GisermanGroup.com #BreakingNews
📺#TuckerCarlson OUT at #Fox, #DonLemon OUT at #CNN, #NBC CEO OUT
🐭#Disney Cuts More #Jobs
🏪Bed Bath Beyond #Bankruptcy
⚕️#Oxy Maker Funds Government Advisor
💊#SCOTUS: #Abortion Pill Will Remain Available
🏈#NFL Players Suspended For #Betting on Games
🎢#Stocks ⬇️, #Tech Earnings Ahead
📈Poll: We’re Exhausted Over #Biden-#Trump Rematch
🏠 #Mortgages🔼, #HomePrices🆙
🍀Americans Spend More On #Weed Than On Beer & Chocolate Combined
📺Tucker’s OUT
Tucker Carlson has parted ways with Fox News, the network said on Monday.
“We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” the network said in a statement.
Carlson’s last show was Friday, the network said.
Carlson was Fox’s top-rated prime-time host, netting an average of more than 3 million viewers per night, the most of any pundit on cable television.
📺Lemon’s Out
CNN tweeted that the network and Don Lemon "have parted ways."
"Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years," CNN said in a statement. "We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors."
📺NBC CEO Fired For ‘Inappropriate Conduct’ With Veteran Journalist
It’s happened again at NBC, another executive is out for sexual misconduct.
NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell is departing after an investigation into a complaint of inappropriate conduct, a stunning fall for an executive who pushed for sweeping changes at the media giant as it entered the streaming era. It comes after reports Comcast launched an investigation soon after the woman lodged a complaint.
The woman Shell had an affair with was identified by Deadline.com as anchor and Senior International Correspondent Hadley Gamble. The outlet said the pair started a relationship 11 years ago and continued sporadically for years.
Shell, who is married, has been with the company for a total of two decades.
Shell is the second senior executive to be forced out of NBCUniversal in recent years. In 2020, Vice Chairman Ron Meyer was fired after failing to disclose he had paid a settlement to a woman with whom he had a consensual affair several years earlier. Shell said at that time that Meyer “acted in a manner which we believe is not consistent with our company policies or values.”
In 2017, NBCUniversal fired Today-show veteran Matt Lauer, citing “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.’
🐭Disney Cuts More Jobs
Disney began its second, larger wave of layoffs Monday, bringing total job cuts in recent weeks to 4,000 when the latest round is completed.
Earlier this year, Disney said it would slash 7,000 jobs from its workforce as part of a larger reorganization of the company that will see it cut costs by $5.5 billion. The announcement was made during Bob Iger’s first earnings call since returning as CEO.
💊Abortion in Danger
The Supreme Court rules the abortion pill mifepristone would remain widely available for now, delaying the potential for an abrupt end to a drug that is used in more than half of abortions.
The order halted steps that had sought to curb the availability of mifepristone as an appeal moves forward: a ruling from a federal judge in Texas to suspend the drug from the market entirely and another from an appeals court to impose significant barriers on the pill, including blocking access by mail.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of mifepristone in 2000.
Meantime, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed one of the nation’s toughest antiabortion bills after lawmakers have voted to prohibit abortions after six weeks of pregnancy .
🏈NFL Players Suspended For Betting
In in the NFL’s biggest crack-down since the wide-spread proliferation of legal sports betting across the U.S., 5 players, including 4 on the Detroit Lions have been suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy.
The unprecedented bans coming down at once from the NFL reflects the growing challenge the entire sports world faces as betting becomes increasingly prevalent. Like anyone else these days, professional athletes can now place legal wagers with a few taps on a cellphone. Leagues such as the NFL face the thorny task of both preventing their own personnel from engaging in the practice while also embracing the new revenue streams it offers.
🎢Stocks ⬇️ Big Tech Earnings Ahead
Stocks ⬇️, it’s all about BIG TECH this week — Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta are among the high-interest names scheduled to announce their results for the first quarter.
Dow falling 0.23% last week, tech-heavy Nasdaq saw the biggest decline falling 0.42%, while the S&P slipped 0.1%.
Tesla shares sinking 10% after a revenue miss and a pledge from CEO Elon Musk that price cuts will continue.
AND here comes the Fed after releasing minutes from its last meeting showing inflation and a tight labor markets leading officials to signal they could raise interest rates at their next meeting.
Exiger CEO Brandon Daniels, a GisermanGroup.com Client tells Fox Business another FED rate hike could trigger a recession:
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🏠Home Sales Surprise
Existing-home sales down 2.4% in March from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.44 million. The National Association of Realtors says March sales fell 22% from a year earlier.
It comes home-prices nationally rose 0.16% in February according to Black Knight. That is the strongest one-month gain since May of last year, even as mortgage rates increased last week by the most in two months to 6.4%.
SitusAMC’s Tim Rood, a GisermanGroup Client breaks it all down to Fox’s Neil Cavuto:
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SitusAMC’s Tim Rood, former FannieMae Executive, and a GisermanGroup client, on Yahoo Finance, FBN's Cavuto and on Scripps News says Housing is the Cinderella Story of the Year:
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Bed Bath Beyond Bankruptcy
Bed Beth & Beyond has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company says it expects to close all of its retail locations, eventually. Bed Bath & Beyond joins a growing list of once-iconic chains seeking court protection. Some like J.C. Penney continue to operate hundreds of stores; others like Sears and Toys ‘R’ Us closed most of their locations; while Circuit City and Linens ‘n Things disappeared altogether.
📈Poll: We’re Exhausted Over Biden-Trump Election Prospect
With President Biden reportedly set to announce his reelection campaign TOMORROW, more Americans say they feel “exhaustion” over the prospect of a 2024 rematch between Biden and Donald Trump, according to a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll.
The survey of 1,530 U.S. adults, which was conducted from April 14 to 17, found that 38% chose exhaustion after being shown a list of eight feelings and asked to select all that “come to mind” when considering another Biden vs. Trump campaign.
Among registered voters, the number is even higher: 44%.
No other sentiment — not fear (29%), sadness (23%), hope (23%), anger (23%), excitement (16%), pride (8%) or gratitude (7%) — cracks the 30% mark among all Americans.
And an NBC News poll showed. Most of those surveyed, by a 70%-to-26% margin, said Biden shouldn’t seek reelection, while 60% said Trump should bow out.
Overwhelmingly people feel the candidates are too old.
#Oxy Maker Funds Government Advisor
For the past decade, the White House and Congress have relied on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, a renowned advisory group, to help shape the federal response to the opioid crisis.
Now The NY Times reports the National Academies have kept quiet about one thing: their decision to accept roughly $19 million in donations from members of the Sackler family, the owners of Purdue Pharma, the maker of the drug OxyContin that is notorious for fueling the opioid epidemic.
The opioid crisis has led to hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths, spawned lawsuits and forced other institutions to publicly distance themselves from Sackler money or to acknowledge potential conflicts of interest from ties to Purdue.
⏰Montana: First State To Ban TikTok
Montana lawmakers approved a first-of-its-kind bill to ban TikTok across the state?
It sets the stage for future court battles that could determine the fate in the U.S. of the popular, Chinese-owned social media app.. The measure is expected to be signed by the Governor, and take effect next January.
The Biden administration is demanding TikTok’s Chinese owners sell their stakes in the video-sharing app or face a U.S. ban.
Matt Hayden Former Cybersecurity Czar at the Department of Homeland Security and a GisermanGroup client on Scripps News says TikTok is dangerous:
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👑$15Million Gold Heist
Sounds like a movie plot, but it really happened.
An air cargo container carrying more than $15 million in gold and other valuables has been stolen from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and police are still trying to find out who is behind the high-value heist.
The "high-value" aircraft container arrived at the airport Monday evening and was transported to a cargo holding facility.
Police believe that is where the heist took place.
The theft could mark one of the bigger heists in Canadian history, including the 2011 and 2012 Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, when 3,000 tons of syrup valued at $18.7m were stolen from a storage facility in Quebec.
📺#Trump Back on #FoxNews Next Week Despite $787.5M #Election Settlement
It’s the definition of Chutzpah.
Donald Trump — whose baseless claims of election fraud costs Fox $787,500.00 appears on Fox News again today (Sunday)..
Fox Corp shareholders are demanding company records to determine whether directors and executives properly oversaw Fox News' coverage of Trump's election-rigging claims. It could be a prelude to lawsuits seeking to make directors liable for costs. Reuters reports shareholders are looking for records such as board minutes, emails and texts that may contain evidence that Fox directors and executives were derelict by allowing the network to air the false claims.
A separate lawsuit from voting systems company Smartmatic similarly accuses Fox of maliciously giving Trump lawyers Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani a platform to air false claims about the 2020 presidential election.
But unlike Dominion, Smartmatic is suing multiple hosts and Giuliani as individuals, in addition to Fox. The company is seeking at least $2.7 billion in damages, more than three times the size of Fox’s recent $787.5 million settlement with Dominion last week. And the case will be tried in New York state court, rather than Delaware.
It may take more than a year to start or to be settled. We’re betting on the later.
💵Lowest Acceptable Wage For New Job Hits High
What’s your bottom line?
With inflation still high and the labor market still hot, the minimum salary that employees say they would take for a job—known as the reservation wage—has risen to its highest level. The new bottom line: nearly $74,000.
That's according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Labor Market Survey, which explores the reservation wage and other employee expectations in the labor market. The survey asks respondents—who are employed, unemployed or out of the labor force—"Suppose someone offered you a job today in a line of work that you would consider. What is the lowest wage or salary you would accept (before taxes and other deductions) for this job?" The latest results found that, on average, respondents said it would be $73,667.
Meantime Smart Asset reports the top three most expensive cities in the U.S. were Honolulu, New York City and San Francisco. Residents need to earn more than $300,000 annually to feel like they are making $100,000.
📲iPhone: It’s a Telephone, It’s a Computer, Now It’s Apple BANK
Call it the iPhone Bank
Apple launched its savings account with a 4.15% annual yield. It requires no minimum deposit or balance and you can set up an account from the Wallet app on your iPhone.
The national average APY on savings accounts is just 0.35%, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, so Apple’s 4.15% APY is high.
There are other high-interest accounts but many come with stipulations. CIT Bank offers a savings account with a 4.75% rate, but customers must deposit a minimum balance of $5,000. Marcus by Goldman Sachs has a 3.9% APY with no minimum balance or monthly fees. Capital One’s savings account has no minimum balance, and users can earn a 3.5% APY. Vio Bank offers a savings account with a 4.77% APY with no minimum balance.
🚨DA Sues Republicans Interfering In Trump Case
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg hitting back, filing a lawsuit against the House Judiciary Committee and its GOP chairman, Rep. Jim Jordan, alleging Republican lawmakers are illegitimately interfering with his prosecution of Donald Trump.
Trump earlier posted this threatening picture of himself holding a baseball bat — with DA Bragg’s hands up — on his Truth Social platform.
Trump said he wouldn’t drop out of the 2024 race even if convicted of a crime.“I’d never drop out, it’s not my thing,” Trump said in an interview with Fox’s Tucker Carlson. “I wouldn’t do it.”
The former President also praised the leaders of China and Russia, while criticizing President Biden.
On Biden, 80, running in '24: Trump says "I don't see how it's possible."And it's not an age thing," said Trump, 76. "I have friends that are 88, 89, 92. ... But there's something wrong. ... I don't think he can."
Meantime, Russia's "merchant of death" is offering Trump asylum in Russia, saying he believes the former president's life is in danger if he remains in the United States.
In an interview on a Russian state-TV, Viktor Bout—an international arms dealer made infamous after his portrayal by Nicolas Cage in the 2005 film "Lord of War"—told a reporter he had sent a telegram to Trump warning him of an imminent threat to his life and urging him to flee to Russia for safety.
The threat against Trump's life, Bout suggested, is not from an assassin or some unknown plot against him. Instead, he said, it comes from Trump's own government.
You Won’t Believe This Post From Trump:
This Moronic post on Trump’s ‘Truth Social’ site comes after he Plead Not Guilty To 34 Counts of falsifying business records to hide hush-money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels weeks before the 2016 election. All together, the charges of falsifying business records - carry a maximum sentence of more than 100 years in prison, though if convicted a judge could sentence him to probation.
It also comes after the judge in the case warned him against insightful behavior.
Still addressing the media at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, the ex-president referred to the well-respected Judge Juan Merchan as a “Trump hating judge” and invoked his daughter, alleging she was involved in a Democrat conspiracy.
“I have a Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating wife and family whose daughter worked for Kamala Harris and now receives money from the Biden-Harris campaign,” he said.
The next court date is not until December 4th.
Trump is the first former president to face criminal charges, and as a candidate for President is seeking to milk the event for voters and campaign donations.
“Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Court-house. Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”
-Trump said in a post on his social-media site two minutes before he entered the court building.
After returning to Mar-a-Lago – fundraising all the way – Trump spent 30 minutes Tuesday night trashing the myriad investigations he faces. Trump ranted against his unprecedented arrest and arraignment, telling supporters at Mar-a-Lago that the real “criminal” is Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Notably absent his wife Melania.
The campaign has been using the indictment in fund-raising appeals, and said it had raised $4 million in just 24 hours, though financial records corroborating the claim will not be available for weeks.
🐭DeSantis and The Mouse
Disneyland unveiled an LGBT-friendly 'Pride Nite' event in June after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis escalated his battle against the progressive entertainment giant.
The $119-a-ticket party announced on Twitter Monday afternoon, just moments after a press conference in which DeSantis threatened to build a state prison next to Walt Disney World and Reedy Creek.
That move was in retaliation after the entertainment giant attempted to circumvent the authority of his oversight board. Disney found itself in DeSantis' sights last year after ousted CEO Bob Chapek slammed Florida's Parental Rights in Education Bill - better known as the 'Don't Say Gay' law.
🚀#Musk Rocket Explodes
It was a disappointing first test for SpaceX's Starship rocket, which exploded minutes after its launch. Multiple engines failed on the nearly 400-foot rocket, the largest ever built, and the rocket intentionally self-destructed before it could fall too close to the earth. The company, one of three for which Elon Musk is CEO, aims to someday use Starship rockets to transport people and cargo to the moon and Mars.
🚗EV’s The Second Auto Revolution
The Biden administration proposing plans designed to ensure two-thirds of new passenger cars sold are all-electric by 2032. A monumental change from the current 6%.
If the two rules are enacted as proposed, they would put the world’s largest economy on track to slash its planet-warming emissions at the pace that scientists say is required of all nations in order to avert the most devastating impacts of climate change.
The average price for an EV is $61,800, compared with $45,600 for vehicles with internal combustion engines, according to J.D. Power.
⛽️Gas Prices Pump Higher
National average gas prices have reached a five-month high, above $3.50 a gallon for the first time since November. The jump comes on the heels of Saudi Arabia and others decisions to drastically cut oil production.
Our friend Price Futures Group senior analyst Phil Flynn sees $4, even $5 ahead in the near future especially as oil companies switch over to summer blends.
🕕Crypto Rising
Bitcoin back around the $30,000 mark
Exiger’s Samar Pratt on FinTechTV explainsCrypto had just gained a foothold at BNY Mellon:
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💻Intel Leak Blamed on 21 Year Old
Fresh questions are being asked as to how a 21 year old National Guardsman, who lived with his mother in North Dighton, Massachusetts got clearance to access top secret military documents.
Congressional leaders with oversight of intelligence and defense say they don’t yet understand how a low-level information technician was allowed access to the classified documents and allegedly to sneak state secrets out of secured facilities. Some lawmakers also calling for military officials to be held accountable for the breach.
Among revelations coming to light as he appeared in court: the platform Discord provided information that helped lead the FBI to guardsman Jack Teixeira, and that he used his government computer to search for the word “leak” on the day last week when news media reports revealed that classified documents had been improperly disclosed.
The 21 year old guardsman was taken into custody after federal authorities said he had posted batches of sensitive intelligence to an online gaming chat group, called Thug Shaker Central.
🤖ChatBots ‘Profound Risk To Society’
President Biden says it remains to be seen if artificial intelligence is dangerous, but believes technology companies must ensure their products are safe before releasing them to the public.
More than 1,000 technology leaders and researchers, including Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, have urged artificial intelligence labs to pause development of the most advanced systems, warning in an open letter that A.I. tools present “profound risks to society and humanity.”
Artificial intelligence is taking over “clerical white collar work,” says IBM CEO Arvind Krishna. Jobs like customer service, human resources, and positions within finance and health care could all see ChatBots taking them over — not years from now but in the current day, according to Krishna.
Researchers from OpenAI and the University of Pennsylvania argued in a new research paper that 80 percent of the US workforce could have at least 10 percent of their work tasks affected by the introduction of ChatGPT. They also found that about 19 percent of workers may find at least 50 percent of their duties impacted by GPT, or General-purpose technologies.
There’s one big hitch: Governments — notably Washington — haven’t kept pace with regulations for the technology. That could lead to dire consequences: “By failing to establish such guardrails, policymakers are creating the conditions for a race to the bottom in irresponsible A.I.,” Carly Kind, the director of the Ada Lovelace Institute, a policy research group, told The Times.
🍀Americans Spend More On Weed Than On Beer & Chocolate Combined
U.S Legal sales of marijuana and marijuana products -- like edibles -- reached an estimated $30 billion in 2022, according to a report from MJBizDaily.
That total is more than Americans spent on chocolate and craft beer combined, -- $20 billion and $7.9 billion, respectively.
And get this — legal sales are still vastly outweighed by illicit ones – Whitney Economics estimates that legal transactions constituted just 25% of total cannabis market in 2021.
🏈You Won’t Believe How Much The Washington Commanders Are Selling For
It’s the largest amount ever paid for a US professional team.
A group led by billionaire Josh Harris has reached a deal to buy the Washington Commanders for $6 billion.
Harris, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, is leading a group of investors including NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, fellow billionaire Mitchell Rales and Blackstone executive David Blitzer.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has dropped out of bidding for the team.
Don’t Use CellPhone Charging Stations
The FBI has issued a new warning about ‘juice jacking’ cautioning consumers against using free cellphone public charging stations at airports, hotels, shopping malls or other such facilities. The bureau saying crooks have managed to hijack public chargers that can infect devices with malware, or software that can give hackers access to your phone, tablet or computer.
The Federal Communications Commission has also warned about juice jacking.
Consumer devices with compromised USB cables can be hijacked through software that can then siphon off usernames and passwords, the FCC warns. The commission told consumers to avoid those public stations.
To avoid becoming a victim of juice jacking, carry your own charger and plug in at a normal outlet.
🏓PickleBall TV Ratings Top MLB, NBA, NHL
‘PickleBall Slam’ slams TV Ratings.
The inaugural event featuring tennis legends John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi and Michael Chang was more popular than 13 MLB matchups, seven NBA games and five NHL clashes for the week beginning March 27, according to Nielsen data.
An average of 669,000 viewers tuned in for the competition with viewership reaching a high of 796,000 fans during the hotly-contested doubles match between the stellar quartet on ESPN. What’s even more appealing for advertisers is it scored big in the coveted 18-25 demographic.
Here comes more PickleBall to your TV.
WSJ Reporter Arrested In Russia
The State Department has designated as “wrongfully detained” Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested by Russian security services last month and held on an accusation of espionage that the Journal and the U.S. government vehemently deny.
Gershkovich’s case now shifts to a State Department section—known as the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs—which is focused on negotiating for the release of hostages and other Americans classified as wrongfully detained in foreign countries.
Over 200 Russian journalists joining President Biden, European governments and the chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization denouncing the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and demanding his release. A senior Russian diplomat said the investigation in the reporter’s case was ongoing and declined to state when he would be permitted visits from lawyers and U.S. diplomats.
Gershkovich, 31 years old, was arrested in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. Russian authorities have accused Gershkovich of espionage, which the Journal and the Biden administration deny. He is currently being held at a jail in Moscow run by Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB.
🍋CNN’s Morning Debacle
CNN’s low rated morning show was already in trouble. Its three anchors show little chemistry reflected in dropping audience numbers. Now, Don Lemon, one of the morning-show anchors has been criticized by the man who created the losing show, after his on-air comments about women and aging set-off an uproar inside the cable news channel. Lemon made no on-air mentions this morning but did send the above tweet.
Lemon upset colleagues when he asserted on the air that Nikki Haley, the 51-year-old Republican presidential candidate, “isn’t in her prime, sorry.” “A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s,” Lemon said, to the visible dismay of his “CNN This Morning” co-anchors, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. He refused to back down after Harlow questioned his remarks, telling her to “look it up.”
Lemon returned to the show after a memo sent by CNN’s chairman Chris Licht said Lemon “has agreed to participate in formal training” over his on-air behavior and that the network took “this situation very seriously.”
Get The Notice You Deserve in 2023
It’s a trying time for all of us.
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💊Weight Loss Wonder Drug Worth Billions
What price beauty?
An Eli Lilly drug if approved for weight loss could become the best-selling drug of all time.
Experts are confident that the drug, called tirzepatide, will be granted approval by the Food and Drug Administration sometime this year. If that’s the case, it would join two other popular — and expensive — recently approved weight loss drugs on the market, Wegovy and Saxenda, both from the drugmaker Novo Nordisk.
The drugs have been shown in clinical trials to be highly effective for weight loss. All three drugs — which are given as injections — work in a similar way: They’re a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, which mimic a hormone that helps reduce food intake and appetite.
Oh yea it would cost you $13,000 a year (and most insurances won’t pay)!
💻They Want Your Password
Warning-New Scams to steal your passwords.
If you've had a password hacked recently, you aren't alone. The volume of password attacks has soared to an estimated 921 attacks every second. That's a 74% rise in one year, according to the latest Microsoft Digital Defense Report.
Exiger's Robert Kolasky with more on Bloomberg & CBS:
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💰Money Does Buy Happiness
Money really does buy happiness.
The rule extends well beyond the $75,000-a-year salary threshold that had been seen as the upper limit for making an impact, according to a team of scientists that include the Nobel Prize-winning psychologist who introduced the idea of a happiness plateau more than a decade ago.
Happiness does increase steadily in line with incomes and even accelerates as pay rises beyond $100,000 a year and more — as long as the person enjoys a certain baseline level of happiness to begin with. That’s according to a study of 33,391 people living in the US, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.
The results contradict a famous 2010 paper by the psychologist Daniel Kahneman and economist Angus Deaton, which reported that happiness goes up with income until the relationship starts to “flatten” at between $60,000 and $90,000 a year.