Golf Probe, Partygate, and America's Favorite Podcasts

Feds to Probe Golf Merger

Federal officials are set to investigate the recently announced merger between the PGA and the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf series. The probe alleges the deal provides the newly formed group monopolistic leverage in dictating when, where, and for how much the world's best golfers compete. 

The partnership stunned the industry last week, coming after a year of acrimonious legal battles and a high-profile public relations feud. The Saudi-backed league debuted a year ago, offering higher purses and a reduced schedule. The PGA responded by excommunicating any athlete that participated in LIV events while lofting accusations the league was an attempt to "sportswash" human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia.

Reports suggest the legal battles drained $50M of the PGA's $100M cash reserves over the course of 12 months, with some suggesting the agreement may still fall apart due to longer-term disagreements over operations. 

Separately, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele were tied in Los Angeles after day one of the US Open. See the leaderboard here.

Condo Collapse Cause

Federal investigators released a preliminary report yesterday regarding the collapse of a condominium tower in Surfside, Florida, revealing a "severe strength deficiency” in the pool deck. The tower collapsed two years ago, resulting in the deaths of 98 people.

Although the exact cause of the collapse has yet to be determined, the team suggested the pool deck’s supporting columns lacked sufficient strength, and it likely collapsed seven minutes before the rest of the structure. Additionally, the condo failed to meet the original building codes from the 1980s—some column strength was only about half of that required at the time—and additions such as planters and heavy pavers were not accounted for. The report adds to previously reported signs of corrosion in the deck. See a visual breakdown here. 

The investigation is expected to cost around $22M and has been described as one of the most complex ever undertaken. The news comes after survivors and relatives of the victims reached a $1B settlement in the case last year. A final report is expected in May 2025.

Johnson Slammed for 'Partygate'

A UK parliamentary report released yesterday found former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled lawmakers about a series of social gatherings he hosted at Downing Street during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The report's publication comes a week after Johnson resigned as a member of Parliament after receiving advance notice of the findings. 

The report from the House of Commons privileges committee marks the end of a 14-month-long investigation into a scandal dubbed "partygate." It concluded Johnson was in contempt of Parliament for repeatedly lying to lawmakers about six gatherings spanning from 2020 to 2021, undermining the parliamentary process and attempting to intimidate the committee when he resigned, and more. The committee recommended denying Johnson a pass granting him access to parts of Parliament, which is traditionally given to former members. Lawmakers will vote Monday on the report's findings and recommendations. See the report here.

Johnson resigned as prime minister in September following a string of scandals, including partygate. See a timeline here. 

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Reuters Graphics | Staff. Diagrams, schematics, drone footage, and maps explain how the poorest passengers were most impacted during the June 2 train disaster in India, which claimed 288 lives. (Read)

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