Morning Announcements

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Monday, July 1st, 2024 Jul 01, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: The Supreme Court has undermined the Chevron deference, a precedent that allowed federal agencies to enact rules in their areas of expertise. This decision could impact regulations on clean air, water, vehicle safety, emissions, anti-discrimination protections, and consumer rights, shifting power to the judiciary and hindering law enforcement. This ruling is particularly significant as it aligns with Donald Trump's Project 2025 agenda to dismantle the administrative state and favor corporate interests. In another ruling, the Supreme Court favored January 6th rioters by dismissing obstruction charges related to their attempt to stop the 2020 election certification. This decision could affect Donald Trump's own obstruction charges in his criminal indictment. Additionally, the Supreme Court extended its term to decide on Trump's immunity claim regarding election interference. The decision, expected soon, could delay trial proceedings past the election. The Court also upheld an Oregon ban on unhoused individuals sleeping in public spaces, ruling it does not violate the 8th amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Meanwhile, Steve Bannon is set to begin a four-month prison sentence for contempt of Congress after the Supreme Court refused to hear his case.On the international front, France's far-right National Rally party, led by Marine Le Pen, is leading in first-round voting, with President Macron's centrist party potentially finishing third behind a new left-wing coalition. Lastly, Hurricane Beryl has rapidly intensified to a category 4 storm, expected to impact Barbados, the Grenadines, St. Vincent, Grenada, and the Windward and Leeward Islands with significant storm surge flooding.

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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, June 28th, 2024 Jun 28, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: Last night's debate between President Biden and Donald Trump was highly anticipated. Biden appeared raspy and aged, while Trump seemed slightly more composed than usual. However, there was no live fact-checking, leaving many of Trump's claims unchecked, such as blaming January 6th on Nancy Pelosi and denying derogatory remarks about fallen soldiers. An exchange about their golf swings added little substance to the debate. The Supreme Court's leaked EMTALA opinion was confirmed to be purposeful and final, deferring to a lower court decision that allows emergency abortions in Idaho for now. This means that, despite the ruling, doctors in Idaho will likely remain hesitant to provide care due to legal uncertainties. Oklahoma's state superintendent Ryan Walters mandated that all public schools in the state teach the Bible, incorporating it into the curriculum for grades 5 through 12. Walters claimed the Bible is essential for understanding American history and Western civilization, though his interpretation and implementation of this mandate remain unclear. Former Uvalde school district police chief Pete Arredondo was indicted on 10 counts of abandoning or endangering a child due to the mishandled response to the 2022 school shooting at Robb Elementary School. Despite posting bail, his indictment marks a rare application of the child endangerment statute, reflecting the unprecedented nature of law enforcement's inaction during the shooting.

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

Thursday, June 27th, 2024 Jun 27, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: The Supreme Court had a busy day yesterday with several notable decisions. First, an unpublished opinion on emergency abortion care leaked online, revealing that emergency abortions can continue in Idaho for now due to the Court's decision not to rule on the merits of the case, upholding the EMTALA for the time being. In another decision, the Court ruled 6-3 to limit a federal public corruption law, allowing public officials to accept bribes for official acts if delivered after the fact, sparking concerns about ethics and accountability. Additionally, the Court upheld the government's ability to communicate with social media platforms about content moderation in a 6-3 ruling, but suggested that Congress should address the issue. In other news, President Biden pardoned thousands of LGBTQ veterans wrongfully discharged under a former law banning gay sex in the military, allowing them to apply for benefits. Sixteen Nobel Prize-winning economists warned that a second Trump administration would worsen inflation due to his proposed policies, including a 10% tariff on all imports. The US Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis, urging Congress to take action. Meanwhile, Florida declined a federal grocery subsidy program that would have provided school meals for 2 million low-income children, citing operational costs and conditions. Lastly, a military coup attempt in Bolivia failed, with President Luis Arce remaining in power and the coup's leader arrested.

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, June 26th, 2024 Jun 26, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: challenger George Latimer, with significant funding from AIPAC opposing Bowman due to his criticism of Israel and comments on local Jewish communities. Meanwhile, in Colorado, Lauren Boebert won her Republican primary in a new district, leveraging her high profile and overcoming lesser-known opponents. In Israel, the Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox men must serve in the army, potentially destabilizing Netanyahu's coalition and possibly leading to new elections, as this group historically received exemptions for religious study. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for top Russian military officials over war crimes in Ukraine, following previous warrants against Putin and other senior officials. Lastly, Judge Juan Merchan partially lifted the gag order on Donald Trump in his hush money trial, allowing him to comment on witnesses and the jury but not on attorneys or court staff, raising concerns ahead of the upcoming debate.

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, June 25th, 2024 Jun 25, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: The Supreme Court will hear an appeal from the Biden administration challenging Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, with oral arguments scheduled for the fall. A new study links Texas's 2021 abortion ban to a nearly 13% rise in infant deaths and a 23% increase in newborns with congenital anomalies. Meanwhile, the American Accountability Foundation is investigating federal employees to identify Trump supporters and opponents, funded by the Heritage Foundation. Additionally, federal judges in Kansas and Missouri blocked Biden's student loan forgiveness plan, affecting millions of borrowers. Finally, Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the US Department of Justice, allowing him to return to Australia after being held in a UK prison for five years.

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, June 24th, 2024 Jun 24, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld a federal law barring those under domestic-violence restraining orders from owning guns, with Justice Clarence Thomas dissenting. This ruling comes as the court prepares to release decisions on 15 significant cases, including Donald Trump's immunity from prosecution for election interference and the legality of obstruction charges for January 6th rioters. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, addressing evangelicals, endorsed Louisiana's law to display the Ten Commandments in public schools and suggested a controversial sports league idea involving migrants. A newly released recording from 2021 features Trump accidentally admitting he lost the 2020 election. Additionally, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun admitted to retaliating against whistleblowers during a Senate hearing. Finally, extreme heat continues to wreak havoc globally, with over 1,300 deaths during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia and record temperatures across the country, with an even hotter July forecasted.

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

Friday, June 21st, 2024 Jun 21, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: In an alarming development, journalist Lauren Windsor recorded Roger Stone discussing plans to help Donald Trump secure the 2024 election, highlighting their improved preparation compared to 2020. Stone mentioned having a lawyer and a judge ready to stop alleged election fraud and outlined efforts to change state laws and monitor voter lists in real-time. Meanwhile, RFK Jr. has failed to qualify for the June 27th CNN debate due to not meeting the necessary polling and state ballot qualifications. In other news, Louisiana will be the first state to require the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms by 2025, a move funded by donations. New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill allowing parents to block algorithm-suggested social media posts and nighttime notifications for minors, with platforms given 180 days to comply. Lastly, Vermont state representative Mary Morrissey apologized for repeatedly pouring water into a colleague's tote bag, a bizarre act caught on camera.

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

Thursday, June 20th, 2024 Jun 20, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: Following the Supreme Court's recent ruling against an executive ban on bump stocks, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer attempted to introduce Congressional legislation for a similar ban. However, Senate Republicans blocked the proposal despite having over 20 cosponsors, with Susan Collins of Maine being the sole Republican supporter. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un have signed an agreement solidifying their alliance, pledging mutual aid in case of aggression and emphasizing trade, security, and cultural ties. On a different front, Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked a carrier ship in the Red Sea, causing it to sink and killing one person, which has significantly disrupted maritime traffic in the region. Lastly, the US Preventive Services Task Force released new guidelines for healthy eating and exercise for children over six with high BMI, recommending 26 hours of behavior modification but not semaglutide medications, addressing the increasing issue of high BMI among US children.

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, June 19th, 2024 Jun 19, 2024

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Today’s Headlines: President Biden announced a new path to citizenship for over 500,000 undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens, eliminating the requirement for them to leave the country for ten years before applying for legal residency. This policy change allows these individuals to apply for green cards and three-year work permits, although the eligibility criteria are expected to be strict. New York’s highest court upheld a gag order on Donald Trump, preventing him from speaking about witnesses and court officers involved in his felony conviction case, with the order remaining in place until his sentencing on July 11th. A report from NewsGuard revealed that leading AI chatbots frequently echo Russian disinformation, raising concerns about their role in spreading propaganda, and OpenAI noted that groups conducting covert influence campaigns are starting to use chatbots to spread their messages. Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage after over two decades of activism, with the law going into effect pending royal approval. Lastly, extreme weather is affecting the U.S. with record-high temperatures impacting over 80% of the population, ongoing wildfires in California worsening air quality, and unexpected snowfall in the Rocky Mountains. New York Governor Kathy Hochul activated the National Guard to assist with heat emergencies, and projections indicate the cost of cooling homes this summer will hit its highest level in a decade, impacting financial support for families.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

Axios: Biden moves to help half a million undocumented people married to citizens
AP News: NY court declines to hear Trump's gag order appeal in hush money case
Axios: Exclusive: Leading chatbots are spreading Russian propaganda
Reuters: Thailand to be first Southeast Asian country to recognise same-sex marriage
Spectrum News 1: New York activates the National Guard due to dangerous heat
Axios: Air quality hit as 20 large fires burn across western US
Accuweather: A foot of June snow in the Rockies while East swelters
NBC News: Extreme heat set to drive home cooling costs to 10-year high, advocates warn

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, June 18th, 2024 Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

Today’s Headlines: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved his war cabinet after the exit of his political rival Benny Gantz, planning instead to hold smaller meetings with individual officials. Although the war cabinet is gone, Netanyahu has not abandoned the proposed hostage and ceasefire deal, despite threats from his ultra-right-wing ministers to collapse his majority if he proceeds. Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence officials, including former FBI Director Christopher Wray, have warned of an increased threat of a serious terror attack, with heightened concerns around the southern border and potential involvement from groups like Hamas or state actors like Iran. Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting North Korea for the first time since 2000 to discuss military cooperation with Kim Jong Un, potentially violating UN resolutions regarding weapons trade. In the U.S., Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced plans to issue mass pardons for over 175,000 marijuana convictions, marking a significant move toward criminal justice reform. Additionally, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is advocating for warning labels on social media platforms to combat the mental health crisis among young users, along with other regulatory measures to protect children's data and limit addictive features.

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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