CCP-tied nonprofit caught pushing radical climate law

CCP-tied nonprofit caught pushing radical climate law

A nonprofit organization bankrolled by numerous Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-linked entities advocated for a New York law that authorizes the state to charge energy companies billions for their roles in climate change. The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) is a New York nonprofit that hasreceivedover $1.4 million in taxpayer funds since 2022, in addition to significant funding from Chinese government-linked sources in recent years, as the Daily Caller News Foundationpreviouslyreported. The CPC supports New York'sclimate superfund law, which would require energy companies to cough up $75 billion combined over time to fund green initiatives, in addition to a number of other bills and programs favored by Democrats, according to itswebsite. "The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) is not just another advocacy group, it's a conduit for CCP-linked money and influence in the heart of our country. When you read 'CPC,' you should think 'CCP,'" founder and CEO of State Armor Michael Lucci told the DCNF. "CPC has a long record of supporting malicious policies that run contrary to our interests. It should come as no surprise that the CPC supports New York's massive climate slush fund, which would jack up energy costs while weakening America's energy security."(RELATED: New York Rolls Out 'Shakedown' Law Forcing Companies To Atone For Climate Change With Cash) New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks during a press conference at her Manhattan office on February 20, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images) "This isn't just bad policy — it's Beijing's playbook, operating through a range of front groups, proxies, and influence operations to undermine our sovereignty," Lucci continued. "Every lawmaker who backs this scheme is playing into the hands of the CCP's geopolitical strategy. If we're serious about protecting national security and energy independence, we must treat CPC–backed initiatives as CCP-backed initiatives, which are always malicious influence operations against America." The CPC submittedwritten testimonyfor a January 2024 joint legislative public hearing on New York's budget proposal advocating for the superfund law, and the group also characterized the bill's failure to make it into the budget in April 2024 as a "shortcoming." Since 2018, the CPC has received up to $445,969 in donations from sources linked to the Chinese government, according to financial records previously reviewed by the DCNF. State-run corporations — including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and the Bank of China — have financially supported the CPC in recent years, records show. The ICBC donated almost $20,000 to the nonprofit across2018,2019and2023, according to the CPC's annual reports, and the Beijing-based andstate-ownedBank of China gave as much as $9,999 in2020and up to that same amount in2024to the CPC, the nonprofit's annual reports show. The CPC has accepted funds from multiple other organizations that have ties to the CCP, the DCNF previously reported. House Republicans recentlylaunchedan investigation into the CPC after an undercover video surfaced allegedlyshowingCPC staff coaching illegal immigrants on how to avoid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehension.(RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: GOP Launches Investigation Into Taxpayer-Funded Group Allegedly Caught Teaching How To Avoid ICE) Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochulsignedthe climate bill in December 2024, enacting a law that will require energy companies to pay billions to the state over 25 years to atone for their supposed roles in causing climate change. The new law rests on shaky legal foundations and functions as a state revenue grab that, if fully implemented, is likely to increase consumer costs, energy and legal experts previouslytoldthe DCNF. Hochul's office says that the state will use the funds extracted from energy companies under the law to pay for projects that will enhance the state's "resiliency to dangerous climate impacts." Some of the projects to be funded by the law include upgrades to drainage systems, refashioning buildings to be more green and developing "green spaces" in urban environments, according to the law's text. Upon signing the bill, Hochul's officeproclaimedthat the new superfund law will "[shift] the cost of climate adaptation from everyday New Yorkers to the fossil fuel companies most responsible for the pollution." If the law is fully implemented, the financial burden on energy companies will ultimately lead to increased costs for the consumers, critics told the DCNF at the time of the bill's enactment. The Trump administration filed complaints against Vermont and New York over their "climate superfund laws" on May 1, following Trump's April 8executive orderdirecting Attorney General Pam Bondi to "protect" domestic energy production from state laws that halt or hinder energy development.(RELATED: Trump Admin Sues To Block Blue States From Taking Fossil Fuel Companies To Court Over Climate Change) This combination of pictures created on May 14, 2020 shows recent portraits of China's President Xi Jinping (R) and US President Donald Trump. (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKIFRED DUFOUR/AFP via Getty Images) The CPC has also backed other policies that hinder domestic energy production in addition to purportedly advising illegal migrants on how to defy immigration laws. "There is an urgent need to invest in our community well-being and safety through building climate resilient infrastructures and systems," the CPC's website reads. It continues to argue for the passage of theClimate, Jobs, and Justice Packagefor the sake of "marginalized communities," which includes the superfund law as well as the NY Home Energy Affordable TransitionActand the Just Energy TransitionAct. The NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act seeks to "[align] utility regulation with state climate justice and emission reduction targets" and the Just Energy Transition Act would "provide a blueprint to guide the replacement and redevelopment of New York State's fossil fuel facilities and their sites by 2030," according to the bill text. The CPC supports efforts to "decarbonize New York and transition into renewable energy that will allow all New Yorkers to live in a safe and healthy environment," the nonprofit's website states. New York has historically supported green energy mandates that threaten the reliability of its power grid, several grid experts previouslytoldthe DCNF. The nonprofit's site goes on to list support for increasing taxes on corporations to fund left-leaning social programs, universal health care and shelling out $500 million in taxpayer funds on a program for illegal migrants. The CPC, the Chinese Embassy, Hochul's office, the ICBC and the Bank of China did not respond to the DCNF's requests for comment. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter's byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contactlicensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 31, 2025

CCP-tied nonprofit caught pushing radical climate law

CCP-tied nonprofit caught pushing radical climate law A nonprofit organization bankrolled by numerous Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-linked e...

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Can young Democrats threaten Nancy Pelosi and the old guard?

Can young Democrats threaten Nancy Pelosi and the old guard?

WASHINGTON − Thirty-nine-year-old Saikat Chakrabarti is looking to pull off a political earthquake: Oust California Democrat Nancy Pelosi in next year's primaries. The 85-year-old former House Speaker has been in Congress since 1987, almost as long as Chakrabarti's been alive. He's part of a movement of young progressives looking to knock off their Democratic elders in blue state primaries next year, arguing the veterans aren't doing enough to take the fight to President Donald Trump. His message: "People are fed up with the old guard." More:Elon Musk's rise and fall: From Trump's chainsaw-wielding sidekick to a swift exit But the old guard is unimpressed. Pelosi told USA TODAY she doesn't view Chakrabarti's challenge as serious. "Not at all. Not even slightly," she said. Chakrabarti, a tech millionaire, ismaking gerontocracy− rule by the aged − a big part of his campaign. He says he's building an insurgent base through Zoom calls with voters and regular TV appearances. Amid a storm of Trump-induced crises, Chakrabarti says, "The Democratic party has an inability-to-change problem." While political scientists say it will be tough to beat seasoned pols like Pelosi, the bids expose a growing divide as Chakrabarti and others seek a more publicly assertive party. In Georgia, 33-year-old Everton Blair is running to unseat twelve-term incumbent Rep. David Scott, 79. And Jake Ravok, 37, who was eight when his former boss, California Rep. Brad Sherman, 70, was first elected to Congress in 1996, launched a primary challenge in April. It's been a bumpy uprising. Related:Too old or very wise: U.S. leaders are among the world's oldest. Is it a problem? On April 16, Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg, 25, announcedhis support for young progressiveschallenging "out of touch, ineffective" incumbents, earning arebuke from Democratic brass. "This is probably the best opportunity for younger Democrats to run for Congress since the Watergate Babies overran the House in 1974," saidDavid Niven, associate professor of politics at the University of Cincinnati. "For a lot of Democrats, new voices represent hope." "Traditional voices represent defeat," Niven said. Chakrabarti got his political start with Bernie Sanders in 2016 and was chief of staff to New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 35. He launched his uphill campaign against Pelosi in February, arguing Democrats "are not recognizing this political moment for what it is." Progressives were furious in March when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, 74, voted to advancea Trump-approved spending bill. Some progressives were appalled as Democrats joined Republicans in voting fora transgender sports banand theLaken Riley Act, which requires officials to detain undocumented immigrants accused of certain crimes. Rakov said his campaign is driven by the generational divide. "I think not everything has to be a fight to the death, but there absolutely does need to be some fight in our leaders, and I think the voters are wanting to see that," he said. There are currently 13 House members between 80 and 89, according to a JanuaryPew Research Center survey, and 68 between 70 and 79. One Senator is older than 90, five are between 80 and 89, and 27 are between ages 70 and 79. Trump turns 79 on June 14.Joe Bidenwas 82 when he left office. Blair, who was chair of the Gwinnett County Board of Education in Georgia, said Democrats are missing opportunities to reach voters on Twitch,TikTok, gaming platforms and podcasts. "I think we just keep it real. People don't necessarily want to hear the wonky principles of your policy agenda," he said. "They kind of want to hear that you feel the pain that they feel, and that you have a plan for it." Senior Democrats brushed off age concerns. Pelosi, a Bay Area powerhouse, is now serving her 20th term. Shemade history in 2007as the first female House speaker − and frequently sparred with Trump during his first term. Sherman, who represents parts of Los Angeles County, typicallygets at three to six primary challengersevery year; some in their 30's like Rakov. "If I'm ever beat, it's going to be somebody with a long record of active involvement in the community organizations of my district," he said. "But it's not going to be by somebody who just shows up in the district and says, 'I worked for Sherman back in 2017,'" he said of Rakov. Rakov said he lived in Texas, New York and Connecticut before moving to California earlier this year. But the insurgents cling to hope, recalling Ocasio-Cortez's 2018 upset over Rep. Joseph Crowley, a top House Democrat. Ocasio-Cortez, then 28, ousted Crowleyby more than 10 percentage points. "Know your community. It's important to have the right message. It's important to have the right values," Ocasio-Cortez told USA TODAY when asked how young Democrats can win. The old guard isn't worried. "No matter how old you are, you still got to run on your record…if you want to dance, you got to pay the fiddler," said Connecticut Democrat Rep. John Larson, 76. Larson was in the spotlight after freezing on the House floor in Februarydue to a "complex partial seizure"and sufferinga brief pauseat a press conference in April. He's been in Congress since 1999. Other elder Democracts include Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, 85, California Rep. Maxine Waters, 86 and Illinois Rep. Danny Davis, 83. Hoggannounced in Aprilthat his group, Leaders We Deserve, would spend $20 million on young challengers in safe blue districts. But DNC chairman Ken Martinurged committee officersto stay neutral in primaries, giving Hogg an ultimatum: Resign from the committee or end his role in primary challenges. The DNC credentials committee later votedin favor of a May 12 resolutionthat recommended voiding Hogg's election as vice chair. Some have argued the biggest divide in the Democratic party isn't over age, but who's willing to pick a fight. "It's about fighters versus folders," said Texas Rep. Greg Casar, 35, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. "You know, Lloyd Doggett...he's been in Congress for 30 years. He is a fighter," Casar said of his fellow Lone Star Democrat. "Nobody accuses him of being a folder. Bernie Sanders...he's got more energy than half the chamber combined." People "know we're not going to win every fight, but they need to see us taking every single fight on because Trump's rhetoric is hitting different," said Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who scoreda major upsetagainst a ten-term Democratic incumbent in 2018. "We have to move differently. We have to match their energy. I'm not 25 and I feel that way," Pressley, 51, said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Can young Democrats really threaten Pelosi's old guard?

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 31, 2025

Can young Democrats threaten Nancy Pelosi and the old guard?

Can young Democrats threaten Nancy Pelosi and the old guard? WASHINGTON − Thirty-nine-year-old Saikat Chakrabarti is looking to pull off a p...

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Joni Ernst’s ‘Well, we all are going to die,’ and the GOP’s flippant defenses of Trump’s agenda

Joni Ernst's 'Well, we all are going to die,' and the GOP's flippant defenses of Trump's agenda

One of the reasons politicians don't often engage in massive overhauls of the American economy is that it's very difficult to defend a massive overhaul of the American economy. However good any given plan is, it often produces losers and – even in the best of cases – some short-term pain. And repeatedly now as President Donald Trump has launched multiple massive overhauls, prominent Republicans have learned that the hard way. Sen. Joni Ernstof Iowa is the most recent. Appearing at a town hall on Friday, Ernst was pressed on cuts to Medicaid – the health care program for low-income Americans – in House Republicans' budget plan. One audience member shouted that "people will die." The usual politician thing would have been to take issue with that premise – or to, as other Republicans have strained to do, cast the Medicaid cuts as merely cutting waste and abuse. (That's not the full story, of course; the Congressional Budget Office recently projected that House Republicans' changes to Medicaid, includingwork requirements for some recipients, wouldleave 7.6 million Americansuninsuredby 2034.) But Ernst decided to go in a different direction. "Well, we all are going to die," said Ernst, who's facing reelection in 2026. When hostile portions of the crowd balked at the response, she said: "For heaven's sakes, folks." The senator and her office argued Friday that Republicans are in fact trying to "strengthen" Medicaid. A spokesman said: "There's only two certainties in life: death and taxes, and she's working to ease the burden of both by fighting to keep more of Iowans' hard-earned tax dollars in their own pockets and ensuring their benefits are protected from waste, fraud, and abuse." Ernst in her remarks went on to accuse her critics of not wanting to "listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable. Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, we will protect … them." As a contrast, she cited an oft-invoked GOP claim that 1.4 million undocumented immigrants are receiving Medicaid benefits. But that's not actually what the CBO estimate says – nor does it account for the other millions of people the CBO says would lose insurance. In other words, however bad Ernst's answer was, it might just be that there's not a good answer to be given. Republicans needed to cut spending to pay for Trump's tax cuts, and it's hard to cut enough unless you cut entitlements. It's a political minefield that even someTrump allies like Steve Bannon have warned their party about. And indeed, Democrats quickly leapt to highlight Ernst as the epitome of an uncaring, Medicaid-busting Republican. But Ernst is not the first to wander into this kind of territory. Repeatedly in recent weeks, prominent Republicans who have been asked to account for the pains caused by Trump's bold plans have stumbled into similar territory. Trump himself has repeatedly talked about how the price increases created by his tariffs might mean people have tobuy fewer dolls for little girls. "You know, someone said, 'Oh, the shelves, they're going to be open,'" Trump said. "Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally." Trump said on the campaign trail that foreign countries would pay the extra cost of the tariffs, not consumers. Conservative Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro called Trump's comments "a tremendous commercial for Democrats" and urged Trump to avoid language that minimized the impacts of inflation. Back in March, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick addressed the administration's chaotic changes to the Social Security system by claiming that only "fraudsters" would complain about missing a Social Security check. He pointed tohis own mother-in-law. (The administration has pursued a series of sometimes haltingchanges to the Social Security system, including limiting claims to in-person rather than over the phone – something it later walked back – and cutting staff.) "Let's say Social Security didn't send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who's 94 – she wouldn't call and complain," Lutnick said. He added: "She just wouldn't. She'd think something got messed up, and she'll get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise – screaming, yelling and complaining." It's logical to assume that Lutnick's mother-in-law wouldn't complain, given her son-in-law is a billionaire. But according to the Social Security Administration, more than 1 in 10 seniors rely on the program forat least 90% of their income. Are any of these game-changing gaffes? Not necessarily. But they are certainly fodder for Democrats to argue that Trump is pursuing a rather haphazard and callous overhaul of the American economy. It's the kind of thing Bannon warns about in cautioning Republicans against Medicaid cuts. There just aren't many good ways to defend millions of poor people being projected to lose their health insurance. And if the early evidence is any indication, it's going to result in plenty of awkward defenses in the future. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 31, 2025

Joni Ernst’s ‘Well, we all are going to die,’ and the GOP’s flippant defenses of Trump’s agenda

Joni Ernst's 'Well, we all are going to die,' and the GOP's flippant defenses of Trump's agenda One of the reasons polit...

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Report: Belmont Stakes to return to Saratoga in 2026

Report: Belmont Stakes to return to Saratoga in 2026

The Belmont Stakes, the third leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, reportedly will be run at Saratoga Race Course for a third consecutive year in 2026. WNYT-13, the NBC affiliate in Albany, N.Y., is reporting that plans are being made to run the Belmont at the historic upstate track next year as work continues to rebuild Belmont Park on Long Island. The 2025 race will be held June 7 in Saratoga Springs. The New York Racing Authority has targeted September 2026 as a completion date for the work at Belmont Park but held out hope that the track could host the Belmont next June, per WNYT. NYRA spokesperson Pat McKenna told the affiliate that the organization wasn't ready to make any commitments about the 2026 edition before the 2025 race is run. "NYRA remains focused on conducting a successful and memorable 2025 Belmont Stakes racing festival next week at Saratoga Race Course," he said. "However, we certainly appreciate the interest around the 2026 edition and will be finalizing and announcing its location in the coming weeks." The lineup for next weekend's Belmont has not been finalized, but there remains a possibility that both Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Journalism, victorious in the Preakness Stakes, will be in the field. --Field Level Media

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 31, 2025

Report: Belmont Stakes to return to Saratoga in 2026

Report: Belmont Stakes to return to Saratoga in 2026 The Belmont Stakes, the third leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, reportedly will b...

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Dodgers collecting information on Yankees' fan claim of falling concrete

Dodgers collecting information on Yankees' fan claim of falling concrete

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated theNew York Yankees8-5 in a World Series rematch at Dodger Stadium on Friday night, where a Yankees fan reported being hit by a falling piece of concrete, according toThe Athletic. Yankees fan Ricardo Aquino toldThe Athleticthat during the third inning, while sitting in Section 10, he was hit by a piece of concrete and experienced pain, but he did not suffer any life-threatening injuries. Medical professionals examined Aquino, and the Dodgers have released a statement acknowledging the claim and confirming that they are investigating the situation. "We are aware of the report," the Dodgers stated toThe Athletic. "We cannot comment further until we have all the information, which we are currently collecting." Other fans claimed to see the piece of concrete fall, first thinking that someone threw it at him. "I initially thought someone had thrown something, and my first instinct was to call for security," a fan recounted toThe Athletic. "But then Aquino showed us the rock, and it was clear that it had fallen from the stadium and hit him." More:'We love superstars': Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge do damage in Dodgers-Yankees rematch Dodger Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, opened in 1962 and is the third oldest Major League Baseball stadium in the United States. Over the past decade, the stadium has undergone significant renovations, with the most recent major updates completed in 2021. The most recent renovations focused on enhancing the Centerfield Plaza and included the addition of fan-centered entertainment options such as restaurants, bars, and standing room viewing areas. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Yankees fan claims falling concrete hit him at Dodger Stadium

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 31, 2025

Dodgers collecting information on Yankees' fan claim of falling concrete

Dodgers collecting information on Yankees' fan claim of falling concrete The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated theNew York Yankees8-5 in a Wo...

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