Cramm for 6/25/19
THE HIGHLIGHTS
The Czech Republic is facing its biggest protests in decades.
THE BACKGROUND.
A couple years ago, Andrej Babis - a billionaire tycoon - became the Czech Republic’s new prime minister. He was popular because he pinky promised to fight political corruption - and because he’s, you know, populist. Hint: he’s been nicknamed the “Czech Trump.” Yes, really. Problem, because for years, Babis has been accused of misusing subsidies from the European Union for one of his bizes. In other words...fraud. Not to mention people have pointed fingers at him for allegedly collabing with the country’s Communist-era secret police. Not good.
THE HAPPENINGS.
For a while, the police have been taking a magnifying glass to these accusations. And recently, said ‘hey, this seems pretty criminal’ and suggested Babis should be criminally charged. Enter: the Czech Republic justice minister. ICYMI, that’s the only person in the country who can file criminal charges against a prime minister. And ICYMI, Babis juuuust replaced the former justice minister with...his close ally.
THE REACTION.
Very very very bad. As in people said ‘wow, that’s not sus at all’ and accused Babis of trying to mess with the country’s legal system. And over the past couple of days, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Prague to demand that Babis steps down. Now, it looks like the gov is planning on holding a no-confidence vote to decide Babis’s fate.
SO…?
Babis is quickly loosing popularity in the Czech Republic. TBD on how the no-confidence vote goes.
THE ACTION
WORLD: Everyone’s talking about US women’s soccer. Reminder: back in March, 28 members of the US Women’s National Soccer Team sued the US Soccer Federation (USSF) for gender discrimination and unequal pay. The USSF said ‘sorry, but pay is based on revenue.’ To which a new report said ‘so not true’ - and revealed that over the past three years, US women’s soccer games brought in more money than US men’s soccer games. Plot twist. Now, the USSF is agreeing to work things out. In other news, the United Nations says tens of thousands of ISIS fighters and family members being held in Iraq and Syria must be “tried or freed.” Stay tuned.
USA: Recently, a study on teen vaping in California came out. Spoiler: it was very revealing. As in the study showed that half of the tobacco and vape shops involved illegally sold teens products with nicotine - and didn’t ask for an ID. This comes as California just raised the legal age to buy tobacco products to 21. Speaking of which, yesterday, an Oklahoma judge nodded his head to an $85 million settlement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries - aka a major maker of opioids. Reminder: right now, the US is facing an opioid epidemic. And much of the country - including Oklahoma’s attorney general - is putting the blame on drugmakers. Cough, Teva, cough. Now, it looks like the biz will have to cough up tens of millions of dollars.
POLITICS: Yesterday, Sen Bernie Sanders (D-VT) said ‘student loan debt? That’s not in my vocabulary’ and announced a plan to cancel all $1.6 trillion (yes, with a t) of student loan debt in the US. Meaning about 45 million Americans would be freed of their debts. Unclear whether this plan would actually pass in Congress. Meanwhile, yesterday, the Trump team announced that senior counselor Kellyanne Conway won’t be showing up to a hearing to talk the Hatch Act. Aka a law that prevents people from mixing official gov biz with their own views about political candidates. It’s also a law that Conway’s violated...multiple times. Oops. And in other news, Mexico’s sending nearly 15,000 troops to the US border. Because, immigration.
WHAT TO KNOW
“Flying taxis:” what France is considering offering to 2024 Olympics guests. Olympic feat.
SAY WHAT?
“Does Mom know?!?!” - Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell’s daughter after finding out her dad is famous. Just wait until she hears about her mom.
STAY CONNECTED
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