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8/4/2022: Florida is Winning

PLUS: Congresswoman Dies, Dr. Grey Cuts Office Hours, and Kris [effing] Jenner

Aug 4, 2022

Today is Thursday, August 4, 2022.

It is the 216th day of the year.

149 days remain.

HIT LIST

ELON MUSK doesn’t just travel on his own Gulfstream jet – he wants his own airport, too.

He’s reportedly building his own private airfield that’s the same distance for Tesla’s Austin, Texas facility and the headquarters for The Boring Company – which is working on building underground traffic tunnels to ease congestion.

Austin’s airport would be closer – but likely isn’t as fast with staffing delays and other logistical headaches.

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In an exclusive report, the Wall Street Journal reveals that credit reporting firm Equifax sent faulty scores to countless lenders, causing borrowers to get denied or pay higher interest rates than they should’ve.

The error was caused over a three-week period in March and April, and affected millions of reports related to car loans, mortgages, and even credit card applications. Those affected were contacted beginning in May.

It’s especially bad news for Equifax, which was hacked in 2017 and released private information on almost half the country, affecting 150 million Americans.

SPEAKING OF DEBT: Americans’ aggregate credit card balances rose 13% year over year, marking the highest levels in 20 years.

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A 61-year-old English man recently found out he’s been spelling his name incorrectly his whole life.

He goes by Alan – A-L-A-N.

But he recently found his birth certificate, to find his name was spelled with two Ls – A-L-L-A-N.

He said his parents had always spelled it with one L too. He’s convinced it was an oversight clerical error on the part of whoever filed the certificate in the first place.

IT GETS WORSE: He says he has two tattoos of his own name – which is weird to begin with – but won’t go through the trouble of formally changing anything.

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A series of earthquakes triggered a volcanic eruption in Iceland Wednesday.

The Fagradalsfjall volcano last erupted last year that went on for six months.

No serious damage has been reported, and flights were rerouted out of an abundance of caution.

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Not only does Florida now have a larger state population than New York, in 2021, it boasted nearly twice as many new business openings than the Empire State.

New business starts were also up 27% year over year.

Florida added more than 211,000 residents since the start of the pandemic.

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BY THE NUMBERS

📈 The Dow closed up 416 points (1.29%) on Wednesday, to close at 32,812. The S&P 500 added 63 points (1.56) to close at 4,155 while the Nasdaq added 319 points (2.59%) to close at 12,668.

🛢 Crude oil continues to slide downward as buyers anticipate a sweeping recessionary economic environment. Brent Crude ws down to $97 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate slid to under $92.

⛽ The national average price of a gallon of gas was $4.16 on Wednesday.

₿ Bitcoin lost more than $216 to trade around $22,700 Wednesday evening.

🛩 There were 4,016 flights delayed within, into, or out of the US on Wednesday and 594 such cancellations.

🎢 A company called SJ Data Visualizations reports that the cost of going to Disneyland has increased 3,871% over the last 50 years, well outpacing increases in wages, rent, and gas.

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CHARTS

A TikTok video of "Aquaman" star JASON MOMOA handing out water bottles to Hawaiian Airlines passengers has gone viral.

Momoa wore a gray suit, necklace and pink flower in his hair as he handed out Mananalu water bottles.

The video, captioned "When Jason Momoa is your flight attendant," has been viewed more than 4 million times since being posted on Aug. 2.

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DEATHS

JACKIE WALORSKI has died.

The Indiana congresswoman was killed in a car crash Wednesdsay, along with two others.

According to State Patrol officers, the SUV the congresswoman and others were riding in crashed head-on with another vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle also died.

She was 58.

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VIN SCULLY has died.

The voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers passed away Tuesday. No further details about his death were shared.

He was 94.

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BABY NEWS

Baby #3 is on the way for CHRISSY TEIGEN, 36, and JOHN LEGEND, 43.

Teigen made the announcement on Instagram Wednesday, along with a series of photos of her baby bump. The news comes after the couple’s devastating pregnancy loss in October 2020.

Last year Teigen revealed that they were once again undergoing IVF.

She and Legend are already parents to daughter Luna, 6, and son Miles, 4.

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Singer LEONA LEWIS, 37, has welcomed her first child with husband, producer DENNIS JAUCH, 33.

The baby girl, named Carmel Allegra, arrived on July 22.

Lewis toured throughout most of her pregnancy, despite a rough first trimester.

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THE SWAMP

President JOE BIDEN signed an Executive Order on Wednesday that addresses abortion concern in light of last month’s Dobbs ruling by the Supreme Court.

But the signing event was just a lot of scaremongering, fretting about protecting women who travel out-of-state for an abortion or have a miscarriage.

WORTH NOTING: Every state has explicit statutory language that allows an abortion procedure when the life of the mother is at risk. No state would prevent an actual healthcare provider – not an abortionist – from treating a miscarriage. The stories of such workers being unsure about how to proceed in those instances are a reflection of their unprofessionalism and inability to clarify their roles, not a fault of the government.

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LOTTERY

No winner in Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Friday night’s drawing will be for a $36 million jackpot or a $21.4 million cash payout.

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SHOWBIZ NEWS

BEYONCE is making yet another change to her latest album.

Days after removing the word “spazz” from one track, and then being called out by MONICA LEWINSKY over a previous song lyric, Bey is now removing a sample from her hit “Energy.”

The removal comes after fellow singer KELIS alleged that Bey used an “interpolation” of her hit 2003 song “Milkshake” in the track without her permission.

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BRITNEY SPEARS bashed a Catholic Church this week, claiming they wouldn't allow her to get married there because *gasp* she is not Catholic.

But on Wednesday, the Los Angeles-based church called her out saying she never even contacted them about a wedding.

As fans know, Britney and SAM ASGHARI got hitched at their home in Los Angeles in June.

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A lengthy court battle over PRINCE’s estate has finally ended.

The Minnesota First Judicial District issued an order this week, calling for the two parties fighting for the $156 million estate to split the difference. The two entities are: Prince Legacy LLC and Prince OAT Holdings LLC, according to the ruling.

The musician, whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson, died of an opioid overdose in April 2016.

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The final viewership for Season 4 of “Stranger Things” (Vol. 1 and Vol. 2) hit 1.352 billion hours in the first 28 days of release.

That is the most for any English-language series on Netflix, and more than twice the hours logged by the second most popular season, “Bridgerton 2” (656 million).

Sitting on top is “Squid Game” with a record 1.650 billion hours.

SPEAKING OF “ST”: Script writing began this week on the fifth and final season of the show.

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DEMI LOVATO appears to diss her ex, actor WILMER VALDERRAMA and their 12-year age game in her new song “29.”

The single, set to be released this month, features Lovato repeating the numbers 17 and 29, which are the ages the pair were when they first met; though sources say they didn’t start dating until after she turned 18.

She (yes, Lovato is back to her female pronouns) also sings “Far from innocent / What the [eff’s] consent? / Numbers told you not to / But that didn’t stop you.”

It was believed that the two remained amicable after their 2016 split, with Valderrama even visiting her in the hospital after her 2018 overdose, but perhaps there is more to the story.

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CASTING CALL

ELLEN POMPEO is reducing her role on ABC’s medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy” as she stars in a new limited series for Hulu, titled “Orphan.”

Sources told Deadline that Pompeo will only appear in eight episodes of the upcoming 19th season, which is currently filming. She will continue to narrate every episode and serve as executive producer.

“Orphan,” is based on the true story of Ukrainian-born Natalia Grace and her US adoptive parents who claimed that she was a sociopath pretending to be a child. No details on Pompeo’s role were shared.

WORTH NOTING: This will be Pompeo’s first role other than Dr. Meredith Grey in almost two decades.

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The “Joker” sequel, starring JOAQUIN PHOENIX, will hit theaters in 2024.

“Joker: Folie a Deux” will be a musical, with LADY GAGA playing Harley Quinn.

Variety reports that “Joker” was supposed to be a one-and-done film, but after grossing more than $1 billion globally -- and an Oscar for Phoenix -- a sequel was a no-brainer.

The second flick will debut on October 4, 2024 -- five years after the first film was released.

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MMA fighter -- and Irish hothead -- CONOR MCGREGOR is set to join Prime Video’s reboot of the ‘80s classic, “Road House.”

The reimagining follows a UFC fighter, played by JAKE GYLLENHAAL, who takes a job as a bouncer at a roadhouse in the Florida Keys.

McGregor’s role is unclear, though insiders told Deadline that he will play an original character and not himself in the film.

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Disney’s “She-Hulk: Attorney At Law” has been given a new premiere date on Disney+.

The nine-episode series, featuring TATIANA MASLANY as Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk, will now launch on August 18, one day later than previously announced.

MARK RUFFALO reprises his role as The Hulk in the series, playing Walters’ cousin.

SPEAKING OF DISNEY+ PREMIERES: The streamer announced Wednesday that Season 31 of “Dancing With the Stars” will premiere on September 19. TYRA BANKS returns as host, along with ALFONSO RIBEIRO. At the judges table will be LEN GOODMAN, CARRIE ANN INABA, BRUNO TONIOLI and DEREK HOUGH.

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“Days of Our Lives” is moving from NBC to Peacock.

Starting September 12, the streamer will be the new home of the daytime soap, which has already produced two spinoffs, titled “Beyond Salem.”

The vacant spot will be filled with “NBC News Daily.”

“Days” launched on NBC in 1965.

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CELEBRITY CELLBLOCK

NBA player IMAN SHUMPERT was arrested Saturday at the Dallas//Fort Worth Airport after marijuana was found in his backpack.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, TSA agents found a plastic bag filled with a “green leafy substance,” which Shumpert admitted was weed.

He was placed under arrest for marijuna possession and transported to the airport jail.

The 32-year-old faces up to two years behind bars and a $10,000 fine if convicted.

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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS

KHLOE KARDASHIAN liked an Instagram post that joked KRIS JENNER was the one who leaked TAYLOR SWIFT’s excessive private jet use.

The post, shared by @Kardashiansocial, read: “who leaked that Taylor Swift’s private jet took 170 flights this year?” The question was followed up by a video of Kris walking into a room, sitting on the couch and answering “Kris [effing] Jenner.”

As previously reported Swift was accused of major air pollution by flying in her private jet over 170 times so far this year.

WORTH NOTING: Drama between Swift and the KarJenners goes way back, starting with KANYE WEST shading her at the 2009 MTV VMAs. Ye also released his song “Famous,” which included the lyric, “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that [b-word] famous.” He says Taylor approved the lyric, but she says no way.

BUT WAIT: Swift’s private jet use popped up right after KYLIE JENNER was slammed over her private jet use. Perhaps it's not too big of a stretch to think Kris had something to do with the reporting?

ALSO: Canadian rapper DRAKE was blasted for allegedly making a 14-minute flight on his private jet. He too has history with the famous family -- specifically Ye and KIM KARDASHIAN.

Oh how the Kardashopus tentacles weave a tangled web!

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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS

PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE and their two children may have been invited to Balmoral Castle after all.

An insider told the Express that the foursome are expected to spend time with QUEEN ELIZABETH at her Scottish home before the summer ends.

A second source told the outlet that the trip is likely “bittersweet” for Meghan, who fears Harry may want to return to the UK one day.

“[Meghan] knows how these types of visits can pull at [Harry’s] heartstrings,” the source said.

The invite is likely another olive branch extended by Her Majesty in an attempt to help heal the rift between her grandsons.

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SPORTS

Premier League soccer players will no longer kneel before every game and will instead limit it to certain games “make a greater impact.”

According to USA Today Sports, the decision came from team captains, and not the league itself.

Premier League Chief Executive RICHARD MASTERS told BBC Sports this week that taking the knee has become “part of the pre-match ritual” and players “fear its losing power and momentum.”

WORTH ASKING: Is the gesture “losing power” because it doesn’t actually accomplish anything? Wouldn’t more off-the-field action benefit the cause? Or does it only count when there is a stadium full of fans and cameras around to catch the gesture?

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DAY OF THE YEAR

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

National Coast Guard Day

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ON THIS DATE

1892 – Abby and Andrew Borden are found brutally murdered in their Massachusetts home.

Andrew’s daughter, and Abby’s stepdaughter, Lizzie was the prime suspect — though her alibi had her walking out to the family’s barn to eat pears.

She would be the only suspect tried for the murders, for which she was eventually acquitted. Afterward she resumed her life in Fall River, where she would die of pneumonia 35 years later.

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1914 – Appeaser-in-chief Woodrow Wilson declares the United States will remain neutral in any conflicts as World War I continues to escalate.

But when Germany blockaded the British Isles, the US was cut off from one its main trading partners, and American entry into the conflict grew imminent. War was declared after Germany’s policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, torpedoing ships belonging to allied or neutral countries.

This played out over several months; Woodrow asked Congress for a declaration of War on April 2, 1915, which it authorized 2 days later.

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1936 – American track star Jesse Owens wins the long jump at the Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. It was his second medal of the games, and came at a time when Hitler was espousing his plan for an Aryan master race.

In this event, Owens tied with German jumper Lutz Long in the first round. But in the second, Owens clobbered the standing record, bounding 26 feet, five-and-a-half inches — the first to exceed 26 feet, and one that would stand for 24 years. After the feat, Owens and Long walked around the track arm in arm, to the crowd’s thunderous approval from the crowd.

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1987 – The Fairness Doctrine is reigned in by the Federal Communications Commission.

The regulation required all broadcasters to present “controversial issues of public importance” in a way that was deemed honest, equitable, and balanced. There was no requirement for equal time, just that different views were, at some point expressed.

Ultimately it was decided that such regulation restricted journalistic freedom of broadcasters.

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2007 – NASA launches the Phoenix Mars lander.

It was the first explorer to land on one of Mars’ poles, and marked the sixth successful landing on the Red Planet.

Five months into the mission, in November 2008, NASA lost contact with the lander. Nonetheless, scientists were still happy that all of the scientific experiments were able to be completed on schedule.

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2015 - Robert Downey Jr. is named the world’s highest paid actor by Forbes Magazine.

His net worth is listed at $80 million.

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2015 - Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy announce the end of their relationship on Twitter.

The two had an on-again, off-again relationship that spanned decades.

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2020 - The UN says the COVID-19 pandemic has created the biggest educational disruption in history.

School closures affected nearly 1.6 million students in 190 countries.

The true harm would not be known for years.

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BIRTHDAYS

Meghan Rienks - actress, “Freakish” - 29

Cole Sprouse - actor, “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” & “Big Daddy” & “Riverdale” - 30

Dylan Sprouse - actor, “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” & “Big Daddy” - 30

Peter Weber - former “Bachelor” - 31

Jessica Mauboy - R&B singer - 33

Nathaniel Buzolic - actor, “The Vampire Diaries” - 39

Meghan Markle - wife of Harry - 41

Marques Houston - rapper - 41

Rich Dollaz - entrepreneur - 47

Jeff Gordon - race car driver - 51

Daniel Dae Kim - actor, “Lost” & “Hawaii Five-0” - 54

Barack Obama - 44th POTUS - 61

Billy Bob Thornton - actor, “Monster’s Ball” & “Bad Santa” - 67

Born On This Date

Tom Parker - pop singer, The Wanted - 1988 (d. 2022)

Louis Armstrong - trumpet player - 1901 (d. 1971)

Elizabeth The Queen Mother - royal, QE2’s mum - 1900 (d. 2002)

Louis Vuitton - fashion designer - 1821 (d. 1892)

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