ATLANTIC, Iowa – Donald Trump’s Republican opponents returned to the trail on Saturday, facing sub-zero temperatures but no new snow. They also faced pranksters.At a stop here, where the the Super PAC that supports Ron DeSantis, Never Back Down, bought McDonalds cheeseburgers for around 30 potential voters, DeSantis was interrupted by The Good Liars, a liberal-leaning comedy duo. “Nothing’s going to stop us,” said the candidate’s wife, Casey, before being interrupted by Davram Steifler.“Real quick, before we get started – thank you, everyone!” said Steifler. “I want to present to you this...…ATLANTIC, Iowa – Donald Trump’s Republican opponents returned to the trail on Saturday, facing sub-zero temperatures but no new snow. They also faced pranksters.At a stop here, where the the Super PAC that supports Ron DeSantis, Never Back Down, bought McDonalds cheeseburgers for around 30 potential voters, DeSantis was interrupted by The Good Liars, a liberal-leaning comedy duo. “Nothing’s going to stop us,” said the candidate’s wife, Casey, before being interrupted by Davram Steifler.“Real quick, before we get started – thank you, everyone!” said Steifler. “I want to present to you this...WW…

The United States’ Justice Department is seeking the death penalty in a federal case against the 20-year-old White shooter who killed 10 Black people in a racially motivated attack on a Buffalo supermarket in 2022.The “United States believes the circumstances in Counts 11-20 of the Indictment are such that, in the event of a conviction, a sentence of death is justified,” prosecutors said, according to court filings.It is the second time that Attorney General Merrick Garland has pursued the death penalty since taking office, a sharp deviation from President Joe Biden’s campaign promise to...…The United States’ Justice Department is seeking the death penalty in a federal case against the 20-year-old White shooter who killed 10 Black people in a racially motivated attack on a Buffalo supermarket in 2022.The “United States believes the circumstances in Counts 11-20 of the Indictment are such that, in the event of a conviction, a sentence of death is justified,” prosecutors said, according to court filings.It is the second time that Attorney General Merrick Garland has pursued the death penalty since taking office, a sharp deviation from President Joe Biden’s campaign promise to...WW…

BBC, ArtNet NewsAs much as half of the British Museum’s artifacts were never fully cataloged — a weakness shared by other major cultural institutions that makes them ripe for exploitation, ArtNet reported. Museums suffer from a general lack of funding and a tendency to focus on “blockbuster” exhibitions at the expense of tedious activities such as cataloging, the publication argued. But the sheer size of modern museum collections poses a conundrum for how to keep track of everything, and even precious gems can easily become a “needle in a haystack.” “If it takes just one hour to identify,...…BBC, ArtNet NewsAs much as half of the British Museum’s artifacts were never fully cataloged — a weakness shared by other major cultural institutions that makes them ripe for exploitation, ArtNet reported. Museums suffer from a general lack of funding and a tendency to focus on “blockbuster” exhibitions at the expense of tedious activities such as cataloging, the publication argued. But the sheer size of modern museum collections poses a conundrum for how to keep track of everything, and even precious gems can easily become a “needle in a haystack.” “If it takes just one hour to identify,...WW…

The rules, called Basel Endgame, are the result of more than a decade of efforts by global bank regulators to harmonize patchwork rules that had sprouted up over decades and were further balkanized in varying responses to the 2008 crisis. Michael Barr, the Fed’s top cop, says that even 15 years later, U.S. banks still aren’t prepared for a financial shock.The government says banks would have to hold about 20% more capital — a buffer they’d build up by socking away profits that might otherwise go to shareholders, employees, or acquisitions. The banks say those numbers are off and have...…The rules, called Basel Endgame, are the result of more than a decade of efforts by global bank regulators to harmonize patchwork rules that had sprouted up over decades and were further balkanized in varying responses to the 2008 crisis. Michael Barr, the Fed’s top cop, says that even 15 years later, U.S. banks still aren’t prepared for a financial shock.The government says banks would have to hold about 20% more capital — a buffer they’d build up by socking away profits that might otherwise go to shareholders, employees, or acquisitions. The banks say those numbers are off and have...WW…

Donald Trump’s campaign is buying ads attacking Nikki Haley on MSNBC and other television networks that reach liberals in New Hampshire, in an effort to keep the state’s large bloc of “undeclared” independent voters from turning out for the former South Carolina governor.“Haley’s plan cuts Social Security benefits for 82% of Americans,” the advertisement’s narrator says over images of diverse, concerned-looking people. “Trump will never let that happen.”Trump advisor Chris LaCivita told Semafor Saturday the issue works in Trump’s favor with a wide range of voters. “The vast majority of...…Donald Trump’s campaign is buying ads attacking Nikki Haley on MSNBC and other television networks that reach liberals in New Hampshire, in an effort to keep the state’s large bloc of “undeclared” independent voters from turning out for the former South Carolina governor.“Haley’s plan cuts Social Security benefits for 82% of Americans,” the advertisement’s narrator says over images of diverse, concerned-looking people. “Trump will never let that happen.”Trump advisor Chris LaCivita told Semafor Saturday the issue works in Trump’s favor with a wide range of voters. “The vast majority of...WW…

They could add more, because any Iowan of voting age can show up at a caucus site, which begin proceedings at 7 PM CT, and register as Republican. That’s one factor to watch tonight. Here are a few more.Cruz Country. Cruz was the third caucus-winner in a row to get there by winning evangelicals. They made up two-thirds of the vote in 2016 and two-fifths in 2012, and Cruz turned out more of them than anyone else. Turnout in the state’s four northwest-most counties doubled between those races – from 3,475 votes to 7,247.Trump was a non-starter in Siouxland, running fourth overall in votes...…They could add more, because any Iowan of voting age can show up at a caucus site, which begin proceedings at 7 PM CT, and register as Republican. That’s one factor to watch tonight. Here are a few more.Cruz Country. Cruz was the third caucus-winner in a row to get there by winning evangelicals. They made up two-thirds of the vote in 2016 and two-fifths in 2012, and Cruz turned out more of them than anyone else. Turnout in the state’s four northwest-most counties doubled between those races – from 3,475 votes to 7,247.Trump was a non-starter in Siouxland, running fourth overall in votes...WW…

If Washington can reach a deal on the border, its success or failure could ultimately depend on the reaction in Mexico City.The U.S. already relies on Mexico to help expel migrants from countries such as Honduras, Colombia, Guatemala, and Venezuela, mostly for logistical reasons. The federal government lacks the fleet of planes and trained pilots necessary to deport more than a few hundred people daily, far below the roughly 10,000 migrant apprehensions on average per day in December at the Southern border.As a result, it often sends migrants back to Mexico, and leans on the country’s...…If Washington can reach a deal on the border, its success or failure could ultimately depend on the reaction in Mexico City.The U.S. already relies on Mexico to help expel migrants from countries such as Honduras, Colombia, Guatemala, and Venezuela, mostly for logistical reasons. The federal government lacks the fleet of planes and trained pilots necessary to deport more than a few hundred people daily, far below the roughly 10,000 migrant apprehensions on average per day in December at the Southern border.As a result, it often sends migrants back to Mexico, and leans on the country’s...WW…

The 118th Congress will be remembered for many firsts: Electing the first Black leader in the House, that 15-round speaker’s vote, and then removing that same speaker. The latest: Leadership swapped their apple-green members’ pins for deep navy ones mid-cycle at a cost of $40,000, according to one source familiar with the decision.It’s an interesting purchase for a Congress that remains on the brink of shuttering the government in part because of a desire to cut spending. Some congresswomen complained that the bale on the pin is smaller than in years past, making it impossible to fit on...…The 118th Congress will be remembered for many firsts: Electing the first Black leader in the House, that 15-round speaker’s vote, and then removing that same speaker. The latest: Leadership swapped their apple-green members’ pins for deep navy ones mid-cycle at a cost of $40,000, according to one source familiar with the decision.It’s an interesting purchase for a Congress that remains on the brink of shuttering the government in part because of a desire to cut spending. Some congresswomen complained that the bale on the pin is smaller than in years past, making it impossible to fit on...WW…

ANKENY, Iowa – Donald Trump flew into Iowa this weekend after foregoing the traditional months-long, on-the-ground blitz that has historically defined the state. Canceling multiple in-person events in favor of telerallies due to weather conditions, he was left on Sunday with a single, old-school rally in Indianola — and seemed determined to make the most of it.In a nearly two-hour long speech, the former president played all the hits: He brought up Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley’s supposed disloyalty and claimed credit for their careers; he touted his high polls numbers, suggesting at one...…ANKENY, Iowa – Donald Trump flew into Iowa this weekend after foregoing the traditional months-long, on-the-ground blitz that has historically defined the state. Canceling multiple in-person events in favor of telerallies due to weather conditions, he was left on Sunday with a single, old-school rally in Indianola — and seemed determined to make the most of it.In a nearly two-hour long speech, the former president played all the hits: He brought up Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley’s supposed disloyalty and claimed credit for their careers; he touted his high polls numbers, suggesting at one...WW…

Tome, an AI-powered tool for telling stories and sharing ideas, has reached more than 10 million users, a surprising milestone for a 10-month-old company that has taken off with Gen Z, co-founder Keith Peiris exclusively told Semafor.It’s an example of how the wave of advancements in artificial intelligence is upending conventional wisdom in Silicon Valley. Young artists, for instance, are using the product to brainstorm ideas by repeatedly hitting the “regenerate” button, causing the AI to spit out suggestions for text and images.Matthew Farrell, a DoorDash driver-turned-AI artist, made...…Tome, an AI-powered tool for telling stories and sharing ideas, has reached more than 10 million users, a surprising milestone for a 10-month-old company that has taken off with Gen Z, co-founder Keith Peiris exclusively told Semafor.It’s an example of how the wave of advancements in artificial intelligence is upending conventional wisdom in Silicon Valley. Young artists, for instance, are using the product to brainstorm ideas by repeatedly hitting the “regenerate” button, causing the AI to spit out suggestions for text and images.Matthew Farrell, a DoorDash driver-turned-AI artist, made...WW…