Wednesday Afternoon Update: CNN Layoffs, Disney Denies It’s Political, Killer Robots In San Francisco
This article is a companion piece to today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click here.
Senate Codifies Same-Sex Marriage
The Senate voted Tuesday on legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriages, moving Congress closer to passing the bill enshrining both into federal law. Twelve Republicans and 49 Democrats supported the bill, but opponents like Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), say the bill as currently written does not protect religious liberties.
U.S. House Passes Bill To Avoid Rail Strike
The U.S. House passed an urgent bill today in hopes of avoiding a nationwide rail strike. The bill would bind companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached in September but rejected by some of the 12 unions involved. The measure heads to the Senate, and if approved will head to President Joe Biden — who has urged the Senate to move quickly.
Disney Denies Politics
Disney CEO Bob Iger remarked during a town hall event with employees that he wants to advance social causes in a more subdued fashion. The comment comes after the entertainment giant faced public scrutiny earlier this year. Iger also denied that the company’s previous actions amounted to political activism.
“I think there’s a misperception here about what politics is, I think that some of the subjects that have proven to be controversial, as it relates to Disney, have been branded political and I don’t necessarily think they are,” Iger said. “I don’t think when you are telling stories and attempting to be a good citizen of the world that that’s political.”
EXCLUSIVE: I have obtained video from returning Disney CEO Bob Iger’s first town hall with employees, in which he signals that he will work to “quiet things down” politically and move toward neutrality in the culture war.https://t.co/ZBGdHhxFVS pic.twitter.com/ZbMCZN4MlG
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) November 29, 2022
Disclosure: The Daily Wire has announced plans for kids entertainment content.
Lethal Robots In San Francisco
This week, San Francisco granted the city’s police department permission to deploy potentially lethal robots in emergency situations.
Police noted that the remotely-controlled machines will not have firearms, but could have explosive devices “to contact, incapacitate, or disorient violent, armed, or dangerous suspects” in life-threatening situations.
New Democratic Leadership
House Democrats voted unanimously on Wednesday for hard-left Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to take over for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as the new House Minority Leader. Jeffries ran unopposed. Pelosi announced she would not seek re-election to party leadership earlier this month.
Layoffs At CNN
CNN CEO Chris Licht announced a wave of layoffs this week amid “a recalibrated reporting strategy.” The network will first notify contributors Wednesday, then full-time staff starting Thursday.
“It will be a difficult time for everyone,” Licht wrote in a memo to staff. The news network is reportedly attempting to change its editorial standards to be seen as more neutral.
Earlier this week, CNN anchor Don Lemon pushed back on the claim that the network had a liberal bias when asked about the changes by Stephen Colbert.
“The word on the street is that you guys aren’t allowed to be liberal anymore. Is that, is that the case?” Colbert asked.
“I don’t think we ever were liberal,” Lemon shot back.
“What?” Colbert said, appearing to be confused.
“Yes, I don’t think we ever were,” Lemon insisted.
Colbert pushed back, saying that it wasn’t really him saying that Licht wasn’t allowing anchors to be liberal: “That’s the people out there saying that he’s not letting you be liberal anymore.”
“Well, listen, I think that, I think what Chris is saying is that he wants Republicans, sensible Republicans,” Lemon explained, arguing that the new direction was more about keeping people “comfortable” than about choosing a side. “But also, by the nature of what we do, we have to hold people to account. And so that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re going liberal or conservative or whatever. It just means that we are doing what we do. And that’s good journalism.”
On @colbertlateshow, @DonLemon claims of CNN: “I don’t think we ever were liberal.” #Colbert pic.twitter.com/eHj8LYg5xt
— Brent Baker 🇺🇦 (@BrentHBaker) November 29, 2022
Explosion At Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid, Spain
An explosion at the Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid, Spain, early Wednesday reportedly injured one person. A Ukrainian spokesperson said an explosive device was “hidden” in an envelope that detonated inside the embassy. Local authorities are investigating the incident. No person or group has claimed responsibility.
Woman Sues Over Homemade Mac And Cheese
And a woman is suing Kraft for $5 million in a lawsuit alleging that the company’s macaroni and cheese product takes longer than the promised 3.5 minutes to make it.
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