Morning Announcements

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Wednesday, July 17th, 2024 Jul 17, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: For the second night of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, speakers included Kari Lake, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and Nikki Haley, who reversed her past criticism of Trump. Behind the scenes, Trump has secured significant financial backing, with Elon Musk pledging $45 million per month to America PAC and support from other notable donors like the Winklevoss twins and Palantir's co-founder. Silicon Valley figures Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, along with billionaire Peter Thiel, are also contributing to Trump's campaign. US intelligence is tracking an Iranian-backed assassination plot against Trump, though it's not linked to the recent Pennsylvania rally shooting, which occurred despite "enhanced" security. Meanwhile, New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez was found guilty on 16 counts in a corruption trial involving bribes from foreign powers and businessmen. Democratic colleagues and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy are calling for his immediate resignation. On a different note, President Biden is working on a proposal to reform the Supreme Court, including term limits for justices, an enforceable ethics code, and potentially a constitutional amendment to eliminate broad immunity for presidents and other constitutional officeholders.

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Wall Street Journal: Elon Musk Has Said He Is Committing Around $45 Million a Month to a New Pro-Trump Super PAC
The Information: Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz Say They Plan to Donate to Trump PAC
CBS News: The billionaire who fueled JD Vance's rapid rise to the Trump VP spot
The Atlantic: Peter Thiel Is Taking a Break From Democracy
NY Times: U.S. Detected Potential Iranian Plot to Kill Trump Separate From Saturday’s Shooting
Ny Times: Senator Menendez Found Guilty on All Counts in Corruption Trial
WA Post: Biden set to announce support for major Supreme Court changes

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Tuesday, July 16th, 2024 Jul 16, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: Donald Trump, a convicted felon and Republican presidential candidate, has called for the dismissal of all legal cases against him on Truth Social. This includes federal indictments related to the 2020 election, the Georgia election racketeering case, and his civil and criminal cases in New York. Just before the RNC, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the classified documents case against Trump, citing the unconstitutionality of the special counsel's office, a decision now under appeal. Trump was charged with 37 felony counts for retaining classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and obstructing justice. News of his vice presidential pick, Ohio Senator JD Vance, who supports a national abortion ban and other extreme measures, overshadowed this development. Meanwhile, Trump’s allies are preparing to challenge the 2024 election results, aiming to block certification through a legal campaign. In contrast, President Biden proposed a 5% cap on annual rent increases, contingent on Democrats winning the presidency and majorities in the House and Senate.

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Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday, July 15th, 2024 Jul 15, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: Donald Trump was injured in an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where one attendee was killed, and two others were injured. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service. Corey Comperatore, a volunteer firefighter, died protecting his family. The FBI is investigating the incident as domestic terrorism. Crooks was a registered Republican who had donated to a progressive project in 2021 and was described as a bullied loner. President Biden condemned the violence and ordered a security review. Despite the attack, Trump's security plans for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee remain unchanged. Meta will soon lift restrictions on Trump's social media accounts. Meanwhile, Elon Musk has made a sizable donation to America PAC, supporting Trump's reelection efforts.

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Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friday, July 12th, 2024 Jul 12, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: International adversary week rolls on with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban meeting Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago just after the NATO summit. Orban, who recently met with Putin and Xi Jinping, praised Trump as a "man of peace," while pushing for a Ukraine ceasefire that would cede land to Russia. This cozy relationship is drawing suspicion, especially after Orban's recent diplomatic maneuvers. Meanwhile, Democratic Senators have called for a special counsel to investigate Justice Clarence Thomas, highlighting undisclosed gifts, including a 2003 yacht trip to Russia, with potential connections to Putin. In other news, the Treasury and IRS have collected over $1 billion in tax debt from high-income individuals, thanks to enhanced funding for enforcement, aiming to recover up to $850 billion by 2034.

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Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thursday, July 11th, 2024 Jul 11, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: On the second day of the NATO summit in DC, the focus is on defending against Russia's ambitions in Ukraine and beyond. NATO aims to "Trump-proof" the alliance, preparing for a possible US withdrawal if Trump is re-elected, and is committed to putting Ukraine on a path to NATO membership while calling out China for enabling Russia's invasion. Meanwhile, a Moscow court issued an arrest warrant for Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, accusing her of participating in an extremist society. In the US, despite President Biden's insistence that his candidacy is settled, there is ongoing concern among Democratic lawmakers, donors, and even George Clooney, who suggested in a New York Times op-ed that the party needs a new nominee. On another front, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has filed articles of impeachment against Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito over undisclosed gifts, with two Senate Democrats requesting a special counsel to investigate Justice Thomas further. Finally, the Senate saw a rare moment of bipartisanship with an agreement on legislation to ban members of Congress, the president, and the vice president, along with their spouses and dependent children, from buying and selling stocks.

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Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wednesday, July 10th, 2024 Jul 10, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: It seems like international rivalry week, with the NATO summit kicking off in DC and announcing a $700 million contract for more Stinger missiles, which were crucial in aiding Ukraine against Russia in 2022. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia, calling Putin "my dear friend," while Russia launched a new offensive in Ukraine, tragically hitting the country's largest children's hospital. In the US, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is working with Democrats on legislation to counter the Supreme Court's ruling that grants Trump immunity from criminal prosecution. On the environmental front, sea-level rise has potentially wiped out the Key Largo tree cactus, marking the first time climate change has eradicated a US species. Lastly, the FTC has banned the NGL app from serving users under 18 for privacy violations and deceptive practices, resulting in a $5 million settlement.

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Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday, July 9th, 2024 Jul 09, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: While attending the NATO summit in DC, President Biden doubled down on his commitment to run in the 2024 election, saying he's the best shot at beating Trump. Despite all the chatter, Biden dared other candidates to challenge him and shrugged off his critics. On the other side, Trump managed to get the Republican National Committee to quietly remove the call for a national abortion plan from their platform, even though they still hold strong anti-abortion views. Meanwhile, in California, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a budget that includes $12 million for reparations, focusing on formal apologies and setting up programs without direct payments. In other news, Boeing struck a plea deal over the 737 Max crashes, agreeing to a $243.6 million fine and $455 million for safety programs, though victims' families are calling it a "sweetheart deal." Hurricane Beryl knocked out power for 2 million Texans, and excessive heat warnings are up across the West, breaking temperature records and causing several suspected heat-related deaths. Lastly, during the pandemic, there was a 24% jump in STD diagnoses among seniors 65 and older, much higher than the 5% increase across all age groups.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday, July 8th, 2024 Jul 08, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: Donald Trump distanced himself from Project 2025, a plan by the Heritage Foundation to reshape American society under a second Trump administration, following public backlash. He also suggested changing election dates and supported imprisoning political opponents, while the private prison conglomerate GEO Group heavily backed his campaign. In international news, Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed reducing Western influence at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting. In the UK, Keir Starmer became Prime Minister after Labour's victory, and France's left-wing coalition prevented far-right gains in parliamentary elections. Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian won Iran's presidential election, advocating dialogue with adversaries. President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to the presidential race, dismissing the need for a cognitive test. Lastly, the EPA fined General Motors $146 million for excess emissions, highlighting the importance of regulatory oversight.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024 Jul 03, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: Following the Supreme Court's ruling that granted Donald Trump immunity from prosecution for his "official acts" in the 2020 election interference case, his lawyers moved to dismiss his 34 felony convictions in New York and delay his sentencing. Judge Juan Merchan agreed to postpone the sentencing to September 18th at the earliest. Meanwhile, President Biden is facing criticism within his own party, with Representative Lloyd Doggett calling for Biden to withdraw from the race, and Nancy Pelosi questioning his mental fitness and emphasizing the need for him to give multiple sit-down interviews. Rudy Giuliani was disbarred in New York after a court ruled he made false statements to help Trump overturn the 2020 election. Giuliani had his law license suspended in 2021, and now he is permanently banned from practicing law in the state. The Arizona GOP filed an emergency motion to block approximately 35,000 voters from participating in the presidential election unless they provide proof of citizenship, following voter suppression laws passed in 2022. These laws require new voters to provide documentation to vote and allow for voter roll purges. In international news, Ukraine's security service announced it had thwarted a coup attempt against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, allegedly planned to "play into Russia's hands." The plot involved staging a riot in Kyiv, seizing the parliament, and replacing the country's leadership. For our scary weather report, Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 storm, has caused six fatalities in the Caribbean and is now approaching Jamaica with winds of 150 miles per hour.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024 Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

Today’s Headlines: The Supreme Court ruled to largely immunize Donald Trump from prosecution in the 2020 election interference case, with a 6-3 majority granting former presidents broad immunity for "official acts." Justice Amy Coney Barrett noted only Trump's calls to state officials about fake electors might be unofficial. This decision likely delays Trump's trial past the November election as Judge Tanya Chutkan must now assess which acts are official, potentially leading to further appeals. In response, Trump’s lawyers are seeking to dismiss his Manhattan felony convictions and delay sentencing, arguing some payments made during his presidency should be considered official acts. President Biden condemned the ruling, asserting it allows presidents to ignore legal accountability, thus undermining public trust. Meanwhile, the Trump Organization signed a deal with a Saudi real estate company for a high-rise project in Jeddah, highlighting ongoing financial ties with Saudi interests. The FDA gained new regulatory powers over cosmetics under the 2022 Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act, though compliance may be affected by the Supreme Court's recent decision. A Florida judge released transcripts from Jeffrey Epstein’s 2006 prosecution, revealing prosecutorial misconduct and insufficient charges against Epstein. Lastly, Warren Buffett plans to create a charitable trust for his Berkshire Hathaway shares, worth over $127 billion, managed by his three children, raising questions about its true philanthropic intent.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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