Mattel apologizes for ‘Wicked’ dolls packaging linking to porn site
Mattel may be hoping for a little magic this week to help make a packaging problem on its “Wicked” dolls go away. The toy company has apologized for a misprint on boxes of its collection for the upcoming feature film based on the hit Broadway musical.
The dolls’ packaging was supposed to show the URL of WickedMovie.com, which takes customers to a website dedicated to the movie. Instead, a misprint led the packaging to show a similar, incorrect URL for an adult film website, leading to customers posting about the typo on social media.
Mattel said in a statement to Straight Arrow News on Monday, Nov. 11:
Mattel was made aware of a misprint on the packaging of the Mattel Wicked collection dolls, primarily sold in the U.S., which intended to direct consumers to the official WickedMovie.com landing page. We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this. Parents are advised that the misprinted, incorrect website is not appropriate for children. Consumers who already have the product are advised to discard the product packaging or obscure the link and may contact Mattel Customer Service for further information.
Mattel statement
As of Monday morning, the entire toy line was removed from Amazon, Target and Walmart’s websites. It is not known when the toys will be made available again with the corrected packaging and the link to the pornographic website changed.
However, the dolls were still available on Kohl’s site as of Monday at 10 a.m. Central Time.
The movie “Wicked,” which stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as the witches of Oz, opens in theaters Nov. 22. By then “Wicked” fans are hoping the dolls will be back on shelves — as they will no doubt be a “popular” item this holiday season.
Colorado GOP appeals ruling barring Trump from 2024 ballot: The Morning Rundown, Dec. 28, 2023
The Colorado Republican Party is appealing the ruling by the state’s high court that bans former President Trump from running again. And Apple is restocking its shelves after an import ban on its watches is temporarily blocked. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023.
Colorado Republican Party appeals ruling barring Trump from ballot
The Colorado Republican Party has appealed the state’s Supreme Court ruling that found former President Donald Trump is ineligible to run again due to the Constitution’s “insurrection clause.” In its 4-3 ruling last week, the Colorado Supreme Court determined that based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bans insurrectionists from holding office, Trump is barred from running for president because of his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
For the first time in American history, a former president has been disqualified from the ballot…
“For the first time in American history, a former president has been disqualified from the ballot, a political party has been denied the opportunity to put forward the presidential candidate of its choice, and the voters have been denied the ability to choose their chief executive through the electoral process,” party attorneys wrote in the filing.
Colorado’s Supreme Court had overturned a ruling from a district court judge who found that Trump incited an insurrection but could not be barred from the ballot because it was not clear if Section 3 covered the presidency. The Colorado Supreme Court put its ruling on hold until Jan. 4 to give time for an appeal. The former president said he also plans to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a similar case, Michigan’s Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday, Dec. 27, that Trump could remain on the state’s ballot, with one judge saying Colorado’s election laws differ from Michigan’s.
House Republicans seek White House documents over Hunter Biden
House Republicans have requested that the White House turn over any documents related to President Biden’s alleged knowledge of his son Hunter Biden’s refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee in December. Republicans Jim Jordan and James Comer sent a letter to the White House looking for any correspondence regarding Hunter Biden’s scheduled deposition with the House Oversight Committee on Dec. 13.
…we are compelled to examine as part of our impeachment inquiry whether the president engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress…
Reps. James Comer, R-Ky., Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio
Hunter Biden defied the subpoena, telling reporters outside the U.S. Capitol that day that he would answer any relevant questions lawmakers had about his foreign business dealings in an open-door setting. Following Hunter Biden’s comments, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the president was “familiar with” what Hunter would say in his statement; Comer and Jordan said that comment sparked their probe.
“In light of an official statement from the White House that President Biden was aware in advance that his son, Hunter Biden, would knowingly defy two Congressional subpoenas, we are compelled to examine as part of our impeachment inquiry whether the president engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress,” Jordan and Comer wrote.
House Republicans have given the White House until Jan. 10 to turn over any documents related to the inquiry.
New York City mayor issues executive order for migrant charter buses
“We cannot allow buses with people needing our help to arrive without warning at any hour of day and night. This not only prevents us from providing assistance in an orderly way, it puts those who have already suffered so much in danger,” Adams said. “To be clear, this is not stopping people from coming, but about ensuring the safety of migrants and making sure they can arrive in a coordinated and orderly way.”
The U.S. is seeing a surge in illegal crossings at its southern border, with illegal crossings topping 10,000 some days.
Adams was joined in a virtual news conference by the Democratic mayors of Chicago and Denver, who are all pressing the federal government for more aid for the asylum seekers arriving in their cities.
Former U.S. Senator, Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl dies at 88
Herb Kohl, the former Democratic U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and owner of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, died on Wednesday, Dec. 27, at the age of 88 after a brief illness, his foundation announced. In the 1970s, Kohl served as president of his family’s chain of supermarkets and department stores until the family sold their interest in 1979, which gave him time to fund his other passions outside of the business.
Starting in 1989, Kohl served 24 years in the U.S. Senate. He chaired the Senate Aging Committee and was a supporter of public education. Kohl purchased the Bucks in 1985 for $18 million, ensuring the team would not leave his hometown. In 2014, he sold the team while contributing $100 million toward the construction of a new arena. In 2021, the Bucks won the NBA championship; Kohl called it “one of the big days” of his life.
Apple restarts watch sales as court blocks import ban
Apple is bringing back its latest watches to its store shelves after a federal appeals court has temporarily blocked an import ban by the U.S. International Trade Commission.
“We are thrilled to return the full Apple Watch lineup to customers in time for the new year,” Apple said in a statement. “Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, including the blood oxygen feature, will become available for purchase again in the United States at Apple Stores starting [Wednesday] and from apple.com [Thursday] by 12 pm PT.”
Beginning Thursday, Dec. 28, all watches will be available online and in stores, a major victory for the tech giant in one of its most profitable times of the year. Still, Apple is not out of the woods, as the ongoing patent dispute with medical device company Masimo makes its way through the courts.
Masimo sued Apple in 2020 over patent infringement, claiming the tech company stole its blood-oxygen reading technology for its watches. Massimo has not commented on the latest decision, according to media reports.
Times Square restaurants, hotels offering NYE experiences
Those of you heading to Times Square to ring in the new year won’t have to spend a dime to see the ball drop from the street. But if you want to experience it from a nearby hotel or restaurant, that’s a different story.
Thinking of spending the night at the Olive Garden’s Times Square location? That will cost you $450 per person. The party atmosphere includes a buffet, open bar, and dancing, but a live view of the ball drop is not guaranteed. At Applebee’s, tickets start at $799 for its event, which includes similar accommodations plus a guided stroll to the street to celebrate the ball drop at midnight.
Bubba Gump Shrimp is also hosting a New Year’s party with a buffet, dessert stations, and party favors for a price of $1,015 per ticket.
If a hotel is more your speed, the Marriott Marquis is hosting a formal wear gala complete with a 5-hour buffet and floor-to-ceiling windows, and guests are given an unobstructed view of Times Square. The prime VIP package for two costs $12,500 to celebrate 2024 in style.
FTC looking into ChatGPT’s consumer protections: July 14 rundown
ChatGPT has been ordered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to turn over its records related to consumer protections, and the World Health Organization (WHO) officially released its report on how safe it is to consume an artificial sweetener found in popular diet drinks. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Friday, July 14, 2023.
FTC to investigate ChatGPT’s consumer protections
The FTC revealed it was investigating whether OpenAI’s ChatGPT is harmful to consumers. The commission is specifically looking into whether false information is being generated about consumers, or whether their personal information could be at risk.
As part of its consumer protections investigation, the FTC will dig into ChatGPT’s privacy safeguards and data security practices. The CEO of OpenAI said its technology is safe to use, and they are confident the government watchdog will see the company is following the law.
China finalizes first-of-its-kind AI regulations
While talks of potential AI regulation are still floating around Capitol Hill, China has taken a major step in overseeing the powerful technology. China’s top internet watchdog unveiled a set of new rules on Thursday, July 13 that will apply to AI beginning Aug. 15.
Under the rules, companies will have to be licensed to operate and register any AI algorithms with the Chinese government. AI services in China must also adhere to the “core values of socialism.” With the rules, China becomes one of the first countries in the world to impose AI regulations.
U.S. ‘serious’ about Gershkovich prisoner exchange
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been detained in Russia for more than 100 days on espionage charges. President Joe Biden was asked by the press about the idea of a potential prisoner swap in order to free the jailed journalist.
“I’m serious about prisoner exchange,” President Biden said. “I’m serious about doing what we can to free Americans being illegally held in Russia or anywhere else, for that matter. And that process is underway.”
The United States said while talks are underway, there hasn’t been a clear pathway to a resolution.
Gershkovich could face up to a 20-year sentence in a country known for harsh prison camps and conditions.
Putin says Wagner Group ‘does not exist’
The Wagner Group “simply doesn’t exist,” according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was speaking in a legal sense, adding that “there is no law on private military organizations.”
President Putin’s comments come as the Defense Department noted a suspension of activity of Wagner forces on the front lines of Russia’s war with Ukraine. Putin said he offered the Wagner mercenaries a chance to continue serving after their failed mutiny in June of 2023.
After the rebellion, Putin met with Wagner Group commanders and had them pledge loyalty. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Wagner forces are completing the handover of their weapons to the Russian military.
Hollywood actors officially begin strike
Tens of thousands of actors officially began striking after a strike was unanimously approved by Hollywood’s largest union. While the work stoppage officially began at midnight Friday, signs of a strike could already be seen Thursday, with the cast of the upcoming film “Oppenheimer” walking out of the film’s London premiere.
The actors, represented by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), now join the Writers Guild of America in a strike that is now over 200,000 people strong. The double-barreled strike is expected to shut down the small number of productions that continued shooting during the writers strike.
“We really didn’t want to strike,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said. “We extended an unprecedented amount of time to avert a strike because it’s not lost on us how this will impact not only our members, but people who service our industry, people who are in other unions that are will be affected by this.”
Aspartame officially labeled as possible carcinogen
The WHO’s cancer agency has officially deemed the sweetener aspartame a possible cause of cancer. Aspartame is used in a variety of foods including Diet Coke, chewing gum and desserts. It’s also an ingredient in tabletop sweeteners like Equal and NutraSweet.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer based its conclusion that aspartame is a possible carcinogen on studies in human and animals. The agency found limited evidence that the sweetener may be linked to liver cancer.
In a separate study by another WHO group, it was reaffirmed that aspartame remains safe when consumed below certain daily levels. They say people can safely consume 40 milligrams of aspartame per kilogram of body weight per day. That’s the equivalent of an average adult drinking up to 14 cans of diet soda a day.
MyPillow loses $100 million in revenue, holds auction
MyPillow has begun auctioning off more than 700 pieces of company equipment, ranging from forklifts to office desks and cubicles. MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a vocal supporter of Former President Donald Trump, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune his company lost $100 million in revenue due to big retailers halting sales of the company’s products.
Walmart, Kohls, H-E-B and Wayfair are some of the big name retailers who dropped MyPillow products.
Following weeks of nationwide boycotts over a controversial partnership, Bud Light is no longer America’s top-selling beer brand. For over two decades, Bud Light held the top spot, but it has now been surpassed by Modelo Especial, a Mexican beer brand that has experienced a surge in sales in recent weeks.
Modelo recorded sales of approximately $333 million in May, while Bud Light generated $297 million, according to data obtained by Newsweek.
“Modelo Especial appears to be increasing its sales growth each week as we get deeper into summer,” consulting firm Bump Williams told CNN.
Longer-term trends show Bud Light remains the top-selling beer brand in America this year so far, according to NielsenIQ.
The trend of boycotting brands supporting the LGBTQ community during Pride month has become prevalent in the ongoing culture war. Consumers are actively withdrawing their support from such brands and often announcing their decisions on social media.
Target, a major retailer, has suffered significant losses. Fox Business reported the big-box retailer’s stock had lost over $15 billion in market value since mid-May.
Kohl’s, Cracker Barrel, The North Face and PetSmart have also faced conservative threats of boycott, although not all have been as effective as the campaigns against Target and Bud Light.
Stock data shows Kohl’s briefly experienced a decline in value when it released rainbow-themed clothing at the end of May. However, the company has since rebounded and currently boasts a higher stock value than before these controversies.
Notably Kohl’s has started discounting a substantial portion of its Pride-themed merchandise before the month’s halfway mark.
A majority of negative social media posts about Pride this year are attacking companies for being “woke” and accusing them of sexualizing or grooming children, says RILA Global Consulting, which monitors over 100 million websites and social media pages daily.
In May and June of 2022, there were fewer than 400 posts calling for Pride-related boycotts, RILA said. This year, in May alone there were more than 15,000.
Kohl’s becomes latest to face boycott calls over LGBTQ+ support
After Bud Light and Target faced boycott calls for supporting the LGBTQ+ community, the same has begun to happen to Kohl’s. The department store chain has been criticized for selling a “Baby Sonoma Bodysuit” with a trans-inclusive pride flag on it. Kohl’s also sells t-shirts with rainbow colors on them.
According to Straight Arrow News’ Media Miss tool and Ground.News, most of the news outlets covering this story are right-leaning or right outlets. Only one is on the left. Examples of headlines for this story include “Kohl’s faces Target-style boycott over pride month onesies” on the left, and “‘Another company needing Bud-Lighting’: Kohl’s ripped for infant LGBT merchandise” on the right.
Tweets expressing concern over the clothing items led to #BoycottKohls trending on social media.
“We are sick and tired of #Pride this and #Trans that. They make up much less than 1% of the population. 50% of #Democrats and 99% of #Republicans do not support #wokeness. You stupid companies are alienating 75% of the #American audience,” one person tweeted. Another added “if they hold the line I’m done with them & I’ve been a card carrying customer for 20+ years but this is beyond belief but if they want to continue down the WOKE road & cater to the few losing the many then @Kohls needs to face same as #BudLight & #Target.”
The boycott calls over the LGBTQ+ clothing could be the beginning of a snowball that has serious economic consequences for Kohl’s. Bud Light and Target have already experienced those consequences.
Last week, a report estimated Anheuser-Busch Inbev’s market value had plunged nearly $16 billion since April 1.
Meanwhile, Target lost $10 billion in market capitalization in just 10 days after the backlash.