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Week In Review

By Elissa Hecker posted 05-08-2023 10:46 AM

  

By Victoria Vitale

Edited by Elissa D. Hecker

Below, for your browsing convenience, the categories are divided into: Entertainment, Arts, Sports, Technology/Media, and General News:

Entertainment

Ed Sheeran Wins Copyright Case Over Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’

The pop star was accused of copying the 1973 classic for his 2014 hit “Thinking Out Loud.” He described the chords both songs use as “common building blocks.” The jury agreed.

Ed Sheeran Found Not Liable in Copyright Trial Over Marvin Gaye’s Song - The New York Times (nytimes.com)


Writers Go on Strike and Late Shows Go Dark

How long they stay off the air is an open question. During the last strike, they returned after a few months.

Late Night Shows Go Dark in First Fallout From Writers’ Strike - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Outside Hollywood Studios, Writers Make Their Case

Those in picket lines at the headquarters of companies like Netflix were critical of working conditions that have become routine in the streaming era.

Film and TV Writers on Strike Picket Outside Hollywood Studios - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Disney Sued by Florida for Control of Theme Park’s Expansion

A board appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis claims that the company cut a “back room deal” to control development at Walt Disney World.

Disney Sued by Florida for Control of Theme Park’s Expansion - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

DeSantis Signs Into Law Latest Wrinkle in Disney Feud

The bill would allow approved development agreements for Walt Disney World to be voided. The company has already sued the governor over the issue.

DeSantis Signs Into Law Latest Wrinkle in Disney Feud - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Anheuser-Busch Changes Beer Marketing Focus After Transgender Promotion

Executives at the beer giant told analysts that Bud Light’s focus going forward will be on sports and music.

Bud Light Maker Changes Beer Marketing Focus After Transgender Promotion - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Arts

Inside the Delirious Rise of ‘Superfake’ Handbags

Can you tell the difference between a $10,000 Chanel bag and a $200 knockoff? Almost nobody can, and it is turning luxury fashion upside down.

Inside the Delirious Rise of ‘Superfake’ Handbags - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Shein, Fast Fashion Hit With Gen Z, Tries Charm to Counter Scrutiny

With an initial public offering expected at some point, the company is looking to change its public perception. Not everyone is buying it, but it seems like the company is embracing young and upcoming fashion designers.

Shein, Fast Fashion Hit With Gen Z, Tries Charm to Counter Scrutiny - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

An Art Professor Says A.I. Is the Future. It’s the Students Who Need Convincing.

Lance Weiler is an A.I. convert. His art students at Columbia University are still debating the creative value of ChatGPT and Midjourney. Is A.I. a powerful tool or a crutch?

An Art Professor Says AI Is the Future. It’s the Students Who Need Convincing - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Spotify Is Blocking Releases from AI Music Platform Boomy — But Not Because of A.I.
Spotify has reportedly pulled a number of songs created through Boomy and ceased allowing new releases from the A.I. music platform – albeit because of alleged fake streams as opposed to the way the tracks were made.

Spotify Is Now Blocking Releases from AI Music Generator Boomy (digitalmusicnews.com)

Sports

Attorneys General to Investigate the N.F.L.’s Treatment of Female Employees

Letitia James of New York and Rob Bonta of California opened a joint investigation of the NFL a year after The Times reported female workers’ claims of workplace discrimination and pay inequity.

Attorneys General James and Bonta to Investigate the NFL’s Treatment of Women - The New York Times (nytimes.com)


Derby Entrant Is Scratched as Four Horse Deaths Renew Safety Concerns

In the past week, two horses died after sustaining injuries and two horses conditioned by the same trainer collapsed and died at Churchill Downs, prompting an investigation.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Is Suspended After Horse Deaths Before Kentucky Derby - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Chess’s Governing Body Delays Report on Cheating Scandal

Did Hans Niemann secretly use a supercomputer to beat the world champion Magnus Carlsen? The International Chess Federation won’t say until October, at the earliest.

Chess’s Governing Body Delays Report on Cheating Scandal - The New York Times (nytimes.com)


FIFA Threatens Women’s World Cup TV Blackout in Europe

Gianni Infantino said matches would not be shown in the continent’s biggest markets this summer unless broadcasters meet FIFA’s demands for higher fees. The fees are necessary to help with pay and situational equity between the women and men.

FIFA Says Women’s World Cup Faces TV Blackout in Europe - The New York Times (nytimes.com)


Technology/Media

U.S. Government Publishes Annual Report Assessing Copyright Regimes Around the World

The office of the US Trade Representative last week published its annual list of countries that should really try harder when it comes to protecting copyright. Argentina, Chile, China, India, and Indonesia all find themselves on a priority watch list.

US government publishes annual report assessing copyright regimes around the world | Complete Music Update

White House Pushes Tech CEOs to Limit Risks of A.I.

In the White House’s first gathering of A.I. companies, Vice President Kamala Harris told the leaders of major tech companies they had a “moral” obligation to keep products safe.

White House Unveils Initiatives to Reduce Risks of AI - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

F.T.C. Seeks ‘Blanket’ Ban on Meta’s Use of Young Users’ Data

Citing privacy failings by the tech giant, regulators proposed to stop sites like Instagram and Facebook from profiting off the data of users under 18.

FTC Seeks ‘Blanket’ Ban on Meta’s Use of Young Users’ Data - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

States’ Push to Protect Kids Online Could Remake the Internet

New age restrictions for minors on sites like TikTok and Pornhub could also hinder adults’ access to online services.

States’ Push to Protect Kids Online Could Remake the Internet - The New York Times (nytimes.com)


Judge Dismisses F.T.C. Lawsuit Against a Location Data Broker

The ruling was a blow to the commission’s intensifying efforts to crack down on the sale and use of sensitive personal information.

Judge Dismisses F.T.C. Lawsuit Against Kochava, a Location Data Broker - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Judge Dismisses Trump’s Lawsuit Against The New York Times

Former President Donald J. Trump, who had sued The Times, three of its reporters, and his niece over an investigation into his tax returns, was ordered to pay The Times’s legal expenses.

Judge Dismisses Trump’s Lawsuit Against The New York Times - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Times Asks Judge in Fox-Dominion Case to Rule on Redactions

A judge will now decide whether media outlets that challenged how Fox News kept internal messages hidden from public view have a case.

Times Asks Judge in Fox-Dominion Case to Rule on Redactions - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Carlson’s Text That Alarmed Fox Leaders: ‘It’s Not How White Men Fight’

The discovery of the text message contributed to a chain of events that ultimately led to Tucker Carlson’s firing.

Tucker Carlson’s Text That Alarmed Fox: ‘It’s Not How White Men Fight’ - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Tucker Carlson Wants to Return to TV Before 2025. Will Fox Let Him?

In conversations with his associates, Carlson has expressed interest in getting back to work before the agreement expires. The restrictions in his contract will likely be determinative as to where and what he will be able to do.

Tucker Carlson Wants to Return to TV Before 2025. Will Fox Let Him? - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

CNBC Anchor Complained NBCUniversal C.E.O. Pressured Her for Years

Hadley Gamble, an anchor and senior international correspondent at CNBC, said in her complaint that former NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell used his position of power to pursue her and pressure her for sex.

CNBC Anchor Complained NBCUniversal C.E.O. Pressured Her for Years - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Google Promised to Defund Climate Lies, but the Ads Keep Coming

Google said in 2021 that it would stop running ads alongside videos and other content that denied the existence and causes of climate change.

Google Promised to Defund Climate Lies, but the Ads Keep Coming - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

As Attacks on Journalists Rise, The Times’s Publisher Warns of Risks to Democracy

The free press’s role in supporting human rights and democratic societies is “at great risk” amid increasing levels of violence against journalists worldwide, A.G. Sulzberger said.

New York Times’s Publisher Warns of Risks to Press Freedom and Democracy - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

The Next Fear on A.I.: Hollywood’s Killer Robots Become the Military’s Tools

U.S. national security officials are warning about the potential for the new technology to upend war, cyber conflict, and — in the most extreme case — the use of nuclear weapons.

How Could AI Change War? U.S. Defense Experts Warn About New Tech - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

‘The Godfather of A.I.’ Leaves Google and Warns of Danger Ahead

For half a century, Geoffrey Hinton nurtured the technology at the heart of chatbots like ChatGPT. Now he worries it will cause serious harm.

‘The Godfather of AI’ Quits Google and Warns of Danger Ahead - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

General News

Supreme Court Stays Execution of Death Row Inmate Richard Glossip

The Court acted after Oklahoma’s attorney general joined Richard Glossip in urging it to halt the execution, which had been scheduled for May 18th.

Supreme Court Stays Execution of Death Row Inmate Richard Glossip - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Supreme Court Takes Up Case That Could Curtail Agency Power to Regulate Business

The Court’s Republican-appointed majority appears poised to chip away again at the authority of the administrative state to issue rules for the economy.

Supreme Court Takes Up Case That Could Curtail Agency Power to Regulate Business - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Prominent Retired Judge Calls for Ethics Rules for Supreme Court Justices

In written testimony sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the retired conservative Judge J. Michael Luttig called for new ethics rules for Supreme Court justices.

Prominent Retired Judge Calls for Ethics Rules for Supreme Court Justices - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Justice Thomas’s Friend Defends Failure to Disclose Tuition Payments by Harlan Crow

The revelation by ProPublica added to the lavish gifts and travel from the Texas billionaire that Justice Clarence Thomas had not disclosed.

Justice Thomas’s Friend Defends Failure to Disclose Tuition Payments by Harlan Crow - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Justices Wrestled With Court’s Power in Landmark Abortion Case, Papers Show

Justice John Paul Stevens’s files on thousands of cases, including landmark decisions on abortion and the 2000 election, have been made public, opening a window on the Supreme Court.

Release of Justice Stevens’s Private Papers Opens Window Into Supreme Court - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

White House Will End Most Covid Vaccine Mandates

The requirements helped end the public health emergency, but they also prompted a politically charged debate.

U.S. Will End Most Covid Vaccine Mandates on May 11 - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Late-Night Negotiating Frenzy Left First Republic in JPMorgan’s Control

The resolution of First Republic Bank came after a frantic night of deal making by government officials and executives at the country’s biggest bank.

Late-Night Negotiating Frenzy Left First Republic in JPMorgan’s Control - The New York Times (nytimes.com)


It’s Not Just Math and Reading: U.S. History Scores for 8th Graders Plunge

The latest test results continue a nearly decade-long decline.

U.S. History Scores for 8th Graders Plunge - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Four Proud Boys Convicted of Sedition in Key Jan. 6 Case

The verdict was a blow against the far-right group and another milestone in the Justice Department’s prosecution of the pro-Trump rioters who stormed the Capitol.

4 Proud Boys, Including Enrique Tarrio, Convicted of Jan. 6 Sedition - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Jan. 6 Rioter Gets 14 Years for Police Attacks, Longest Sentence Yet in Inquiry

The sentence was delivered the same day that prosecutors recommended 25 years in prison for Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers militia, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy in the attack.

Peter Schwartz Gets 14 Years for Jan. 6 Police Attacks, Longest Sentence So Far - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Alabama Discriminated Against Black Residents Over Sewage, Justice Dept. Says

State and local health authorities ignored the risks of raw sewage for residents in a rural county, the Justice Department has found; the officials have agreed to change their practices.

Alabama Discriminated Against Black Residents Over Sewage, Justice Dept. Says - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Justice Dept. Intensifying Efforts to Determine if Trump Hid Documents

Prosecutors investigating the former president’s handling of classified material have issued a wave of new subpoenas and obtained the confidential cooperation of a witness who worked at Mar-a-Lago.

Justice Dept. Intensifying Efforts to Determine if Trump Hid Documents - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Legal Moves in Trump Case Reveal Challenges of Prosecuting a President

Lawyers for Trump sought to have his hush-money case moved to federal court, even as the judge in the case scheduled his trial for early next year.

Legal Moves in Trump Case Reveal Challenges of Prosecuting a President - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

In Trump Case, Bragg Pursues a Common Charge With a Rarely Used Strategy

A review of more than two dozen cases shows that in at least one sense, the indictment of the former president stands apart.

In Trump Case, Bragg Pursues a Common Charge With a Rarely Used Strategy - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Trump Will Offer No Defense Witnesses in Rape Trial

The lawyer said he would call no witnesses to rebut E. Jean Carroll’s account of being assaulted at Bergdorf Goodman. The case could go to a jury early this week.

Trump Will Offer No Defense in E. Jean Carroll’s Rape Case - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

In Rape Trial Deposition Video, Trump Says Vulgar Tape Simply Reflects Truth

The former president did not disavow the “Access Hollywood” video when questioned by lawyers for E. Jean Carroll, who has accused him of attacking her. They rested their case on Thursday.

In Rape Trial Deposition, Trump Defends Vulgar Tape As Carroll’s Case Ends - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

California Panel Calls for Billions in Reparations for Black Residents

A task force recommended that legislators enact a sweeping program to compensate for the economic harm from racism in the state’s history.

California Panel Calls for Billions in Reparations for Black Residents - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

In Blow to DeSantis, Florida Bills to Limit Press Protections Are Shelved

Gov. Ron DeSantis usually gets what he wants from the State Legislature. However, on high-profile defamation bills it was the right-wing news media, and not the Republican governor, that flexed its muscle.

In Blow to DeSantis, Florida Bills to Limit Press Protections Are Shelved - The New York Times (nytimes.com)


Hochul Acknowledges That She Didn’t Vet Adviser Accused of Sexual Harassment

Gov. Kathy Hochul said that she had hired Adam Sullivan in 2018 without a thorough background check, even though he had left his prior job abruptly, because she had used his services previously. She also said that she believed the women who accused Sullivan of harassment.

Hochul Acknowledges She Didn’t Vet Adviser Accused of Sexual Harassment - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Most Fake Trump Electors Have Taken Immunity Deals in Georgia Case

Prosecutors are nearing charging decisions after investigating whether former Trump and his allies illegally meddled in Georgia’s 2020 election.

In Georgia Trump Investigation, Most Fake Electors Take Immunity Deals - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

War, Weapons, and Conspiracy Theories: Inside Airman Teixeira’s Online World

A review of more than 9,500 messages obtained by The New York Times offers important clues about the mind-set of a young airman implicated in a vast leak of government secrets.

Inside Airman Teixeira’s Online World: War, Weapons and Conspiracy Theories - The New York Times (nytimes.com)


An End to Pandemic Restrictions Could Bring Thousands to the Border

Title 42, the policy that has allowed the swift expulsion of many migrants at the southern border, will lift on Thursday. Officials are bracing for a new immigration surge.

An End to Pandemic Restrictions Could Bring Thousands to the Border - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

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