National Archives after ex-Presidents docs; an asteroid nears Earth; NY terror suspect guilty; Memphis officers charged in death; Pope takes on homosexuality and the law; U.S. military raids Somalia
Most visited websites in the World; FBI takes action on Ransomware; DeSantis calls for RNC change; Iran can fuel Nuke bombs; FDA won't regulate CBD; Shrinking review; the Michael Imperioli interview
Good Friday morning! TGIF!
My take: It is like Christmas. Every year Christmas sales and shopping come earlier and earlier. This is how Presidential elections are. A number of media — most on the progressive Democrat side — are now talking day to day about the 2024 election. The current news is not only not that interesting but for the business end of media it is very hard to sell advertising in this news environment. CNN, MSNBC, the New York Times and others remember the days of Trump as the glory days when revenue was flowing through their outlets. Layoffs are now plentiful at these platforms and others. Today’s newsletter has stories in it about the California Senate race and the Democrats back bench for 2024 and beyond. The new Governors of Pennsylvania and Maryland are young and may well interest the media and their readers and viewers. This is only the beginning. Trump will be back on the scene to the delight of CNN, MSNBC and the New York Times. All three have been struggling since he left office. If I had a vote it would be to shorten the election cycle. Unfortunately, the opposite seems to be in play. Merry Elections!
Now to your “1 to…”
What we care about: Ranked: The top 50 most visited Websites in the World.
Weekend reading if you were a Sopranos fan. Great piece: Michael Imperioli can keep a secret: The man famous for getting whacked on-screen survived the White Lotus finale. Could he check in for another season? He’ll never tell.
Must watch: Fox News’ Benjamin Hall urges viewers to ‘never give up’ in emotional return to live TV: ‘Saved: A War Reporter's Mission To Make It Home,' details Hall's recovery from injuries sustained in Ukraine.
NYC bike path terror suspect found guilty on all counts in killing of 8 people: Sayfullo Saipov was found guilty of murder by a federal jury for using a rented truck to fatally strike eight people on a New York City bike path on Halloween Day in 2017. Jurors deliberated about six hours over two days in the case involving the deadliest terrorist attack New York had seen since 9/11 – which left six foreign tourists and two Americans dead. The same jury will determine whether Saipov is sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty. The vote must be unanimous for the death penalty to be imposed. The penalty phase of the trial is scheduled to begin on February 6. The trial was the first federal death penalty case heard during the administration of President Joe Biden, who had campaigned against capital punishment at the federal level. Jury deliberations began Wednesday afternoon after Judge Vernon Broderick read them instructions.
Attorney for Idaho suspect Bryan Kohberger represented parent of slain college student before taking his case: Up until taking his case, Bryan Kohberger’s court-appointed public defender was actively representing a parent of one of the four Moscow stabbing victims her client is accused of killing, court records show.
Anne Taylor, chief of the Kootenai County Public Defender’s Office, filed an attorney withdrawal notice in Kootenai County Court for the parent on Jan. 5 — the same day Kohberger made his first court appearance in Idaho in Latah County. The parent previously was sentenced on unrelated misdemeanor charges.
In that case, as well as another where the parent faces two felony charges, the public defender’s office withdrew in favor of a local criminal defense attorney unrelated to Taylor or the county’s public defender’s office. The new attorney is listed as the “conflict public defender” in court documents.
National Archives asks former presidents and vice presidents to check for classified and presidential documents: The National Archives is formally asking former presidents and vice presidents to re-check their personal records for any classified documents or other presidential records in the wake of classified documents discovered in the homes of former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence and President Joe Biden over the last year. The Archives sent a letter Thursday to representatives of former presidents and vice presidents from the last six presidential administrations covered by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) – from former President Ronald Reagan’s White House to the present.
After Trump, Biden, Pence, are other former presidents holding classified documents? We asked.
California judge orders release of footage of Pelosi attack: Footage of the attack on former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband will be released to the public after a judge on Wednesday denied prosecutors’ request to keep it secret.
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Stephen M. Murphy ruled there was no reason to keep the footage secret, especially after prosecutors played it in open court during a preliminary hearing last month, according to Thomas R. Burke, a San Francisco-based lawyer who represented The Associated Press and a host of other news agencies in their attempt to access the evidence. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office handed over the evidence to Murphy on Wednesday following a court hearing. Murphy asked the court clerk’s office to distribute it to the media, which could happen as soon as Thursday.
U.S. economy expands at 2.9% annual rate in fourth quarter: The U.S. economy grew at an annualized 2.9% rate in the final months of 2022, the Commerce Department said on Thursday. Economists are bracing for a significant slowdown in economic activity as the Federal Reserve's interest rates hikes take hold, but that certainly wasn't the case in the final months of last year.Economists expected the Gross Domestic Product figures to show the economy grew at a 2.6% annualized rate last quarter, after expanding at a 3.2% pace in the prior quarter. Consumer spending and businesses built up private inventories gave GDP the biggest boost. Among the biggest drags: fixed investment, a category that includes housing. Over the calendar year, GDP grew by 2.1% in 2022 — a decent pace, especially considering the historically aggressive rate hikes by the Federal Reserve that sought to restrain economic activity to contain inflation.
Those rate hikes hit the housing sector particularly hard, which dragged down overall growth earlier last year.
Ukraine war updates: Russia launches ‘massive’ strikes on Ukraine after Western allies agree to send tanks: Russia launched what the head of Ukraine’s armed forces called “massive” missile strikes Thursday, as Moscow hurled 55 air and sea-based missiles at targets including the capital Kyiv. The attacks come after the U.S. and Germany’s momentous decision Wednesday to send battle tanks to Ukraine. Now, talk has turned to the possible supply of other firepower, namely fighter jets.
FBI shuts down servers, website tied to notorious ransomware gang: The Department of Justice announced Thursday it has seized the computer servers and dark web sites associated with a prolific ransomware gang that's targeted U.S. hospitals, schools and other critical infrastructure. Members of the Hive ransomware gang put a notice on its website earlier today claiming the DOJ, FBI, U.S. Secret Service and international law enforcement seized their sites last night.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said agents at the FBI Tampa field office gained access to Hive's ransomware infrastructure last July, which gave them the ability to sneak around their networks to find the information needed to shut down the gang. In the months it took to seek out that information, the FBI was able to hand out decryption keys to unlock any systems the ransomware gang targeted to victims, Garland said. Today's actions mark one of the most sophisticated and detrimental moves from U.S. law enforcement against a ransomware gang.
An FDA committee votes to roll out a new COVID vaccination strategy: A committee of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously on a proposal to simplify the nation's strategy for vaccinating people against COVID-19. The recommendation is that future COVID-19 vaccines should be made to target the same viral strain or strains for both initial shots and boosters, regardless of the manufacturer. The vote was unanimous: 21-0. The idea behind the revamp is to make vaccination less complicated and confusing. The ultimate goal would be to get more people vaccinated. "Because of [the coronavirus'] rapid evolution we've needed to adjust our approach over time, and we're now in a reasonable place to reflect on the development of the COVID-19 vaccines to date to see if we can simplify the approach to vaccination," said Dr. Peter Marks, FDA's top vaccine official, in remarks at the beginning of the all-day meeting.
FDA declines to regulate CBD: calls on Congress for fix.
Schiff kicks off California Senate bid: The Democratic lawmaker is entering a crowded field with Rep. Katie Porter and an expected entry by Rep. Barbara Lee.
No Democratic Bench? Josh Shapiro and Wes Moore Are Ready To Step Up: The inaugurations in Pennsylvania and Maryland this month introduced Democrats to their future.
DeSantis calls for "new blood" at RNC: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is backing a change at the top of the Republican National Committee in Friday's election, telling conservative activist Charlie Kirk that he likes what he's hearing from challenger Harmeet Dhillon. DeSantis is the only candidate currently polling in double digits against former President Trump among Republican voters. His support for Dhillon, a lawyer from California, may not swing the RNC chair vote but is a sign that some in the GOP see an opportunity to break with Ronna McDaniel. "We've had three substandard election cycles in a row," DeSantis told Kirk. McDaniel was elected head of the RNC in 2017, overseeing the operation in the 2018, 2020 and 2022 cycles. “I think there's a tendency to scapegoat or ignore the wins,” McDaniel told Semafor earlier in January.
Republicans tap McCormick to oust Sen. Casey in 2024 Pennsylvania race: Republicans across the party’s spectrum are pushing for former GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick to challenge incumbent Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey (D) in 2024 after the party suffered a devastating blow last year when now-Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) became the Keystone State’s second Democratic senator.
Many in the GOP argue that McCormick, who was defeated in the primary by Mehmet Oz, would have had a better chance against Fetterman. Republicans are painting McCormick as a consensus builder who can attract moderate and swing voters while keeping the more conservative factions of the party under his wing.
Sen. Kennedy stumps Biden nominee with basic questions about the Constitution: Judge Charnelle Bjelkengren could not recall what certain parts of US Constitution do.
The officers are charged with the following:
Justin Smith – Two counts of official misconduct, official oppression, second-degree murder, aggravated assault and two counts of aggravated kidnapping.
Tadarrius Bean – Second- degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct and official oppression.
Demetrius Haley – Second degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct and official oppression.
Emmitt Martin III – Second degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct and official oppression.
Desmond Mills Jr. – Second degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct and official oppression.
Florida cops arrest man for Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan’s murder: Police in Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday announced the arrest of a suspect in the cold-blooded murder of a Microsoft executive last year — but noted they do not believe he acted alone. Henry Tenon, 61, has been charged with second-degree murder and other raps for the February shooting death of Jared Bridegan in front of his 2-year-old daughter.
Florida woman accused of swindling $2.8M from Holocaust survivor in romance scam: Peaches Stergo is accused of defrauding the 87-year-old of his life savings.
18 children injured in blaze at NYC basement daycare: The NYC Department of Buildings said two commercial businesses, a daycare and a dental lab, were operating in the cellar of the two-story, single-family home.
Analysis: Stakes rise as Iran can fuel ‘several’ atom bombs.
Yellen says Africa to shape world economy as US reengages: U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen watched Ford cars and pickup trucks being assembled at a plant in South Africa on Thursday, citing it as an example of cooperation between Washington and Africa as she begins the Biden administration’s big push to reengage with a continent that has 1.3 billion people and an abundance of economic potential. “The United States’ strategy towards Africa is centered around a simple recognition that Africa will shape the future of the global economy,” Yellen said at the Ford plant in the suburb of Silverton in the South African capital, Pretoria.
Elon Musk meets with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy: Twitter and Tesla CEO Elon Musk met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the US Capitol in Washington on Thursday evening, according to two sources familiar with the meeting. McCarthy, leaving the meeting with Musk in his office, declined to comment other than to say: “He came for my birthday.” McCarthy turned 58 on Thursday.
Inside the Biden administration's decision to reverse course and give tanks to Ukraine: Biden warmed to a path suggested by Blinken and Sullivan and a plan proposed by Milley and Austin.
Palestinians suspend security coordination with Israel after deadly Jenin raid: The Palestinian Authority on Thursday suspended its security coordination with Israel after Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.
Why it matters: The move is likely to escalate the situation in the West Bank even further and comes just days ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken's scheduled trip to the region, where he will meet separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the heightened tensions. “The security coordination is nonexistent starting from now," the Palestinian Presidency said in a statement announcing the move. The statement said the Palestinians will go immediately to the UN Security Council and ask for UN intervention and resume their bid to join UN agencies as full members. The statement also said the Palestinian Authority will ask the International Criminal Court to add Thursday's incident in Jenin to its open investigation against Israel.
U.S. military raid in northern Somalia kills a senior ISIS leader and 10 ISIS fighters: The target of the strike was Bilal al Sudani, who U.S. officials described as a key operative and facilitator for the terrorist group’s global network.
Afghan malnutrition rates at record high, U.N. food agency says: “There are 7 million children (under the age of 5) and mothers who are malnourished, in a country with a population of 40 million,” said a spokesman for the World Food Program.
Pope Francis just called for the Decriminalization of Homosexuality worldwide: He also characterized those who oppose him as “like a rash that bothers you a bit.”
Biden bans roads and logging in Alaska’s Tongass National forest: The U.S. Forest Service rule restricts development on more than nine million acres in North America’s largest temperate rainforest, reversing a Trump decision.
Car-sized asteroid will pass extremely close to Earth tonight: Don't worry, we're safe.
What time is it on the Moon?: Satellite navigation systems for lunar settlements will require local atomic clocks. Scientists are working out what time they will keep.
‘Gateway drug’ no more: Study shows legalizing recreational cannabis does not increase substance abuse.
Abortion pill manufacturer sues over West Virginia ban: Drugmaker GenBioPro's suit argues that the state's restrictions on abortion are unconstitutional. Another suit, in North Carolina, makes a similar argument.
Here is why Hawaii has the longest life expectancy in the country: Access to healthcare, active lifestyle and sunshine can all contribute to lifespan.
Humanity may reach Singularity within just 7 years, trend shows: By one major metric, artificial general intelligence is much closer than you think.
Shopping with your nose: How body odors influence your buying behavior.
FTX Bankruptcy: Comcast, Fox, CAA, Netflix listed as creditors to Crypto Firm: The deals likely represent advertising and sponsorship deals that the media companies may not be paid back for, as well as services or subscriptions.
Pandemic-era stigma cost Asian restaurants $7.4B in lost revenue, new study finds: Anti-China discrimination during 2020 spilled over into non-Chinese Asian restaurants as well, researchers found.
McDonald’s, In-N-Out, and Chipotle are spending millions to block raises for their workers: California voters will decide next year on a referendum that could overturn a landmark new state law setting worker conditions and minimum wages up to $22 an hour for fast-food employees in the nation’s largest state.
Chipotle, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, In-N-Out Burger and KFC-owner Yum! Brands each donated $1 million to Save Local Restaurants, a coalition opposing the law. Other top fast-food companies, business groups, franchise owners, and many small restaurants also have criticized the legislation and spent millions of dollars opposing it.
‘Shrinking’ review: Harrison Ford keeps Jason Segel’s Wobbly Apple TV+ Dramedy afloat: The actors lead a series, created by Segel and 'Ted Lasso' alums Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein, about a grieving therapist trying to get his life back on track.
Robert Redford wore two pairs of undies to ‘protect himself' from Barbra Streisand in ‘The Way We Were’: book: The claim was made by author Robert Hofler in 'The Way They Were: How Epic Battles and Bruised Egos Brought a Classic Hollywood Love Story to the Screen'.
Blue Bloods: Who should Danny end up with now that he's dating again?
Kanye dons Nazi Shirt for Balenciaga shopping spree with new wife: Kanye West has fully integrated his “I love Nazis” rhetoric into his wardrobe, donning a shirt with a Nazi emblem for a late-night shopping spree with rumored new wife Bianca Censori. Despite being shunned by Balenciaga, West spent up a storm at the luxury fashion house’s Beverly Hills store on Wednesday, leaving with several bags worth of merch. According to TMZ’s photos of the occasion, he wore a shirt featuring the coat of arms of the German Reich, the symbol used by the Nazis prior to their adoption of the swastika. Above the image was the word “Bundeswehr,” a name for the German military. West and Balenciaga went their separate ways in October following one of his antisemitic tirades, just weeks after he opened their muddy SS23 Paris Fashion Week show.
Sean Penn’s Ukraine movie aims to keep Americans engaged: Sean Penn has been on the front lines of the war in Ukraine since it began, and the actor and director hopes his upcoming documentary will help keep Americans engaged in a war that has been raging for almost a year. The two-time Academy Award-winning actor, director and activist co-directed “Superpower,” which features exclusives interviews with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The eastern European leader has been an integral part of Ukraine’s external messaging campaign that has sought to drum up support for the war effort and keep Western arm shipments flowing. Penn noted that Zelenskyy speaks in English during interviews in the film, which he hopes will enable Americans to more easily resonate with the war-time leader and his country.
Tim Allen's 'Home Improvement' co-star Patricia Richardson reacts to resurfaced clip of him flashing her: Patricia Richardson is speaking out. After TMZ resurfaced a clip showing Tim Allen flashing her on the set of Home Improvement, Richardson reacted to the blooper reel moment in a statement to ET. The clip in question shows Allen, who starred on the sitcom as Tim Taylor, dressed in a kilt. In response, Richardson, who played Allen's wife, Jill, jokes, "Hangs long, I just wish it was shorter." As the studio audience laughs at the scripted antics, Allen, facing Richardson with his back to the camera, lifts the kilt. Richardson's jaw drops in shock as she and Allen laugh and the audience cheers. "People ask me what was under the kilt when he flashed me, he was well dressed under there," Richardson tells ET. "I was just shocked that he lifted the kilt, not by a man in boxer shorts." The clip resurfaced following Pamela Anderson's memoir claim that Allen flashed her on the set of the '90s sitcom. In Love, Pamela, Anderson, who played Lisa the Tool Girl on the show's first two seasons, alleges that the moment happened on her first day of work, when she was 23.
Britney Spears asks fans to respect her privacy after police welfare check: 'Things went a little too far': Britney Spears broke her silence two days after police were called to her house for a welfare check by concerned fans. In a statement on Thursday, the 41-year-old singer pleaded with fans and media to respect her privacy. "I love and adore my fans but this time things went a little too far and my privacy was invaded," Spears wrote, saying police responded to "some prank phone calls." "The police never entered my home and when they came to my gate they quickly realized there was no issue and left immediately," the pop star continued. "This felt like I was being gaslit and bullied once the incident made it to the news and being portrayed once again in a poor and unfair light by the media. During this time in my life, I truly hope the public and my fans who I care so much about can respect my privacy moving forward. All the love, B."
Young adult author first Latina national ambassador for reading: Cuban American author Meg Medina was inaugurated Tuesday as the first Hispanic ambassador for young people's literature at the Library of Congress. Young adult and children's literature has been diversifying in recent years, but several of those works have been targets of book bans. Medina's book, "Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass," about dealing with bullying, caused blowback a few years ago over its title. Medina, the 2019 Newbery Medal winner for "Merci Suárez Changes Gears," says she hopes "to serve as an example of Latinos' contributions to the U.S. literary landscape." "I can also be an example to counter the false narratives about Latinos, like saying we don't read or care little about education, and to show young people the immensely positive effect that developing a reading habit can have,” Medina told Noticias Telemundo. Medina added that she learned to love reading because her mom would take her to the library when they ran other errands.
Are family dinners still a thing?
That’s a wrap for the week. Thank you so much for reading. I really appreciate it. Have a great weekend unless you have something else to do. See you on Tuesday unless news breaks.