President-elect Donald Trump is urging Republicans to block a bill designed to protect journalists from government surveillance. The legislation, known as the PRESS Act, would be the first federal law to shield reporters from being forced to disclose their confidential sources.
While the bill has received bipartisan support, it faces opposition from some prominent Republicans, including Trump himself. In a post on Truth Social, Trump responded to a PBS News report on the PRESS Act, stating that Republicans “must kill this bill.”
Trump’s opposition comes after the bill passed the Republican-controlled House earlier this year. The PRESS Act would establish the first-ever federal shield law in the U.S., protecting journalists from being compelled to reveal their sources to federal investigators. It would also prevent the government from seizing reporters’ records.
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A case currently underway highlights the potential significance of the bill. Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge could face jail time for refusing to reveal her sources in a story about a Chinese-American scientist, Yanping Chen.
Herridge reported on an FBI investigation into Chen’s potential national security risks, which led Chen to sue several federal agencies, claiming the report damaged her reputation. Chen demanded to know Herridge’s source, prompting a subpoena that Herridge has refused to comply with.
Legal analysts told the Seattle Times that if the PRESS Act were law, the subpoena of Herridge would not have been allowed.
Supporters of the bill, like Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley, Calif., argue that press freedom requires protection from government interference.
“A critical aspect of the freedom of the press is the pursuit of truth without government entanglements or intimidation,” Kiley said. “Administrations from both political parties have unjustly targeted journalists and used compulsory process to obtain information from them about their sources. Most states have protected journalists from such interference, and it is past time for Congress to do so as well.”
Similar press protections already exist in 49 states, but the PRESS Act would offer these protections at the federal level.
Opponents of the bill, however, are concerned that it could shield “leakers” — individuals who release classified or sensitive information — instead of protecting journalists who report on the information.
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“During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the press routinely revealed details about America’s efforts to hunt down terrorists, details that helped our enemies cover their tracks and evade justice,” Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, Ark., said. “These leaks were reckless and harmful to our national security, yet the PRESS Act would immunize journalists and leakers alike from scrutiny and consequences for their actions.”
The likelihood that the Senate will take up the bill during the current session is low, with Democratic senators prioritizing the confirmation of judges and other high-interest legislation before political power shifts in Congress.
[Karah Rucker]
President-elect Donald Trump is urging Republicans to block a bill aimed at protecting journalists from government surveillance.
The legislation – called the press act – would be the first federal law to shield reporters from having to disclose their confidential sources.
It’s received bipartisan support – but some opposition from high-profile republicans –
Including its party leader.
Trump posted on truth social in response to A pbs REPORT OVER THE PRESS ACT –
THAT REPUBLICANS “MUST KILL THIS BILL!”
HIS OPPOSITION COMES AFTER THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
The PRESS Act would establish the nation’s first-ever federal shield law, which would protect journalists from being forced to reveal their sources to federal investigators. It also prevents the government from seizing reporters’ records, ensuring that journalists can do their jobs without the fear of government intrusion.
THERE’S AN ONGOING CASE RIGHT NOW THAT COULD SEE FOX NEWS REPORTER CATHERINE HERRIDGE JAILED OVER NOT REVEALING HER SOURCES TO A STORY ABOUT A CHINESE AMERICAN SCIENTIST “YANPING CHEN”.
SHE REPORTED ON AN FBI INVESTIGATION INTO CHEN’S CHINESE TIES AND WHETHER THEY POSED NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS.
CHEN SUED SEVERAL FEDERAL AGENCIES IN RESPONSE TO HERRIDGE’S REPORT CLAIMING IT RUINED HER REPUTATION AND DEMANDED TO KNOW HERRIDGE’S SOURCE – A SUBPOENA WAS ISSUED OVER IT – BUT HERRIDGE REFUSED.
SOME LEGAL ANALYSTS TOLD THE SEATTLE TIMES IF THE PRESS ACT WERE LAW –
THE SUBPOENAING OF HERRIDGE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ALLOWED.
HERE’S WHAT SOME LAWMAKERS FOR AND AGAINST THE LEGISLATION ARE SAYING.
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN KEVIN KILEY SAYS –
“A critical aspect of the freedom of the press is the pursuit of truth without government entanglements or intimidation. Administrations from both political parties have unjustly targeted journalists and used compulsory process to obtain information from them about their sources. Most states have protected journalists from such interference, and it is past time for Congress to do so as well.”
SIMILAR PRESS PROTECTIONS ALREADY EXIST IN 49 STATES –
BUT THIS LAW WOULD OFFER THE PROTECTIONS AT A FEDERAL LEVEL.
OPPONENTS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE BILL’S POTENTIAL TO PROTECT “LEAKERS” – SOMEONE WHO WOULD RELEASE CLASSIFIED OR SENSITIVE INFORMATION IN A REPORT.
REPUBLICAN SENATOR TOM COTTON SAYS –
During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the press routinely revealed details about America’s efforts to hunt down terrorists, details that helped our enemies cover their tracks and evade justice. These leaks were reckless and harmful to our national security, yet the PRESS Act would immunize journalists and leakers alike from scrutiny and consequences for their actions.”
THE LIKELIHOOD THE SENATE EVEN TAKES UP THE BILL THIS SESSION IS SAID TO BE UNLIKELY –
WITH DEMOCRATIC SENATORS SAYING THEIR PRIORITY IS “CONFIRMING JUDGES” AND PASSING OTHER HIGHER-INTEREST LEGISLATION BEFORE THE POLITICAL POWER SHIFTS IN CONGRESS.
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As reported on Wednesday, Nov. 20, just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, the United States’ four leading producers of frozen spuds are in hot water. A handful of federal lawsuits filed this week accuse the companies of forming a “potato cartel.”
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Court documents allege that the potato producers coordinated prices through a third-party data company.
The lawsuits claim Cavendish Farms, McCain Foods, JR Simplot, Lamb Weston and the National Potato Promotion Board conspired to fix and manipulate prices for frozen potatoes in the United States.
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Prosecutors say that the companies formed a cartel by having equal “access to each other’s data on pricing and other sensitive information, as well as a direct line of communication to each other.” They added that this allowed the companies to raise prices in a concerted arrangement, which violated U.S. antitrust laws.
The lawsuits assert that the price coordination was made possible through a market data aggregator, which in one of the lawsuits, is alleged to be the research firm Circana.
These companies reportedly control more than 95% of the frozen potato market and attorneys say they used their market dominance to increase prices by nearly 50% in a two-year span.
The lawsuits seek undisclosed monetary damages and a court order ending the alleged price fixing.
A McCain Foods spokesperson denied the allegations that the company broke antitrust laws and vowed to fight all lawsuits leveled against the company. The other companies involved in the lawsuits have yet to respond as of the publishing of this report.
[JACK AYLMER]
JUST AHEAD OF THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, THE NATION’S FOUR LEADING PRODUCERS OF FROZEN SPUDS ARE IN HOT WATER.
A HANDFUL OF FEDERAL LAWSUITS FILED THIS WEEK ACCUSE THEM OF FORMING A SO-CALLED ‘POTATO CARTEL’.
COURT DOCUMENTS ALLEGE THE POTATO PRODUCERS COORDINATED PRICES THROUGH A THIRD-PARTY DATA COMPANY.
THE LAWSUITS CLAIM CAVENDISH FARMS, MCCAIN FOODS, J-R SIMPLOT, LAMB WESTON AND THE NATIONAL POTATO PROMOTION BOARD CONSPIRED TO FIX AND MANIPULATE PRICES FOR FROZEN POTATOES IN THE U-S.
PROSECUTORS SAY THE COMPANIES FORMED A CARTEL BY HAVING EQUAL “ACCESS TO EACH OTHER’S DATA ON PRICING AND OTHER SENSITIVE INFORMATION, AS WELL AS A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION TO EACH OTHER.”
ADDING, THIS ALLOWED THE COMPANIES TO RAISE PRICES IN A CONCERTED ARRANGEMENT… VIOLATING U-S ANTITRUST LAWS.
THE LAWSUITS ASSERT THE PRICE COORDINATION WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A MARKET DATA AGGREGATOR.
THE RESEARCH FIRM CIRCANA IS NAMED IN ONE OF THE LAWSUITS.
THESE COMPANIES CONTROL MORE THAN 95 PERCENT OF THE FROZEN POTATO MARKET AND ATTORNEYS SAY THEY USED THEIR MARKET DOMINANCE TO INCREASE PRICES BY NEARLY 50 PERCENT IN A TWO-YEAR SPAN.
THE LAWSUITS SEEK UNDISCLOSED MONETARY DAMAGES AND A COURT ORDER ENDING THE ALLEGED PRICE FIXING.
A MCCAIN SPOKESPERSON DENIED ALLEGATIONS THE COMPANY BROKE ANTITRUST LAWS.
VOWING TO FIGHT ALL LAWSUITS LEVELED AGAINST THE COMPANY.
THE OTHER COMPANIES HAVE YET TO RESPOND THE LAWSUITS AS OF THE PUBLISHING OF THIS REPORT.
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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M JACK AYLMER.
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The death toll from a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos has risen to six after a second Australian teenager succumbed to her injuries in a Bangkok hospital Friday, Nov. 22, according to authorities. Holly Bowles, a 19-year-old woman, passed away days after being evacuated from Vang Vieng, Laos, where she and her friend Bianca Jones, also 19, fell critically ill following a night out.
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Jones died earlier in the week. Among the other victims were an American tourist, two Danish travelers and British lawyer Simone White. All are suspected to have consumed tainted alcohol laced with methanol.
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Methanol, a toxic substance sometimes found in counterfeit or poorly distilled alcohol, can cause severe health complications, including blindness, organ failure and death. Officials in Laos and other countries have issued health warnings, urging travelers to avoid unregulated alcohol and check bottles for signs of tampering.
The U.S. State Department and the governments of Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada have advised travelers to purchase drinks only from reputable sources and remain cautious about homemade or locally produced spirits. Methanol poisoning continues to be a persistent issue in parts of Southeast Asia, where safety regulations on alcohol production and distribution are often poorly enforced.
In Laos, authorities have detained the owner and manager of the hostel where some of the victims were staying, local police said. No charges have been filed, but investigations are ongoing. Families of the victims have called for accountability and answers as the incident draws international scrutiny.
The deaths drew attention to the broader risks associated with unregulated alcohol in tourist destinations. Travelers are being reminded to remain vigilant and prioritize safety while consuming beverages in regions where enforcement of alcohol production standards is lax.
Vang Vieng, a popular backpacking destination in Laos, has long been known for its vibrant nightlife. However, the recent poisonings have cast a shadow over its reputation, sparking concern among local businesses and the tourism industry.
[CRAIG NIGRELLI]
THE DEATH TOLL FROM A MASS POISONING OF FOREIGN TOURISTS IN LAOS HAS RISEN TO SIX, AFTER A SECOND AUSTRALIAN TEENAGER PASSED AWAY.
NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD HOLLY BOWLES DIED IN A BANGKOK HOSPITAL DAYS AFTER BEING EVACUATED FROM THE BACKPACKER TOWN OF VANG VIENG, WHERE SHE AND HER FRIEND, BIANCA JONES, FELL CRITICALLY ILL AFTER A NIGHT OUT. JONES, ALSO 19, DIED EARLIER IN THE WEEK. OTHER VICTIMS INCLUDE AN AMERICAN TOURIST, TWO DANISH TRAVELERS, AND A BRITISH LAWYER, ALL BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN POISONED BY METHANOL-TAINTED ALCOHOL.
THE INCIDENT HAS TRIGGERED INTERNATIONAL HEALTH ALERTS, AS METHANOL POISONING REMAINS A PERSISTENT DEADLY THREAT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. METHANOL, OFTEN USED IN COUNTERFEIT OR POORLY DISTILLED LIQUOR, CAN CAUSE SEVERE ORGAN DAMAGE, BRAIN INJURIES, OR DEATH. GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT, ARE WARNING TRAVELERS TO AVOID HOMEMADE OR UNREGULATED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND TO INSPECT BOTTLES FOR TAMPERING.
SAFETY REGULATIONS FOR ALCOHOL PRODUCTION IN SOME REGIONS REMAIN POORLY ENFORCED, POSING POTENTIAL RISKS FOR TOURISTS. OFFICIALS RECOMMEND BUYING DRINKS FROM REPUTABLE SOURCES AND CHECKING BOTTLES FOR SIGNS OF TAMPERING.
[ANCHOR]IN LAOS, AUTHORITIES DETAINED THE OWNER AND MANAGER OF THE HOSTEL WHERE SOME VICTIMS STAYED, THOUGH NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED YET. INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE AS FAMILIES SEEK ANSWERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
VANG VIENG, KNOWN FOR ITS VIBRANT BACKPACKER SCENE, IS NOW UNDER SCRUTINY AS TOURISTS QUESTION THEIR SAFETY IN ONE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA’S MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS. WITH THE LIVES OF YOUNG TRAVELERS LOST, INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE IS MOUNTING ON LAOTIAN OFFICIALS TO ACT SWIFTLY TO PREVENT FURTHER TRAGEDIES.
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A “controlled explosion” was carried out by London’s Metropolitan Police after a suspicious package was found outside the U.S. Embassy in Nine Elms on Friday, Nov. 22. Police established a cordon around the area as a precaution.
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The Metropolitan Police said officers were alerted to the package early Friday. Ponton Road, which runs past the embassy, was closed while the investigation was underway.
We’re aware of speculation online about an incident in the vicinity of the US Embassy in Nine Elms.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 22, 2024
Cordons are in place in the area as a precaution while officers investigate a suspect package.
We will provide a further update in due course.
In a statement, the police confirmed the controlled detonation: “We can confirm that the ‘loud bang’ reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers.” The investigation is ongoing, and the area remains cordoned off.
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The U.S. Embassy in London acknowledged the incident in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “Local authorities are investigating a suspicious package outside the U.S. Embassy in London. Met Police are present and have closed Ponton Road out of an abundance of caution. We will provide further updates when available.”
Local authorities are investigating a suspicious package outside the U.S. Embassy in London. Met Police are present and have closed Ponton Road out of an abundance of caution. We will provide further updates when available. Please monitor @metpoliceuk for updates.
— U.S. Embassy London (@USAinUK) November 22, 2024
The embassy, which opened in its Nine Elms location in 2018, is a 12-story building surrounded by a security moat and cost $1 billion to construct. It was funded entirely by proceeds from the sale of other U.S. government properties in London.
Inquiries into the origins of the package are ongoing.
LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE CARRIED OUT A CONTROLLED EXPLOSION OUTSIDE THE U.S. EMBASSY IN NINE ELMS, LONDON, FOLLOWING THE DISCOVERY OF A SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE ON FRIDAY MORNING. AUTHORITIES IMMEDIATELY CORDONED OFF THE AREA AS A PRECAUTION.
AUTHORITIES LATER CONFIRMED A LOUD BANG, HEARD IN THE AREA, WAS THE RESULT OF THE CONTROLLED EXPLOSION. THE CORDONS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN PLACE FOR NOW.
THE U.S. EMBASSY ADDRESSED THE SITUATION, SAYING ON X, FORMERLY TWITTER, “LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING A SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE OUTSIDE THE U.S. EMBASSY IN LONDON. [METROPOLITAN] POLICE ARE PRESENT AND HAVE CLOSED PONTON ROAD OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION.
THE U.S. EMBASSY, WHICH RELOCATED TO ITS CURRENT LOCATION IN 2018, IS A STATE-OF-THE-ART, 12-STORY BUILDING SURROUNDED BY A PROTECTIVE MOAT. THE $1 BILLION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WAS FULLY FUNDED THROUGH THE SALE OF OTHER U.S. GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES IN LONDON. INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE INCIDENT ARE ONGOING.
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For more than 40 years scientists have known about a mysterious chemical in many Americans’ drinking water, but now they’ve finally found out what it is. The authors of a new study say they believe the chemical is a byproduct of chloramine, which some water plants use to treat water and make it safe to drink.
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The study says about a third of Americans, or 113 million people, drink tap water that exposes them to this newly identified chemical. While scientists don’t yet know if it is dangerous, some are worried it could be toxic because of its similarities to other chemicals of concern.
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In the early 20th century, many public water systems started using low levels of chlorine to make drinking water safe. Chlorine is safe to consume in low levels, but it was later discovered when it came into contact with other elements that naturally occur in water, it created toxic byproducts.
Those byproducts could be linked to higher risks certain cancers, miscarriages in pregnant women and low birth weights, so some systems switched to chloramine.
It could be years before it’s confirmed whether chloramine’s byproducts are safe or not. Some research shows that active carbon filters used in home water purification devices or refrigerators can remove these byproducts. Whether or not this is enough prevention remains to be seen.
[Craig]
FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS – SCIENTISTS HAVE KNOWN ABOUT A MYSTERIOUS CHEMICAL IN MANY AMERICANS’ DRINKING WATER… BUT NOW – THEY’RE FINALLY FINDING OUT WHAT IT IS.
THE AUTHORS OF A NEW STUDY SAY THEY BELIEVE THE CHEMICAL IS A BYPRODUCT OF CHLORAMINE – WHICH SOME WATER PLANTS USE TO TREAT WATER AND MAKE IT SAFE TO DRINK.
THE STUDY SAYS ABOUT A THIRD OF AMERICANS – OR 113 MILLION PEOPLE – DRINK TAP WATER THAT EXPOSES THEM TO THIS NEWLY-IDENTIFIED CHEMICAL.
WHILE SCIENTISTS DO NOT YET KNOW IF IT **IS** DANGEROUS – SOME ARE WORRIED IT COULD BE TOXIC… BECAUSE OF ITS SIMILARITIES TO OTHER CHEMICALS OF CONCERN.
IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, MANY PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS STARTED USING LOW LEVELS OF CHLORINE TO MAKE DRINKING WATER SAFE.
CHLORINE **IS** SAFE TO CONSUME IN LOW LEVELS… BUT IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED WHEN IT CAME INTO CONTACT WITH OTHER ELEMENTS THAT NATURALLY OCCUR IN WATER, IT CREATED TOXIC BYPRODUCTS THAT COULD BE LINKED TO HIGHER RISKS CERTAIN CANCERS, MISCARRIAGES IN PREGNANT WOMEN, AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHTS – SO SOME SYSTEMS SWITCHED TO CHLORAMINE.
IT COULD BE YEARS BEFORE WE KNOW FOR SURE IF ITS BYPRODUCTS ARE SAFE OR NOT. SOME RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ACTIVE CARBON FILTERS USED IN HOME WATER PURIFICATION DEVICES OR REFRIGERATORS CAN REMOVE THESE BYPRODUCTS. WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS ENOUGH PREVENTION, REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
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Ford Motor Company is ending the year with bad news for European workers. The company has just announced it plans to cut about 4,000 jobs.
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Nearly 3,000 of those layoffs will happen in Germany, with another 800 in Great Britain. This amounts to about 14% of the company’s European workforce.
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Ford said its biggest struggles are with passenger vehicles, as it deals with financial losses attributed to a shift and emphasis on electric vehicles. The company called that “highly disruptive.”
Ford’s top financial official said a combination of a lack of demand and carbon dioxide emissions regulations are big hurdles.
CFO John Lawler recently wrote a letter to the German government. In the letter, he said the country lacks a clear policy on how to advance e-mobility such as public investment in charging stations, incentives to get consumers to buy an EV and greater flexibility in meeting CO2 compliance targets.
The lower than expected demand will affect the production of the new Ford Explorer and the new Ford Capri. The cutbacks will lead to a reduction in the workforce in Germany in early 2025.
This is the second major labor reduction, announced by Ford, in as many years. Last year, the automaker laid off 3,800 workers in Europe.
Tags: Electric Vehicle Batteries, Electric vehicles, Electricity, Ford, Germany, Great Britain, Layoffs
FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS SOME BAD NEWS FOR WORKERS IN EUROPE TO END THE YEAR. IT PLANS TO CUT 4000 JOBS.
ABOUT 3000 OF THE LAYOFFS WILL HAPPEN IN GERMANY AND ANOTHER 800 IN GREAT BRITAIN, AMOUNTING TO ABOUT 14% OF ITS EUROPEAN WORKFORCE.
FORD SAYS ITS BIGGEST STRUGGLES ARE WITH PASSENGER VEHICLES AS IT DEALS WITH FINANCIAL LOSSES ATTRIBUTED TO A SHIFT AND EMPHASIS ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE COMPANY CALLED THAT **HIGHLY DISRUPTIVE**.
THE TOP FORD FINANCIAL OFFICIAL SAYS A COMBINATION OF A LACK OF DEMAND AND CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS REGULATIONS ARE BIG HURDLES.
FORD CFO JOHN LAWLER, RECENTLY WROTE A LETTER TO THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT SAYING “ WHAT WE LACK IN EUROPE AND GERMANY IS AN UNMISTAKEABLE CLEAR POLICY AGENDA TO ADVANCE E-MOBILITY, SUCH AS PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, INCENTIVES TO HELP CONSUMERS MAKE THE SHIFT TO ELECTRIFIED VEHICLES, IMPROVING COST COMPETITIVENESS FOR MANUFACTURERS AND GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN MEETING CO2 COMPLIANCE TARGETS.”
THE LOWER THAN EXPECTED DEMAND WILL AFFECT PRODUCTION OF SPECIFIC MODELS : THE NEW FORD EXPLORER AND THE NEW FORD CAPRI, LEADING TO A REDUCTION OF THE WORKFORCE IN GERMANY IN EARLY 2025.
THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR LABOR REDUCTION, ANNOUNCED BY FORD, IN AS MANY YEARS. LAST YEAR THE AUTOMAKER LAID OFF 3800 WORKERS.
OTHER CAR COMPANIES, SUCH AS G-M, NISSAN AND STALLANTIS, FORMERLY CHRYSLER, HAVE ALSO ANNOUNCED PLANS TO CUT JOBS IN EUROPE. IN ADDITION, VOLKSWAGEN IS EXPECTED TO CLOSE PLANTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
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[craig nigrelli]
THE N-F-L has issued A WARNING FOR PLAYERS AFTER THIEVES BURGLARIZED THE HOMES OF TWO OF ITS BIGGEST STARS IN THE LEAGUE.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PLAYERS PATRICK MAHOMES AND TRAVIS KELCE HAD THEIR HOMES BROKEN INTO WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER LAST MONTH in THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA.
NOW, THE N-F-L PUT OUT A SECURITY ALERT Thursday, SAYING THE CRIMINALS TARGET PLAYERS’ HOMES ON DAYS THE ATHLETES HAVE GAMES.
PLAYERS WERE TOLD TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND IMPLEMENT HOME SECURITY MEASURES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF BEING TARGETED.
N-F-L OFFICIALS ALSO RECOMMENDED PLAYERS AVOID UPDATING SOCIAL MEDIA WITH CHECK-INS OR DAILY ACTIVITIES UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY — and refrain from POSTING EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON their accounts.
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Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race is over as Democratic incumbent Bob Casey conceded to Republican opponent Dave McCormick Thursday, Nov. 21. The Associated Press called the race in favor of McCormick two days after the election.
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“This race was one of the closest in our commonwealth’s history,” Casey said in a statement. “I am grateful to the thousands of people who worked to make sure every eligible vote cast could be counted.”
During my time in office, I have been guided by an inscription on the Finance Building in Harrisburg: “All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor.”
— Bob Casey Jr. (@Bob_Casey) November 21, 2024
Thank you for your trust in me for all these years, Pennsylvania. It has been the honor of my lifetime. pic.twitter.com/RSXEFwdge8
It was one of the closest races in the state’s history — so close, it triggered an automatic recount under state law. Despite Casey conceding, the recount is still going on and results are expected Wednesday, Nov. 27.
This is Pennsylvania’s fourth recount since 2004. None of the previous ones changed the outcome.
In a statement, McCormick said Casey “dedicated his career to bettering our commonwealth.”
“I am so honored to represent every single citizen in Pennsylvania in the United States Senate and will fight for you every day,” McCormick said.
With McCormick’s victory, Republicans will control the U.S. Senate by a 53-47 margin, picking up four seats in the 2024 election.
[craig nigrelli]
PENNSYLVANIA’S u-s SENATE RACE IS OVER.
DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT BOB CASEY HAS NOW CONCEDED TO REPUBLICAN OPPONENT DAVE MCCORMICK.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CALLED THE RACE IN FAVOR OF MCCORMICK TWO DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION.
IT WAS ONE OF THE CLOSEST RACES IN THE STATE’S HISTORY — SO CLOSE, IT TRIGGERED AN AUTOMATIC RECOUNT UNDER STATE LAW.
DESPITE CASEY CONCEDING, THE RECOUNT IS STILL GOING ON. RESULTS ARE EXPECTED WEDNESDAY.
THIS IS PENNSYLVANIA’S FOURTH RECOUNT SINCE 2004.
NONE OF THE PREVIOUS ONES CHANGED THE OUTCOME.
WITH MCCORMICK’S VICTORY, REPUBLICANS WILL CONTROL THE U-S SENATE BY A 53-TO-47 MARGIN, PICKING UP FOUR SEATS IN THE 2024 ELECTION.
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Trump picks Bondi after Gaetz withdrawal; Hegseth responds to police report
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President-elect Donald Trump wasted no time replacing his embattled attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz with Pam Bondi. We’ve got the details of her background. And a volcano in Iceland, once dormant for 800 years, has erupted again — for the seventh time this year. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
Trump picks Bondi after Gaetz withdrawal; Hegseth responds to police report
President-elect Donald Trump has selected former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his new pick to be U.S. Attorney General. The announcement came just hours after former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration on Thursday, Nov. 21.
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Bondi served as Florida’s first female attorney general from 2011 to 2019. A year later, she was one of the lawyers who defended Trump during his first impeachment trial where he was ultimately acquitted by the Senate. She also served on Trump’s Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first term.
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Bondi and Trump’s connection came under scrutiny in 2013 when she did not join a lawsuit against Trump in connection to fraud allegations toward Trump University. At the time, Trump’s foundation made a $25,000 donation to a campaign group backing Bondi. Both denied any impropriety.
The 59-year-old Bondi currently leads the legal arm of the conservative think tank America First Policy Institute, which worked with the Trump campaign to help shape policy for his upcoming administration. If confirmed by the Senate, she would oversee the Department of Justice.
In announcing his pick on his platform Truth Social, Trump said, “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting crime, and making America safe again.”
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) November 21, 2024
Gaetz, who resigned from Congress shortly after Trump nominated him, released a statement earlier in the day saying his confirmation was “unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance transition.” He also called Trump’s nomination of Bondi a “stellar selection.”
The former Florida congressman had been the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation regarding allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, including accusations he had sex with a 17-year-old girl. He has denied any wrongdoing and the panel did not agree on Wednesday, Nov. 20, on whether to release its report.
Now attention is turning to Trump’s pick for defense secretary, war veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth. He met with Senators on Thursday as a newly released police report detailed allegations about an alleged sexual assault in 2017.
The report was released to media outlets in response to public records requests. No charges were filed in the case and Hegseth has said the encounter was consensual.
Hegseth spoke to reporters about the allegations Thursday.
“As far as the media is concerned, I’ll put it very simple: the matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared and that’s where I’m going to leave it,” he said.
Hegseth’s attorney said the allegations are false and Hegseth settled in 2020 only out of fear that he would lose his job at Fox News if the woman’s accusations became public.
Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey concedes to Republican rival Dave McCormick
Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race is over. Democratic incumbent Bob Casey has conceded to Republican opponent Dave McCormick.
The Associated Press called the race in favor of McCormick two days after the election.
It was one of the closest races in the state’s history — so close, it triggered an automatic recount under state law. Despite Casey conceding, the recount is still going on and results are expected Wednesday, Nov. 27.
Senator Bob Casey dedicated his career to bettering our commonwealth. Dina and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Casey, Terese, and their family for their decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice.
— Dave McCormick (@DaveMcCormickPA) November 21, 2024
I am so honored to represent every single citizen in… https://t.co/aUxlLZJMua
This is Pennsylvania’s fourth recount since 2004. None of the previous ones changed the outcome.
With McCormick’s victory, Republicans will control the U.S. Senate by a 53-47 margin, picking up four seats in the 2024 election.
Alabama carries out nation’s 3rd nitrogen gas execution
An Alabama prisoner became the third person in not just the state, but the U.S. to be executed with nitrogen gas Thursday night. Carey Grayson, 50, was one of four men convicted of murdering a female hitchhiker in 1994 when he was a teenager.
The U.S. Supreme Court denied Grayson’s final petition to halt the execution Thursday afternoon.
In a controversial move, Alabama began using nitrogen gas this year to carry out some executions. It entails the inmate inhaling pure nitrogen through a mask until he suffocates. Critics say it is inhumane and painful, but the state maintains the method is constitutional.
NFL issues security alert after homes of Mahomes, Kelce burglarized
The NFL has issued a warning for players after thieves burglarized the homes of two of its biggest stars in the league. Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce had their homes broken into within days of each other last month in the Kansas City metro area.
South American crime ring suspected in Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes robberies https://t.co/21De6ZTGMj pic.twitter.com/O3KeYiyihX
— New York Post (@nypost) November 20, 2024
The NFL put out a security alert Thursday saying the criminals target players’ homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted.
NFL officials also recommended players avoid updating social media with check-ins or daily activities until the end of the day and refrain from posting expensive items on their accounts.
Volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula erupts for 7th time this year
In Iceland, a volcano has erupted for the seventh time just this year. This latest eruption happened late Wednesday night in Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula.
Tourists had to be evacuated from the Blue Lagoon, Iceland’s most famous tourist attraction. Iceland’s official tourism site said this most recent event, which created a nearly two-mile fissure, was significantly smaller than the last eruption in August which opened a 2.5-mile fissure.
Experts said the volcano had been dormant for 800 years before it became active again in 2021. Since then, a total of 10 eruptions have happened, including this latest one.
Ohtani, Judge named MLB’s most valuable players
Baseball superstars Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge both had award-winning seasons, and now, both have been named MVPs of their respective leagues.
For the second straight year, both MVPs have won unanimously!
— MLB (@MLB) November 22, 2024
2023 and 2024 are the only two times that both MVPs were unanimous selections. pic.twitter.com/tkmu3IHmem
In a unanimous decision on Thursday, the Dodgers’ Ohtani, who became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season, claimed his third MVP title. It’s his first in the National League. He joins Hall of Famer Frank Thomas as the only two players to get MVP honors in both leagues.
Judge received his second American League MVP in the last three years.
The two culminated their MVP seasons by meeting in last month’s World Series, where Ohtani and the Dodgers walked away with the championship.
Tags: Alabama, baseball, Death row executions, Donald Trump, Executions, Florida, Football, Fox News, House of Representatives, Iceland, Impeachment, Investigation, J.D. Vance, JD Vance, Kansas City Chiefs, Matt Gaetz, MLB, Murder, NFL, Opioid Crisis, Pennsylvania, Prison, Republicans, Sexual Assault, Social Media, Sports, Supreme Court, Tourism, Travis Kelce, trial, Truth Social, U.S. Congress, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Senate
THIS MORNING – MATT GAETZ IS OUT – AND PAM BONDI IS IN.
PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP SELECTING THE FORMER FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL AS HIS NEW PICK TO BE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL THURSDAY JUST HOURS AFTER GAETZ WITHDREW HIS NAME FROM CONSIDERATION.
BONDI SERVED AS FLORIDA’S FIRST FEMALE ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM 2011 TO 2019 – A YEAR LATER SHE SERVED AS ONE OF THE LAWYERS WHO DEFENDED TRUMP DURING HIS FIRST IMPEACHMENT TRIAL WHERE HE WAS ULTIMATELY ACQUITTED BY THE SENATE.
SHE ALSO SERVED ON TRUMP’S OPIOID AND DRUG ABUSE COMMISSION DURING HIS FIRST TERM.
BONDI AND TRUMP’S CONNECTION CAME UNDER SCRUTINY IN 20-13 WHEN SHE DID NOT JOIN A LAWSUIT AGAINST TRUMP IN CONNECTION TO FRAUD ALLEGATIONS TOWARD TRUMP UNIVERSITY. AT THE TIME, TRUMP’S FOUNDATION MADE A 25-THOUSAND DOLLAR DONATION TO A CAMPAIGN GROUP BACKING BONDI. BOTH DENIED ANY IMPROPRIETY.
THE 59-YEAR-OLD CURRENTLY LEADS THE LEGAL ARM OF THE CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK AMERICA FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE – WHICH WORKED WITH TRUMP CAMPAIGN TO HELP SHAPE POLICY FOR HIS UPCOMING ADMINISTRATION.
IF CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE, SHE WOULD OVERSEE THE DEPARTMENT OF THE JUSTICE.
IN ANNOUNCING HIS PICK ON HIS SOCIAL SITE TRUTH SOCIAL, TRUMP SAID, QUOTE “FOR TOO LONG, THE PARTISAN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS BEEN WEAPONIZED AGAINST ME AND OTHER REPUBLICANS – NOT ANYMORE. PAM WILL REFOCUS THE DOJ TO ITS INTENDED PURPOSE OF FIGHTING CRIME, AND MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.”
GAETZ – WHO RESIGNED FROM CONGRESS SHORTLY AFTER TRUMP NOMINATED HIM – RELEASED A STATEMENT EARLIER IN THE DAY SAYING HIS CONFIRMATION WAS QUOTE “UNFAIRLY BECOMING A DISTRACTION TO THE CRITICAL WORK OF THE TRUMP/VANCE TRANSITION.”
THE FORMER FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION REGARDING ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND ILLICIT DRUG USE – INCLUDING ACCUSATIONS HE HAD SEX WITH A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL. HE HAS DENIED ANY WRONGDOING AND THE PANEL CAME TO NO AGREEMENT ON WEDNESDAY TO RELEASE ITS REPORT. GAETZ CALLED TRUMP’S NOMINATION OF BONDI A “STELLAR SELECTION.”
NOW ATTENTION IS TURNING TO TRUMP’S PICK FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY – FORMER FOX NEWS HOST AND WAR VETERAN PETE HEGSETH. HE MET WITH SENATORS ON THURSDAY AS A NEWLY RELEASED POLICE REPORT DETAILED ALLEGATIONS ABOUT AN ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT IN 20-17.
THE REPORT WAS RELEASED TO MEDIA OUTLETS IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS.
NO CHARGES WERE FILED IN THE CASE AND HEGSETH HAS SAID THE ENCOUNTER WAS CONSENSUAL.
HEGSETH SPOKE TO REPORTERS ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS THURSDAY.
Pete Hegseth | Nominated for Defense Secretary
“As far as the media is concerned, I’ll put it very simple. The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared. And that’s where I’m going to leave it. Thank you.”
HEGSETH’S ATTORNEY SAYS THE ALLEGATIONS ARE FALSE AND HEGSETH SETTLED IN 20-20 ONLY OUT OF FEAR THAT HE WOULD LOSE HIS JOB AT FOX NEWS IF THE WOMAN’S ACCUSATIONS BECAME PUBLIC.
PENNSYLVANIA’S U-S SENATE RACE IS OVER.
DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT BOB CASEY HAS NOW CONCEDED TO REPUBLICAN OPPONENT DAVE MCCORMICK.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CALLED THE RACE IN FAVOR OF MCCORMICK TWO DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION.
IT WAS ONE OF THE CLOSEST RACES IN THE STATE’S HISTORY — SO CLOSE, IT TRIGGERED AN AUTOMATIC RECOUNT UNDER STATE LAW.
DESPITE CASEY CONCEDING, THE RECOUNT IS STILL GOING ON. RESULTS ARE EXPECTED WEDNESDAY.
THIS IS PENNSYLVANIA’S FOURTH RECOUNT SINCE 2004.
NONE OF THE PREVIOUS ONES CHANGED THE OUTCOME.
WITH MCCORMICK’S VICTORY, REPUBLICANS WILL CONTROL THE U-S SENATE BY A 53-TO-47 MARGIN, PICKING UP FOUR SEATS IN THE 2024 ELECTION.
AN ALABAMA PRISONER BECAME THE THIRD PERSON IN NOT JUST THE STATE, BUT THE U-S TO BE EXECUTED WITH NITROGEN GAS LAST NIGHT.
50-YEAR-OLD CAREY GRAYSON WAS ONE OF FOUR MEN CONVICTED OF MURDERING A FEMALE HITCHHIKER IN 19-94, WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGER.
THE U-S SUPREME COURT DENIED GRAYSON’S FINAL PETITION TO HALT THE EXECUTION YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
IN A CONTROVERSIAL MOVE — ALABAMA BEGAN USING NITROGEN GAS THIS YEAR TO CARRY OUT SOME EXECUTIONS.
IT ENTAILS THE INMATE, INHALING PURE NITROGEN THROUGH A MASK UNTIL HE SUFFOCATES. CRITICS SAY IT IS INHUMANE AND PAINFUL.
THE STATE MAINTAINS THE METHOD IS CONSTITUTIONAL.
THE N-F-L HAS ISSUED A WARNING FOR PLAYERS AFTER THIEVES BURGLARIZED THE HOMES OF TWO OF ITS BIGGEST STARS IN THE LEAGUE.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PLAYERS PATRICK MAHOMES AND TRAVIS KELCE HAD THEIR HOMES BROKEN INTO WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER LAST MONTH IN THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA.
NOW, THE N-F-L PUT OUT A SECURITY ALERT THURSDAY, SAYING THE CRIMINALS TARGET PLAYERS’ HOMES ON DAYS THE ATHLETES HAVE GAMES.
PLAYERS WERE TOLD TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND IMPLEMENT HOME SECURITY MEASURES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF BEING TARGETED.
N-F-L OFFICIALS ALSO RECOMMENDED PLAYERS AVOID UPDATING SOCIAL MEDIA WITH CHECK-INS OR DAILY ACTIVITIES UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY — AND REFRAIN FROM POSTING EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON THEIR ACCOUNTS.
IN ICELAND — A VOLCANO HAS ERUPTED FOR THE SEVENTH TIME JUST THIS YEAR.
THIS LATEST ERUPTION HAPPENED LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN ICELAND’S REYKJANES PENINSULA.
TOURISTS HAD TO BE EVACUATED FROM THE BLUE LAGOON — ICELAND’S MOST FAMOUS TOURIST ATTRACTION.
ICELAND’S OFFICIAL TOURISM SITE SAID THIS MOST RECENT EVENT — WHICH CREATED A NEARLY TWO-MILE FISSURE — WAS SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER THAN THE LAST ERUPTION IN AUGUST WHICH OPENED A TWO-AND-A-HALF MILE FISSURE.
EXPERTS SAY THE VOLCANO HAD BEEN DORMANT FOR 800 YEARS BEFORE IT BECAME ACTIVE AGAIN IN 20-21.
SINCE THEN, 10 ERUPTIONS HAVE HAPPENED — SEVEN OF THEM THIS YEAR ALONE.
BASEBALL SUPERSTARS SHOHEI OHTANI AND AARON JUDGE HAD AWARD-WINNING SEASONS.
BOTH BEING NAMED MVPS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE LEAGUES ON THURSDAY.
THE DODGERS’ OHTANI – WHO BECAME THE FIRST PLAYER IN MLB HISTORY TO HIT 50 HOME RUNS AND STEAL 50 BASES IN ON SEASON — CLAIMED HIS THIRD MVP – AND HIS FIRST IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. HE JOINED HALL OF FAMER FRANK THOMAS AS THE ONLY TWO PLAYERS TO GET MVP HONORS IN BOTH LEAGUES.
AND JUDGE RECEIVED HIS SECOND AMERICAN LEAGUE MVP IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
THE TWO CULMINATED THEIR MVP SEASONS BY MEETING IN LAST MONTH’S WORLD SERIES – WHERE OHTANI AND THE DODGERS WALKED AWAY WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
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Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., introduced new legislation Wednesday, Nov. 20, aimed at strengthening pay protections for minor league baseball players. The Fair Ball Act would pair back an exemption in the Save America’s Pastime Act (SAPA) that allows Major League Baseball to avoid wage and overtime laws.
The proposed act would allow SAPA’s wage exemption to stay in place as long as minor league players are collectively bargained. In the absence of a union agreement, players would be entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay.
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“While I commend MLB for voluntarily recognizing the unionization of Minor League Baseball Players in 2022, it is time to rollback SAPA in deference to the gains made by that historic unionization,” Durbin said in a statement.
The battle over minor league pay
For years, minor league players struggled under the league’s antitrust exemption, which allowed MLB to pay them less than minimum wage. In 2014, former players filed a class action lawsuit against the MLB, claiming the league violated the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and state minimum wage and overtime laws. Those players said they worked 50 to 60 hours per week and weren’t paid for work done during camps outside of the regular season. Lower-level minor leaguers were making as little as $5,000 a year.
Around this time, the MLB lobbied for the Save America’s Pastime Act to protect minor league pay practices from legal action. Lawmakers introduced the bill in 2016 as the lawsuit was making its way through the courts. It didn’t get much support at first but eventually made it into 2018’s omnibus spending package.
“It was snuck in on page 1,967 of the bill in the dark of night,” said Garrett Broshuis, a former minor leaguer and lawyer behind the lawsuit. “Most of the congressmen and congresswomen didn’t know it was in there when they were voting for it.”
The MLB eventually settled the lawsuit in 2022. The league agreed to pay minor league players $185 million in restitution. As a result, roughly 24,000 minor leaguers who played from 2009 to 2022 were eligible for payments that averaged roughly $5,000.
That same year, minor league players made history by joining the MLB Players Association, getting union representation for the first time. The MLBPA then agreed to a five-year labor contract that significantly increased salaries and confirmed players would be paid for off-season work.
Under the terms of the deal, minimum salaries for players in rookie complex leagues jumped from $4,800 to $19,800. Meanwhile, Triple-A players’ minimum salaries doubled from $17,500 to $35,800.
Despite bargaining, the exemption still exists
While the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) gives minor leaguers a better wage, the law on the books, the Save America’s Pastime Act, said the MLB doesn’t have to abide by the nation’s minimum wage and overtime laws.
The Fair Ball Act, which is co-sponsored by Sens. Richard Blumenthal-D-Conn., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., aims to stop the MLB from using the previous legislation to strong-arm the union and players when they enter negotiations after the 2027 season.
“It would do this by ensuring MLB has a continued interest in maintaining a CBA—which would trigger the exemption from federal wage and hour laws for Minor League players in deference to the CBA—and would prevent MLB from using SAPA’s broad exemption as leverage during the next round of CBA negotiations,” Durbin said in a statement about the legislation.
Sen. Durbin’s passion for baseball stretches decades
The MLBPA said its more than 6,000 members expressed their “full support for the Fair Ball Act.”
“For decades, the living and working conditions faced by Minor League ballplayers were indefensible,” MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark wrote in a letter to Durbin. “Whether in the form of poverty-level wages, substandard living conditions, or inadequate food and nutrition (to name just a few), Minor Leaguers were treated as secondclass citizens instead of the world-class athletes that they are.”
The MLB has not commented on the bill. With just weeks left in the congressional session and a major spending bill to pass before Dec. 20, it’s unlikely to get much traction before the next Congress.
Tags: antitrust, baseball, Dick Durbin, Fair Ball Act, Minimum wage, Minor league, MLB, MLBPA, Richard Blumenthal, Save America’s Pastime Act, Spending, Tony Clark, U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, Unions, Wages
Simone Del Rosario: Major League Baseball is holding onto something more valuable than Babe Ruth’s jersey or Shohei Ohtani’s 50/50 ball … it’s the license to operate outside the law, and Sen. Dick Durbin wants to take a piece of it away.
The Fair Ball Act would strengthen protections for minor league baseball players, who for years struggled under the MLB’s antitrust exemption, which allowed the league to pay them less than minimum wage. The Fair Ball Act attempts to roll back a part of the 2018 Save America’s Pastime Act, which codified MLB teams’ exemption from minimum wage and overtime laws.
Let’s go through a little recent history to see how we got here. Back in 2014, former players formed a class action and sued the league, claiming it violated the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage laws. Players claimed to work 50 to 60 hours every week during the season and weren’t even paid for work done during camps outside of the regular season. To be clear, some minor leaguers were getting paid as little as $5,000 a year.
Enter the Save America’s Pastime Act, which lawmakers introduced in 2016. The MLB lobbied hard for this one to protect its minor league pay practices from this class-action lawsuit. At the time, the bill didn’t get much traction but lawmakers eventually slid it into a 2018 omnibus spending package.
Former minor league player and lawyer behind the antitrust suit, Garrett Broshuis, told ESPN:
“It was snuck in on page 1,967 of the bill in the dark of night. Most of the congressmen and congresswomen didn’t know it was in there when they were voting for it.”
Fast forward to 2022, the MLB settled the lawsuit and agreed to pay minor leaguers $185 million in back pay. As a result, about 24,000 players from the minors between 2009 and 2022 were eligible for payments averaging around $5,000.
That same year, minor leaguers made history by joining the MLB Players Association, getting union representation for the first time. The MLBPA then agreed to a five-year labor contract that significantly increased salaries and confirmed players would be paid for off-season work.
So here’s where we are today. Minor leaguers are getting paid a lot better, they have more perks and protections than ever before, and a union backing them up. So what are Sen. Dick Durbin and his colleagues trying to change?
I’ll tell you, but first, let me give you a taste of Durbin’s passion and advocacy for America’s favorite pastime. This is from 1989.
Sen. Durbin: Baseball fans have been forced to endure indignities by those who just can’t leave well enough alone. Designated hitters, Plastic Grass, Uniforms that look like Pajamas, Chicken Clowns dancing on the baselines and the most heinous sacrilege, Lights in Wrigley Field.
Simone Del Rosario: I’ve been to many night games at Wrigley, it’s not all that bad. But you get the gist. Today, he’s still a fierce advocate of the game, and while the current Collective Bargaining Agreement – or CBA – gives minor leaguers a better wage, the law on the books, the Save America’s Pastime Act, says the MLB doesn’t have to pay them a fair wage.
Durbin says, “While I commend MLB for voluntarily recognizing the unionization of Minor League Baseball Players in 2022, it is time to rollback SAPA in deference to the gains made by that historic unionization.”
Durbin’s proposed Act says that as long as the MLB maintains a union-negotiated agreement with minor leaguers, they can keep their fair wage exemption. But if they don’t have a CBA, all federal wage and hour laws apply. He says it “would prevent MLB from using SAPA’s broad exemption as leverage during the next round of CBA negotiations.”
The players union says its more than 6,000 members are in full support of the Fair Ball Act. In a letter to Durbin, MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark said:
“For decades, the living and working conditions faced by Minor League ballplayers were indefensible. Whether in the form of poverty-level wages, substandard living conditions, or inadequate food and nutrition (to name just a few), Minor Leaguers were treated as secondclass citizens instead of the world-class athletes that they are. This indignity was enabled by an illogical and anachronistic antitrust exemption and, more recently, by the perversely named ‘Save America’s Pastime Act,’ a 2018 Congressional mandate enacted for the league and team owners that stripped Minor Leaguers of minimum wage protections enjoyed by millions of other Americans.”
The MLB, meanwhile, has not commented on the bill. Congress is only scheduled to be in session for about three more weeks through the rest of the year and they have a major spending bill to address before December 20th. The Fair Ball Act may have to wait until the next session of Congress for a look if it’s not shoehorned into other legislation like the Act it aims to blunt.
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