Liberal bench strength

Tackling banking problems, debt in the time of corona, weekend longreads

THE BIG STORY   The FinCEN Files revealed huge banking problems. Now the world is trying to fix them.   In September, we published the FinCEN Files investigation in conjunction with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, exposing a torrent of dirty money that the world's most powerful banks transact in plain view of government regulators.   The colossal investigation has roiled the financial industry like few stories since the Great Recession — and pushed governments into forceful action in the US and beyond.   UK lawmakers launched a formal inquiry into Britain's oversight of banks, members of the European Parliament advocated for a stronger response across the continent, and investigations were opened in countries ranging from Thailand to Liberia.   Significantly, the FinCEN Files provided a final push in Washington, DC, for passage of a new law taking aim at one of the most effective money laundering tools: anonymous shell companies. The legislation, passed last week with overwhelming bipartisan support, requires many of these secretive American companies to disclose who owns them and who profits from them. The headquarters for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, a department within the US Treasury, in Vienna, Virginia. Alex Fradkin For BuzzFeed News STAYING ON TOP OF THIS   A grand jury has indicted six men for conspiring to kidnap Michigan's governor   The federal grand jury returned an indictment against six men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in part because they were allegedly furious at business closures she ordered during a peak of the coronavirus.   The men were arrested on Oct. 7. The indictment contains just one count, for kidnapping conspiracy, which could carry a life sentence upon conviction, but also provides new details about the alleged plotters, including that they allegedly exchanged a message about killing police on the day they were arrested.   Five of the defendants — Daniel Harris, Adam Fox, Brandon Caserta, Ty Garbin, and Kaleb Franks — entered not guilty pleas at an arraignment. A sixth defendant, Barry Croft, who is from Delaware and was arrested in New Jersey, has not yet made an appearance in Michigan in the case. SNAPSHOTS   French president Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for COVID-19. A statement from his office said Macron got tested as soon as the first symptoms appeared, adding it's not clear how the president was exposed to the virus.   This is what it's like to be a part of a COVID-19 vaccine trial. Our reporter Amber Jamieson wrote about volunteering for a vaccine trial, which "felt like the perfect mix of being selfless — a practical way to help others — and also extremely self-serving, because I might get a vaccine months early."   DHS inspectors found ICE detainees who were kept in solitary confinement for 300 days. According to a draft report we obtained, nearly a dozen immigrants arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement were kept in solitary confinement for more than two months.   A Christmas "winter village" is being called the "Fyre Festival" of children's Santa events. The event, held in Adelaide, South Australia, was criticized by angry parents who called the entire operation "cheap," "tacky," and a "scam."   Are your debt payments on hold? What do you plan to do? If you put your mortgage, student loan, auto loan, credit card, or other debt payment on hold during the coronavirus pandemic, BuzzFeed News would like to hear from you.   Prince William and Kate Middleton released their family Christmas card and it's adorable. The picture shows the proud parents with their three children: Prince George, 7; Princess Charlotte, 5; and Prince Louis, 2. Matt Porteous / Via Instagram: @KensingtonRoyal BENCH STRENGTH   Trump filled the courts with conservative judges. It won't be easy for Biden to do the same with liberal ones.   President Donald Trump may have been held to a single term in office, but his confirmation of more than 220 judges over the last four years is a Republican achievement that will far outlast his presidency.   It is possible that President-elect Joe Biden may leave a sizable legacy on the bench, too — but he's starting at a disadvantage: There are 60 open judgeships — less than half of what Trump inherited in January 2017 — and Republicans are racing to fill as many of those seats as they can before Biden is sworn in.   If Democrats don't win both of Georgia's Senate seats in the January runoff election, Biden will have to reckon with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for at least two years, and that arrangement could force compromises and concessions. GET COZY   Get the mulled wine and settle in for some longreads    This year made me rethink Contagion. Remember the 2011 movie about a pandemic? After a year like no other, David Mack's perspective of one Contagion character has changed dramatically. So he called up the actor who played her to talk about it.   It'll be tough to someday explain what Taylor Swift's surprise albums meant during the pandemic. Katherine Miller wrote how Swift's surprise albums were a balm in a year that needed it: "2020 will be one of the worst years of most of our lives. Which is why I think it might be hard to explain to someone who wasn't here for it why — for the people who really connected with Folklore and Evermore — these albums hit even harder and bigger than maybe the sum of their parts."    19 new historical fiction books we think you'll love. Who doesn't love historical fiction? We have some recommendations for you. Build time into your day to reach out to people you care about, Elamin P.S. If you like this newsletter, help keep our reporting free for all. Support BuzzFeed News by becoming a member here. (Monthly memberships are available worldwide). 📝  This letter was edited and brought to you by Brandon Hardin and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.   🔔  Want to be notified as soon as news breaks? Download the BuzzFeed News app for iOS and Android (available in Canadian, UK, Australian, and US app stores). 💌  Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up to get BuzzFeed News in your inbox! Show privacy notice and cookie policy. BuzzFeed, Inc. 111 E. 18th St. New York, NY 10003 Unsubscribe