3/18/2024: Rideshare Crackdown
PLUS: Pizza Beer; Speaking For The Pope; and Interview Gone Wrong
Today is Monday, March 18, 2024.
It is the 78th day of the year.
288 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Prosecutors outline their sentencing request for SAM BANKMAN-FRIED and major cities grapple with illegal immigration. Details in HIT LIST.
ALEC BALDWIN wants the “Rust” case dismissed and JON TAFFER wants his doppelganger to disappear. More in SHOWBIZ.
More drama from the DON LEMON-ELON MUSK X saga. Details in CASTING CALL.
YE’s non-performance performance sparks backlash and KIM wants to find KATE MIDDLETON. More in KARDASH.
Interview gone wrong in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
The world’s largest airplane would have a very niche application if the designs ever make it to full-scale production: transporting wind turbine blades.
The WindRunner, designed by Colorado energy company Radia, measures 356 feet long, 79 feet tall, and a 261 foot wingspan and can carry 80 tons of cargo. Turbine blades today are typically transported by massive, specialized cargo ships, specifically for off-shore wind farms. The plane would allow the infrastructure for larger turbines on land and also improve their capacity, the company says.
If all goes well, the massive cargo plane could take to the skies in the next four years. [via New York Post]
SPEAKING OF GREEN ENERGY: The CEO of rental car company HERTZ is stepping down after his decision to order 100,000 Tesla cars and a slew of other EVs backfired. Shortly after the purchase, Tesla cut the sale price of its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, subsequently depressing the resale value of cars already on the road, delivering a massive hit to Hertz’s balance sheet. [via Fortune]
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The prosecution team that successfully convicted SAM BANKMAN-FRIED last November has formally asked the judge to sentence the disgraced crypto mogul to between 40 and 50 years in prison. He’s currently 32-years-old.
The sentencing memo argues that the duration would “permit the defendant to return to liberty after society can be assured that he will not have the opportunity to turn back to fraud and deceit.”
SBF’s legal team in February argued for a sentence between five and seven years.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 28. [via Axios]
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Sanctuary city Chicago began evicting more than 2,000 illegal immigrants from its homeless shelters on Sunday, as a rule goes into effect limiting stays to sixty days. The process will take until the end of April. [via NBC News]
MEANWHILE, IN NEW YORK CITY: Mayor ERIC ADAMS announced a new plan that limits stays in shelters to 30-days for single adults, who would then have to reapply to remain, and only be allowed to if they satisfy a list of “extenuating circumstances.”
New York City policy requires the city provide a bed to anyone who asks for one at one of their shelters. Adams has recently tried to argue that the rule only applies to citizens of New York, not the 183,000-plus illegal immigrants who have arrived in the last two years. [via New York Post]
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SHOT: The Minneapolis City Council last week finalized a plan that would guarantee minimum pay for UBER and LYFT drivers, to the tune of $1.40 per mile and 51 cents per minute while driving a passenger.
CHASER: Uber and Lyft announced they will stop offering their services in the city when the rule goes into effect on May 1.
A rep for Uber says it has 10,000 drivers who provide the service regularly. Minneapolis only has 39 licensed cab drivers, a precipitous slide from the 2,000 registered in 2014. [via The Verge]
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Colorado-based Belgium Brewing Co. and Wisconsin-based Tombstone are working together to create a new pizza-flavored beer.
“IP(izza)A” features “hints of crispy crust, tangy tomato sauce and savory herbs and spices;” perfect for the “boldest of beer and pizza lovers,” a press release states.
The limited edition Voodoo Ranger IPA flavor will be released on April 7 – National Beer Day. [via Denver Post]
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. Ordinary Angels: $1 million (down from 6)
9. The American Society of Magical Negroes: $1.2 million (new)
8. One Life: $1.7 million (new)
7. Bob Marley: One Love: $2.3 million (down from 5)
6. Love Lies Bleeding: $2.4 million (up from 21)
5. Cabrini: $2.8 million (down from 4)
4. Imaginary: $5.6 million (down from 3)
3. Arthur the King: $7.5 million (new)
2. Dune: Part Two: $29.1 million (stayed at 2)
1. Kung Fu Panda 4: $30 million (stayed at 1)
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 190 points (0.49%) to close at 38,714 on Friday. The S&P lost 33 points (0.65%) to close at 5,117 and the NASDAQ lost 155 points (0.96%) to close at 15,973.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $81; BRENT CRUDE at $85.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.46 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked down over the weekend, trading just over $68,000 by Sunday evening.
🛩 There were more than 4,380 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 75 such cancellations.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $875 million jackpot or a $413.5 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $645 million jackpot or a $307.3 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
ALEC BALDWIN’s attorney Alex Spiro filed new documents last week to have the “Rust” involuntary manslaughter case tossed out.
In the filing, Spiro claims seven of the prosecution’s witnesses showed bias against Baldwin and all of the evidence from the testing of the pistol that killed HALYNA HUTCHINS was presented.
Remember, initial reports stated the FBI testing proved the gun could not have fired without someone pulling the trigger, but Spiro alleges further testing showed the gun could fire when all six rounds were loaded, like they were on that fatal day.
Baldwin is scheduled to go to trial this July. [via TMZ]
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CARA DELEVINGNE’s multi-million dollar Los Angeles mansion was gutted by a fire early Friday morning.
The model, who was in London at the time of the blaze, reacted to the devastation on Instagram, writing, “Life can change in a blink of an eye. So cherish what you have.”
It is believed that the fire was caused by an electrical issue. [via Daily Mail]
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KELLY CLARKSON is once again suing her ex-husband BRANDON BLACKSTOCK.
In the filing, Clarkson accuses Blackstock and his father’s management company, Starstruck Entertainment, of violating California labor laws by acting as an “unlicensed talent agency” for booking business deals on her behalf.
She is seeking to be reimbursed for “commissions, fees, profits, advances, producing fees [and] other monies” the company was paid.
The suit comes just months after Clarkson was awarded $2.6 million for similar claims against her ex. [via Us Weekly]
WORTH NOTING: Per California law, only talent agents are supposed to ink employment deals for their clients.
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JON TAFFER has filed legal docs to get a doppelganger to stop pretending to be him.
The “Bar Rescue” star claims a guy by the name of Vic Caroleo has been parading around Naples, Florida for more than three years, posing as him, and openly bragging about the resemblance on social media.
Initially it was just an annoyance, but recently some women came forward claiming they were sexually assaulted by Taffer, who was actually Caroleo.
Taffer is asking a judge to ban Caroleo from pretending to be him and is also suing the guy for invasion of privacy. [via TMZ]
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SHAKIRA says she put her career on hold to support ex-boyfriend GERARD PIQUE’s soccer career.
“There was a sacrifice for love,” she told the Sunday Times.
After meeting in 2010 and welcoming their two sons, Shakira toned down her work schedule to be home more for her family; meanwhile, Pique’s soccer stardom took off. Then in 2022, the pair announced their split amid rumors of infidelity.
Shakira healed from the heartbreak with her music, releasing “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” last year, in which she sings, “I'm worth two 22-year-olds / You traded in a Ferrari for a Twingo.” [via Page Six]
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OLIVIA RODRIGO will no longer be providing Plan B pills and condoms at “GUTS Tour” stops.
The decision comes after her team told local abortion organizations that they will not be allowed to hand out free emergency contraceptives at venues because “children are present at the concerts.” In response, several of the organizations said they plan to put up a booth and pass out the items to the public outside the shows.
As previously reported, Rodrigo launched a new initiative ahead of her tour, partnering with local chapters of the National Network of Abortion Funds to “ensure those most impacted by systemic racism, misogyny and healthcare barriers can get the reproductive care they deserve.” [via THR]
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STEPHEN COLBERT will narrate POPE FRANCIS’ six-hour audiobook, “Life: My Story Through History.”
A devout Catholic, Colbert previously stated how Francis is his “favorite pope” on “The Late Show.”
The book hits shelves March 19. [via Deadline]
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Remember the wheelchair-bound woman who MADONNA called out for not standing up at one of her recent concerts? She is speaking out about the incident.
Vanessa Gorman says she isn’t offended or upset at what happened, but did note that she is shocked Madge didn’t notice her bright pink wheelchair.
As for the show, Gorman said she really enjoyed it. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
DON LEMON claims his show was booted from X because ELON MUSK “reneged on his free speech pledge.”
In response, Musk’s camp says Lemon was asking for well over his worth -- demanding a free Tesla Cybertruck, $5 million up front (in addition to an $8 million salary), an equity stake in X, and the right to approve any changes in the platform’s policy in regards to new content.
He also allegedly demanded a private jet to Vegas, a suite for him and his fiance, and that Musk foot the bill for their day-drinking and massages.
Despite the big ask, Musk still agreed to sit down for an interview with Lemon, after which he called him “dull” and “underwhelming,” and ultimately made the call to pull the plug on the whole show.
“The Don Lemon Show” will still premiere today on X as initially planned, though without the platform’s official support. [via NY Post]
FOLLOW UP: Lemon’s team says he did not make any of those demands, while Musk compared Lemon to a “Wonka” brat on X writing, “Don ‘Veruca Salt’ 🍋”.
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Actor O YEONG-SU has been given a two-year suspended sentence of eight months for two counts of sexual harassment. He will also be required to complete 40 hours in a sexual violence treatment program.
Yeong-Su, known for his role as Oh II-nam in “Squid Game,” was accused in 2017 and indicted in 2022. He has denied the allegations and plans to appeal.
By the way -- he is 79. [via Reuters]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Instead of performing new tracks from “Vultures 1” at the Rolling Loud music festival over the weekend, YE and TY DOLLA $IGN just stood on stage while their songs played in the background.
The L.A. Times reports that Ye just “roamed around in a black jacket and a face mask as their songs played over the festival’s sound system.”
Fans shared their disappointment on social media, calling the show “horrible” and “a scam.”
In defense of the rappers, they did describe the show as a “listening experience,” ahead of time, which is something Ye has done for many of his previous albums. [via L.A. Times]
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“On my way to go find Kate,” KIM KARDASHIAN captioned a series of snapshots on Instagram over the weekend.
While some found humor in the post, others thought it to be distasteful, with one follower commenting, “Nothing like a celebrity who allegedly hates rumors, spreading rumors.”
Her post is of course in reference to the ongoing speculation and rumors about where PRINCESS KATE has gone. [via Page Six]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Following last week’s Kate-gate Photoshop conspiracies, TUCKER CARLSON thought he landed a prime interview: a former employee at Kensington Palace who said he was fired for editing the controversial image posted last week of PRINCESS KATE and her three kids.
The employee even provided a copy of a written agreement to prove he legitimately worked inside The Firm to Carlson’s producers, who made arrangements to record a video interview with the host in London.
Turns out the whole thing was a hoax. The “employee” was actually Youtuber Archie Manners working in cahoots with his pal Josh Pieters. Shortly after they recorded the interview, they went public with the prank, saying they didn’t want to be responsible for spreading lies online.
OOPS: Carlson’s producers apparently didn’t see the absurd line in the forged employment agreement that said the palace had the right to cut off one of his limbs upon failure of his probationary period working for the Royals. [via Deadline]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Sloppy Joe Day
National Black Pudding Day
Global Recycling Day
Companies That Care Day
Forgive Mom & Dad Day
National Awkward Moments Day
National Biodiesel Day
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ON THIS DATE
1766 - The Stamp Act is repealed by Parliament.
The law required Americans to purchase an official government stamp for any official documents — almost like a notary. The revenue from the stamps were to fund the military.
The stamp itself was itself propaganda: it included the phrase “Shame to him who thinks evil of it” in French.
Following uproar by Americans and formal discussions with Benjamin Franklin in Europe, it was obvious the Act made for terrible public policy, and was repealed.
But they didn’t leave it there — that same day they passed the Declaratory Acts, a formal statement designed to remind colonists that the British Parliament had absolute power to govern the colonies.
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1852 - In response to the movement of Americans westward in search of gold, Henry Wells and William Fargo form a cross-country shipping company.
Settlements and mining camps needed supplies and resources of the industrialized East Coast. The first Wells Fargo shipment arrived in northern California in July that year. They contracted stagecoaches for the fastest possible routes and would ship anything from gold dust to valuables to documents.
After merging with Pony Express routes in the 1860s, the company became the biggest domestic shipper in the United States.
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1965 - Soviet Cosmonaut Alexey Leonov exits the Voskhod 2 in orbit around the Earth, becoming the first human to conduct a spacewalk.
The feat lasted only 12 minutes. It was a huge leap forward in space exploration and science.
Formal reports from the Soviets indicated that their technology made for easy work and movements in space. Americans would find this not to be the case after conducting their own missions.
Leonov also reported years later that he almost suffered heat exhaustion, dumping so much sweat his suit filled up to his knees.
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1974 - A six-month oil crisis ends, following an embargo by OPEC.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries stopped shipment to Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, the UK and the United States in response to the free world’s support of Israel.
The embargo instigated defensive foreign policy by the Nixon Administration. Henry Kissinger would negotiate Israeli troop pullbacks in different areas in the region.
The oil started flowing again following a negotiated peace between Israel and Syria in January 1974.
The spike in the price of oil shook the American economy, driving price increases and inflation.
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1990 - The largest art robbery in US history occurs. Thieves stole over 13 works of art worth over $500 million from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.
The most expensive piece taken was Johannes Vermeer’s “The Concert,” one of only 36 known paintings by the Dutch master.
Suspects thrown around were Latin American drug cartels, Irish Republican Army militants and even Vatican operatives. Suspicion also fell on notorious Boston mobster James “Whitey” Bulger.
A reward of $5 million was offered for information regarding the robbery. It remains unsolved.
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2020 - President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agree to close the US-Canada border to non-essential travel to curb the spread of COVID.
Under the deal, the flow of goods between the two nations would not be affected.
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2022 - President Joe Biden calls Russian President Vladimir Putin a "killer" in an ABC News interview.
Putin responds "It takes one to know one" a day later.
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BIRTHDAYS
Abigail Cowen - actress, “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” - 26
Solo Sikoa - wrestler - 31
Eliana Ghen - actress, “Insatiable” - 31
Lily Collins - actress, “Emily in Paris” - 35
Danneel Harris - actress, “One Tree Hill” - 45
Adam Levine - pop singer, Maroon 5 - 45
Sutton Foster - actress, “Bunheads” & “Younger” - 49
Queen Latifah - actress, “Chicago” & “Girls Trip” - 54
Bonnie Blair - Olympic speed skater - 60
Vanessa Williams - actress, “Ugly Betty” & “Desperate Housewives” - 61
Mike Rowe - TV personality, “Dirty Jobs” - 62
Thomas Ian Griffith - actor, “Cobra Kai” - 62
Brad Dourif - actor, “Deadwood” - 74
Born On This Date
Rudolf Diesel - invented the diesel engine - 1858 (d. 1913)
Grover Cleveland - 22nd & 24th POTUS - 1837 (d. 1908)
John C. Calhoun - 7th Vice President - 1782 (d. 1850)
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