Negotiations between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have broken down, leading to the possibility of a strike by thousands of actors represented by SAG-AFTRA. The union is demanding better pay, improved safety protocols, and more transparency from the studios, as well as residual payments for streaming services. The AMPTP has not yet commented on the situation, but the two sides are likely to continue to negotiate in the coming days.
News Mash
President Joe Biden concluded his five-day European tour in Finland, where he declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin has already lost the war in Ukraine. He also expressed his commitment to pursuing a prisoner exchange for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia for more than 100 days. Biden also celebrated Finland's new membership and Sweden's likely ascension into NATO.
A federal jury in Pittsburgh has determined that Robert Bowers, the gunman responsible for the 2018 attack on the Tree of Life synagogue, is eligible for the death penalty. The jury concluded that Bowers had formed the legal intent to kill, despite his lawyers' argument that his mental illness and delusional beliefs had impaired his ability to form intent. The jury's decision sets the stage for further evidence and testimony to determine whether Bowers should be sentenced to death or life in prison, with prosecutors presenting evidence to support the death penalty and the defense presenting evidence in favor of a life sentence.
The U.S. Secret Service has concluded its investigation into the discovery of a bag of cocaine at the White House earlier this month, unable to identify a suspect due to a lack of physical evidence. The agency compiled a list of "several hundred" people who may have accessed the area, but no usable fingerprints or DNA were detected. The Secret Service has closed its investigation and will continue to be vigilant in its efforts to protect the White House.
A scorching heatwave dubbed "Cerberus" is sweeping across Southern Europe, with temperatures expected to reach record highs next week. Italy and Spain have already issued high heat alerts, and Greece is expecting temperatures to reach 109.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The public is advised to take extra precautions to stay safe and comfortable, such as staying in the shade and drinking plenty of fluids.
Kevin Spacey is on trial in London's Southwark Crown Court for 12 charges of sexual assault and indecent assault, which he denies. He has argued that one of the alleged incidents was "romantic" and that he was the victim of a "witch hunt." The trial, which began in April, is expected to last for two more weeks.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called on former President Donald Trump to “step up” and join the first GOP primary debate next month, emphasizing that no one is entitled to the nomination and that Trump should participate to “earn it with his vision.” DeSantis himself will be attending the debate in Milwaukee on August 23rd and the FAMiLY Leadership Summit event in Iowa hosted by Tucker Carlson. It is still unclear whether or not Trump will participate in the debate.
Key takeaways: The Justice Department has filed court papers to appeal the 18-year prison sentence handed down to Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right…