9/16/2024: Another Assassination Attempt
PLUS: Boeing Strike; Emmy Award Winners; and Birthday Wishes
Today is Monday, September 16, 2024.
It is the 260th day of the year.
106 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A fat cat goes viral and a piece of American history heads to the auction block. Details in HIT LIST
Did TAYLOR SWIFT’s endorsement help or hurt KAMALA HARRIS? Find out in SHOWBIZ.
NETFLIX gets sued and a “Goonies” sequel isn’t happening. Details in CASTING CALL.
YE does China. More in KARDASH.
Some social media olive branches extend for PRINCE HARRY’s milestone birthday. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
United States Secret Service on Sunday foiled another apparent attempted assassination of DONALD TRUMP while he played a round at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach. Here’s what we know:
– Around 12:30 pm Central, Secret Service reported shots fired. When Trump is on the links his security detail includes a crew scouting a hole ahead. One of these advance agents spotted the barrel of a rifle protruding through a chain link fence. Upon spotting the rifle, the agent fired. The alleged would-be shooter then ran away.
– A bystander heard gunshots and saw the alleged would-be shooter, a 58-year-old man named Ryan Routh, get into a vehicle. The bystander snapped a picture of the suspect’s vehicle and somehow quickly got it to local law enforcement. Using traffic camera technology to scan plates, law enforcement tracked the suspect down quickly and arrested him. He went into custody without incident and remained calm throughout the process.
– An investigation of Routh’s position showed he brought two bags filled with ceramic tile, a GoPro camera, and an AK-47. There’s been speculation that the tile in the bag was a makeshift barrier to protect Routh from incoming fire. The position was an estimated 300-500 yards from Trump’s location at the time Routh was spotted.
In a statement after the incident, Trump said, “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL! Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again.”
INITIAL ANALYSIS:
– Facebook appears to have already wiped Routh’s social media profile. Why? Why shouldn’t the world be able to take a look at what this guy believes and what might have motivated to try to kill Trump?
– This is a tremendous security failure but not necessarily the fault of the US Secret Service. The Routh was stopped, but that he was able to get that close to a former president, and challenger to the incumbent party, is a problem. As a candidate and former president, Trump does not have a full security detail that would have included more comprehensive security protection.
– Routh reportedly advocated for sending volunteers to fight alongside Ukrainian soldiers in their defensive war against Russia. In one instance, he spoke to Newsweek about the cause. WATCH >
THIS WILL BE A DEVELOPING STORY …
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This is just not a good year for BOEING.
Thousands of employees for the aviation manufacturer went on strike Friday after voting to reject a contract that their union had negotiated. Meetings to resolve the dispute are expected to begin this week.
While union leaders for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers previously called the deal “the best we’ve negotiated in our history,” the rank-and-file workers expected bigger raises. During a vote to ratify last week, 95% of workers rejected the contract.
The strike affects around 30,000 of Boeing’s 170,000 employees. [via New York Times]
MEANWHILE: VERIZON has announced it will layoff 4,800 employees by March, representing 4.5% of its workforce. [via Mashable]
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There’s a lot going on with ELON MUSK’s STARLINK service from the weekend, here’s the latest:
– The chair of the Federal Communications Commission fired shots at Starlink last week, saying the company’s extensive satellite network is a “monopoly” that hinders the economy. “So we’ve got to invite many more space actors in, many more companies that can develop constellations and innovations in space,” she said. [via Reuters]
– UNITED AIRLINES has struck a deal to offer STARLINK internet access on all of its flights at no cost to its passengers. If Starlink is exploiting “monopoly” power, it’s really bad at it. And as any flier knows, traditional internet access in the air is expensive and unreliable, but Starlink offers consistent, high-speed connectivity based on multiple initial reviews. [via Washington Post]
As another FCC Commission member pointed out on X, in 2023 the FCC revoked an $855 MILLION contract for Starlink on the grounds it couldn’t reach enough people. Just a year later, that same bureaucracy called it a monopoly. It’s almost as if the FCC is being intentionally obtuse to antagonize a political opponent. [via Brendan Carr]
– Canada’s government recently awarded a $2.14 BILLION loan to a telecommunications company to build a satellite internet network to service rural areas. On X, Canadian Member of Parliament MICHAEL BARRETT asked Musk how much it would cost to provide Starlink service to every Canadian without access to high speed internet. Musk said he could do it for “less than half that amount” – so around $1 BILLION. [via Elon Musk]
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An original copy of the United States Constitution will hit the auction block later this month.
The rare artifact originally belonged to Samuel Johnston, the governor of North Carolina from 1787 to 1789 who managed the ratification of the Constitution in his state. The document stayed at Hayes Farm, Johnston’s plantation, forgotten in a filing cabinet with other historical documents until 2022.
That’s when the state of North Carolina purchased the farm to turn it into a public historical site. Finally, the filing cabinet was properly inventoried – and the document was found. This particular version inclues the signature of Charles Thomas, the secretary of the Congress that ratified the Constiution. Thomas only signed a few of the 100 copies he ordered printed – likely two copies for each state.
The document is the only known complete version of the Constitution in private hands. Bidding will start at $1 MILLION. A similar original Constitution sold in 2021 for $43.2 MILLION by Sotheby’s.
WORTH NOTING: In 1983, one historical document appraiser spotted an original copy of the Declaration of Independence with Johnston’s documents. That ended up selling for $412,500 at the time. [via CBS News]
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A 38-pound cat named Kroshik (Russian for “Crumbs”) got stuck in a shoe rack while trying to escape a pet diet camp in Perm, Russia last week.
The escapee was found caught on the bottom racks of the shelf, with his face shoved inside a blue Croc.
Now back at the pet center, employees say Kroshik will continue his daily exercise routine, complete with regular treadmill workouts.
FOR THE RECORD: Most domestic cats weigh about 10 pounds. [via NY Post]
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DEATHS
Country singer TOMMY CASH has died.
He passed away Friday, according to a post from the Johnny Cash Museum in Nashville. No further details were shared.
Tommy was the younger brother of the late JOHNNY CASH.
He was 84.
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust: $1.4 million (new)
9. The Forge: $2.01 million (down from 6)
8. It Ends With Us: $2.02 million (down from 5)
7. Alien: Romulus: $2.4 million (down from 4)
6. The Killer’s Game: $2.6 million (new)
5. Reagan: $2.9 million (down from 3)
4. Am I Racist?: $4.7 million (new)
3. Deadpool & Wolverine: $5.2 million (down from 2)
2. Speak No Evil: $11.5 million (new)
1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: $51.6 million (stayed at 1)
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW gained 297 points (0.72%) to close at 41,393 on Friday. The S&P increased 30 points (0.54%) to close at 5,626 and the NASDAQ increased 114 points (0.65%) to close at 17,683.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $68; BRENT CRUDE at $71.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.20 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN gained on the weekend, trading around $59,200 on Sunday evening.
🛩 There were more than 4,240 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 50 such cancellations.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $31 million jackpot or a $15.6 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $165 million jackpot or a $83.8 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards aired live last night from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Father-son duo EUGENE and DAN LEVY hosted the event.
It was the second Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony held this year, after the 75th ceremony was delayed from September 2023 to January 2024, due to the Hollywood strikes.
FX drama “Shogun” had a solid night, taking the best drama series, directing, and top acting categories. “Hacks,” the comedy about comedy, took home best comedy series. JEAN SMART also got the best comedy actress Emmy for her role on the show, which also picked up the win for comedy writing.
DRAMA WINNERS:
SERIES: “Shogun”
ACTRESS: Anna Sawai, “Shogun”
ACTOR: Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shogun”
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”
WRITING: Will Smith (not the one you’re thinking of), “Slow Horses”
DIRECTING: Frederick E.O. Toye, “Shogun”
COMEDY WINNERS:
SERIES: “Hacks”
ACTOR: Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”
ACTRESS: Jean Smart, “Hacks”
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Ebon Moss Bachrach, “The Bear”
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”
WRITING: Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky, “Hacks”
DIRECTING: Christopher Storer, “The Bear”
LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE WINNERS:
LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE: “Baby Reindeer”
ACTOR: Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”
ACTRESS: Jodie Foster, “True Detective: North Country”
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Lamorne Morris, “Fargo”
WRITING: Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”
DIRECTING: Steven Zaillian, “Ripley”
OTHER:
OUTSTANDING REALITY COMPETITION: “The Traitors”
OUTSTANDING TALK SERIES: “The Daily Show”
SCRIPTED VARIETY SERIES: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”
WRITING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL: Alex Edelman, “Just for Us”
GOVERNORS AWARD: Greg Berlanti
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TAYLOR SWIFT’s endorsement of KAMALA HARRIS isn’t working out the way many thought it would.
A new YouGov poll shows 20% of respondents say they are “somewhat” or “much less likely” to vote for Harris because of the endorsement, while 8% say they are “somewhat” or “much more likely” to cast their ballot for the VP.
Around 66% said Swift’s endorsement made no difference in how they plan to vote this November. [via NY Post]
WORTH NOTING: Most of her songs are about choosing the wrong person.
BUT SERIOUSLY: Celebrities should be telling their fans to do their own research and vote based on their concerns. Period. Celebs will most likely be unaffected by whomever wins the election, but for the average American the election will determine whether or not they can afford to put food on the table, gas in their cars, take that family vacation, put their kids in extracurricular activities, etc.
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JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE appeared in a Sag Harbor Village courtroom on Friday, where he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of driving while ability impaired in connection to his DWI case.
For his punishment, the 43-year-old will pay a fine and complete some community service, including recording a public safety announcement about the dangers of drinking and driving.
Following the hearing, JT held a press conference where he owned up to his mistakes, saying, “Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. Call a friend, take an Uber, take a taxi.” [via EW]
Raise your hand if you still believe he only had “one martini.” 🙅
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ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV responded to estranged wife NIKKI GARCIA’s divorce filing, asking for joint legal and physical custody of their 4-year-old son, Matteo. Garcia requested sole legal and physical custody in her filing last week.
He is also requesting spousal support and asking that she pay his attorneys fees.
This comes two weeks after he was arrested for domestic battery.
Neither have spoken publicly on the incident or subsequent divorce filing. [via Us Weekly]
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BEN AFFLECK and JENNIFER LOPEZ were spotted holding hands and smooching at brunch with their kids over the weekend, leaving many asking whether the divorce has been called off.
An insider told Page Six that the divorce is “still moving forward” and the couple only came together “so the kids could hang out.”
The source added that the two are “working out financial details amicably,” which is good considering there is no prenup.
BY THE WAY: The outing was the first sighting of the exes together since JLo filed for divorce last month. [via Page Six]
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KEVIN HART has shuttered all four California-based locations of his vegan fast-food chain, Hart House.
The eatery served plant-based burgers, “chicken” sandwiches and nuggets, salads, tater tots, milkshakes and more.
A reason for the closures was not disclosed.
WORTH NOTING: Hart has been on a mostly plant-based diet since 2020. [via THR]
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“SNL” star COLIN JOST is having some serious buyer's remorse about a purchase he made with fellow comedian PETE DAVIDSON.
In 2022, Jost and Davidson purchased a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry at auction for $280,000, with plans to convert it into a $34 million entertainment venue.
Now two years later, Jost says the purchase was “absolutely the dumbest and least thought-through purchase” he has ever made.
The vessel did recently serve as a host for the Tommy Hilfiger show during New York Fashion Week. [via People]
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CASTING CALL
Netflix is being sued by a man named Soham Shah, who claims the streamer based “Squid Game” off of his 2009 Indian flick “Luck.”
In Shah’s film, a desperate group of individuals is enticed to compete to win a large sum of money. They soon realize however that losing results in death. This is essentially the exact same plot as “Squid Game,” which came out over a decade later.
According to the suit, Shah wants a chunk of the $900 million Netflix’s market value increased as a result of “Squid Game” being its most-watched show.
Netflix has not commented on the suit. [via Fortune]
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Turns out a “Goonies” sequel might not be in the works after all.
Original star COREY FELDMAN responded to questions about reports that a sequel was happening on X, writing “I CAN OFFICIALLY TELL U 100% NO!.”
His co-star MARTHA PLIMPTON doubled down on his post, writing, “People, there is no ‘Goonies 2’ script, there is no one ‘attached,’ Spielberg is not directing, it’s not real.” [via Deadline]
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A new documentary focusing on the not-so-secret celebrity drug ring premieres tonight on FOX.
“TMZ Investigates Matthew Perry and the Secret Celebrity Drug Ring” features interviews from celebrities, such as KELLY OSBOURNE and “Jackass” star BRANDON NOVAK, who detail the ease at which Hollywood is able to obtain prescriptions.
The doc aims to expose the underground network of physicians, enablers and rehab centers who regularly cross the line of ethics. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE held a listening party for his new “Vultures” album on the Chinese island of Hainan yesterday and many are dumbfounded as to how and why.
After it was announced last week, many started questioning how the controversial rapper was given the green light by the Communist Party, with some suggesting it was to improve tourism to the island, known as the “Hawaii of China.”
The last time Ye performed in the country was in 2008, though those appearances were in wellknown Beijing and Shanghai. [via CNBC]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY turned 40 on Sunday – and got a pair of olive branches from his family in England.
The official X account of the Royal Family shared a photo of Harry, with the caption, “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” In the image, Harry wears a grey suit coat, white shirt, and is seen grinning.
That post was also shared by the official account for PRINCE WILLIAM and PRINCESS KATE. They added their own text, but didn’t get particularly creative: “Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex!”
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Family and Community Day
Teenager Workout Day
Anne Bradstreet Day
Pet Promise Day
Mayflower Day
National Stepfamily Day
National Working Parents Day
National Play-Doh Day
Collect Rocks Day
National Guacamole Day
National Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day
National Choose Your Chocolate Day
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ON THIS DATE
1620 - The Mayflower departs Plymouth, England with 102 Pilgrims and about 30 crew members for the New World.
They would land at Provincetown Harbor, Massachusetts that November.
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1776 - General George Washington rallies a pack of retreating Continental soldiers to take back territory recently invaded by the Redcoats.
4,000 Brits were occupying Manhattan.
Washington's troops were able to push the invaders back to the northern parts of the island. Though the gains were small, confidence in America's young army was bolstered.
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1810 - A Catholic priest declares Mexico's independence from Spain.
Peasants from around the area gather around the priest, named Miguel Hidalgo. He marches his proletariat force toward Mexico City. The first shots would be fired four days later at Guanajuato.
Official and guerrilla fighting continued for more than a decade.
Fighting culminated with the Treaty of Cordoba, signed in 1821, granting Mexico's independence from Spain.
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1908 - William Crapo Durant founds a holding company for Buick, his carmaker company, called General Motors.
Durant and his business partner, Charles Stewart Mott, were previously the manufacturers of horse-drawn carriages. As automobiles became more popular, they started building those, too.
Durant himself thought cars were noisy, dangerous, and stinky, but wouldn't shy away from an opportunity to make profit.
Today, GM is a holding company for several brands, including Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, GMC, Opel, Vauxhall, and Holden, with operations all across the globe.
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1920 - The “Wall Street bombing” occurs at 12:01 when a horse-drawn wagon explodes on Wall Street.
More than 140 were injured and 38 died. The driver of the wagon managed to escape.
To this day those responsible have not been identified.
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1940 - As fighting escalates in Europe, Congress passes the Burke-Wadsworth Act. It allowed for the first peacetime military draft in US history.
Men between the ages of 21 and 36 started registering the next month. While 20 million were eligible, anyone with health issues was dismissed. Around 4 million who signed up were illiterate, and also disqualified.
When the war expanded in 1942, the draft was extended to include those between the ages of 18 and 37.
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1985 - Steve Jobs resigns his post as chairman of Apple Computer. The same day, he incorporated a small company called NeXT Computer, which he envisioned would crush Apple.
It didn't.
Apple would buy NeXT for $400 million in 1996 and Jobs would return to Apple as an adviser.
When sitting Apple CEO Gil Amelio oversaw one of the company's worst losses ever, Apple named Jobs back to interim CEO -- exactly 12 years later.
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1993 - NBC sitcom “Frasier” begins its first season, on a run that would last 11 more years.
Kelsey Grammer played radio shrink Fraser Crane, who originated on the TV show “Cheers.”
Grammer also guest-starred on “Wings" in the early 1990s playing the same character. The guest spot earned him an Emmy -- making him the only actor ever to get three Emmy nominations for the same character on three different shows.
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2018 - Salesforce founder Marc Benioff and wife Lynne Benioff purchase Time magazine for $190 million.
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BIRTHDAYS
Metro Boomin - music producer - 31
Chase Stokes - actor, “Outer Banks” - 32
Nick Jonas - pop singer - 32
Ian Harding - actor, “Pretty Little Liars” - 38
Kyla Pratt - actress, “Dr. Dolittle” & “Hotel for Dogs” - 38
Gleb Savchenko - dancer, “DWTS” - 41
Alexis Bledel - actress, “Gilmore Girls” - 43
Flo Rida - rapper - 45
Amy Poehler - actress, “Parks and Recreation” & “SNL” - 53
Marc Anthony - pop singer - 56
Jennifer Tilly - actress, “Liar Liar” & “Seed of Chucky” - 66
David Copperfield - magician - 68
Robin Yount - HOF baseball player - 69
Ed Begley Jr. - actor, “St. Elsewhere” & “Arrested Development” - 75
Rosemary Casals - tennis player - 76
Born On This Date
BB King - guitarist - 1925 (d. 2015)
Lauren Bacall - actress, “Key Largo” - 1924 (d. 2014)
W. O. Bentley - founded Bentley Motors Limited - 1888 (d. 1971)
James Cash Penney - founder of department store J C Penney - 1875 (d. 1971)
Charles Crocker - railroad exec, Central Pacific Railroad - 1822 (d. 1888)
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