*By Carlo Versano*
Google is "missing an opportunity" by not sending a top official to Capitol Hill next week to testify on election interference and censorship, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) told Cheddar's J.D. Durkin on Wednesday.
Facebook and Twitter are both sending C-Suite executives ー COO Sheryl Sandberg and CEO Jack Dorsey, respectively ー to testify in front of both chambers on Sept. 5.
So far, Google has said it will only dispatch its general counsel, Kent Walker.
"We need policy makers, not simply their lawyers," Warner said.
The heads of the top social and web platforms will head to the Hill to answer questions about how they are combating misinformation campaigns from state actors like Russia and Iran ahead of the midterm elections. Additionally, they are expected to face pointed questions about censorship ー a topic that President Trump has been pushing, most recently on Wednesday afternoon when he told reporters, "I think they treat Republicans and conservatives very unfairly" and such handling "may not be legal."
That echoes the sentiment of several Trump tweets Tuesday which suggested that Google News technology suppressed conservative views. Economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the White House would look into the matter, but many questioned Trump's statements on their face.
"The president doesn't really understand how search algorithms work," Warner said, noting that content is ranked in searches as a result of computer calculations, not human action.
The last time officials from Facebook, Twitter, and Google testified together ー last November on the topic of Russian hacking ー the reaction from lawmakers was largely negative. Since then, each company has shown a more proactive approach to the policing of their platforms.
Warner said he hopes next week's hearings will be forward-looking. "We want to look at solution sets" for these complex problems, he said.
Presidential hopefuls sparred over immigration at the Democratic debate in Detroit Wednesday night, arguing specifically over how the next occupant of the White House will improve the system and correct approaches taken by past administrations.
On the Detroit Democratic debate stage, Sen. Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor, found herself grilled on her record regarding cannabis and criminal justice by fellow candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
Rep. Ryan told Cheddar that he's so focused on making sure American workers are prepared for the future of manufacturing and wants to drive investment in the electric vehicle market.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.25 percent on Wednesday, marking the first time the U.S. central bank had lowered rates since the financial collapse in 2008. The decision puts the benchmark rate at a range between 2 and 2.25 percent.
Fox News personality Judge Jeanine Pirro is jumping into the cannabis game. She joined the board of Heavenly Rx, the hemp and CBD company announced on Wednesday.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Wednesday, July 31, 2019.
Candidates like Pete Buttigieg, Tim Ryan, and Amy Klobuchar were very critical of the student loan forgiveness plans put forth by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren on the Detroit debate stage.
In a debate heavy on the topic of Medicare for All versus private insurance, the 2020 Democratic candidates also wrangled about expanding guaranteed coverage to undocumented immigrants on the Detroit stage.
The president's team is in Detroit as Democratic hopefuls flock to the second primary debates, and it's banking on the economic improvements in the Great Lakes State to help him bring home another victory in 2020.
President Trump may be excluded from the nation’s largest primary election after California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law on Tuesday that would require presidential hopefuls to release their tax returns in order to appear on the ballot.
