According to multiple reports, Biden plans to block the $15 billion deal between Japan’s Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel on the grounds of national security. This would be an unprecedented move with such a close U.S. ally.
Presidents have used this path to previously block foreign transactions on national security risks eight times in history. Seven of those were from Chinese companies and an eighth was a Singaporean company with close ties to China and China’s Huawei. Blocking the Nippon Steel-U.S. Steel sale would make the ninth such block in history.
The stock price for U.S. Steel plunged around 20% late Wednesday, Aug. 4, when reports first came out about Biden’s supposed plans. At the same time, the company was wrapping up a rally in downtown Pittsburgh in support of the Nippon deal.
“It is time to put politics aside and do what’s right for you and all of the other steelworkers in Pennsylvania. So let’s make sure that we protect our jobs, we protect our communities and our future. Let’s close this deal,” said Scott Buckiso, a senior vice president at U.S. Steel.
U.S. Steel said without the transaction, the company “will largely pivot away from its blast furnace facilities, putting thousands of good-paying union jobs at risk… and depriving the American steel industry of an opportunity to better compete on the global stage.”
However, the United Steelworkers union has pushed back against the transaction, accusing Nippon Steel of sidestepping engagement with union workers.
U.S. Steel is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where politicians are courting Pennsylvania voters, a critical battleground state in the upcoming election. United Steelworkers endorsed Kamala Harris for president, just as it did Joe Biden earlier this year, days after he came out against the Nippon Steel purchase.
On Thursday, Aug. 5, Japanese minister and prime ministerial candidate Taro Kono said, “Perhaps it is the presidential election and everyone wants the labor union vote, but I would hope that the market will not be distorted by such a situation.”
This past weekend, the Biden administration warned Nippon Steel in a letter that the U.S. Steel acquisition would pose a national security risk, according to exclusive reporting by Reuters. The Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States, which is investigating the deal, said it would “damage American steel production and decrease the likelihood that U.S. Steel would continue to aggressively seek trade remedies,” Reuters reports.
“I personally remain extremely engaged in trade matters today, and Nippon steel plans it to continue just that way, as we always have done,” said Rob Kopf, vice president of sales at U.S. Steel. “[Nippon Steel is] committing massive dollars to this country and to this company, and we cannot afford to let the countries who have utter disregard for fair trade, like China, who try to export their own economic woes and their unemployment problems to the United States, to wipe out U.S. Steel here in the USA.”
The companies at the center of the deal accuse the U.S. of acting not in fact but on the basis of politics.
President Biden first publicly opposed the deal in March, arguing U.S. Steel should remain American-owned, a sentiment shared by Harris and Trump. J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie and Charles Schwab formed the company back in 1901. Under law, the president can only block the transaction after receiving the committee’s final report on national security risks.
Pressure builds for cease-fire deal after 6 hostages killed in Gaza
Calls continue to grow for a cease-fire deal after the bodies of six hostages were recovered in Gaza. And thousands of hotel workers are on strike at major hotel chains across the country. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024.
Pressure builds for cease-fire deal after 6 hostages killed in Gaza
When asked by reporters on Sunday, Sept. 1, President Joe Biden criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not making enough progress toward an agreement.
The U.S. is increasing its pressure on Netanyahu. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with their hostage negotiation team Monday. Biden indicated he plans to speak with Netanyahu “eventually.”
At a news conference, Netanyahu expressed regret for not being able to bring the hostages back alive but firmly rejected the mounting pressure against him. Netanyahu addressed President Biden directly, urging the international community to focus its pressure on Hamas.
On Monday, thousands gathered in Jerusalem for the funeral of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American among the six hostages found dead.
In the meantime, nearly 50 Palestinians have been reported killed this week according to health officials, amid ongoing strikes in Gaza and raids in the West Bank.
Netanyahu has vowed that Hamas will face “severe consequences.”
The United Kingdom has announced it will suspend some of its weapons exports to Israel due to concerns over potential violations of international humanitarian law. However, the U.K. emphasized that this is not a comprehensive ban, noting that its arms exports to Israel are relatively small compared to those from other countries, like the U.S.
President Biden joined Vice President Harris in their first joint appearance since Harris became the Democratic nominee on Monday. Before Biden and Harris met with supporters in Pittsburgh, Harris was in Detroit speaking to union leaders who are backing her bid for the White House.
While most major unions are supporting Harris, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters remains undecided. Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, who spoke at the Republican National Convention, has stated they will not make an endorsement until Harris meets with their members.
Also on Labor Day, Harris’ running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz held a campaign event in Milwaukee. Vehicles in his motorcade collided on the way to the event, resulting in minor injuries to some staffers and reporters, who were taken to nearby hospitals.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump and his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance are gearing up for a busy week ahead. Trump is scheduled to visit Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin later this week.
Harris will be heading to New Hampshire to prepare for her upcoming debate with Trump.
🚨🚨Thousands of hotel workers with @unitehere across the country are now on strike! Hotel workers are fighting for higher pay, manageable workloads, and increased staffing that were eroded through COVID-era cuts by the major hotel operators.🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/IhXTVPsFUD
The dispute has taken center stage during tense contract negotiations in cities across the U.S. this summer, with at least 15,000 members threatening strikes this fall in 12 cities.
The first of the strikes began on Sunday, when thousands of workers in 25 cities walked off the job after contract negotiations with major hotel chains Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott stalled without a deal. Organizers say the strikes are set to last between two and three days.
Judge issues arrest warrant for Venezuelan opposition leader
The warrant was issued at the request of authorities, who accused González of various crimes including conspiracy, falsifying documents and usurpation of powers. The move is the latest against the opposition since election officials declared president Nicolás Maduro won a third six-year term in office.
Meanwhile, a plane belonging to Maduro is in Florida after being seized by U.S. authorities in the Dominican Republic. The Justice Department says the plane was illegally bought for $13 million and smuggled out of the U.S. in violation of sanctions and export rules.
ESPN and Disney go dark for millions of DirecTV customers
ESPN was in the middle of airing the U.S. Open tennis tournament and just minutes away from the start of the college football game between Louisiana State University and the University of Southern California.
The dispute centers on the carriage fees DirecTV pays Disney to broadcast its programming.
DirecTV accuses Disney of “taking an anti-consumer approach” by demanding a new deal include bundled services. DirecTV wants to allow customers to be able to take an a-la-carte approach to subscribing to specific networks, making it easier to lower their costs.
In a statement, Disney said, “We will not enter into an agreement that undervalues our portfolio of television channels and programs.”
Joey Chestnut eats 83 hot dogs to win Netflix’s livestreaming contest
Canadian government orders arbitration to end rail labor dispute
The Canadian government has intervened in a labor dispute involving thousands of freight train workers. The deadlock on workers’ contract negotiations could have led to a major economic disruption, impacting goods coming into the United States.
“Canada’s economy cannot wait for an agreement that has been delayed for a very long time and when there is a fundamental disagreement between the parties,” Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said.
The trains are expected to resume running in a few days.
VP Kamala Harris formally accepts Democratic presidential nomination at DNC
Vice President Kamala Harris closed out the Democratic National Convention (DNC) by accepting her party’s nomination for president. And one of the largest diamonds ever found was just unearthed in Botswana. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
VP Kamala Harris formally accepts Democratic presidential nomination at DNC
Vice President Kamala Harris has officially accepted her party’s nomination for president. The Democratic National Convention came to a close Thursday night, Aug. 22, after Harris addressed the crowd, laying out more of her policy vision for the nation and going after her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump.
“I want you to know I promise to be a president for all Americans,” Harris said. “You can always trust me to put country above party and self. In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences, but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.”
During her speech, Harris vowed to create what she called an “opportunity economy.” She also reiterated her stance that Israel has a right to defend itself but pressed for a cease-fire deal and pledged to reform the U.S. immigration system.
When Harris turned her attention to the former president, she blamed Trump for Republicans voting against a bipartisan border bill, said he sent a mob to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and highlighted his now-criminal record.
“The biggest reaction is why didn’t she do the things she’s complaining about,” he questioned. “She could’ve done it three and a half years ago. She could do it tonight, by leaving the auditorium and going to Washington D.C. and closing the border. She doesn’t need a bill. I didn’t have a bill; I closed the border. She could still do them. She’s got four and a half to five months left.”
All eyes will be on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the third-party candidate, on Friday, Aug. 23, as he’s set to hold a press conference. The speculation is Kennedy will be dropping out of the presidential race and potentially endorsing Trump.
They had planned to march toward the convention center but were blocked by rows of police in riot gear.
#WATCH : More videos of Massive pro-Palestine protest engulfs DNC convention
Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention, outraged over Dems' backing for Israel in the Gaza war.
The group of about 40 unconfirmed delegates and supporters spent Wednesday night, Aug. 21, outside the United Center on the sidewalk and remained there until after 8 p.m. Thursday before finally going back inside to the convention.
Supreme Court allows Arizona to enforce proof-of-citizenship law
The United States Supreme Court agreed to temporarily reinstate a portion of a 2022 Arizona law requiring proof of citizenship when people register to vote. In a 5-4 ruling, the high court gave a partial victory to Republicans who have been trying to enforce proof of citizenship as a requirement to cast a vote in November.
While the justices ruled the state can enforce the requirement of proof of citizenship to vote using the state’s registration form, the court turned down other requests that would bar voters who registered using a federal form or by mail unless they showed proof of citizenship.
This is only a temporary ruling while litigation continues. So, it’s unclear as of now if, come November, voters in the state will have to show documentation they’re a legal resident to cast a ballot.
Canadian government orders arbitration to end rail labor dispute
The Canadian government has intervened in a labor dispute involving thousands of freight train workers. The deadlock on workers’ contract negotiations could have led to a major economic disruption, impacting goods coming into the United States.
The trains are expected to resume running in a few days.
FDA approves updated COVID vaccines
The FDA has approved updated COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. This puts the new shots on track to reach most Americans within days.
Today, we approved and granted emergency use authorization for updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (2024-2025 formula) to include a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant KP.2 strain of SARS-CoV-2. https://t.co/pul33IEnIw
These shots target a strain called KP.2, which was the dominant COVID strain in May when a summer surge of the virus began, but now only accounts for roughly 3% of all U.S. cases, according to the CDC. Still, Pfizer and Moderna said their KP.2 vaccines can produce stronger immune responses against other circulating sub-variants than last year’s shots.
Second largest diamond ever found is discovered in Botswana
The second largest diamond ever found was just unearthed in Botswana, according to the Canadian mining company that discovered the gem in one of its mines in Africa. The massive, 2,492-carat diamond is the biggest to be found in more than a century and it was located using X-ray technology.
The mining company presented Botswana’s president with the huge stone on Thursday, Aug. 22. The diamond will be evaluated over the next several weeks and will likely sell for tens of millions of dollars.
The colossal stone is believed to be the biggest one found since a 3,106-carat diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1905 and cut into smaller stones — some of which make up the British royal family’s crown jewels.
Looming Canadian rail shutdown could impact US supply chain
A breakdown in negotiations between two of Canada’s largest railroads could result in supply chain issues for the U.S. Both the Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) say that unless a deal is reached with the Teamsters union representing nearly 10,000 workers, those workers will be locked out starting early Thursday, Aug. 22.
The railroads are already starting to shut down their shipping networks in preparation. On Tuesday, Aug. 20, the CPKC will stop all shipments originating in Canada and all shipments from the U.S. that are headed for Canada. Canadian media outlets reported on Friday, Aug. 16, that Canadian National has already stopped container imports from U.S. partner railroads.
It would mark the first time Canada has faced a simultaneous labor stoppage at both the railroads. Normally, they negotiate their labor agreements in alternate years.
The two railroads handle about 40,000 carloads of freight worth about $1 billion. One industrial analyst said shipments of fully built automobiles and auto parts, chemicals, forestry products and agricultural goods would be hit hard.
The Teamsters union said Canadian National wants to implement a forced relocation provision which means workers could be ordered to move across Canada for months at a time to fill labor shortages.
The dispute with Canadian Pacific centers on safety issues, with the Teamsters arguing the company wants to force crews to stay awake longer, increasing the risk of accidents.
Negotiations have been ongoing since November of last year and contracts expired at the end of 2023. They were, however, extended as talks continued. The union said demands from the company concerning crew scheduling, rail safety and worker fatigue are the main sticking points.
Alleged 9/11 mastermind agrees to plea deal to avoid death penalty
The alleged mastermind behind the 9/11 attack and two accomplices reached a plea deal with prosecutors. And former President Donald Trump sparks controversy with comments made about Vice President Kamala Harris at a conference of Black journalists. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
Alleged 9/11 mastermind agrees to plea deal in exchange for life in prison
The alleged mastermind terrorist behind plotting the 9/11 attacks against the U.S. has pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty. The Department of Defense said Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his two accomplices accused of planning the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil have agreed to plead guilty in exchange for life in prison.
The pre-trial agreement allows them all to escape being sentenced to death, something that is upsetting some families of 9/11 victims. Prosecutors first notified impacted families of the plea deal reached before it went public.
BREAKING: Pentagon announces that Guantanamo that three of the five 9/11 defendants, including mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, have reached a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Harris is running unopposed and has already been endorsed by most of the Democratic delegates. She also picked up the endorsement of the United Auto Workers on Wednesday, July 31, giving her the support of one of the country’s largest unions.
I am honored to receive the endorsement of the United Auto Workers. From walking picket lines to taking on big banks, I have spent my entire career fighting for unions and working families—and, as President, I will continue to deliver for organized labor. https://t.co/CQc4K0YOBW
Voting on the virtual roll call ends on Monday, Aug. 5. It’s the same day Harris is expected to announce her running mate. They will then start a series of side-by-side campaigning in battleground states, with their first official event together scheduled in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
On Thursday, Trump’s vice presidential pick Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, will be touring the southern border, and Harris will speak at the funeral of Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
Trump sparks controversy after questioning Kamala Harris’ racial identity
Former President Donald Trump attended a conference for Black journalists in Chicago on Wednesday, July 31, that’s creating the most buzz on the campaign trail Thursday, Aug. 1 morning. Trump made controversial remarks after being asked if he agrees with Republicans on Capitol Hill who have said the vice president was a “DEI hire.”
“Do you believe that Vice President Kamala Harris is only on the ticket because she is a Black woman?” ABC News’ Rachel Scott asked him.
“Well, I can say no,” Trump said. “I think it’s maybe a little bit different. So, I’ve known her a long time indirectly, not directly very much, and she was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black. And now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?”
“She has always identified as a Black woman,” Scott interjected. “She went to a historically Black college.”
“You know what, I respect either one,” Trump said “I respect either one, but she obviously doesn’t. Because she was Indian all the way and then all of a sudden, she made a turn and she went, she became a Black person.”
“We all here remember what those four years were like,” Harris said. “And today we were given yet another reminder. This afternoon, Donald Trump spoke at the annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists, and it was the same old show, the divisiveness and the disrespect. And let me just say, the American people deserve better. The American people deserve better. The American people deserve a leader who tells the truth, a leader who does not respond with hostility and anger when confronted with the facts. We deserve a leader who understands that our differences do not divide us. They are an essential source of our strength.”
During her daily press conference, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to Trump’s comment, saying “it’s insulting.”
The former president defended his comments on his Truth Social platform, saying the questions he was being asked were “rude and nasty” and “often in the form of a statement” rather than question.
The questions were Rude and Nasty, often in the form of a statement, but we CRUSHED IT!@realDonaldTrump Donald Trump Truth Social 03:31 PM EST 07/31/24 pic.twitter.com/wetj11CoG0
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 31, 2024
Some Black Republican lawmakers have also jumped in to defend him — like Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt. Hunt posted a statement on his own Truth Social account reading in part, “He stood strong in the face of vicious attacks and gotcha questions, because that’s what leaders do.”
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., also commented on the former president’s remarks in a post on X.
“Fostering tough conversations and debate is how we make America great again for all Americans,” Donalds said. “Unlike Kamala Harris, President Trump is not afraid of going into any venue, any time, anywhere.”
Unlike Kamala Harris, President Trump is not afraid of going into any venue, any time, anywhere.
Today at the NABJ Convention, President Trump took the incoming fire from hostile reporters, held firm, and articulated his plan to Make America Great Again for ALL AMERICANS. pic.twitter.com/KNEw5yaLmi
Harris is the daughter of a Jamaican father and Indian mother. She attended the historically Black Howard University and is a member of the nation’s oldest Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Meanwhile, a debate between the two remains up in the air. Trump has voiced wanting a venue change and said he “probably will” debate Harris, but could also “make a case for not.”
Report: Iran’s supreme leader issues order for Iran to strike Israel
Tensions are rising in the Middle East following the assassination of a senior Hamas leader in Iran. Hamas claims an Israeli missile hit the house of political leader Ismail Haniyeh.
The New York Times reported that with the hit happening on Iranian soil, the country’s supreme leader has reportedly issued an order for Iran to strike Israel directly, citing three Iranian officials briefed on the order.
Haniyeh was the Hamas negotiator for a possible hostage deal with Israel. Many fear that deal is now dead.
The strike on Haniyeh came just hours after an Israeli airstrike killed a top Hezbollah commander in Lebanon.
Breaking this morning: The Israeli military announced it had killed top Hamas military leader Muhammad Deif during a strike in Gaza earlier in July. Deif is believed to have been one of the masterminds behind the Oct. 7 terror attacks in Israel.
‘Weapons and Warfare’ goes inside Lockheed Martin’s F-35 assembly facility
In 2001, the Department of Defense awarded Lockheed Martin the contract to develop the F-35 fighter jet to replace aging aircraft. The jet is manufactured in three different variants: one for the Marine Corps, one for the Air Force and one for the Navy.
In a special edition of “Weapons and Warfare,” Straight Arrow News’ Ryan Robertson recently got to take a tour inside the Fort Worth, Texas facility that makes these fighter jets.
You can find this special edition of “Weapons and Warfare” right here.
Katie Ledecky ties record for most gold medals by female swimmer
Team USA now has won five Olympic gold medals in Paris, adding one more to its count after Wednesday’s events — and it was a historic one. Swimmer Katie Ledecky won the women’s 1,500 meter freestyle. She finished more than 10 seconds ahead of her competition to win her eighth Olympic gold medal.
With the victory, Ledecky tied the record for most gold medals by a female swimmer. It was also her 12th Olympic medal of any kind, which tied yet another record.
Ledecky is not done yet. She has a chance to break those records. She’ll be competing in the 4×200 meter relay Thursday, Aug. 1, and the 800 meter freestyle later this week.
The agreement, pending ratification by the store’s 85 workers, includes scheduling improvements, a 10% pay raise over three years, job protection measures and severance guarantees. A vote is set for Aug. 6.
This milestone comes as similar union efforts at companies like Starbucks and Amazon have not yet secured contracts. Negotiating a first contract can be prolonged, with Bloomberg Law noting an average duration of 465 days, and some unions taking over two years, according to a 2023 study.
The deal could influence future unionization efforts at other Apple stores across the U.S., where only one other store, in Oklahoma City, has voted to unionize. Apple, which owns about 270 stores nationwide, has not commented on the agreement beyond expressing pride in their team’s compensation and benefits.
Israel says Hezbollah will ‘pay the price’ after deadly attack on soccer field
Israel vowed Hezbollah will “pay the price” after the deadliest strike on Israeli territory since Oct. 7 killed 12 children. And former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris continue on the campaign trail with less than 100 days to go until Election Day. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, July 29, 2024.
Israel: Hezbollah will ‘pay the price’ after deadly attack on soccer field
Tensions are escalating in the Middle East after a deadly assault on Israel on Saturday, July 27. Israeli officials said a Hezbollah rocket launched from Lebanon struck a soccer field in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights, killing 12 children.
It marked the deadliest attack on Israeli soil since Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack. Hezbollah has denied it was behind the strike.
Now, attention turns to how Israel will respond to the threat and if the war is on the brink of expansion.
Thousands of people attended funeral services for the children who died in Saturday’s attack. Their caskets were hauled through the streets as people paid their respects.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Hezbollah “will pay the price” for the latest attack.
It’s an escalation in a series of back and forth between Hezbollah and Israel. The Iran-backed militant group has been firing rockets at Israel from Lebanon since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Israel has been retaliating, striking their targets in Lebanon and killing top Hezbollah and Hamas leadership in the region, but this latest hit against Israel could create a larger response.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said the country will not get involved in a war but will stand behind Hezbollah. The foreign minister said Lebanon has received reassurances from the U.S. and France that Israel’s response will be “limited.”
The Biden administration has warned Israel of how its next steps could lead to a larger conflict and is warning against them hitting Hezbollah targets in Lebanon’s capital of Beirut. International flights into Beirut are being canceled out of fears of escalation.
Harris, Trump look to rally support less than 100 days until election day
With less than 100 days left until the 2024 presidential election, both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump spent the weekend speaking to their supporters at campaign events. Harris spoke to voters in Massachusetts and Trump held events in Florida.
“She was a bum,” Trump told his supporters in West Palm Beach on Friday, July 26. “Three weeks ago, she was a bum, a failed vice president in a failed administration with millions of people crossing when she was the border czar.”
Harris promised supporters her “underdog” campaign would prevail.
“Donald Trump has been resorting to some wild lies about my record,” she said on Saturday, July 27. “And some of what he and his running mate are saying, it’s just plain weird.”
New polling from ABC News shows support for Harris is growing among independent voters. Forty-four percent have a favorable view of Harris — up from 28% from only a week ago — as she tries to rally Democratic Party support before officially becoming the nominee.
On July 30 and Aug 1., Harris will hold campaign events in Georgia and Texas, respectively. Trump will head back to Pennsylvania for the first time since surviving an assassination attempt at a rally in the state on July 13.
Mark Meadows asks SCOTUS to intervene in Georgia election interference case
Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff during the Trump administration, is turning to the Supreme Court to intervene in the Georgia election interference case against him. Meadows’ lawyers have asked the justices to take up his bid to move the case to federal court.
In their filing on Friday, July 26, Meadows’ legal team argued his actions are entitled to immunity from prosecution citing the high court’s recent ruling that gave former President Trump immunity for official acts as president.
Meadows has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case, however, remains on hold as Meadows and other co-defendants — including former President Trump — challenge a ruling that allows Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue prosecuting the case amid claims of improper conduct.
Maduro and opposition both claim to win Venezuela’s presidential election
In a highly watched and highly scrutinized electoral process, Venezuela’s authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro claimed to have won the presidential election on Monday, July 29. However, his political opponents have too.
With 80% of votes counted, Maduro is said to have won with more than 51% of the vote, leading electoral authorities to declare him the winner.
However, the opposition claims candidate Edmundo González had received 70% of the vote against Maduro’s 30% and González said all rules were violated. The opposition is demanding electoral authorities present all the voting tallies issued by the voting machines to verify the results.
The United States and multiple regional nations have also voiced skepticism about official results handing victory to Maduro.
The man accused of starting what is now the largest active wildfire in the country is set to appear in a California court on Monday, July 29. The fast-spreading fire near Chico has burned more than 350,000 acres in three days, forcing thousands of people in four counties to leave their homes.
The Park Fire had scorched an area greater than the size of Los Angeles as of Sunday, July 28, causing poor air quality in a large part of the northwestern U.S. and western Canada.
Cooler temperatures and more humidity over the weekend helped firefighters make some progress. They say the fire is now 12% contained.
Apple reaches first-ever union deal with Maryland employees
Apple has reached its first-ever union contract with employees at a Maryland store. The union representing the employees of a store in a Baltimore suburb said it’s reached a tentative three-year deal with Apple to increase pay by an average of 10% and offer other benefits to workers.
The tentative agreement still has to be approved by the store’s 85 workers. A vote is set for Aug. 6.
Team USA wins most medals in Olympics opening weekend
Team USA is off to a strong start at the Paris Olympics, picking up 12 medals over the weekend. That’s the most of any country so far in the games.
USA athletes had won gold three times as of Monday, July 29 morning, including the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, giving Caleb Dressel his eighth gold medal. Torri Huske won the women’s 100m butterfly and Gretchen Walsh took silver, with just four hundredths of a second separating the American athletes.
Lee Kiefer brought home gold in fencing. In gymnastics, Simone Biles made her Olympics return, leading the U.S. Women’s Team into the finals despite suffering a minor calf injury.
On the basketball court, LeBron James led Team USA to victory in their first game, defeating Serbia 110 to 84.
WNBA union head believes league is worth more than $2.2B broadcast deal
The WNBA is experiencing a historic season, with viewership and attendance reaching unprecedented levels. However, despite this success, the league is projected to lose approximately $50 million in 2024. This financial discrepancy is central to ongoing discussions about the value of the WNBA’s broadcasting rights.
Currently, the WNBA operates as a subsidiary of the NBA, receiving about $15 million annually from the men’s league to support its operating costs. As the NBA negotiates a substantial multi-year media deal — valued at $75 billion with NBC, Amazon and Disney — a portion of this agreement could significantly impact the WNBA. The proposed deal includes $2.2 billion for the WNBA over 11 years, equating to roughly $200 million per season.
However, the executive director of the WNBA’s players’ union, Terri Jackson, has expressed concerns about this valuation. She questioned the rationale behind the proposed figure, and voiced concerns that the agreement undervalues the league, particularly given the surge in interest and engagement with the WNBA this year.
“We look forward to learning how the NBA arrived at a $200 million valuation — if initial reports are accurate or even close,” Jackson said in a statement. “Neither the NBA nor the WNBA can deny that in the last few years, we have seen unprecedented growth across all metrics. The players continue to demonstrate their commitment to building the brand, and the fans keep showing up. There is no excuse to undervalue the WNBA again.”
While the WNBA’s increased viewership and attendance are positive indicators, they have yet to translate into profitability. The anticipated media rights agreement could be a pivotal factor in changing the league’s financial trajectory, potentially allowing for higher player salaries.
This increase in revenue could reduce the need for WNBA players to compete overseas during the offseason to supplement their incomes. This issue also came into focus in 2022 when Brittney Griner was held in Russian detention for almost 10 months while playing for a foreign league.
The WNBA’s existing broadcasting deal, valued at $60 million per year, is set to expire at the end of the 2025 season. Prior to the start of this record-setting year, the league’s commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, expressed hopes of at least doubling that figure, citing the league’s growth in recent seasons. The new deal being negotiated by the NBA would surpass that goal, more than tripling the WNBA’s annual media rights revenue.
Voting 13-2, Big Green’s basketball players elected to join Service Employees International Union Local 560, which already represents other Dartmouth employees. The same day, Dartmouth College appealed the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision that Dartmouth players are employees.
“Classifying these students as employees simply because they play basketball is as unprecedented as it is inaccurate,” Dartmouth said in a statement.
Dartmouth College argued unionization is not appropriate in part because, unlike other universities where athletics generate millions of dollars, the costs of Dartmouth’s athletics program far exceed any revenue.
“Those arguments, I think, are phony arguments,” said Michael Hsu, a former University of Minnesota regent and co-founder of the College Basketball Players Association. “If you have unionized secretaries or even factory workers, you can’t make the argument that they don’t make money for the company, or they lose money for the company. So I think it’s a ridiculous proposition that they would use that argument. It doesn’t even have a meaningful example in the corporate world.”
Hsu has filed two charges with the NLRB against the NCAA and Northwestern’s use of the term, “student-athlete.”
The sordid past of ‘student-athlete’
“These boys are student-athletes. Student comes first,” Samuel L. Jackson said in the film, “Coach Carter,” portraying high school basketball coach Ken Carter, who famously locked out his players for performing poorly in academics.
But unlike the well-meaning characterization of the character Carter, the term student-athlete was not crafted to prioritize education.
“The term was created by Walter Byers, the first executive director of the NCAA in the 1950s,” Hsu said. “And they created the term to try and escape liability, legal liability.”
In 1955, Fort Lewis A&M football player Ray Dennison crushed his skull during a game and later died. His widow filed a claim for death benefits under workers’ compensation. The case made it to the Colorado Supreme Court, where the justices ruled the compensation fund did not extend to student-athletes.
Byers — who made sure the term “student-athlete” was embedded throughout college sports — later renounced its use in his memoir, “Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Exploiting College Athletes.” The NCAA continues to use the term.
NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo warned in 2021 that where appropriate, she will allege that calling players student-athletes is a violation of the National Labor Relations Act.
“He’s basically admitting that they’re violating the law by saying that, but he’s saying, ‘Oh, we need a new law to make this okay and make it legal,’” Hsu said.
Baker claimed 95% of athletes’ opportunities would be endangered if athletes were considered school employees. Like Dartmouth, he’s arguing the vast majority of schools lose money on athletic programs and can’t afford to pay their players. This extends from small programs like those within the Ivy League Conference to Division II and Division III schools.
The NCAA continues to push Congress for a limited antitrust exemption to give it a break from the onslaught of lawsuits it now faces. As for Dartmouth and the fight against its basketball-playing employees, Hsu says that case will likely be appealed to the Supreme Court.