to not be a part of Twitter’s board of administrators
Washington, D.C
‘What makes your state beautiful’: South Burlington students design ornaments for DC tree
National Christmas Tree shines during 102nd lighting ceremony
President Joe Biden spoke to a crowd at the lighting ceremony for the national 35-foot Red Spruce Christmas tree from Virginia.
Students at Gertrude Chamberlin School in South Burlington designed ornaments for the 2024 National Christmas Tree display in Washington, D.C.
The 21 ornaments decorate the small tree that represents Vermont outside the White House. First to fifth graders at Gertrude Chamberlin create the ornaments with designs answering the prompt: “What makes your state beautiful?” The drawings include the Green Mountains, including a rainbow version by a first grader; maple trees; the state bird and fish – hermit thrush and brook trout, respectively; as well as a bullfrog and other animals found in Vermont.
“They represent our state well,” said Jenny Goodrich, the art educator at Gertrude Chamberlin School.
Vermont’s tree is among the 57 other trees with student-designed ornaments that surround the large 35-foot red spruce tree outside the White House. The 58 trees represent each of the 50 states, D.C. and the five U.S. territories as well as schools managed by the Department of Defense Education Activity, and Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education.
“I think it incredible that we come together as 50 states plus and that it’s our art that connects us,” said Goodrich. “Having children do this says a lot.”
Goodrich said she was contacted in July by the Vermont Agency of Education to see if she would like to have her students participate. “I said ‘of course’,” she said. “I knew about the National Tree but I had no idea about the smaller ones.”
The students were provided a template for the shape of the ornament, and Goodrich mailed the designs to the organizers who transformed them into three-dimensional designs.
Most of her students used crayons or colored pencils to make theirs, but one student made a collage. Goodrich used a high-quality scanner to make it two-dimensional and said it turned out great.
The designs were due at the end of September, so Goodrich picked students to work on the project. The school was limited to 24 ornaments. Goodrich picked students who had shown enthusiasm for art as well as those who had demonstrated growth in art.
Adding that she picked students who represented a variety of the school’s six grade levels and the student body’s diversity; Gertrude Chamberlin students speak 37 languages and come from many different countries.
What happens to all of the ornaments
Goodrich and two of her students and their families were able to travel to D.C. for the 102nd National Tree Lighting ceremony on Dec. 5 hosted by President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, the first lady.
“It was incredible to see so many people there,” said Goodrich. “GE Lights sponsors the event. … It was so dark and then they flipped the switch. They are so bright. It was really amazing.”
The ornaments will not be returning to Vermont as they are now property of the White House and will be included in the National Archives when the season is over.
“It’s pretty amazing they will be part of our nation’s history forever,” Goodrich said.
How to visit the National Christmas Tree and the state trees
The trees are on the Ellipse, which is south of White House, and are open to the public through Jan. 1. The trees are light each night at sunset but can be viewed as early as 10 a.m. daily. The display is open until 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It is free and open to the public.
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A row house partially collapsed in Northwest Washington, D.C., on Monday morning, trapping a worker inside, D.C. officials said.
The rear of a two-story row home crumbled in the 1100 block of V Street NW and left the worker “severely trapped,” D.C. Fire and EMS officials said in a statement on social media.
Collapse with entrapment 1100 block V St NW. significant collapse rear of 2 story row house with a worker severely trapped. Working to shore and secure hazard area. Rescue operations in progress. #DCsBravest pic.twitter.com/3rCMXE1d8p
— DC Fire and EMS Department (@dcfireems) December 23, 2024
Photos show debris piled near a building that looks destroyed from the back and first responders in D.C. Fire and EMS uniforms climbing over rubble. A yellow pole appears to prop up part of an upper-floor room that’s tilted downward.
“Patient is trapped under bricks,” an emergency dispatcher can be heard saying on audio of a call to authorities.
Crews are working to rescue the trapped worker and secure hazards, D.C. Fire and EMS said.
It’s unclear why the building collapsed.
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