Memphis City Council has passed major police reform ordinances in response to the death of Tyre Nichols, banning routine traffic stops with unmarked vehicles and plainclothes officers, and releasing information regarding charges and disciplinary action taken against Memphis police and fire personnel. The ordinances were passed unanimously and Mayor Jim Strickland praised the decision, saying the city is committed to accountability and transparency. The city is also creating a civilian review board to oversee the police department.
News Mash
Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of Fox Corp., has testified under oath that the 2020 presidential election was free, fair, and not stolen. This comes from court filings in a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News. Murdoch's testimony provides insight into the internal conversations at Fox News, and the case is ongoing.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy addressed the controversy surrounding Fox News host Tucker Carlson's coverage of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. McConnell expressed his support for the letter sent by Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger denouncing Carlson, while McCarthy defended his decision to give Carlson surveillance footage from the Capitol. Both McConnell and McCarthy have expressed their support for Carlson's right to free speech.
The US is planning to relax Covid-19 testing restrictions for travelers from China on Friday, following a surge in cases and lack of transparency from Chinese officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had previously announced a requirement for travelers to prove they had tested negative for the virus before flying to the US from China, Hong Kong, and Macau. This decision is part of an effort to protect US citizens from the spread of the virus, though it is unclear if the US will continue to require negative tests in the future.
Hundreds of pages of previously unreleased documents were made public as part of Dominion Voting Systems' $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News. The documents include emails, text messages, and other material from Fox News executives and on-air personalities, showing how Fox News privately dismissed some of the election conspiracies they promoted on-air. The documents also include statements from Rupert Murdoch rejecting the conspiracy theories about Dominion that his own network promoted. The documents could be used as evidence in the ongoing defamation lawsuit, with the outcome yet to be seen.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into railroad giant Norfolk Southern following a series of recent accidents, including a fiery derailment in Ohio and the death of a conductor. The NTSB has urged the company to review and assess its safety practices and implement necessary changes to improve safety. The investigation will look into the company’s “organization and safety culture” and is expected to take several months to complete.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that the state will be cutting ties with Walgreens after the company announced it would not sell abortion pills in 20 states. This decision has been met with criticism from Democrats, who argue that it will limit access to abortion services for women in those states. Walgreens has not yet commented on the decision by California to cut ties with the company.
Elon Musk publicly mocked a Twitter employee who was unsure of his employment status, sparking a debate about how employers should handle employee uncertainty and interact with employees on social media. Twitter users have expressed sympathy for the employee and criticized Musk for his dismissive attitude. The incident highlights the importance of employers being transparent and communicative with their employees, and treating them with respect.