Latest news with #MikeCollins
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Top Republicans says 2020 George Floyd riots were Biden's fault (despite Trump being president at the time)
Georgia Republican Mike Collins wildly came out to blame the 2020 civil unrest following the death of George Floyd on former president Joe Biden – who was not even in the Oval Office at the time. The southern congressman and several other House Republicans spoke Monday during a press conference held on the eve of the first anniversary of the failed assassination of President Donald Trump, Mediaite reported. 'It has been one year since they tried to kill our president,' the Georgia Rep said, seemingly trying to blame the shooting on a mysterious group rather than the known gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was a registered Republican. Ahead of the shooting, Crooks researched where Trump, Biden and then-Attorney General Merrick Garland would make public appearances; however, it was still unclear a year later why he chose to target Trump during his Butler, Pa., rally. 'I want to take just a quick moment to focus on what I call consequences and make two quick points. You know, the culture of lawlessness and violence, this didn't start last year,' Collins said of the shooting. 'This started under the Obama administration when they decided to illegally investigate conservative groups, when they were out there demonizing Republicans, who just simply wanted to follow the Constitution and make our country better,' he bizarrely claimed. Collins went on to blame the flurry of violence in 2020 – sparked by the killing of Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes as he begged for air – on Biden. Notably, Biden was not even president at the time. Trump was. 'Then you fast forward to the Biden administration, who they put this on steroids and actually allowed the public to take part in this game. Example? Summer of love, where rioters were out there burning police stations, assaulting officers, taking over our cities, where they were advocating to defund the men and women in blue who protect us,' Collins incorrectly stated. 'And they didn't just encourage it, y'all. They promoted it. They even paid for their bail,' Collins falsely claimed. The Republican claimed Americans place 'no value to the sanctity of life anymore,' and blamed 'socialist woke politicians' for the country's current state. Biden, who was not president at the time of Floyd's killing, was campaigning during the protests and riots in 2020. He eventually went on to win against Trump that November. The Democratic candidate gained a surge in fundraising following the flurry of protests, which saw thousands of people take to the streets in protest against police brutality and racism, according to a CNBC report at the time. Meanwhile, Trump drew sharp criticism over his poor reaction to the protests, which were largely peaceful but also saw some rioting in pockets across the nation, including in Minnesota, where Floyd was killed. Trump had been calling for a tougher response to the protests when he was caught staging a photo op outside a Washington, D.C., church. The then-president came under criticism after ordering police to violently remove George Floyd protesters from outside the church using tear gas and rubber bullets for him to take the staged photo. The image, which showed Trump sternly holding a bible outside St. John's Episcopal Church, was taken as protesters cried in the background, and was reportedly motivated by his fury over news coverage claiming he and his wife, Melania, were being rushed to the White House bunker in response to the protests.
Fox News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
SCOOP: Rep. Mike Collins teases Georgia Senate bid
SCOOP: Rep. Mike Collins is eying a bid in the Georgia Senate race to challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Republicans are salivating at the chance to flip the seat, and Collins, in a video first obtained by Fox News Digital, contended that Ossoff "must go." "It was never in my plans to run for the U.S. Senate," Collins said. "I love what I'm doing now. I think I've been effective for my district, the state. I love my district." "I mean, just good, solid, hard-working people," he continued. "But I also understand that sometimes you don't do what you want to do, but what you need to do." Collins, a two-term lawmaker representing Georgia's 10th Congressional District, still didn't directly say that he was jumping into the race, and noted that he would first consult with his family and President Donald Trump to determine "where we can be the best, most beneficial help in this mission to make sure that we get a Republican in the U.S. Senate from Georgia." The lawmaker became a staple on the road during Trump's campaign last year, and his bill, the Laken Riley Act, was the first signed into law by the president during his second term. Collins argued that Ossoff "doesn't represent the Georgia values that I cherish so much," and noted that Republicans have largely dominated the state in recent elections, including Trump's victory in November. Still, Ossoff, who is seeking re-election for a second term, was the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in the Peach State in roughly two decades. Speaking on behalf of Ossoff's campaign, Devon Cruz, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Georgia, said in a statement to Fox News Digital, "Immediately after voting to rip away health insurance from 750,000 Georgians, Rep. Mike Collins now wants Georgians to give him a promotion?" Cruz continued, "Collins would join a crowded, messy primary that will leave the GOP nominee badly bruised, while Sen. Jon Ossoff is building massive momentum to take on whichever Donald Trump loyalist limps over the finish line." Senate Republicans now view Ossoff's seat as one of the most viable flip opportunities in the upcoming 2026 midterm cycle, when the GOP hopes to keep and expand upon its thin majority in the upper chamber. Should Collins dive all the way into the race, he will go face-to-face against fellow Georgia Republican Rep. Buddy Carter and Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King in the Republican primary. Carter was the first Republican to jump into the contest after Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who was considered a heavy favorite to run against Ossoff, opted to forgo a Senate bid. Recent polling on the race has found that Collins may have an edge against his fellow GOP competitors. The conservative-leaning Trafalgar Group found in a survey conducted in April with 1,426 respondents that Collins held just over a 23-point edge over Carter, who came in second ahead of Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., and King. In a face-off with Ossoff, however, Collins still trailed the Senator by just shy of 5 points. In another straw poll conducted during the Georgia Republican Party State Convention earlier this month with roughly 1,200 respondents, Collins earned the support of 39% of those polled compared to Carter's 13%.
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Democratizing Venture Capital And Building A Better World
Mike Collins, Founder & CEO, Alumni Ventures (AV) Democratizing Venture Capital And Building A Better World Venture-backed companies have created trillions in market value over the past few decades but less than 1% of U.S. households have access to venture capital investments, according to Forbes. This exclusivity has contributed to wealth inequality and limited the capital available to innovative startups. Today, however, venture capital is being democratized in ways that are opening up more private investment opportunities and making the world a better place at the same time. In terms of pure financial performance, data from Cambridge Associates shows that U.S. venture capital has delivered a 19.3% pooled return over the past 25 years compared to 9.1% for the S&P 500. It's also a market that is expected to grow over 20% in 2025 according to Wise. The biggest areas of growth? AI, healthcare innovation, green technology and the democratization of the industry. Increasingly, more people will have the opportunity to invest in startups they believe in and help to bring the truly great ideas into the mainstream. And, with new investors on board, the venture capital sector will benefit from more diverse sources of capital and new perspectives. Including those of next generation investors who are increasingly 'impact curious' and are looking for opportunities to leverage their capital for meaningful change, according to research by the Center for Sustainable Finance & Private Wealth. Alumni Ventures (AV) has become one of the most active venture capital firms in the United States and is leading the path towards democratizing access to private investing. Since 2014 the firm has raised over $1.5 billion, made investments in more than 1,600 companies, and built a network community of more than 850,000 members. The firm recently launched AV Syndicate, a new investment platform allowing accredited investors to participate in individual venture deals with a minimum investment of only $10,000. But what sets AV apart isn't just the scale of its network or the size of its portfolio. It's the firm's commitment to democratizing venture capital in a way that channels investment dollars toward startups that are building a better future. AV was founded in 2014 by serial entrepreneur and Dartmouth alumnus Mike Collins on the idea that venture capital doesn't have to be exclusive. By leveraging the power of alumni networks and new technology, AV is making high-quality venture capital opportunities accessible to individual investors at scale. 'We believe that democratizing access to alternative investments is not just good business—it's essential for a more equitable financial system and a more innovative economy,' said Collins. 'By opening venture capital to individual accredited investors, we're helping to bridge this gap and create more opportunities for wealth creation.' Recently I had the opportunity to speak with Collins about why democratizing access to venture capital will be good for the investment community and for the world. Paul Klein: You've built a very different kind of venture capital firm. How did people react when you started? Mike Collins: When I started Alumni Ventures, people asked 'Why the hell would you bother with a $50,000 check from a heart surgeon in Des Moines?' But that heart surgeon in Des Moines, along with 11,000 other people, is part of a really powerful network that's valuable to entrepreneurs, allows us to get into better investments that gives better returns, and makes it appealing for more people to join the network. Paul Klein: Why hasn't the same investment ecosystem that has built America's strength in technology, and made the U.S. economy successful, been accessible to ordinary investors? Mike Collins: With the goal of protecting people from themselves, we've made the world of investing exclusively the purview of endowments, pension funds, and super rich people. Today, however, companies are staying private longer because they can raise as much without being public and dealing with short term thinking, day traders and algorithms. This is creating more opportunities for private investors. For example, OpenAI just raised $40 billion privately. What we're doing is creating a global entrepreneurial ecosystem where venture capital is democratized. Paul Klein: What makes investing in venture capital fundamentally different from investing in the public markets? Mike Collins: If you buy S&P's ETF, it's just a number that shows up in your Schwab statement or your 401(k). When you invest $10,000 into Oura, and the company does really well, there's the pride of being really involved in helping something great. That's very different from owning Apple or Microsoft. Paul Klein: What do you see as the key ingredients that have made U.S. entrepreneurs so successful? Mike Collins: I would say the strategic strength of the United States, the reason we are in the position we are as a society, is because we have dominated technology, had an ecosystem that supported innovation and entrepreneurship, and sold our products globally. More than that, as we moved from a manufacturing economy to an information economy, many companies, including Google, and NVIDIA, were founded by first generation Americans. One of the reasons that so many great companies are founded by first generation Americans is because it's a tough job and you've got to be gritty. You don't have a lot of trust fund kids growing up in Greenwich starting companies - it's too hard. Paul Klein: Accessing capital is the first test for every entrepreneur. How does AV help people from underrepresented backgrounds who have an even tougher time starting companies? Mike Collins: Building a company is hard but great entrepreneurs are able to find ways to access capital. Usually that starts out with a small group of friends and family, or people from your industry that get you going. Then you've got to prove yourself. At some point, the really good companies want a really strong venture capital firm as a lead investor. We also have a dedicated and fully staffed Women's Fund, have invested in an Anti-Bias Fund, and have one of the most tenured and prodigious Venture Fellow Programs in the world, which is specifically designed to help under-represented populations get into VC. Paul Klein: AI has been flagged as one of the three biggest areas for growth in venture capital investing. What's your take on the risks and opportunities in this space? Mike Collins: AI has been around a couple years now and I don't see it taking over the world. I don't see massive unemployment. Our healthcare system sucks, our education system is 100 years old, and it's a good thing that change is in order. There will be problems and unintended consequences, but the answer isn't to go back to 1950. Today, an open-minded, AI-native young person who is comfortable with these tools can accomplish so much more, so much quicker, and help older people be more productive. Paul Klein: Some investors argue that venture capital is risky, especially for individuals. How does your model address that? Mike Collins: I think venture capital as an asset class is perceived as risky because most people don't really have access to the best deals. We reduce risk by creating a big network of pooled capital and offering people large portfolios where they can own a hundred ventures led by top VCs. Paul Klein: What's your view of the role that next generation investors will play in the growth of venture capital investing? Mike Collins: The next generation wants to feel that they're investing in things that they believe in and care about—not just an asset class and a number that grows. There's also the psychology of feeling like you're helping to create the future of something important to the world by investing in areas you can believe in like small nuclear reactors, energy or AI. Next Gen investors also want to be part of a community of people who want to make the world a better place. We hold events where alumni of schools look at their portfolios together and hear from entrepreneurs about the timeframe for how their companies will be impacting our lives. Paul Klein: Finally, what investments are you most proud of? Mike Collins: Doing well and doing good are not mutually exclusive. For example, eleven years ago there was a company called Groups that created a national network of drug addiction clinics. It was a good investment and that also solved a problem. Some of our other portfolio companies in energy are creating new technology that allows us to do safer, more local distributed energy production, where we don't have to dig into the ground and burn carbon. I'm very proud of the work they're doing because I want to leave the world a better place for my kids. Collins and his team at AV are contributing to a fundamental reinvention of the investment industry. One where accessible venture capital may become the first choice for people who want access to private markets and to be part of a community of investors who want healthy returns and a healthy planet. "We're here to democratize venture capital, empower individual investors, and help entrepreneurs make the world a better place,' said Collins. 'That's how we'll reinvent this industry—and why I believe the best is yet to come."
E&E News
13-06-2025
- Business
- E&E News
House Republicans try again on water permitting bills
Republicans on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced 15 water-related bills Thursday, targeting everything from the length of federal permitting to the types of water resources protected by the Clean Water Act. The bills would benefit oil and gas companies, farming interests, homebuilders, water utilities and others who say that environmental reviews and long permitting timelines are stifling development. They were introduced by Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chair Mike Collins (R-Ga.) and Reps. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), David Rouzer (R-N.C.), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), Burgess Owens (R-Utah), Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.), Jefferson Shreve (R-Ind.), Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) and Jimmy Patronis (R-Fla.). Advertisement 'The Clean Water Act was intended to protect water quality, support healthy communities, and balance the demands of economic growth across the United States,' Graves said in a statement.
CBS News
24-05-2025
- Science
- CBS News
The Gault in Central Texas is reshaping history, telling the story of the earliest humans in the Americas
On an unremarkable stretch of roadway, just north of Austin, you'll find Gault. It's an archaeological site so significant that textbooks have been rewritten and experts have challenged what they thought they knew about when the first humans came to the Americas. And it's right in our backyard. A look at the Gault's history "It's a place that has been known and used by indigenous people for tens of thousands of years, probably, back maybe 18,000 years," said archaeologist Mike Adler, PhD. Adler also chairs SMU's Anthropology department. He, too, is eager to see what is uncovered at Gault. "What did they eat? What were they doing?" Adler pondered. "People were here. And people were here very early, much earlier than we used to think. That's exciting." The earliest humans in the Americas have been called "the Clovis Culture". The findings at Gault predate even that by thousands of years. Experts haven't agreed on what to call the evidence of those even earlier humans, so right now they're described as "earlier than Clovis". And the sheer magnitude of the evidence of their existence uncovered at Gault is astonishing even to veteran scientists. "And it's not a played-out site. It's not a place that's used up," Adler added. "There's more mystery under that dirt." A man on a mission And it is a mystery that most likely would have remained buried were it not for the perseverance of UT Austin Archaeologist Dr. Mike Collins. "He had the faith," Adler explained, before adding, "the personality, and the humility of someone to say, 'You know, I'll just keep being patient. I'll keep asking, and I'll try and get this place saved.' And then to put his own resources into it? Again. Not many colleagues would do that. So, it took a unique person to save a unique site." The story of Gault and how Dr. Collins fought to save it is shared in a new independent film called "The Stones are Speaking". Former journalist turned filmmaker Olive Talley, of Dallas, wrote, directed and produced the film. "The Gault site now is what it always has been," Talley said. "It's a bucolic little pasture along Buttermilk Creek in central Texas. If you walked out there today, and I hope your viewers will someday, you will wonder, 'Really, how could this place be so extraordinary when it looks so ordinary?' And that was the question, one of the questions that drove me." The film has generated new interest in the site and in exploring how the earliest Texans-- yes, even before there was a Texas – lived and survived. "There were these persistent places that people knew, depended upon," Adler said. "They knew when they could go there, what would be available, when the deer would show up. And so, you had this predictability that humans crave. We don't like unpredictability." And that's true, he said, of humans 18,000 years ago, as well. "Absolutely," Adler insisted. "We've been the same for a long time." Part of the fascination in finding places like Gault, he said, is in the natural curiosity about how people survived. "And, you know, in some cases, they didn't. And then you want to find out what happened," he said. People traveling across country to visit the historic site After many challenges, Dr. Collins purchased the site and then donated it, so that it could be preserved for future scientists. It's now in the care of the Gault School of Archaeological Research. The site is also open for monthly tours. "A couple of months ago, we had two ladies who were visiting a friend in San Marcus, and they heard about it," Mary Condon with GSAR said. "And they were from Pacifica, California. So, people are coming from all over. And they're like, 'We had no idea.' And it is one of the most important sites in the Americas." Visitor Al Kaufman said he has always been interested in archaeology and came out with a group from Austin. "Well, I learned some things," Kaufman said. "I mean, it's fun to be on the ground and see stuff because history tells us who we are." Experts said the Gault site is significant, in part, due to the sheer magnitude of what was found. Just 3% of the site has been excavated, but scientists have uncovered more than 2.5 million artifacts. Most of those are Clovis artifacts, but some 150,000 of those have been attributed to the as-yet-unnamed culture that is older than Clovis. The excavated site has since been covered to protect it. But the good news for those who want to preserve this space is that it's all still here. Honoring Dr. Collins' legacy "I started coming out here when I was nine," Elizabeth Collins said. She's a geophysicist with an interest in archaeology. How could she not be? She's also Dr. Collins' granddaughter. "And he's just so kind and so open, and he's never talking down to you," Elizabeth shared. "He's just sharing what he knows. And he's excited about it. And that always helps bring out the excitement in other people to learn and to see all of these amazing things." Elizabeth helps lead tours of the site and said she is incredibly proud to be able to help others experience Gault. "This is the biggest part of his legacy. And I am honored to be able to be a part of it, she said as she wiped away tears. "I've seen a lot of it, and I want other people to see it too." In her film, Talley shared that part of what drove her to document the Gault story and Dr. Collins' fight to save it is that he can no longer share it for himself. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2022. "Because, for me," Talley added with her eyes filling with tears, "if we don't have people like this in our society, if we don't have people who are driven to make a difference, what do we have?" Talley's movie about the fight to save Gault is winning awards at film festivals across the country. The 85-minute director's cut is now available on Apple TV, Google Play and Amazon Video Prime. As for Gault? "It's something to be proud of for so many reasons," Adler said. "First, that it's unique, that it's in Texas, that it's so old, but also, it's a story of potential harm, potential loss, and in the end, triumph. Mike Collins got it done. And saved this place." And that, he said, is a big deal. "It's a really big deal."
