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Mo News: Gun Laws in America

Author

Mosheh Oinounou
June 03, 2022

Hi everyone,

Our current mood--

OK, now that that's out of our system, hope everyone had a good week. Here's today's rundown:

  • Guns in America: President Biden delivers a primetime address as Congress debates gun laws. But what kind of changes might actually pass?

  • Plus, a disturbing new trend when it comes to mass shootings in America-- the gunmen are getting younger.

  • It's been 100 days since Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia now controls about 20% of the country. We'll take a look at the dramatic toll the war has had on children, with 2 out of 3 kids in the country currently displaced.

  • What the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard verdict means for the future of #MeToo.

  • Sheryl Sandberg is stepping down as COO of Facebook: A look at her legacy and why she's leaving.

  • The housing market is so rough, it's bringing potential homebuyers to tears!

  • What to expect from the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which starts... now.

  • And as always, what we're watching, reading and eating this weekend, with a look back at one of our all-time favorite shows, The Wire, and a glimpse at Mosh's food tour of the Middle East.

Mosh and Alex will be back in the US this weekend. Check out Mosh's Instagram feed for trip highlights and also-- the news, back as soon as he is.

Have a great weekend!

~ Jill

🚨Guns in America

In an address to the nation last night, President Biden talked about the latest wave of mass shootings and urged Congress to pass 'common sense' gun laws and provide more mental health services for students. ~ AP

Hi everyone, Our current mood-- OK, now that that's out of our system, hope everyone had a good week. Here's today's rundown: Guns in America: President Biden delivers a primetime address as Congress debates gun laws. But what kind of changes might actually pass? Plus, a disturbing new trend when it comes to mass shootings in America-- the gunmen are getting younger. It's been 100 days since Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia now controls about 20% of the country. We'll take a look at the dramatic toll the war has had on children, with 2 out of 3 kids in the country currently displaced. What the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard verdict means for the future of #MeToo. Sheryl Sandberg is stepping down as COO of Facebook: A look at her legacy and why she's leaving. The housing market is so rough, it's bringing potential homebuyers to tears! What to expect from the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which starts... now. And as always, what we're watching, reading and eating this weekend, with a look back at one of our all-time favorite shows, The Wire, and a glimpse at Mosh's food tour of the Middle East. Mosh and Alex will be back in the US this weekend. Check out Mosh's Instagram feed for trip highlights and also-- the news, back as soon as he is. Have a great weekend! ~ Jill 🚨Guns in America In an address to the nation last night, President Biden talked about the latest wave of mass shootings and urged Congress to pass 'common sense' gun laws and provide more mental health services for students. ~ AP It follows last week’s shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, TX, in which an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 students and two teachers. Then on Wednesday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a gunman shot and killed four people and himself at a medical office. And on May 14, an 18-year-old opened fire at a supermarket in predominantly Black neighborhood in Buffalo, NY, killing 10 people and wounding three. All three of the gunmen bought their AR-15 style rifles shortly before the shooting. The Oklahoma gunman bought his gun just HOURS before opening fire on his former doctor. ~ NBC News WHERE THINGS STAND WITH GUN LEGISLATION: In the Senate, which is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, a bipartisan group of senators is negotiating a package that would increase funding for mental health services and boost school security — measures generally favored by Republicans. They're also focused on expanding background checks and passing incentives for states to pass red flag laws, which allow authorities to confiscate firearms from people who are threats to themselves or to others. ~ NBC News In the House, where Democrats have a majority, lawmakers are looking at more comprehensive gun reform called The Protecting Our Kids Act. The bills would raise the minimum age for buying semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21 and ban large-capacity magazines and bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire more rapidly. The House plan has very little chance of passing in the Senate. ~ CBS News Disturbing New Pattern: As the NY Times notes, "six of the nine deadliest mass shootings in the United States since 2018 were by people who were 21 or younger, a shift from earlier decades." “We see two clusters when it comes to mass shooters, people in their 40s who commit workplace type shootings, and a very big cluster of young people — 18, 19, 20, 21 — who seem to get caught up in the social contagion of killing." -- Jillian Peterson, criminal justice professor 🇺🇦 Ukraine War: 100 Day Mark It's been roughly 100 days since Russia invaded Ukraine, and President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia now occupies 20% of the country, an area the size of the Netherlands. The fighting is now focused on the eastern part of the Ukraine. ~ NY Times Impact on Children: Two out of three children in Ukraine have been displaced by fighting, according to Unicef. The UN says five million children are now in need of humanitarian assistance, with "consequences for children at a scale and speed not seen since World War II." US Sends More Aid: The US just passed another $700 million aid package for Ukraine, which includes advanced rocket-launcher systems and 1,000 Javelin missiles. President Biden said he wants to provide Ukraine with "more advanced rocket systems and munitions." ~ CBS News This is the 11th aid package that the U.S. has sent to Ukraine. And the "first to come from the $40 billion aid package passed last month." ~ CNBC Russia has been critical of Biden's decision to send more advanced weaponry to Ukraine, accusing the US of “deliberately pouring oil on the fire." ⭐ Amber Heard / Johnny Depp Fallout Amber Heard's lawyer says she plans to appeal the decision in Johnny Depp's defamation trial against her, telling TODAY that Depp's attorneys worked to "demonize" and suppress "an enormous amount of evidence." ~ NBC News Backstory: In 2019, Depp sued ex-wife Heard for defamation after she wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post, in which she called herself a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” Heard didn't mention Depp by name, but he argued that the op-ed cost him work. Depp sought $50 million in damages. Heard then countersued for $100 million over statements Depp's attorney made, saying her abuse claims were a "hoax." The Verdict: A jury said both parties had been defamed, awarding Depp $15 million in damages and Heard $2 million (she'll only have to pay $10.4 million because of a Virginia cap on punitive damages). Her lawyer says she is "absolutely not" able to pay that amount. REACTION: In a statement on Twitter, Heard wrote that she's “heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of [Depp]." For his part, Depp said the jury gave him his life back: "From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome…The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun.” Future of #MeToo: Some observers are concerned that this verdict will discourage victims of abuse from coming forward with their stories. There are also questions why Hollywood, which was so vocal during the Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby trials, remained mostly silent this time around. Meanwhile many of Depp's supporters said this case was an example of #MeToo “going too far.” Some key differences in this case: "Depp has alleged that he, too, is a victim of abuse in the relationship; Heard is a lone victim, not part of a group who came forward; and Depp’s fan base has been vocal online, creating memes and hashtags that criticize Heard and cast doubt on her testimony... Time’s Up is also no longer the force it was during those trials. Its board has dissolved and two CEOs resigned last year in the months after the Cuomo scandal exploded. " ~ Hollywood Reporter Here's how some celebrities reacted to the verdict. ~ NY Post 🗞 THE SPEED READ Sheryl Sandberg departure marks the end of an era for women in tech Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg's departure from Facebook as one of the highest-ranking female executives in corporate America marks the end of an era in the brand of self-empowerment feminism she championed as a critical tool to fight sexism in the workplace. Her advice to women who wanted to ascend higher in their careers was simply to “lean in,” or be more assertive at their jobs, which became a cultural phenomenon. Sandberg, 52, announced Wednesday that she was stepping down as COO after a 14-year stint at a company she helped transform from a social media website for college students into a mammoth digital-advertising business. Sandberg says she's leaving Facebook to spend more time with her family and on her philanthropic work. (Washington Post) US Housing Market Is So Stressful That Buyers Are Left in Tears With prices high and inventory tight, Americans say the process of purchasing a house is just as bad as getting fired. With prices high and inventory tight, 50% of homebuyers said they cried at least once during the process of purchasing a house, with the stress on par with planning a wedding or being fired, according to a survey from Zillow. (Bloomberg) Chipotle now accepts cryptocurrency payments Flexa has announced that Chipotle can now accept digital payments through its platform. The option is available at all Chipotle locations in the US, and you can use it so long as you have a Flexa-enabled wallet app, such as Gemini and SPEDN. You simply have to fire up your app, choose Chipotle and show your phone at the cashier. (Engadget) First named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season could form soon and threaten Florida this weekend The Atlantic hurricane season started Wednesday, and as if on cue, a storm is likely to form within the next couple of days and possibly threaten South Florida over the weekend. If it gets a name, which it would if its sustained winds reach 39 mph, it would be called Tropical Storm Alex. The Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30. Federal forecasters expect above-normal activity for the seventh straight year: As many as 10 hurricanes are possible. (USA Today) New CNN boss has a message for staffers: Cool it with the ‘Breaking News’ banner In recent weeks, Licht, who officially started as CNN’s new boss on May 2, has held meetings with employees to solicit feedback about when and how the network uses its “Breaking News” banner. (CNBC) “This is a great starting point to try to make ‘Breaking News’ mean something BIG is happening,” Licht wrote in the memo, which CNBC has obtained. “We are truth-tellers, focused on informing, not alarming our viewers. You’ve already seen far less of the ‘Breaking News’ banner across our programming. The tenor of our voice holistically has to reflect that.” LeBron James becomes NBA's first active player worth $1 billion, per Forbes The Los Angeles Lakers megastar, a four-time NBA champion and the league's No. 2 career scorer, made $121.2 million from May 2021 to May 2022 in on-court salary and off-court earnings, according to Forbes. The total trailed only that of Lionel Messi, who made $130 million, on Forbes' highest-paid athletes list. Reaching $1 billion is something James has been thinking about for some time. (ESPN) 🎉 CHEERS TO THE FREAKIN' WEEKEND What We're Watching: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, new to Netflix in June. (Just because we need something LIGHT-- anyone else?) What We're Reading: ‘The Wire’ at 20: ‘This Show Will Live Forever’, David Simon and Ed Burns discuss the legacy of their seminal crime drama, and why the systemic decay it depicted has become only more profound. (NY Times) What We're Eating: Har Bracha Tahini Paste, in honor of Mosh's trip to the Middle East. Mosh and Alex had the dish (below) made with that tahini at the restaurant M25 in Tel Aviv. (Next time they better take us with them!) ⭐️ Premium Content: Enjoying Mo News? Want access to newsmaker interviews, extra editions every week, additional content in an exclusive Facebook group and an opportunity to ask me questions directly? Sign Up for our premium newsletter subscription. It will help us grow the newsletter and continue to expand to multiple platforms. Special Deal: 15% off to become an annual member. 📰 Miss a day? Check out past newsletters here 📧 Any questions or feedback about this newsletter? Email Us 📱 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and TikTok

  • It follows last week’s shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, TX, in which an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 students and two teachers. Then on Wednesday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a gunman shot and killed four people and himself at a medical office. And on May 14, an 18-year-old opened fire at a supermarket in predominantly Black neighborhood in Buffalo, NY, killing 10 people and wounding three.

  • All three of the gunmen bought their AR-15 style rifles shortly before the shooting. The Oklahoma gunman bought his gun just HOURS before opening fire on his former doctor. ~ NBC News

  • WHERE THINGS STAND WITH GUN LEGISLATION:In the Senate, which is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, a bipartisan group of senators is negotiating a package that would increase funding for mental health services and boost school security — measures generally favored by Republicans. They're also focused on expanding background checks and passing incentives for states to pass red flag laws, which allow authorities to confiscate firearms from people who are threats to themselves or to others. ~ NBC NewsIn the House, where Democrats have a majority, lawmakers are looking at more comprehensive gun reform called The Protecting Our Kids Act. The bills would raise the minimum age for buying semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21 and ban large-capacity magazines and bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire more rapidly. The House plan has very little chance of passing in the Senate. ~ CBS News

  • Disturbing New Pattern: As the NY Times notes, "six of the nine deadliest mass shootings in the United States since 2018 were by people who were 21 or younger, a shift from earlier decades."“We see two clusters when it comes to mass shooters, people in their 40s who commit workplace type shootings, and a very big cluster of young people — 18, 19, 20, 21 — who seem to get caught up in the social contagion of killing." -- Jillian Peterson, criminal justice professor

🇺🇦 Ukraine War: 100 Day Mark

It's been roughly 100 days since Russia invaded Ukraine, and President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia now occupies 20% of the country, an area the size of the Netherlands. The fighting is now focused on the eastern part of the Ukraine. ~ NY Times

  • Impact on Children: Two out of three children in Ukraine have been displaced by fighting, according to Unicef. The UN says five million children are now in need of humanitarian assistance, with "consequences for children at a scale and speed not seen since World War II."

  • US Sends More Aid: The US just passed another $700 million aid package for Ukraine, which includes advanced rocket-launcher systems and 1,000 Javelin missiles. President Biden said he wants to provide Ukraine with "more advanced rocket systems and munitions." ~ CBS NewsThis is the 11th aid package that the U.S. has sent to Ukraine. And the "first to come from the $40 billion aid package passed last month." ~ CNBCRussia has been critical of Biden's decision to send more advanced weaponry to Ukraine, accusing the US of “deliberately pouring oil on the fire."

⭐ Amber Heard / Johnny Depp Fallout

Amber Heard's lawyer says she plans to appeal the decision in Johnny Depp's defamation trial against her, telling TODAY that Depp's attorneys worked to "demonize" and suppress "an enormous amount of evidence." ~ NBC News

  • Backstory: In 2019, Depp sued ex-wife Heard for defamation after she wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post, in which she called herself a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” Heard didn't mention Depp by name, but he argued that the op-ed cost him work. Depp sought $50 million in damages.Heard then countersued for $100 million over statements Depp's attorney made, saying her abuse claims were a "hoax."

  • The Verdict: A jury said both parties had been defamed, awarding Depp $15 million in damages and Heard $2 million (she'll only have to pay $10.4 million because of a Virginia cap on punitive damages). Her lawyer says she is "absolutely not" able to pay that amount.

REACTION: In a statement on Twitter, Heard wrote that she's “heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of [Depp]."

Hi everyone, Our current mood-- OK, now that that's out of our system, hope everyone had a good week. Here's today's rundown: Guns in America: President Biden delivers a primetime address as Congress debates gun laws. But what kind of changes might actually pass? Plus, a disturbing new trend when it comes to mass shootings in America-- the gunmen are getting younger. It's been 100 days since Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia now controls about 20% of the country. We'll take a look at the dramatic toll the war has had on children, with 2 out of 3 kids in the country currently displaced. What the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard verdict means for the future of #MeToo. Sheryl Sandberg is stepping down as COO of Facebook: A look at her legacy and why she's leaving. The housing market is so rough, it's bringing potential homebuyers to tears! What to expect from the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which starts... now. And as always, what we're watching, reading and eating this weekend, with a look back at one of our all-time favorite shows, The Wire, and a glimpse at Mosh's food tour of the Middle East. Mosh and Alex will be back in the US this weekend. Check out Mosh's Instagram feed for trip highlights and also-- the news, back as soon as he is. Have a great weekend! ~ Jill 🚨Guns in America In an address to the nation last night, President Biden talked about the latest wave of mass shootings and urged Congress to pass 'common sense' gun laws and provide more mental health services for students. ~ AP It follows last week’s shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, TX, in which an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 students and two teachers. Then on Wednesday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a gunman shot and killed four people and himself at a medical office. And on May 14, an 18-year-old opened fire at a supermarket in predominantly Black neighborhood in Buffalo, NY, killing 10 people and wounding three. All three of the gunmen bought their AR-15 style rifles shortly before the shooting. The Oklahoma gunman bought his gun just HOURS before opening fire on his former doctor. ~ NBC News WHERE THINGS STAND WITH GUN LEGISLATION: In the Senate, which is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, a bipartisan group of senators is negotiating a package that would increase funding for mental health services and boost school security — measures generally favored by Republicans. They're also focused on expanding background checks and passing incentives for states to pass red flag laws, which allow authorities to confiscate firearms from people who are threats to themselves or to others. ~ NBC News In the House, where Democrats have a majority, lawmakers are looking at more comprehensive gun reform called The Protecting Our Kids Act. The bills would raise the minimum age for buying semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21 and ban large-capacity magazines and bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire more rapidly. The House plan has very little chance of passing in the Senate. ~ CBS News Disturbing New Pattern: As the NY Times notes, "six of the nine deadliest mass shootings in the United States since 2018 were by people who were 21 or younger, a shift from earlier decades." “We see two clusters when it comes to mass shooters, people in their 40s who commit workplace type shootings, and a very big cluster of young people — 18, 19, 20, 21 — who seem to get caught up in the social contagion of killing." -- Jillian Peterson, criminal justice professor 🇺🇦 Ukraine War: 100 Day Mark It's been roughly 100 days since Russia invaded Ukraine, and President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia now occupies 20% of the country, an area the size of the Netherlands. The fighting is now focused on the eastern part of the Ukraine. ~ NY Times Impact on Children: Two out of three children in Ukraine have been displaced by fighting, according to Unicef. The UN says five million children are now in need of humanitarian assistance, with "consequences for children at a scale and speed not seen since World War II." US Sends More Aid: The US just passed another $700 million aid package for Ukraine, which includes advanced rocket-launcher systems and 1,000 Javelin missiles. President Biden said he wants to provide Ukraine with "more advanced rocket systems and munitions." ~ CBS News This is the 11th aid package that the U.S. has sent to Ukraine. And the "first to come from the $40 billion aid package passed last month." ~ CNBC Russia has been critical of Biden's decision to send more advanced weaponry to Ukraine, accusing the US of “deliberately pouring oil on the fire." ⭐ Amber Heard / Johnny Depp Fallout Amber Heard's lawyer says she plans to appeal the decision in Johnny Depp's defamation trial against her, telling TODAY that Depp's attorneys worked to "demonize" and suppress "an enormous amount of evidence." ~ NBC News Backstory: In 2019, Depp sued ex-wife Heard for defamation after she wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post, in which she called herself a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” Heard didn't mention Depp by name, but he argued that the op-ed cost him work. Depp sought $50 million in damages. Heard then countersued for $100 million over statements Depp's attorney made, saying her abuse claims were a "hoax." The Verdict: A jury said both parties had been defamed, awarding Depp $15 million in damages and Heard $2 million (she'll only have to pay $10.4 million because of a Virginia cap on punitive damages). Her lawyer says she is "absolutely not" able to pay that amount. REACTION: In a statement on Twitter, Heard wrote that she's “heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of [Depp]." For his part, Depp said the jury gave him his life back: "From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome…The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun.” Future of #MeToo: Some observers are concerned that this verdict will discourage victims of abuse from coming forward with their stories. There are also questions why Hollywood, which was so vocal during the Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby trials, remained mostly silent this time around. Meanwhile many of Depp's supporters said this case was an example of #MeToo “going too far.” Some key differences in this case: "Depp has alleged that he, too, is a victim of abuse in the relationship; Heard is a lone victim, not part of a group who came forward; and Depp’s fan base has been vocal online, creating memes and hashtags that criticize Heard and cast doubt on her testimony... Time’s Up is also no longer the force it was during those trials. Its board has dissolved and two CEOs resigned last year in the months after the Cuomo scandal exploded. " ~ Hollywood Reporter Here's how some celebrities reacted to the verdict. ~ NY Post 🗞 THE SPEED READ Sheryl Sandberg departure marks the end of an era for women in tech Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg's departure from Facebook as one of the highest-ranking female executives in corporate America marks the end of an era in the brand of self-empowerment feminism she championed as a critical tool to fight sexism in the workplace. Her advice to women who wanted to ascend higher in their careers was simply to “lean in,” or be more assertive at their jobs, which became a cultural phenomenon. Sandberg, 52, announced Wednesday that she was stepping down as COO after a 14-year stint at a company she helped transform from a social media website for college students into a mammoth digital-advertising business. Sandberg says she's leaving Facebook to spend more time with her family and on her philanthropic work. (Washington Post) US Housing Market Is So Stressful That Buyers Are Left in Tears With prices high and inventory tight, Americans say the process of purchasing a house is just as bad as getting fired. With prices high and inventory tight, 50% of homebuyers said they cried at least once during the process of purchasing a house, with the stress on par with planning a wedding or being fired, according to a survey from Zillow. (Bloomberg) Chipotle now accepts cryptocurrency payments Flexa has announced that Chipotle can now accept digital payments through its platform. The option is available at all Chipotle locations in the US, and you can use it so long as you have a Flexa-enabled wallet app, such as Gemini and SPEDN. You simply have to fire up your app, choose Chipotle and show your phone at the cashier. (Engadget) First named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season could form soon and threaten Florida this weekend The Atlantic hurricane season started Wednesday, and as if on cue, a storm is likely to form within the next couple of days and possibly threaten South Florida over the weekend. If it gets a name, which it would if its sustained winds reach 39 mph, it would be called Tropical Storm Alex. The Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30. Federal forecasters expect above-normal activity for the seventh straight year: As many as 10 hurricanes are possible. (USA Today) New CNN boss has a message for staffers: Cool it with the ‘Breaking News’ banner In recent weeks, Licht, who officially started as CNN’s new boss on May 2, has held meetings with employees to solicit feedback about when and how the network uses its “Breaking News” banner. (CNBC) “This is a great starting point to try to make ‘Breaking News’ mean something BIG is happening,” Licht wrote in the memo, which CNBC has obtained. “We are truth-tellers, focused on informing, not alarming our viewers. You’ve already seen far less of the ‘Breaking News’ banner across our programming. The tenor of our voice holistically has to reflect that.” LeBron James becomes NBA's first active player worth $1 billion, per Forbes The Los Angeles Lakers megastar, a four-time NBA champion and the league's No. 2 career scorer, made $121.2 million from May 2021 to May 2022 in on-court salary and off-court earnings, according to Forbes. The total trailed only that of Lionel Messi, who made $130 million, on Forbes' highest-paid athletes list. Reaching $1 billion is something James has been thinking about for some time. (ESPN) 🎉 CHEERS TO THE FREAKIN' WEEKEND What We're Watching: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, new to Netflix in June. (Just because we need something LIGHT-- anyone else?) What We're Reading: ‘The Wire’ at 20: ‘This Show Will Live Forever’, David Simon and Ed Burns discuss the legacy of their seminal crime drama, and why the systemic decay it depicted has become only more profound. (NY Times) What We're Eating: Har Bracha Tahini Paste, in honor of Mosh's trip to the Middle East. Mosh and Alex had the dish (below) made with that tahini at the restaurant M25 in Tel Aviv. (Next time they better take us with them!) ⭐️ Premium Content: Enjoying Mo News? Want access to newsmaker interviews, extra editions every week, additional content in an exclusive Facebook group and an opportunity to ask me questions directly? Sign Up for our premium newsletter subscription. It will help us grow the newsletter and continue to expand to multiple platforms. Special Deal: 15% off to become an annual member. 📰 Miss a day? Check out past newsletters here 📧 Any questions or feedback about this newsletter? Email Us 📱 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and TikTok

For his part, Depp said the jury gave him his life back: "From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome…The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun.”

  • Future of #MeToo: Some observers are concerned that this verdict will discourage victims of abuse from coming forward with their stories. There are also questions why Hollywood, which was so vocal during the Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby trials, remained mostly silent this time around. Meanwhile many of Depp's supporters said this case was an example of #MeToo “going too far.”Some key differences in this case: "Depp has alleged that he, too, is a victim of abuse in the relationship; Heard is a lone victim, not part of a group who came forward; and Depp’s fan base has been vocal online, creating memes and hashtags that criticize Heard and cast doubt on her testimony... Time’s Up is also no longer the force it was during those trials. Its board has dissolved and two CEOs resigned last year in the months after the Cuomo scandal exploded. " ~ Hollywood Reporter

  • Here's how some celebrities reacted to the verdict. ~ NY Post

🗞 THE SPEED READ

Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg's departure from Facebook as one of the highest-ranking female executives in corporate America marks the end of an era in the brand of self-empowerment feminism she championed as a critical tool to fight sexism in the workplace.

  • Her advice to women who wanted to ascend higher in their careers was simply to “lean in,” or be more assertive at their jobs, which became a cultural phenomenon.

  • Sandberg, 52, announced Wednesday that she was stepping down as COO after a 14-year stint at a company she helped transform from a social media website for college students into a mammoth digital-advertising business.

  • Sandberg says she's leaving Facebook to spend more time with her family and on her philanthropic work. (Washington Post)

With prices high and inventory tight, Americans say the process of purchasing a house is just as bad as getting fired.

  • With prices high and inventory tight, 50% of homebuyers said they cried at least once during the process of purchasing a house, with the stress on par with planning a wedding or being fired, according to a survey from Zillow. (Bloomberg)

Flexa has announced that Chipotle can now accept digital payments through its platform. The option is available at all Chipotle locations in the US, and you can use it so long as you have a Flexa-enabled wallet app, such as Gemini and SPEDN. You simply have to fire up your app, choose Chipotle and show your phone at the cashier. (Engadget)

The Atlantic hurricane season started Wednesday, and as if on cue, a storm is likely to form within the next couple of days and possibly threaten South Florida over the weekend. If it gets a name, which it would if its sustained winds reach 39 mph, it would be called Tropical Storm Alex.

  • The Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30. Federal forecasters expect above-normal activity for the seventh straight year: As many as 10 hurricanes are possible. (USA Today)

In recent weeks, Licht, who officially started as CNN’s new boss on May 2, has held meetings with employees to solicit feedback about when and how the network uses its “Breaking News” banner. (CNBC)

  • “This is a great starting point to try to make ‘Breaking News’ mean something BIG is happening,” Licht wrote in the memo, which CNBC has obtained. “We are truth-tellers, focused on informing, not alarming our viewers. You’ve already seen far less of the ‘Breaking News’ banner across our programming. The tenor of our voice holistically has to reflect that.”

The Los Angeles Lakers megastar, a four-time NBA champion and the league's No. 2 career scorer, made $121.2 million from May 2021 to May 2022 in on-court salary and off-court earnings, according to Forbes. The total trailed only that of Lionel Messi, who made $130 million, on Forbes' highest-paid athletes list. Reaching $1 billion is something James has been thinking about for some time. (ESPN)

🎉 CHEERS TO THE FREAKIN' WEEKEND

What We're Watching: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, new to Netflix in June. (Just because we need something LIGHT-- anyone else?)

What We're Reading: ‘The Wire’ at 20: ‘This Show Will Live Forever’, David Simon and Ed Burns discuss the legacy of their seminal crime drama, and why the systemic decay it depicted has become only more profound. (NY Times)

What We're Eating: Har Bracha Tahini Paste, in honor of Mosh's trip to the Middle East. Mosh and Alex had the dish (below) made with that tahini at the restaurant M25 in Tel Aviv. (Next time they better take us with them!)

Hi everyone, Our current mood-- OK, now that that's out of our system, hope everyone had a good week. Here's today's rundown: Guns in America: President Biden delivers a primetime address as Congress debates gun laws. But what kind of changes might actually pass? Plus, a disturbing new trend when it comes to mass shootings in America-- the gunmen are getting younger. It's been 100 days since Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia now controls about 20% of the country. We'll take a look at the dramatic toll the war has had on children, with 2 out of 3 kids in the country currently displaced. What the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard verdict means for the future of #MeToo. Sheryl Sandberg is stepping down as COO of Facebook: A look at her legacy and why she's leaving. The housing market is so rough, it's bringing potential homebuyers to tears! What to expect from the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which starts... now. And as always, what we're watching, reading and eating this weekend, with a look back at one of our all-time favorite shows, The Wire, and a glimpse at Mosh's food tour of the Middle East. Mosh and Alex will be back in the US this weekend. Check out Mosh's Instagram feed for trip highlights and also-- the news, back as soon as he is. Have a great weekend! ~ Jill 🚨Guns in America In an address to the nation last night, President Biden talked about the latest wave of mass shootings and urged Congress to pass 'common sense' gun laws and provide more mental health services for students. ~ AP It follows last week’s shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, TX, in which an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 students and two teachers. Then on Wednesday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a gunman shot and killed four people and himself at a medical office. And on May 14, an 18-year-old opened fire at a supermarket in predominantly Black neighborhood in Buffalo, NY, killing 10 people and wounding three. All three of the gunmen bought their AR-15 style rifles shortly before the shooting. The Oklahoma gunman bought his gun just HOURS before opening fire on his former doctor. ~ NBC News WHERE THINGS STAND WITH GUN LEGISLATION: In the Senate, which is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, a bipartisan group of senators is negotiating a package that would increase funding for mental health services and boost school security — measures generally favored by Republicans. They're also focused on expanding background checks and passing incentives for states to pass red flag laws, which allow authorities to confiscate firearms from people who are threats to themselves or to others. ~ NBC News In the House, where Democrats have a majority, lawmakers are looking at more comprehensive gun reform called The Protecting Our Kids Act. The bills would raise the minimum age for buying semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21 and ban large-capacity magazines and bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire more rapidly. The House plan has very little chance of passing in the Senate. ~ CBS News Disturbing New Pattern: As the NY Times notes, "six of the nine deadliest mass shootings in the United States since 2018 were by people who were 21 or younger, a shift from earlier decades." “We see two clusters when it comes to mass shooters, people in their 40s who commit workplace type shootings, and a very big cluster of young people — 18, 19, 20, 21 — who seem to get caught up in the social contagion of killing." -- Jillian Peterson, criminal justice professor 🇺🇦 Ukraine War: 100 Day Mark It's been roughly 100 days since Russia invaded Ukraine, and President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia now occupies 20% of the country, an area the size of the Netherlands. The fighting is now focused on the eastern part of the Ukraine. ~ NY Times Impact on Children: Two out of three children in Ukraine have been displaced by fighting, according to Unicef. The UN says five million children are now in need of humanitarian assistance, with "consequences for children at a scale and speed not seen since World War II." US Sends More Aid: The US just passed another $700 million aid package for Ukraine, which includes advanced rocket-launcher systems and 1,000 Javelin missiles. President Biden said he wants to provide Ukraine with "more advanced rocket systems and munitions." ~ CBS News This is the 11th aid package that the U.S. has sent to Ukraine. And the "first to come from the $40 billion aid package passed last month." ~ CNBC Russia has been critical of Biden's decision to send more advanced weaponry to Ukraine, accusing the US of “deliberately pouring oil on the fire." ⭐ Amber Heard / Johnny Depp Fallout Amber Heard's lawyer says she plans to appeal the decision in Johnny Depp's defamation trial against her, telling TODAY that Depp's attorneys worked to "demonize" and suppress "an enormous amount of evidence." ~ NBC News Backstory: In 2019, Depp sued ex-wife Heard for defamation after she wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post, in which she called herself a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” Heard didn't mention Depp by name, but he argued that the op-ed cost him work. Depp sought $50 million in damages. Heard then countersued for $100 million over statements Depp's attorney made, saying her abuse claims were a "hoax." The Verdict: A jury said both parties had been defamed, awarding Depp $15 million in damages and Heard $2 million (she'll only have to pay $10.4 million because of a Virginia cap on punitive damages). Her lawyer says she is "absolutely not" able to pay that amount. REACTION: In a statement on Twitter, Heard wrote that she's “heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of [Depp]." For his part, Depp said the jury gave him his life back: "From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome…The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun.” Future of #MeToo: Some observers are concerned that this verdict will discourage victims of abuse from coming forward with their stories. There are also questions why Hollywood, which was so vocal during the Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby trials, remained mostly silent this time around. Meanwhile many of Depp's supporters said this case was an example of #MeToo “going too far.” Some key differences in this case: "Depp has alleged that he, too, is a victim of abuse in the relationship; Heard is a lone victim, not part of a group who came forward; and Depp’s fan base has been vocal online, creating memes and hashtags that criticize Heard and cast doubt on her testimony... Time’s Up is also no longer the force it was during those trials. Its board has dissolved and two CEOs resigned last year in the months after the Cuomo scandal exploded. " ~ Hollywood Reporter Here's how some celebrities reacted to the verdict. ~ NY Post 🗞 THE SPEED READ Sheryl Sandberg departure marks the end of an era for women in tech Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg's departure from Facebook as one of the highest-ranking female executives in corporate America marks the end of an era in the brand of self-empowerment feminism she championed as a critical tool to fight sexism in the workplace. Her advice to women who wanted to ascend higher in their careers was simply to “lean in,” or be more assertive at their jobs, which became a cultural phenomenon. Sandberg, 52, announced Wednesday that she was stepping down as COO after a 14-year stint at a company she helped transform from a social media website for college students into a mammoth digital-advertising business. Sandberg says she's leaving Facebook to spend more time with her family and on her philanthropic work. (Washington Post) US Housing Market Is So Stressful That Buyers Are Left in Tears With prices high and inventory tight, Americans say the process of purchasing a house is just as bad as getting fired. With prices high and inventory tight, 50% of homebuyers said they cried at least once during the process of purchasing a house, with the stress on par with planning a wedding or being fired, according to a survey from Zillow. (Bloomberg) Chipotle now accepts cryptocurrency payments Flexa has announced that Chipotle can now accept digital payments through its platform. The option is available at all Chipotle locations in the US, and you can use it so long as you have a Flexa-enabled wallet app, such as Gemini and SPEDN. You simply have to fire up your app, choose Chipotle and show your phone at the cashier. (Engadget) First named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season could form soon and threaten Florida this weekend The Atlantic hurricane season started Wednesday, and as if on cue, a storm is likely to form within the next couple of days and possibly threaten South Florida over the weekend. If it gets a name, which it would if its sustained winds reach 39 mph, it would be called Tropical Storm Alex. The Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30. Federal forecasters expect above-normal activity for the seventh straight year: As many as 10 hurricanes are possible. (USA Today) New CNN boss has a message for staffers: Cool it with the ‘Breaking News’ banner In recent weeks, Licht, who officially started as CNN’s new boss on May 2, has held meetings with employees to solicit feedback about when and how the network uses its “Breaking News” banner. (CNBC) “This is a great starting point to try to make ‘Breaking News’ mean something BIG is happening,” Licht wrote in the memo, which CNBC has obtained. “We are truth-tellers, focused on informing, not alarming our viewers. You’ve already seen far less of the ‘Breaking News’ banner across our programming. The tenor of our voice holistically has to reflect that.” LeBron James becomes NBA's first active player worth $1 billion, per Forbes The Los Angeles Lakers megastar, a four-time NBA champion and the league's No. 2 career scorer, made $121.2 million from May 2021 to May 2022 in on-court salary and off-court earnings, according to Forbes. The total trailed only that of Lionel Messi, who made $130 million, on Forbes' highest-paid athletes list. Reaching $1 billion is something James has been thinking about for some time. (ESPN) 🎉 CHEERS TO THE FREAKIN' WEEKEND What We're Watching: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, new to Netflix in June. (Just because we need something LIGHT-- anyone else?) What We're Reading: ‘The Wire’ at 20: ‘This Show Will Live Forever’, David Simon and Ed Burns discuss the legacy of their seminal crime drama, and why the systemic decay it depicted has become only more profound. (NY Times) What We're Eating: Har Bracha Tahini Paste, in honor of Mosh's trip to the Middle East. Mosh and Alex had the dish (below) made with that tahini at the restaurant M25 in Tel Aviv. (Next time they better take us with them!) ⭐️ Premium Content: Enjoying Mo News? Want access to newsmaker interviews, extra editions every week, additional content in an exclusive Facebook group and an opportunity to ask me questions directly? Sign Up for our premium newsletter subscription. It will help us grow the newsletter and continue to expand to multiple platforms. Special Deal: 15% off to become an annual member. 📰 Miss a day? Check out past newsletters here 📧 Any questions or feedback about this newsletter? 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