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9/1/2022: Tonight: Biden’s Primetime Address

PLUS: Another Round of Covid Vaccines; Diddy & Dre Makeup; and Remembering Princess Di

Sep 1, 2022

Today is Thursday, September 1, 2022.

It is the 244th day of the year.

121 days remain.

PROGRAMMING NOTE

REMINDER: No newsletter on Labor Day. Don’t forget to kiss your union boss’ ring!

HIT LIST

After waffling on a rescheduled launch date, NASA is going to try to launch the Artemis I mission again on Saturday.

Monday’s launch was scrapped after a fuel tank failed to reach sufficiently low temperatures.

A two hour launch window opens at 1:17 pm Central on Saturday, with another backup date on Monday.

NASA will begin the fuel cooling process earlier this time around, reps say.

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It’s tough times for Big Tech: The company behind Snapchat says they’re cutting their global headcount by 20% – meaning one in five employees will get a pink slip in coming weeks.

Snap’s stock is down 75% year to date.

But they have enough in the bank to try to take care of those getting laid off: Severance packages will include four months of compensation and help covering the cost of health insurance through the end of the year.

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Hey you, with the four shots and three masks, you’re not gonna be “fully vaxxed” much longer.

The FDA has approved a booster that’s “effective” against the omicron strain currently circulating. There are versions available from both Pfizer and Moderna that are expected to hit clinics in the coming days.

WORTH NOTING: These boosters will NOT be used as initial vaccinations, and you need to be at least 12 years old and have at least two months since your last booster to qualify for these.

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Some patrons of last weekend’s Sacred Rose Music Festival in Illinois found they were overcharged for concessions – in some cases to the tune of over a thousand dollars!

The concerts were held at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. The city itself owns the stadium. A rep for Bridgeview said that a glitch in the system for leaving tips was to blame. He said, “When the tip went in, for some reason it added one or two zeroes.”

The city says they’ve already reversed the charges, but it will likely be a few days before those affected get the money cleared back into their accounts.

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So much for DARE – students at Pleasant Grove High School outside Sacramento, California, were given doses of Narcan as part of a school assembly about drug overdoses.

Narcan is most commonly used to rapidly treat fentanyl overdoses.

WORTH NOTING: Instead of scaring the bejeezus out of these kids from taking these dangerous drugs, the school is giving them medicine to treat overdoses. This is insanity.

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BY THE NUMBERS

📈 The Dow lost 280 points (0.88%) on Wednesday to close at 31,510. The S&P lost 31 points (0.78%) to close at 3,955. The Nasdaq lost 66 points (0.56%) to close at 11,816.

🛢 West Texas Intermediate slipped below $90 Wednesday, trading at $88 a barrel. Brent Crude traded around $95.

⛽ The national average price of a gallon of gas was $3.84 on Wednesday.

₿ Bitcoin picked up more than $400 on Wednesday, trading around $20,220.

🛩 There were 2,103 flights delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and 140 such cancellations.

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CHARTS

OceanGate Expeditions released the very first 8K video showing some of the wreckage of the RMS Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean.

The footage will be used to monitor the rate of decay for future comparisons over the years.

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DEATHS

RICHARD ROAT has died.

The actor, who appeared in “Friends,” “Seinfeld,” and “Dallas,” passed away on August 5 in Orange County, California. No other details were shared.

He was 89.

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JR RIDINGER has died.

The Market America founder passed away Tuesday after suffering a pulmonary embolism on a yacht in Croatia, according to his wife, Loren.

He was 63.

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BABY NEWS

Olympic swimmer NATHAN ADRIAN, 33, and his wife, merchandising director HALLIE IVESTER have welcomed their second baby, a daughter named Brooklyn.

Nathan announced the news on Instagram, telling followers that the newborn arrived on August 25.

Brooklyn joins big sister Parker, 1.

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THE SWAMP

TONIGHT: President JOE BIDEN will make a primetime address expected to be widely carried by news outlets, in which he speaks to what he sees as a fundamental struggle for democracy in the United States.

The official description of the speech from the White House says Biden will “talk about the progress we have made as a nation to protect our democracy, but how our rights and freedoms are still under attack. And he will make clear who is fighting for those rights, fighting for those freedoms, and fighting for our democracy.”

WORTH NOTING: You get one guess who he’s going to accuse of attacking those rights and freedoms.

IN OTHER WORDS: The President who campaigned and “won” an election with a unity message will use the power of his office to ostracize his chief political opponent and his millions of supporters.

Fascist says what?

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A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows President JOE BIDEN lost 7 points in net approval just a week after announcing the redistributive student loan debt handout.

WORTH NOTING: That poll oversampled Democrats by 7 points!

IT GETS WORSE: In a YouGov poll, overall 56% of respondents agreed the redistributive handout is unfair to Americans who already paid their student loan debt.

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On August 24, the state of California announced a ban on the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035. The implication here, of course, is that by then everyone should be driving electric cars.

BUT WAIT: California has now asked its residents to reduce electricity consumption from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm amid a heat wave that will strain its electric grid.

Here’s what they specifically recommend: “set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, avoid using large appliances and charging electric vehicles.”

IN OTHER WORDS: You will travel when we allow you to and you will be uncomfortable and sweaty when you can’t.

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LOTTERY

No winner for Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Friday night’s drawing will be for a $169 million jackpot or a $95.4 million cash payout.

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SHOWBIZ NEWS

NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON’s sister is calling out CHRIS ROCK for his “tasteless” joke about her homicide.

TANYA BROWN told TMZ that not only was the comment “not funny,” but it also “literally doesn’t make sense.”

She wants Rock -- and anyone else who wants to joke about her sister’s murder -- to know that she, and other family members, are still very much grieving their loss.

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MADONNA is celebrating the release of her “Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones” album by answering 50 questions from fans on her YouTube channel.

When asked what decision in her life “wasn’t the best idea,” she quickly responded, “Getting married. Both times!” She was married to actor SEAN PENN from 1985 to 1989 and GUY RITCHIE from 2000 to 2008.

She also revealed that had she not become a singer, she would have been a teacher.

“Finally Enough Love: 50 Numbers Ones” is out now.

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BRITTANY ALDEAN says her “tomboy” Instagram post, which some took to be transphobic, was “taken out of context.”

On Instagram Wednesday, the wife of country singer JASON ALDEAN, wrote “Instead of getting twisted about the twisting of my words, I’ve chosen to bring some good out of it,” while announcing the launch of her new Barbie-inspired “Don’t Tread On Our Kids” sweatshirts and tees.

Last week, Brittany thanked her parents for not changing her gender during her tomboy phase as a kid. In response, country singer MAREN MORRIS and CASSADEE POPE called her “transphobic,” with the former referring to her as “Insurrection Barbie.”

Will Morris now want a cut of proceeds?

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KATE MOSS told British Vogue that her ex-boyfriend JOHNNY DEPP once gifted her some jewelry from his butt.

“That diamond necklace Johnny gave me. They were the first diamonds I ever owned -- he pulled them out of the crack of his ass,” she revealed in her “Life in Looks” video for the publication.

Moss and Depp dated from 1994 to 1998. She called their split one of the hardest things she has had to overcome, recalling the “years and years of crying.”

DEFENDING DEPP: Moss took the stand in the defamation trial of Johnny Depp and his ex-wife AMBER HEARD. As a witness for the defense, she told the jury that Depp was never anything but a gentleman when they dated.

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JACK OSBOURNE wants to get to the bottom of what the government knows about UFOs.

Speaking to TMZ about his upcoming TV special, “Jack Osbourne’s Night of Terror: UFOs,” he says that “writing off the idea of UFOs” is “incredibly ignorant.”

He also pointed out a recent congressional report that confirmed some UFOs are not “man-made” and could possibly “pose a threat.”

Osbourne will explore that and more in the special, which premieres Saturday on Discovery+.

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SEAN “Diddy” COMBS and DR. DRE have apparently settled their eight-year feud.

Diddy posted five pics on Instagram this week, showing the two working on music together in a recording studio.

The two rappers were estranged for years after Dre appeared in a video that revealed Apple was set to buy his Beat’s brand for $3.2 billion before the deal was finalized. Diddy saw the video and tattled to Beats co-founder JIMMY IOVINE, which led to Apple’s TIM COOK renegotiating the deal to $3 billion -- shorting Dre $200 million.

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CASTING CALL

JASON BATEMAN and TARON EGERTON will star in Netflix’s thriller “Carry On.”

The film centers on TSA agent Ethan Kopek, who gets blackmailed by a mysterious traveler to let a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight, according to a description from the streamer.

No word on Bateman and Egerton’s roles.

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JIMMY FALLON, MILEY CYRUS, WILLIE NELSON, BILLY RAY CYRUS and JIMMIE ALLEN are some of the celebs who will appear in DOLLY PARTON’s Christmas special for NBC.

“Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas” has been described as a “modern-day movie musical.”

The special follows Parton who gets wrapped up in a “private journey into her past, guided by the mysterious appearances of her personal Three Wise Men,” per a statement from the network.

No word on when it will air.

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SHARNA BURGESS will not be on the upcoming season of “Dancing With the Stars.”

The dance pro announced her exit on Instagram Wednesday, telling followers she is not yet ready to “spend, at minimum, 10 hours a day away from Zayn,” her two-month old-son with BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN.

The full list of dancing pros and their celebrity partners will be revealed this month on “Good Morning America.” Season 31 premieres September 19 on Disney+.

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Paramount has announced that Yellowstone Season 5 will premiere on November 13. The latest season will kick off with two back-to-back episodes.

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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS

KANYE WEST is at odds with GAP.

Ye bashed the company on social media twice this week, first calling them out for holding a meeting without him and then for allegedly copying some of his designs.

He also tweeted that GAP backed out of a shoot with his kids, but didn’t inform him.

Ye joined forces with the clothing company two years ago to collaborate on a Yeezy-GAP line.

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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS

Remembering PRINCESS DIANA.

On the 25th anniversary of her death Wednesday, mourners gathered to pay their respects , lay flowers and leave messages on the bridge over the underpass where she was killed.

A makeshift memorial was also erected outside the gates of Kensington Palace, and the flag at Althorp House, the Spencer estate where Diana grew up, was lowered to half-staff.

Diana died on August 31, 1997 in a car crash in Paris. Her man-friend DODI FAYED and driver HENRI PAUL also died. In 2008, a jury blamed her death on the reckless driving of both her chauffeur and the paparazzi who were pursuing them.

Her sons, PRINCE WILLIAM and PRINCE HARRY, also find fault with the BBC for the role a bombshell 1995 interview likely played in her death.

SPEAKING OF HARRY: Anniversaries such as this one have to be difficult for Harry to be so far away from his family. He has spoken out about the difficulty he faced in dealing with her death, so much so that it's odd he would leave the place that holds the most memories with her.

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SPORTS

SERENA WILLIAMS’ appearance at Monday night’s US Open -- likely her last -- was a ratings hit for ESPN.

The sports network averaged a record 1.7 million viewers for “PrimeTime at the U.S. Open,” an increase of 279% over last year and up 40% from 2019.

Williams defeated DANKA KOVINIC 6-3, 6-3.

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DAY OF THE YEAR

Roblox Day

National No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day

National Chicken Boy Day

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ON THIS DATE

1715 – France's King Louis XIV croaks after 72 years on the throne. His lengthy reign makes him one of the longest-serving European monarchs ever.

Louis reportedly died of gangrene. Having outlived his son, Louis XIV's grandson became the new ruler.

He was only 5 years old, and attendants of the court oversaw important government affairs.

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1804 – German astronomer Karl L. Harding discovers the Juno asteroid.

He named it after the Roman goddess of the same name.

It's one of the largest celestial bodies in the solar system's asteroid belt, which orbits around the sun between Mars and Jupiter.

At one-point Juno was designated a planet, but as technological advances improved astronomical research, it was concluded the celestial object was too small.

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1894 – The city of Hinckley, Minnesota is destroyed by a freak forest fire that claimed up to 800 lives.

The area was especially prone to a spontaneous blaze. The nearby forest had been picked clean by loggers, who left branches and leaves on the forest floor. Hinckley had also recently endured a 2-month drought.

Those who survived either hid in wells, took refuge in a nearby river, or escaped in trains that were leaving before the fire reached the town.

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1939 – Nazi tanks and troops roll into Poland in the first invasion of Hitler’s attempted European conquest.

Not coincidentally, George C. Marshall became the Chief of Staff of the US Army that day. He quickly grew and expanded forces as America anticipated war in Europe.

On September 3rd, European allies France and England would declare war on Germany.

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1974 – The SR-71 Blackbird experimental aircraft zips from London to New York in under 2 hours.

The line of supersonic jets was decommissioned in 1998. The remaining planes are on display in various spots around the country.

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1979 – Pioneer 11 is the first spacecraft to encounter Saturn, and enters orbit 13,000 miles above the planet’s surface.

The probe discovered many of the gas giant's moons, and came within 2,500 miles of one -- that's a razor-thin margin by astronomical standards.

The satellite also scouted the planet for the approaching Voyager probes, which were at the time surveying Jupiter.

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1985 – An expedition helmed by Robert Ballard finds the Titanic 2.5 miles below the ocean surface.

Further study concluded that the ship had indeed split in half before sinking, contrary to the findings of British and American investigations.

Since its discovery, some 5,500 artifacts have been recovered and put on display.

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2018 – A memorial service for John McCain is held at the Washington National Cathedral.

His daughter Meghan McCain, Barack Obama and George W. Bush took turns speaking about the late Senator.

McCain passed away on August 25 at the age of 81. He was diagnosed with brain cancer the year prior.

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BIRTHDAYS

Zendaya - actress, “Shake It Up” & “Euphoria” - 26

Carlos Sainz Jr. - race car driver - 28

Megan Nicole - pop singer - 29

Jaymes Young - rock singer - 31

Ricky Horror - guitarist, Motionless In White - 34

Sarah Jones - drummer, performs with Harry Styles - 37

Lilian Bowden - actress, “Andi Mack” - 37

Joe Trohman - guitarist, Fall Out Boy - 38

Coyote Peterson - TV show host, “Coyote’s Backyard” - 41

Gloria Estefan - pop singer - 65

Dr. Phil McGraw - TV doctor - 72

Barry Gibb - rock singer, Bee Gees - 76

Lily Tomlin - actress, “Grace and Frankie” - 83

Born On This Date

Rocky Marciano - boxer, undefeated world heavyweight champ - 1923 (d. 1969)

Edgar Rice Burroughs - author, “Tarzan of the Apes” - 1875 (d. 1950)

Mark Hopkins - business tycoon, Central Pacific Railroad - 1813 (d. 1878)

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