Wednesday, December 17
Tuesday, December 16
Headlines
Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic
Rob Reiner’s son Nick arrested on suspicion of murder in his parents’ deaths. After legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found fatally stabbed in their home on Sunday, police arrested the couple’s son Nick Reiner, 32, and the Los Angeles chief of police said yesterday that he had been “booked for murder.” As of yesterday, he was being held without bail. Nick Reiner co-wrote the 2015 film Being Charlie, which his father directed, about his struggle with drug addiction. Correction: Yesterday’s newsletter mistakenly referred to Rob Reiner by his father’s name, Carl, on first reference. Carl Reiner died of natural causes in 2020. We regret the error.
Ford expects a $19.5 billion hit from pulling back on EVs. The automaker said yesterday that its strategy shift away from electric vehicles and toward hybrids will reduce its profit in the near-term. The decision to put its EV plans into reverse means Ford will stop producing an all-electric version of its signature F-150 Lightning pickup truck and will instead offer it as an extended-range EV that will include a gas-powered generator capable of recharging its battery. Ford CEO Jim Farley said the move away from EVs would ultimately “create a stronger, more resilient and more profitable Ford.” Its EV business had already cost Ford $13 billion since 2023, per the Wall Street Journal. The retreat from EVs puts US automakers out of step with Chinese competitors that are shaking up the industry by selling cheap electric models.
Zillow may be getting an Alphabet-sized competitor. There are few areas of online search that Google doesn’t dominate, but real estate listings is one of them…for now. The search giant appears to be testing displaying its own real estate listings at the top of search results, and that news sent Zillow’s stock down more than 9% yesterday, like the price of a house where they’ve just discovered cracks in the foundation. Still, analysts were quick to point out that a little (massive) competition might not be so bad for Zillow, which isn’t very dependent on organic search traffic for its pageviews.—AR
Robert Reich
A view from our neighbor
Friends,
Some of the most useful insights into what’s happening to America are coming from political analysts outside the United States. Here’s a particularly lucid essay by Andrew Coyne that appeared in the December 5 edition of Canada’s The Globe and Mail.
***
Donald Trump — and American democracy — is getting exponentially worse
Andrew Coyne
I wish I could say I told you so. A point I have tried to make over the last year or so is that Donald Trump can only get worse: that however corrupt or incompetent or dictatorial or treasonous or insane he may appear at any given moment, it will inevitably come to be seen as a relative golden age beside what is to come.
At A Glance
"Slop" is the latest word of the year.... and a glossary of the last century of slang.
Next year's baby name predictions.
Countries that drink the most wine per capita.
The "Home Alone" house is undergoing a major renovation.
... and 23 behind-the-scenes facts about the holiday classic.
ill a fish disco prevent murder on the seafloor?
Chemistry says these are the best chocolate chip cookies.
Clickbait: Scientists found Little Foot.
... and want to see something cool? Surprise me.
Historybook: Ludwig van Beethoven born (1770); Boston Tea Party occurs (1773); Author Jane Austen born (1775); Anthropologist Margaret Mead born (1901); World War II’s Battle of the Bulge begins (1944).
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Two people are found dead at film director Rob Reiner's home in Brentwood, California; police had not identified the deceased as of this writing, though the age descriptions appeared to match those of Reiner and his wife, Michele (More)
> John Cena retires from wrestling after losing his final WWE match to Gunther; the 17-time WWE world champion is considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time (More) | Explore what we've learned about pro wrestling (More)
> New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs advance to NBA Cup finals, streaming tomorrow at 8:30 pm ET on Amazon Prime Video (More)
Science & Technology
> SpaceX Falcon 9 launch marks the 550th time the company has successfully recovered its reusable rocket booster; milestone comes days ahead of the 10-year anniversary of its first demonstration (More) | Explore our favorite resources on SpaceX (1440 Topics)
> US health regulators approve two new drugs to treat gonorrhea; the sexually transmitted disease infects about 80 million people globally per year, with drug-resistant strains becoming prevalent (More)
> Scientists create first human heart organoid that can replicate atrial fibrillation; organoids are 3D, lab-grown organ-like structures (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close down Friday (S&P 500 -1.1%, Dow -0.5%, Nasdaq -1.7%), driven by anxiety in AI stocks; Broadcom falls 11% despite beating Q4 projections (More)
> United Kingdom GDP unexpectedly shrinks 0.1% in October; analysts say data increases likelihood Bank of England cuts interest rates this week (More)
> US software firm ServiceNow reportedly close to acquiring cybersecurity company Armis for $7B; would be ServiceNow's largest deal in company history (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> ISIS shooter kills at least three Americans—two US soldiers and one civilian interpreter—in Palmyra, Syria; President Donald Trump vows retaliation (More)
> Israel kills a senior Hamas commander in Gaza, the most high-profile killing since ceasefire took effect two months ago (More) | Thailand says Cambodia rocket killed a Thai civilian, first civilian death amid renewed border clashes (More)
> Chileans elect right-wing candidate José Antonio Kast as president in runoff election (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Upside Down
.jpg)
Our world is UPSIDE-DOWN as we are experiencing things that we should never experience to the degree that we are experiencing them.
So, what am I talking about?
- The DOJ attacks on Trump
- The reckless inflow of illegal immigrants
- The insane resistance to everything President Trump tries to do
- The needless killing of people in the USA
- Mainstream media that distorts the truth to change the narrative
- The demand of Americans for illegal drugs
- The LIES that Democrats share with the public
- The FRAUD that the Democrats have perpetuated since Obama
- The insatiable wealth gap
- The lack of K-12 education
While our country is still the most powerful economically and militarily, CHINA is making extraordinary GAINS on us like the generation of twice the electricity that we are currently generating.
Why is that important?
Electricity is exactly what we need to support our DEMAND for Artificial Intelligence.
Whoever wins the battle for AI, will have complete control of the future as AI is in the process of being a part of LIFE that will control 110% of everything that is going on...
If China wins, where does that leave NUMBER TWO?
The art of understated genius
We often assume that intelligence reveals itself loudly—through big accomplishments, impressive vocabulary, or the kind of confidence that fills a room. But the truth is far more interesting.
Some of the most intelligent people you’ll ever meet don’t broadcast it at all. They blend in. They observe. They listen more than they speak. And because they don’t feel the need to prove themselves, their depth often goes unnoticed.
I’ve always been fascinated by this kind of quiet, understated genius—the kind that never needs a spotlight, yet shapes conversations, relationships, and ideas in subtle but powerful ways.
Here are 10 signs someone may be far more intelligent than they let on.
Monday, December 15
Headlines
David Gray/Getty Images
Sydney reels after Hanukkah terror attack kills at least 15. Two men identified as father and son Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram opened fire at a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday. As of 9:30am local time on Monday morning, the death toll stood at 15, while 40 people remained hospitalized. Hundreds had gathered to participate in a Chanukah by the Sea event to commemorate the first night of Hanukkah, presented by the international Jewish organization Chabad. Victims’ names have not officially been released, but the list is said to include children and the elderly. Chabad of Bondi’s Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, was one of the victims killed, the organization said. Sajid Akram,50, was killed by police at the scene. Naveed Akram, 24, “suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard,” according to the New South Wales Police. Authorities believe both men had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the terrorist attack “an act of pure evil” that “deliberately targeted” the Jewish community, as concerns grow over rising antisemitic violence in Australia and around the world. President Trump also condemned the shooting as a “purely antisemitic attack.” Mass shooting at Brown University leaves 2 dead, 9 injured. On Saturday afternoon, a gunman opened fire during a final exam review for a Principles of Economics class at Brown University in Providence, RI, killing at least two students and injuring nine others. The mayor of Providence said in a news briefing yesterday that not all the shooting victims’ families had been reached at that time as some were traveling, and that victims’ identities would not be released publicly until proper notification was made. Yesterday evening, federal agents detained a person of interest at a Hampton Inn hotel 20 miles south of Providence, whom they later released. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said that evidence “now points in a different direction” and that the investigation would “proceed very carefully” after the original person of interest’s name was leaked to the public. In a statement last night, Brown University said, “Local police have advised they do not believe there is any immediate threat to Brown or the local community.” Carl Reiner and his wife, Michele, killed in “apparent homicide.” On Sunday afternoon, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical aid request and found a 78-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman unresponsive, and a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity that the deceased were the home’s owners and occupants, the actor–director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. That source also told the outlet that the victims appeared to suffer stab wounds and that a family member was being questioned by investigators. Los Angeles authorities have not publicly identified the couple, but LAPD Capt. Mike Bland said detectives with the Robbery Homicide Division were investigating the incident as a “possible homicide.” Reiner, the son of legendary comedian Carl Reiner, rose to fame playing Mike Stivic on the sitcom All in the Family and went on to direct a string of classics, including This is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, and When Harry Met Sally. Rob said last year that his relationship with Michele inspired him to change the ending of When Harry Met Sally from sad to happy.—HVL
Robert Reich
Republican senators in the Hoosier State, whose civic tradition won out over fanatical political warfare
Friends,
Especially in these dark times, it’s important to salute courageous individuals who stand up to Trump’s tyranny.
My latest Joseph Welch Award (named after the courageous attorney who stood up to Joseph McCarthy in the 1954 Army-McCarthy hearings) goes to the 21 Indiana Senate Republicans who stood up to Trump last Thursday.
Indiana’s GOP-controlled state Senate rejected 31 to 19 the map that would have gerrymandered two more safe red seats. The vote may have imperiled the Republican Party’s chances of holding control of Congress next November, but it strengthened American democracy.
The failed vote was the culmination of a no-holds-barred, four-month pressure campaign from Trump and his White House on recalcitrant Indiana Republicans. The pressure included private meetings and public shaming from Trump, along with Trump’s threats to primary them next time they’re up for election (“They … should DO THEIR JOB, AND DO IT NOW!” Trump posted. “If not, let’s get them out of office.”).
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)