3 Things To Know Today

Vintage movie countdown, illustration

Photo: Science Photo Library RF

1 Actors Strike – Hollywood Actors Join Writers In Historic Strike Against Studios

Hollywood studios have learned the hard way not to mess with “The Nanny.” When actors’ union SAG-AFTRA announced yesterday that they were joining film and TV writers of the WGA on strike against the AMPTP, they unleashed a secret weapon in the form of SAG president Fran Drescher. “The AMPTP’s responses to the union’s most important proposals have been insulting and disrespectful of our massive contributions to this industry,” said union president Fran Drescher. “The companies have refused to meaningfully engage on some topics and on others completely stonewalled us. Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal. “The studios and streamers have implemented massive unilateral changes in our industry’s business model, while at the same time insisting on keeping our contracts frozen in amber,” added executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. The organization repping the studios (the AMPTP) responded with an ominous “SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods.” This is the first time SAG-AFTRA has gone on strike since 1980, and the first time the writers’ and actors’ unions have picketed together since 1960. That effort, led in part by Ronald Reagan, achieved historic results by paving the way for the residual payment system in Hollywood for the first time.

2 Secret Service Ends Investigation Into Cocaine Found At White House

The Secret Service announced yesterday that they’ve closed their investigation into the cocaine found in the West Wing of the White House. In a statement, the agency said “There was no surveillance video footage found that provided investigative leads or any other means for investigators to identify” the cocaine. The statement also said that the packaging the drug was in was “subjected to advanced fingerprint and DNA analysis,” but those provided no clues to the owner. Members of the House Oversight Committee told reporters yesterday that the Secret Service had narrowed the list of suspects down to 500 people made up of both staffers and visitors on a tour. Members of the committee said they were told that there are 182 lockers on the wall, and Rep. Lauren Boebert said the cocaine was found in locker 50. She also said that the key to that locker is missing. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters yesterday that “Anything revolving around ‘Biden Inc’ gets treated different than any other American and that’s got to stop.”

3 Defense Bill Passage Threatened By GOP Cuts

The House of Representatives adopted an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act yesterday that would ban covering travel expenses for service members seeking abortions. Other amendments, including prohibiting sending cluster munitions to Ukraine and cutting Ukraine funding by $300 million were easily defeated. With the amendment attached, the Act will come up for a vote in the House as early as today, with the Republicans only able to lose four votes from their own and still pass it as written. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Republicans are jeopardizing passage of the bill, saying “With the defense bill, it should be about our national security.” Only two Republicans voted against including Rep. Ronny Jackson’s abortion amendment, but some Republican votes could be lost after the Ukraine amendments failed. Republican Rep. Nick LaLota tweeted yesterday that the amendments should be debated outside the passage of the NDAA, saying, “We cannot play games with our soldiers’ lives, pay, or military readiness.”


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