What's saying 'hold my Mickey Ears'…Disney. Yesterday, the Walt Disney Company sued Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) for allegedly carrying out a "targeted campaign" against the company. This comes after a year-long cat-and-mouse game that stemmed from Disney speaking out against Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law. Since then, DeSantis has dissolved Disney's board, implemented his own, and tried to prevent the company from expanding its Orlando properties. Disney tapped into the power of its Magic Kingdom and created a King Charles III clause to keep its self-governing control — a move the state-appointed board voided. Now, Disney says it has "exhausted efforts to seek a resolution" and that its free speech rights were violated. The company wants a judge to pull a disappearing act on the governor's takeover of the district. DeSantis' reps said they are "unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government."
What the House is focusing on…The debt ceiling bill. Yesterday, House Republicans narrowly passed a measure to raise the country's debt ceiling. The 217-215 vote saw zero support from Democrats. Reminder: The clock's ticking on Congress to take action on the debt ceiling, or the gov could default as early as June for the first time in history. The House bill would raise the debt limit by $1.5 trillion in exchange for cuts to federal spending by $4.5 trillion. It would also reshuffle unspent COVID relief funds, cancel President Biden's student loan forgiveness, remove clean energy tax credits, and add new requirements for federal programs like Medicaid. The measure's passage is considered a symbolic win for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who had to navigate a divided party. Now, McCarthy's saying it is Biden's turn to "sit down and negotiate." The president has said he'd veto the bill, if it made it through the Senate — where it's expected to be DOA.
Where 'and also with you' means a little more now…The Catholic Church. Yesterday, Pope Francis announced that women will be allowed to vote at a major bishop's meeting for the first time in the church's history. The move is an effort from Francis to continue to be more inclusive. Now, the change will allow lay people (aka non-ordained members) to have more responsibility over the church's pressing issues.
What's got gut health top of mind…The FDA. Yesterday, the agency approved a first-of-its-kind pill that's made from bacteria found in human waste (yep, that kind). The drug is to treat C. diff, which is a gut infection that can be deadly. Now, health experts hope this new drug will make it easier to treat patients who are at risk of reinfection. You gut to love science.
While Carrie and Aidan have us saying, 'And Just Like That'...Salma Hayek and Michael Cera are dragging us back into a 'Black Mirror.'
Who's apparently flying solo...Gigi Paris. |