Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times News Brief for Tuesday, April 2, 2024. I’m Bill Thomas.
Major Update on Social Security Payments
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a new measure to reduce the burden on Social Security beneficiaries who must repay overpayments.Previously, the agency withheld 100 percent of monthly benefits until the overpaid amount was recovered, but as of last Monday, March 25, it began collecting 10 percent (or $10, whichever is greater) of the total monthly Social Security benefit.
There will be exceptions, such as in cases of fraud.
The new policy only applies to new overpayments, and beneficiaries with existing overpayments can contact the agency to negotiate a lower recovery rate.
The SSA also noted that beneficiaries have the right to appeal or request a waiver for collection of the overpaid amount.
There will be a transition period during which beneficiaries will continue with the older policy. Those who are placed in the 100 percent withholding category can contact Social Security’s National 800 Number at 1-800-772-1213.
Lawmakers have criticized Social Security overpayments, stating that they impose a burden on Americans. In fiscal year 2022, the agency paid $1.26 trillion in Social Security benefits and made $6.5 billion in overpayments.
Last year, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that Disability Insurance beneficiaries who had earnings sufficient to affect their benefits often received overpayments, resulting in significant financial burdens. The GAO stated that the SSA faces ongoing challenges in reducing overpayments.
Judge Blocks Biden Administration’s Attempt to Expand Lending Rules
The federal government’s attempt to expand fair lending rules has been blocked for many institutions. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that the new rules, which were set to take effect on April 1, are based on incorrect interpretations of federal law.The current rules, based on the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), require banks to provide services to low- and moderate-income people in the local community. The expanded rules extend the definition of community to any individuals with whom the lenders do business. Government officials argued that the word “entire” before community in the law prompted the new rules.
However, Judge Kacsmaryk wrote in his ruling that the word “entire” simply clarifies that the whole community must be served, but it does not change the definition of a community. The judge also stated that the section of the new rules authorizing federal banking agencies to assess deposits was based on an incorrect reading of the law.
“Not a single foregoing provision—nor any other CRA provision—authorizes the FBAs to assess deposit products,” he said.
The preliminary injunction blocks the rules for many groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The groups said the rules should be blocked as illegal.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, along with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Federal Reserve, announced the new rules in 2023.
The case was filed in Amarillo, where Judge Kacsmaryk serves, and where one of the plaintiffs, the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, is located. Four other plaintiffs are based in Washington, with the rest situated in other parts of Texas.
Judge Kacsmaryk has gained attention for entering nationwide injunctions against government policies, including the approval of an abortion pill.
The U.S. Judicial Conference recently announced a new policy to crack down on litigants who file cases in unrelated districts for the purpose of getting a preferred judge, known as judge shopping. According to the conference, judge shopping would be curbed by random assignments of cases.
However, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas said that the district would not adhere to the policy. Several sitting judges expressed displeasure with the conference’s move.
Trump Further Exposes Judge’s Daughter in ‘Hush Money’ Case
Attorneys representing former President Donald Trump are considering seeking the recusal of the judge overseeing his “hush money” case. The judge in question is Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, whose daughter heads a political consulting firm that has profited from President Trump’s legal woes.Loren Merchan is president and partner of a Chicago-based firm, Authentic Campaigns. It has raised at least $93 million for two major Democratic clients using President Trump’s case in their solicitation emails. These clients include U.S. Senate candidate Adam Schiff and the Senate Majority PAC.
President Trump’s spokesperson Steven Cheung claims that the judge’s involvement in the case represents a conflict of interest and argues for his immediate recusal. President Trump expressed his frustration with Justice Merchan and his daughter in a post on Truth Social last week.
President Trump’s comments came after the judge issued a gag order on him following a hearing regarding his bids to delay or dismiss the case.
According to a New York Post report, Mr. Schiff’s campaign raised $20 million since soliciting donations related to the April 2023 hush money case indictment. One such fundraising email called the indictment a “somber moment” before asking supporters for $10 donations.
The Post also reported that the Senate Majority PAC raised $73.6 million in similar fundraising emails noting the indictment.
Mr. Schiff’s Senate Campaign and the Senate Majority PAC have spent more than $10 million and $15 million with Authentic Campaigns, respectively, according to the Post.
Last summer, the Trump team filed for the judge’s recusal, arguing that Justice Merchan’s impartiality might be compromised due to his daughter’s political work. But Justice Merchan rebutted these claims, saying that the evidence provided by President Trump was speculative and fell short of the legal threshold for recusal.
The former president has pleaded not guilty and denied adult film actress Stormy Daniels’s claims about an alleged affair in the 2000s.
Texas Judge Orders Release of Illegal Immigrants Accused of Border Riot
Presiding Magistrate Judge Humberto Acosta in El Paso released some illegal immigrants who were allegedly involved in a stampede at the U.S.–Mexico border.Judge Acosta ordered their release on their own recognizance, stating that the El Paso District Attorney’s Office was not ready to proceed with hearings. The judge rejected a request for a continuance by a local assistant district attorney.
Dozens of Venezuelan nationals had been charged with riot participation following an incident in which illegal immigrants tore down razor wire and rushed the border fence. The defendants also faced assault and criminal mischief charges.
Judge Acosta ordered during a teleconference bond hearing on March 31 that all the rioting participants be released on their own recognizance.
The release came after the Texas National Guard and local law enforcement officials were sent to El Paso to reinforce border security. However, El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, a Democrat, said that he did not request the National Guard troops.
Arrests for illegally crossing the U.S.–Mexico border have increased in recent months, but figures are lower than in December. The enforcement of a Texas law, SB4, that allows state law enforcement officials to arrest suspected illegal immigrants remains on hold pending an appeals process.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has criticized President Joe Biden’s border policies and said that SB4 is a necessary law to curb illegal immigration in Texas.
Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) visited the state to meet with Mr. Abbott.
He said in a statement after the visit that the Biden administration “is actively endangering” the nation “by opening the border to criminals, traffickers, and cartels.”
Storm to Bring Heavy Snow, ‘Damaging Thunderstorms’ to Several US States
A significant storm has already hit California and is expected to affect several regions across the United States this week. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an alert stating that severe thunderstorms will occur as the storm moves across the central and eastern U.S. this week.The areas at risk include parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Indiana, and Ohio.
On Tuesday, the severe weather threat will extend to Tennessee and the Ohio Valley region. The NWS has warned of the possibility of very large hail, which may exceed 2 inches in size, tornadoes, and damaging thunderstorm winds.
Additionally, the storm is expected to bring heavy snow and gusty winds to the Great Lakes and Northeast from Wednesday to Friday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has also warned of potential severe weather, flash flooding, and fire weather in certain areas.
The NWS advises people to stay updated with the latest forecasts due to the uncertainty of the storm track. The storm has already brought rain and mountain snow to Southern California.
That’s our final story for the News Brief “Tuesday” edition—and just a note, if you follow the markets, yesterday, the Dow closed at 39,566.85, down 240.52. NASDAQ closed at 16,396.83, up 17.37. And the S&P closed at 500 5,243.77, down 10.58.
As you know, before we sign off for the day, we always take a moment to celebrate folks who are one year older, and if you’re one of those folks today, you’ll be scarfing down a supersized chunk of chocolate cake with these big stars.
Singer/songwriter Emmylou Harris is 77.
Actor Linda Hunt (TV’s “NCIS: LA,” and you may recall her from the movie, “The Year of Living Dangerously”) is 79.
And yesterday, April 1, actor Ali MacGraw celebrated her 85th birthday. You’ll recall her from “Love Story,” also starring Ryan O’Neil, and the legendary quote from the film? “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
We can’t get to everyone who’s written in, but briefly, we did hear from:
Mr. Murdock says, “Thanks for the update on Elle Macpherson.” (We mentioned Elle on the program just last week).
Mr. Hundt says, “Thank you for the informative but brief reports. Also, the topics were all stories of interest to me. You are doing great work in a time of little ‘honesty in journalism.’”
And this note from April: She says she works 12–15 hour days, and the audio News Brief allows her to listen when she doesn’t have time to read.
We’re portable, on-demand, and you can get caught up on all the important issues very rapidly and from pretty much anywhere.
Thanks again for tuning in, and for all of us here at the Epoch Times News Brief, I’m Bill Thomas. Have a spectacular day.
