Jussie Smollett’s conviction overturned in hate crime hoax case
The Illinois Supreme Court has overturned Jussie Smollett’s conviction. The actor was found guilty of staging a hate crime in 2019.
In a 5-0 decision, the court ruled Smollett’s due process rights were violated. The case has been sent to a lower court for formal dismissal.
The 2019 incident
Smollett, a former “Empire” star, claimed he was attacked in downtown Chicago. He said two men assaulted him while yelling racist and homophobic slurs. Smollett also alleged they placed a noose around his neck.
Police launched a “full scale hate crimes investigation,” which made national headlines. However, prosecutors later alleged the attack was staged.
Prosecutors’ claims
Authorities said Smollett was upset over hate mail he received on set. They claimed he paid the two men – who happened to be brothers – $3,500 to fake the attack. The brothers testified that Smollett gave them lines to yell, including references to then-President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
In 2019, Smollett was charged with 16 counts of disorderly conduct. However, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office dropped the charges. Smollett agreed to forfeit a $10,000 bond and complete community service.
Refiled charges and conviction
A special prosecutor was appointed in 2020 and reopened the case. Smollett was tried on six counts of disorderly conduct in 2021. He was convicted on five counts by a jury.
Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months of probation and $130,000 in restitution. He served six days before being released pending his appeal.
Illinois Supreme Court ruling
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled the second prosecution violated Smollett’s rights. The court said the original nonprosecution agreement should have been honored.
Justice Elizabeth Rochford wrote, “What would be more unjust than the resolution of any one criminal case would be a holding from this court that the state was not bound to honor agreements upon which people have detrimentally relied.”
The court’s decision ends years of legal battles and public scrutiny. Smollett has maintained his innocence throughout the case.
Defense contractor ordered to pay former Abu Ghraib detainees $42 million
A federal jury has awarded three former Abu Ghraib prisoners, who were tortured at the hands of U.S. interrogators, $42 million. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed on behalf of former detainees in 2008 against a Virginia-based defense company.
Earlier this year, a different jury couldn’t decide whether defense company CACI should be held liable for things its civilian interrogators, who worked alongside the U.S. Army in 2003 and 2004, did.
While they didn’t say the company’s interrogators explicitly inflicted the abuse themselves, the former detainees said the company was complicit because its interrogators conspired with military police to “soften up” detainees for questioning with harsh treatment.
This case marked the first time a U.S. jury heard claims brought by Abu Ghraib survivors in the 20 years since photos of detainee mistreatment — accompanied by smiling U.S. soldiers inflicting the abuse — shocked the world during the occupation of Iraq.
Federal judge blocks Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law as unconstitutional
Louisiana’s controversial new law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public schools will not be going into effect come January, after all. A federal judge temporarily blocked it Tuesday, Nov. 12, while the case — brought by a coalition of parents — plays out.
That judge called the law “unconstitutional” and barred the state from enforcing it. The law would have required a copy of the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school and university classrooms throughout the state.
Now, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office must notify all schools it’s been ruled unconstitutional.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has said she expects the case could go to the U.S. Supreme Court, which last weighed in on the issue in 1980. The justices then ruled 5 to 4 that Kentucky’s posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools was unconstitutional.
However, the makeup of the Supreme Court has changed since then. In 1980, it was split almost evenly between conservative and liberal justices with one centrist who usually ended up the swing vote. Now, conservatives hold a majority in the Supreme Court.
Supporters of the law argue the Ten Commandments belong in public schools because they are historical and part of the foundation of United States law.
Giuliani calls $148M defamation judgment a ‘political vendetta’
Outside a Manhattan federal courtroom Thursday, Nov. 7, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said he is the victim of political persecution. “But the reality is that this case is obviously a political vendetta,” Giuliani said. “Just the mere fact that it’s a $145 million judgment, I’m very, very disappointed that this judge doesn’t take seriously how ridiculous the judgment is.”
Last month, a federal judge ruled that Giuliani must turn over his Manhattan apartment and other personal possessions, including luxury watches, jewelry and a Mercedes, to two Georgia election workers who won a defamation judgment against him.
The judge gave Giuliani seven days to comply with the ruling.
On Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 5, in Palm Beach, Florida, Giuliani was spotted in the passenger seat of a car matching the description of the Mercedes listed in the judgment, The New York Times reported.
So far, Giuliani has not complied with the judge’s order, arguing that the court has been “less than clear” and insisting that he did not commit a crime.
“So I am pretty sure – you’re never absolutely sure – this case can get reversed,” Giuliani said. “This judge could wait until this case was affirmed by the D.C. Circuit. Most judges would rather just take all of a man’s property away.”
The judge has threatened to charge Giuliani with contempt of court — a charge that carries the possibility of jail time — if he does not surrender the items by the end of next week.
Last December, election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss were awarded $150 million after Giuliani was found liable for defamation over false claims that they tampered with ballots in the 2020 election. The women said his lies endangered their lives.
Giuliani’s lawyers said they are appealing the judgment to the District of Columbia Circuit and are confident the verdict will be overturned.
Australian man sentenced to prison for holding up Nazi salute
A man who describes himself as a Nazi has been sentenced to prison in Australia for performing a banned Nazi salute. Australia outlawed the Nazi salute in October 2023.
Jacob Hersant, 25, was convicted of making the salute to a group of people and media cameras outside a Victorian courtroom just days after the ban went into effect.
The magistrate on the case said Hersant also praised Adolf Hitler, adding that he declared “Australia is for the white man.”
The magistrate noted that Hersant is a member of a white supremacy group called “The National Socialist Network.” They described his actions as “clearly racist and seek[ing] to promote white supremacy in Australia.”
Hersant was sentenced to one month in prison on Friday, Nov. 8.
However, Hersant’s lawyer, Tim Smartt, filed an appeal, and Hersant was released on bail while the appeal process is underway in court.
The defense team argued that the salute constitutes political speech, which is protected under Australia’s constitution.
“I don’t show any remorse for giving a political gesture, no,” Hersant said outside the courtroom. “The fact that I’ve been sentenced to a month in prison, for a political gesture, is just farcical really. These laws are insane, they’re emotional, they’re anti-white, and they should be ruled invalid. That’s what we’re going to be appealing on.”
Intelligence officials have warned that more Australians are being drawn to neo-Nazi ideologies as extremist groups step up their recruitment efforts.
These are the judges Trump could nominate to the Supreme Court
Donald Trump had extraordinary influence on the Supreme Court during his first four years in office, appointing three conservative justices. If there’s an opening in his second term, there are multiple judges he would consider nominating, according to reports.
The first is Judge James Ho. He was nominated to the federal bench by Trump in 2017. He sits on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Throughout his career he’s worked for the Department of Justice, Congress, in private practice and as the Texas state solicitor general. He was born in Taipei, Taiwan.
Another choice is Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan who was nominated in 2018 and also sits on the 5th Circuit. Judge Duncan has worked in private practice, higher education, in government and as general counsel for The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
A third possibility is Judge Amul Thapar who sits on the 6th Circuit which covers Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. He was nominated by President George W. Bush in 2007. He too has worked in higher education, government and private practice.
There’s been speculation that Justices Clarence Thomas or Samuel Alito may retire during Trump’s second term, so they can be replaced by someone younger. They’re both in their mid-70s. All three of the judges named as possible nominees are 55 or younger.
There is recent precedent for that kind of retirement.
Justice Anthony Kennedy retired during Trump’s first term, making room for Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Kennedy was considered a swing vote on the court and Kavanaugh is a conservative.
In 2013, Democrats pressured Ruth Bader Ginsburg to retire, she was 80 at the time. President Obama even had her over to the White House for lunch, during which he reminded her that Democrats could lose control of the Senate in 2014. It wasn’t an overt call to retire, but a reminder that it would be difficult to replace her.
Ginsburg’s seat was filled by Amy Coney Barret, flipping the ideology from liberal to conservative.
In 2024, liberal pundits called on Justice Sonia Sotomayor to retire. She was 69 and those calling for her to step down wanted someone younger confirmed while Democrats had control of the Senate and White House. However, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee did not agree.
Vice President Kamala Harris concedes the election to former President Donald Trump. And President Joe Biden speaks to Trump to invite him to a meeting at the White House. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024.
Harris concedes presidential election to Trump
Donald Trump is once again president-elect, with more media outlets calling the election on Wednesday, Nov. 6. The former (and future) president not only won the Electoral College but the popular vote as well.
As of early Thursday morning, Nov. 7, Decision Desk HQ had Trump standing at 312 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 needed to win. His opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris earned 226. Trump also led in the popular vote at close to 73 million, with Harris getting just over 68 million.
We heard from Trump celebrating his victory in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Harris chose not to speak at that time.
Instead, the vice president waited until the afternoon to address a crowd of supporters at Howard University, where she conceded the election.
“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” she said, “but hear me when I say, hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.”
Harris said she spoke with Trump on the phone to congratulate him. She also told her supporters it is important to accept the election results and engage in a peaceful transfer of power, calling it “a fundamental principle of American democracy.”
“At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States, and loyalty to our conscience and to our god,” she said. “My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.”
Harris also told the crowd, they might “feel dark times are ahead” but she hopes that’s not the case and added that “sometimes the fight takes a while.”
Harris, as the sitting vice president, will be the one overseeing Congress’ ceremonial certification of the election in January.
Meanwhile, there is speculation Trump could soon begin announcing appointments to key positions in his cabinet, in just a matter of days. Some prospective nominees reportedly canceled their flights out of south Florida Wednesday after election night celebrations, in order to remain close to Trump.
Biden congratulates Trump on win, invites him to White House
President Joe Biden also reached out to President-elect Trump over the phone on Wednesday. During that call, he invited Trump to a meeting at the White House and offered his congratulations.
The White House released a statement saying, “President Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together.”
A Trump campaign spokesperson confirmed the call, and that Biden invited the president-elect to the White House to “ensure a smooth transition between the current administration and the incoming administration.” The Trump campaign said the White House meeting would take place shortly and Trump very much appreciated the call from Biden.
Biden also spoke to Vice President Harris on the phone Wednesday. He released a statement following her concession speech saying in part, “Under extraordinary circumstances, she stepped up and led a historic campaign that embodied what’s possible when guided by a strong moral compass and a clear vision for a nation.”
President Biden added that selecting Harris as his vice president was “the best decision” he made.
The president is expected to address the nation Thursday on the election and the transition of power.
This morning at 11 AM ET, I’ll address the nation to discuss the election results and the transition.
Special counsel, DOJ reportedly in talks to end Trump prosecutions
Now that former President Trump is once again president-elect, Special Counsel Jack Smith is reportedly in talks with Department of Justice leadership to figure out how to end the criminal cases against Trump. That’s what sources familiar with the matter have told several media outlets.
The DOJ has had a longstanding policy against prosecuting a sitting president and Justice Department regulations say a special counsel must consult DOJ leaders — possibly even Attorney General Merrick Garland — on major decisions in an investigation.
Last year, Smith charged Trump with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and illegally keeping classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Those latter charges were dismissed by a judge earlier this year, but Smith has appealed that ruling. Trump has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
Biden admin rushing billions in assistance to Ukraine: Reports
The Biden administration plans to rush billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine before President Biden leaves office in January, according to multiple reports. The goal is to make sure Ukraine’s government is in a good place when President-elect Trump takes office.
Trump has been critical of the scale of the U.S. military and financial support for Ukraine in its war with Vladimir Putin and Russia.
I had an excellent call with President @realDonaldTrump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory—his tremendous campaign made this result possible. I praised his family and team for their great work.
We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024
In April, the Republican-controlled House approved more aid for Ukraine, including an allocation for weapons. However, more than $6 billion in aid that has been set aside for Ukraine has not made it there yet.
Trump has vowed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine quickly but has not specified how.
Cuba’s power grid collapses after Hurricane Rafael makes landfall
Hurricane Rafael weakened after making landfall in Cuba as a powerful Category 3 storm, but not before causing the island’s electrical grid to collapse.
While the storm is expected to stay in the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico, heavy rain will be seen in Florida and neighboring parts of the southeast. One to three inches of rain are expected for parts of the Florida Keys.
Rafael is the fifth major hurricane of the year in the Atlantic and the strongest to hit this late in the year since 2020.
Fox News wins election ratings, overall viewership falls from 2020
Fox News once again led the pack, getting the most viewers on election night. During primetime hours between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET, 9.8 million viewers tuned into Fox News. However, that is down from the nearly 14 million viewers who watched in 2020.
On the broadcast side, ABC News came in No. 1 in primetime with 5.6 million viewers.
Overall, Nielsen said across 18 cable and broadcast networks, 42 .3 million people tuned into coverage. That’s down more than 25% from 2020, when election coverage drew nearly 57 million viewers.
*Corrections to Wednesday’s “Unbiased Updates”: We would like to correct that North Carolina did not ‘flip’ blue as the current governor, Roy Cooper, is a Democrat.And, in our final story, history was made in three states on Election Day as two of the elections we mentioned took place in Delaware.
Trump, Harris could start White House transition at same time. Here’s how.
The 2024 presidential election is just days away now and once America chooses who our next leader will be, it’ll be 77 days until they officially take office. During that time, the winner will get their administration ready to take over from President Joe Biden’s.
What was historically a time of bipartisanship ended up being fraught with tension in 2020. That year, then-President Donald Trump and his allies fought to overturn the election results.
The group falsely claimed Biden’s win was stolen and delayed the transition. Now, a new law will start the transition between administrations sooner, no matter who wins.
That means there could potentially be two very different governments waiting in the wings for weeks to take over.
Before the 2022 Presidential Transition Improvement Act became law, the head of the General Services Administration (GSA) had to give the OK. In 2020, the administrator said she couldn’t do that because Trump was still challenging his loss in court.
The law effectively means the GSA no longer has to give the go-ahead before allowing the candidate or candidates to get transition support services.
It also states services for each candidate will continue until “significant legal challenges” have been “substantially resolved,” or electors from each state meet in mid-December to formally choose an Electoral College winner.
According to Robinhood, an event contract is a “financial derivative that allows traders to speculate on the outcome of a specific event. These contracts are generally structured around ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ outcomes, and fluctuate in price based on the projected outcome of the event.”
Users can buy contracts worth up to $1 each for the candidate they believe will win. Contracts will fluctuate in price and can be traded until the election is certified.
At that time, anyone holding a contract for the candidate who won the election will get paid $1 for every contract they own. If a user has a contract for the candidate that lost the election, those become worthless.
To be eligible for event contracts, users must meet the criteria to hold a Robinhood derivatives account. That includes having U.S. citizenship.
Robinhood is the latest company to enter the world of event contracts based on U.S. elections. Polymarket has been in the news for the major recent swing in odds toward Trump’s favor. But U.S. users are banned from this crypto-based predictions market after a 2022 settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Since Oct. 4, contracts for the presidential election on Polymarket were about even between Trump and Harris. However, on Monday, Oct. 28, more than 66% bet on a Trump victory just eight days before Election Day.
But polling is telling a very different story. The latest 538 average has Harris leading 48% to 46.6%. However, U.S. elections are not decided by popular vote. It is better to look at swing states, where Wisconsin, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Michigan are neck and neck. Trump has a slight edge in North Carolina, Georgia and Arizona.
In the case of Polymarket, four accounts spent more than $28 million in October, moving the predictions market in the former president’s favor. Online sleuths and journalists began deducing that all four accounts were backed by a single person.
Polymarket confirmed a single French whale is behind the bets. The platform says outside experts have “not identified any information to suggest that this user manipulated, or attempted to manipulate, the market.” Polymarket told CNBC the individual “has agreed not to open further accounts without notice.”
When the former president started to take the lead on Polymarket, one of his biggest backers, Elon Musk, claimed it was more accurate than polls because “actual money is on the line.“
Trump now leading Kamala by 3% in betting markets. More accurate than polls, as actual money is on the line. https://t.co/WrsqZ2z8pp
While election bettors are putting cash behind their beliefs, polling firms generally look at a lot more than how much money one is willing to part with. Firms like Quinnipiac use huge sample sizes and random dialing to get a more accurate look at the American electorate.
Others will look at specific voting history and the likelihood of voting this time around. That said, polls have “blown it” in recent election cycles. This makes the predictions market an interesting element in this year’s election.
In September 2024, a federal judge ruled that Americans could use financial contracts for event betting, a blow to the CFTC, which tried to block it. An appeals court upheld the decision in October.
“Ensuring the integrity of elections and avoiding improper interference and misinformation are undoubtedly paramount public interests, and a substantiated risk of distorting the electoral process would amount to irreparable harm,” the ruling read. “The problem is that the Commission has given this court no concrete basis to conclude that event contracts would likely be a vehicle for such harms.”
Harris, Trump speak on importance of election with 13 days to go
With less than two weeks until Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris got some help on the campaign trail from a former president and a famous rapper, while former President Donald Trump targeted a certain voting block. And one of McDonald’s famous burgers has been linked to a deadly E. coli outbreak. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.
Harris, Trump speak on importance of election with 13 days to go
With less than two weeks to go until the next U.S. president is chosen, both candidates are highlighting the importance of this year’s election as they make their final pushes to sway undecided voters on the campaign trail.
During an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, Oct. 22, Vice President Kamala Harris once again addressed how her presidency would be different than that of President Joe Biden.
“Let me be very clear, mine will not be a continuation of the Biden administration,” she said. “I bring my own experiences, my own ideas to it, and it has informed a number of my areas of focus, most of which are on to your point, lowering costs. The voters know it, I know it.”
During the interview, Harris was asked about why she is reluctant to talk about the historic nature of her candidacy. If she were to win, she would become the first female U.S. president.
“Well, I’m clearly a woman, I don’t need to point that out to anyone. The point that most people really care about is, can you do the job, and do you have a plan to actually focus on them?” she said. “My challenge is the challenge of making sure I can talk with and listen to as many voters as possible and earn their vote. And I will never assume that anyone in our country should elect a leader based on their gender or their race. Instead, that that leader needs to earn the vote based on substance and what they will do to address challenges.”
In Detroit, a rally was held in support of the vice president featuring rapper Eminem and former President Barack Obama.
“I also think that people shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions, and I don’t think anyone wants an America where people are worried about retribution, or what people will do if you make your opinion known,” Eminem told rallygoers. “I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld.”
“We’re not going to play games because we’re going to lose our country, our country is failing,” Trump said. “We don’t know what we’re doing. We’re laughed at all over the world. [Chinese] President Xi [Xinping] thinks we’re stupid. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin thinks we’re stupid. That would have never happened if I were president. Putin would have never ever got into Ukraine.”
Then the former president returned to North Carolina for a rally where he criticized the vice president for not having any campaign events so close to Election Day.
THANK YOU, NORTH CAROLINA! This election is a choice between whether we will have four more years of incompetence, failure, and disaster—or whether we will begin the FOUR GREATEST YEARS in the HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY! pic.twitter.com/JJhJsJcOHk
“You know what she did?” he said. “She took a day off. How do you take a day off 14 days — you don’t take days off, right? I’ve gone 52 days, now, I got 14 more. We don’t take days off we got to win this thing if we don’t win it our country is in big trouble.”
Next up on the campaign trail, Vice President Harris will visit Pennsylvania Wednesday and then on Thursday, Oct. 24, hold a rally in Atlanta alongside Bruce Springsteen. Former President Trump will visit Georgia Wednesday and will record an interview on Joe Rogan’s podcast on Friday, Oct. 25.
The Georgia Supreme Court said it will not step in to reinstate Republican-backed new election rules ahead of Election Day. Seven of the rules, put in place by the State Election Board after the 2020 election, were declared “illegal, unconstitutional, and void,” by a lower-level judge last week.
On Tuesday, Georgia’s supreme court rejected the Republican-led effort to put the rules, which include one requiring ballots be hand-counted and two related to certifying results, back in place and declined to consider an expedited appeal.
Israel says it killed man next in line to lead Hezbollah
Israel said it has killed the man who was next in line to take over as the leader of the militant group Hezbollah. Israeli officials say an air strike in Beiruit, Lebanon killed Hashem Safieddine a few weeks ago, along with other commanders of the Iran-backed militant group.
Hezbollah has not confirmed Israel’s claim that Safeiddine is dead.
🔴 Hashem Safieddine, Head of the Hezbollah Executive Council and Ali Hussein Hazima, Commander of Hezbollah’s Intelligence Headquarters, were eliminated during a strike on Hezbollah’s main intelligence HQ in Dahieh approx. 3 weeks ago.
This comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East looking to broker a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas in the wake of the the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and bring more humanitarian aid to Gaza.
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Israeli leaders told Blinken it’s not Israel’s policy to isolate northern Gaza, despite recent United Nations claims that Israeli authorities have denied efforts to bring more aid to the area, according to an NBC News report.
In a letter this month, Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin gave Israel 30 days to increase basic humanitarian aid to Gaza or risk restrictions on U.S. military assistance, as required under U.S. law. Israeli officials said they have taken actions in response to the letter, and while Blinken acknowledged progress has been made, he said it is not sufficient.
McDonald’s Quarter Pounders linked to multi-state E. coli outbreak
The CDC has issued a safety alert over a McDonald’s staple: the fast-food chain’s iconic Quarter Pounder. Health officials say McDonald’s Quarter Pounders have been linked to E. coli outbreaks in at least ten states.
E. COLI OUTBREAK: CDC is investigating 49 illnesses in 10 states linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers. If you ate a Quarter Pounder hamburger from McDonald’s and have severe symptoms of E. coli, contact your healthcare provider. https://t.co/g87itkupCQpic.twitter.com/gHzUKCnTi9
The CDC says, so far, it appears the onions used as a topping on the burgers are the likeliest source of the outbreak. McDonald’s has now stopped using the onions and is not serving the Quarter Pounder in affected states.
In a statement, the company said it believes the onions came from a single supplier.
Denny’s closing 150 restaurants, including 50 by end of 2024
It seems Denny’s hasn’t been such a grand slam for Americans lately. The diner chain, known for its Grand Slam breakfast, is closing 150 of its restaurants.
Denny’s, which has been in business for more than 70 years, says the focus is on closing locations that are too old to remodel, as well as some in unprofitable areas. It has not yet specified which locations are shutting down.
FAA finalizes rule for electric air taxis to enter service
We might soon be riding around in flying vehicles called electric air taxis after the Federal Aviation Administration released what its say is the “final piece of the puzzle.”
An extraordinary moment for aviation! Our rule for training and certificating pilots to fly powered lift is the final piece of the puzzle to get these revolutionary aircraft flying safely in our skies. https://t.co/96Q7TQZfkMpic.twitter.com/7RvSqbdGT8
The FAA issued its new rules Tuesday regarding the planes — 880 pages of special regulations including training protocols for pilots and operational requirements for the half-airplane, half-helicopter air taxis. The planes act like a helicopter during takeoff then change modes to be more like an airplane during flight, before switching back for the landing.
The FAA calls it the introduction to “a new category of aircraft.” The first electric air taxi could be operational by sometime next year.