Senator's alleged corruption - Hollywood labor deal reached - California custody bill

Source: The Independent via Yahoo! News

1. Summary
   New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat, was charged with corruption alongside his wife on Friday. Investigators allege the pair used his office to covertly benefit the Egyptian government by attempting to increase US aid to the country despite human rights concerns. They also claim he was bribed by a businessman to interfere in a criminal investigation.
   
   The indictment states that investigators found over $500,000 in cash in Menendez's home, as well as $100,000 worth of gold bars. Menendez said "forces behind the scenes" are seeking to harm his political career and that prosecutors "misrepresented the normal work of a Congressional office."
   
   Menendez has stepped down as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is required. It is his second time resigning from the position after being charged: he was reinstated in 2018 after a jury deadlocked on his case. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman has called on Menendez to resign, the first and currently the only Democratic senator to do so. Other influential Democrats in New Jersey have as well.

   Highly-rated - last 48 hrs
   Menendez gains a primary opponent as calls for his resignation grow after indictment.
   Associated Press (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 78% • 4 min read
   

1. Different political viewpoint
   New Jersey governor calls for Sen. Menendez to resign after bribery indictment.
   Deseret News (Moderate Right) • Factual Grade 73% • 3 min read

1. Selected long-read
   Bob Menendez tests Democrats’ loyalty as feds target him again.
   Politico (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 70% • 9 min read

Source: CBS News via Yahoo! News

1. Summary
   California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday vetoed a bill that would have instructed judges overseeing child custody battles to take into account whether a parent supports a child's gender identity. The legislation, AB957, does not require the judge to side with the parent who affirms the child's gender identity. On Saturday Newsom signed a bill that requires minors' gender change petitions to be kept confidential.
   
   Critics of AB957 say it could lead to parents losing contact with their children. Advocates say it does not compel rulings and only adds gender identity to the many factors judges must consider. Experts note that most California custody cases concern where a child's primary residence will be, and do not involve removing a parent from the child's life.
   
   Newsom said courts are already required to consider a child's welfare, which could include whether their identity is validated. University of Southern California professor Scott Altman said Newsom may have worried the bill would result in discrimination against religious families.

   Highly-rated - last 48 hrs
   Newsom vetoes bill on parental support of child’s gender identity in custody cases.
   New York Times (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 71% • 3 min read
   

1. Different political viewpoint
   California policymakers believe the state, not parents, holds authority over children.
   City Journal (Right) • Factual Grade 70% • 5 min read

1. Selected long-read
   Critics twist California bill that would weigh gender-identity support in custody cases.
   Associated Press (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 69% • 5 min read

Source: Al Jazeera

1. Summary
   NBC News, citing defense officials and several members of Congress, reported last week that President Biden privately told Ukrainian President Zelensky that the US will provide ATACMS missiles. Ukraine has sought the missiles, which can strike targets up to 190 miles away, since last year. The Biden administration is also considering arming the missiles with controversial cluster bomblets, rather than single warheads.
   
   The news comes as Ukrainian operations to retake Crimea have increased. Ukraine views retaking Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, as non-negotiable, and some believe the long-range weapons could help it do so. Ukraine vows to not use the missiles to strike Russia proper.
   
   Some US officials worry retaking Crimea could cross a nuclear 'red line' for Russia, as it is a key logistics hub and prized possession. Security analyst Tennyson Dearing argues Russia's red lines are exaggerated, as Ukraine has launched 190 drone attacks in Russia proper and Crimea. Some lawmakers say the US does not have enough of the missiles to spare.

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   American long-range missiles threaten to blast through Putin’s ‘red line.’
   Daily Beast (Left) • Factual Grade 77% • 5 min read
   

1. Different political viewpoint
   Ukraine has Moscow in its crosshairs but that shouldn’t make us squeamish.
   Lowy Institute (Center) • Factual Grade 69% • 4 min read

1. Selected long-read
   Ukraine's vain search for wonder weapons.
   American Conservative (Moderate Right) • Factual Grade 74% • 7 min read

Source: Bloomberg

1. Summary
   On Sunday French President Emmanuel Macron announced France would end its military partnership with Niger and withdraw its diplomat and 1,500 troops from the country. The announcement comes after Niger's military officials seized power in a July coup. The junta demanded France's ambassador leave the country in August, but the envoy refused.
   
   Niger's junta applauded Macron's announcement, saying "Imperialist and neo-colonialist forces are no longer welcome." Niger's coup is the seventh in a former French colony since 2020, followed shortly by a coup in Gabon in August. Juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso, which took power in recent coups, have also moved to expel French forces and diplomatic personnel.
   
   France has been engaged in an anti-terror operation across the Sahel region of West Africa since the 2010s, with Niger acting as the focal point for French operations after neighboring coups. Niger also supplies nuclear power-reliant France with 17% of its uranium, although some have questioned how essential Niger is to France's uranium supply.

   Highly-rated - last 48 hrs
   Macron: France to pull diplomat, troops from coup-hit Niger.
   Deutsche Welle (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 76% • 2 min read
   

1. Different political viewpoint
   Nigerien junta raises the price of uranium: Sacré bleu or no big deal?
   Hot Air (Right) • Factual Grade 76% • 5 min read

1. Selected long-read
   “French Africa” is dead.
   Jacobin (Left) • Factual Grade 76% • 8 min read

Source: Bloomberg

1. Summary
   The Writers Guild of America announced late Sunday that a tentative contract agreement had been reached with the AMPTP, an association of major film studios and production companies. The points of the contract remain unclear, but are expected to be revealed in the coming days.
   
   The WGA says the tentative deal reflects "an agreement in principle" on all points. Major issues raised by the striking writers include reduced compensation from the streaming model, minimum pay relative to inflation, and fears of artificial intelligence displacing writing jobs. SAG-AFTRA, representing the striking actors, has raised similar complaints. Some observers note that streaming is not yet profitable for studios.
   
   The WGA's strike, at 146 days, is already the longest in Hollywood's history. For the strike to end, the tentative deal must still be approved by the WGA's negotiating committee and voted on by the union's members. Actors, meanwhile, remain on strike and have encouraged WGA members to join them on the picket lines.

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   Vox (Left) • Factual Grade 72% • 4 min read
   

1. Different political viewpoint
   AI will be a lasting issue for Hollywood—but it can foster progress if used right.
   Observer (Right) • Factual Grade 67% • 4 min read

1. Selected long-read
   Hollywood is paying a steep price for never really figuring out the streaming model.
   CNBC (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 72% • 7 min read