🚘Biden Crash Leads to DUI

Welcome to the Thursday Newsletter, where we cover top industry news stories to keep you in the know.

Good morning. Hopefully by now, you’ve completed all of your Christmas shopping. For many, that’s hard to do. From a partridge in a pear tree, to 12 drummers drumming, holiday shopping is going to be moreexpensive this year. CNN reports, 2 in 5 Americans claim inflation will change their holiday shopping habits this year. I know it has for us! Travel safe and responsibly this holiday season. Talk to you next year 🙂

_{-Bailey Hepler}

PRESIDENTIAL

Car crashes into President Biden’s Motorcade, Driver issued DUI

In a startling incident on a rainy Sunday night, a 46-year-old man from Wilmington, Delaware, found himself in the national spotlight after his vehicle collided with an SUV in President Joe Biden's motorcade. The accident, which occurred as President Biden was leaving his campaign headquarters, resulted in damage to both vehicles and briefly startled the President.

The Wilmington Police Department, following an investigation, determined the collision to be accidental. However, the driver of the car that struck the motorcade's SUV was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Inattentive Driving, as stated by David Karas, the Communications Director of the Wilmington Police Department.

The U.S. Secret Service confirmed the incident, stating that one of the vehicles securing the President's motorcade route was hit by another vehicle. Steve Kopek, a Secret Service spokesperson, emphasized that there was no protective interest associated with the event, indicating that the crash was not intentional.

What to know.

• The identity of the man involved in the crash has not been disclosed, however, Steve Kopek, a Secret Service spokesperson, emphasized that there was no protective interest associated with the event, indicating that the crash was not intentional.

• Notably, the SUV impacted in the collision was not the one carrying the President. President Biden, along with First Lady Jill Biden, who was already in the presidential vehicle, were escorted safely to their car.

SENATE

Scandal in the Senate: Explicit Video Shakes Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill was recently shaken by a scandal involving an explicit video of two men engaging in sexual acts in a Senate hearing room. The eight-second pornographic clip, which first surfaced on the right-wing media website the Daily Caller, was reportedly leaked from a private group chat for gay men in politics. The video, showing the incident in Room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building, has sparked widespread controversy and discussion.

The Players at hand.

• The Spectator, a conservative British magazine, had earlier reported that an unnamed staffer for Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) had shared indecent photos and videos of himself in the Capitol. This report was followed by the Daily Caller's video, which led to the identification of the staffer involved as Aidan Maese-Czeropski, a legislative aide for Senator Cardin. Following the incident, Senator Cardin's office confirmed that Maese-Czeropski was no longer employed by the U.S. Senate.

• Maese-Czeropski, believed to be 24 years old, responded to the controversy on LinkedIn, stating that he had been attacked for his sexual orientation to further a political agenda. He admitted to poor judgment in his past actions but denied any disrespect towards his workplace. He also mentioned exploring legal options in response to the characterizations of his actions.

• Former Congressman George Santos commented on the situation, emphasizing that the issue was not Maese-Czeropski's sexuality but the act of having sex in a government building.

• Additionally, Mike Collins (R-Ga.) made a tongue-in-cheek reference to the incident in a social media post involving Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), whose seat is in the hearing room where the incident allegedly took place.

CELEBRITIES

Marvel Studios / Disney Dismisses Jonathan Majors after Guilty Verdict in Assault Case

Jonathan Majors, known for his role as the megavillain Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has been dismissed from Marvel Studios. This decision comes in the wake of Majors being found guilty of reckless assault and harassment in a domestic violence trial by a six-person jury in New York City.

A representative from the studio confirmed their decision to part ways with Majors, who had become a prominent figure in the MCU's Phases 4 through 6. Majors first appeared as Kang the Conqueror in the first season of "Loki" in 2021 and continued the role in Season 2 and the movie "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," which grossed over $476 million worldwide. He also starred in Amazon MGM’s "Creed III," which was a commercial success.

This development marks a significant shift in Majors' career and raises questions about the impact of personal conduct on professional opportunities in Hollywood. The decision by Marvel Studios reflects the industry's increasing focus on maintaining a certain standard of behavior among its leading figures, especially in high-profile franchises like the MCU.

Major’s Legal Punishment.

Cary London, a Manhattan-based civil rights and criminal defense attorney at Shulman & Hill says, “Since it’s the defendant’s first conviction, although technically he faces one year of jail, the judge will 99 percent give him three years probation, anger management and possibly some community service. Mr. Majors is not getting jail time.”

WORLD

Devastating Earthquake in China Claims 134 Lives Amid Freezing Conditions

A powerful magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck near the border of Gansu and Qinghai provinces in China just before midnight on Monday, leading to a tragic death toll of 134 people, with almost 1,000 injured. The earthquake, which was followed by several strong aftershocks, caused significant destruction, damaging or destroying over 150,000 homes and triggering mud and landslides. The quake also disrupted local infrastructure, including power lines.

Freezing Temps Challenge Rescue Efforts.

Rescue efforts have been challenging due to the freezing weather conditions, with temperatures dropping as low as -16C in the high-altitude area of north-west China. Despite these harsh conditions, a large-scale rescue operation is underway, involving 1,500 firefighters, 1,500 police officers, 1,000 soldiers from the People's Liberation Army, and about 400 medics. So far, 78 people have been rescued in Gansu, but 20 individuals are still missing in Minhe county, where a mudslide caused severe damage.

High Casualty Rate Causes.

The earthquake's high casualty rate is attributed to several factors, including its shallow depth, which resulted in more intense shaking, and the poor quality of buildings in the affected area, which is relatively underprivileged. The timing of the quake, occurring in the middle of the night, also contributed to the high number of casualties, as most people were at home.