Author: Gist It

  • Up First briefing: Defense bill delayed; Threads’ news policy; SAG-AFTRA strike vote

    Hard-right House Republicans have delayed a defense bill, Meta’s Twitter rival Threads de-emphasizes news and politics, and SAG-AFTRA prepares to vote on a strike. Legislation on hold: The vote on an $886 billion defense spending bill has been delayed because hard-right House Republicans want to include amendments that shape military policy on issues such as […]

  • RFK Jr. is building a presidential campaign around conspiracy theories

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has built his presidential campaign challenging President Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination around debunked conspiracy theories and misleading claims. Controversial Claims: Kennedy’s assertions range from misleading claims linking Wi-Fi to cancer, antidepressants to school shootings, and chemicals in water to transgender children. * He has been especially vocal about […]

  • An otter in Santa Cruz is hassling surfers — and stealing their boards

    In Santa Cruz, California, a sea otter is earning a reputation for stealing surfboards from local surfers. The big picture: The otter, resident to the Steamer Lane point break area, has become known for climbing out of the ocean onto surfers’ boards, and occasionally forcing them to abandon their boards altogether. * A Santa Cruz […]

  • Biden frames his clean energy plan as a jobs plan, obscuring his record on climate

    President Biden has shifted his emphasis from climate change to job creation in his pitch towards his clean energy policies. The backstory: Biden initially highlighted the Inflation Reduction Act’s environmental benefits but has focused more on the jobs it has created as he ramps up his reelection campaign. * This act allocated $369 billion towards […]

  • How the Supreme Court’s conservative majority came to be

    The conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court, which recently overturned the Roe v. Wade protection for abortion rights and banned affirmative action, is the result of a combination of political factors and historical circumstances that have favored Republicans. Historical background: The longest-serving member of the current court, Clarence Thomas, was confirmed in 1991 when […]

  • FBI Director Chris Wray defends agency at House Judiciary Committee hearing

    FBI Director Chris Wray defended the agency during a hearing with the House Judiciary Committee, where he faced criticism from Republicans who accused the bureau of conducting politically-motivated investigations. Driving the news: Wray was challenged by Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee. * The Republicans criticized the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), accusing them of […]

  • Ukraine can’t join NATO yet. But Biden says Zelenskyy is OK with that

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly content with the long-term security assistance pledges from the United States and other G-7 nations, despite not receiving a NATO membership timeline. Key takeaways: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the NATO summit without a timeline for his country to join the military alliance. * Zelenskyy did receive pledges for […]

  • New lawsuit says social media and gun companies played roles in 2022 Buffalo shooting

    The families of the Buffalo Tops supermarket shooting victims are suing several social media platforms, gun companies and the shooter’s parents, alleging their roles in the 2022 mass shooting. The defendants: The 176-page lawsuit was filed against nearly a dozen companies including Meta, Reddit, Amazon’s Twitch, Google, YouTube, Discord, 4Chan, body-armor manufacturer RMA Armament, and […]

  • Tornado touches down near Chicago’s O’Hare airport, disrupting hundreds of flights

    A tornado disrupted hundreds of flights on Wednesday evening when it touched down near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Event Overview: The confirmed tornado was on the ground around 7 p.m., and had moved east by 8 p.m., leaving Chicago’s forecast tornado-free. * The tornado triggered shelter protocols at O’Hare’s airport, with hundreds of passengers seen […]

  • Heat waves in Europe killed more than 61,600 people last summer, a study estimates

    The summer heatwaves in Europe resulted in more than 61,000 deaths in 2022, the majority being women and elderly individuals, according to a recent study. Data Analysis: The research reviewed data from 35 European countries, estimating that 61,672 heat-related deaths occurred between May 30 to September 4, 2022. * Italy, Spain, and Germany reported the […]