Good morning. It's Saturday, Jan. 4, and in this weekend edition, we're covering the kickoff of the 119th Congress, a cancer advisory on alcoholic drinks, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4 million intellectually curious readers. Sign up here.
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House Republican Mike Johnson (LA-4) was reelected speaker yesterday, securing exactly the 218 votes needed to take the gavel for a second term after a pair of GOP holdouts who initially voted against him flipped their votes.
Johnson, 52, clinched the role on the first ballot, winning over all but one Republican lawmaker, including holdout Reps. Ralph Norman (R, SC-5) and Keith Self (R, TX-3). Rep. Thomas Massie (R, KY-4) voted against Johnson, supporting Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R, MN-6).
Johnson's win avoided a repeat of the start of last year's Congress when the House subjected former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R, CA-20) to 15 rounds of voting across four days before he secured the speakership, only to be ousted nine months later. The House of Representatives can now begin business, including counting electoral votes Monday.
On the other side of the US Capitol, Vice President Kamala Harris swore in the 119th Congress' senators. See the new members of Congress here. See a demographic breakdown here. |
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US Surgeon General urges cancer warnings on alcoholic drinks.
US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called for alcoholic beverages to carry warning labels about the increased risk of cancer associated with their consumption. The recommendation is based on conclusive research establishing a link between alcohol and at least seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, and throat. See the surgeon general's advisory report here (w/data and visuals).
Biden blocks proposed sale of US Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel.
President Joe Biden has blocked the nearly $15B proposed deal for Nippon Steel to acquire US Steel, citing national security concerns and the importance of maintaining a domestically owned steel industry. The decision came after the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States failed to reach a consensus on the potential national security risks, leaving the final verdict to Biden.
US fines JetBlue $2M for chronic flight delays on East Coast routes.
The penalty from the US Department of Transportation is the first of its kind against an airline, and half of the fine will be distributed to affected passengers as compensation. The department found four routes that consistently arrived late between June 2022 and November 2023, attributing the delays to JetBlue's "unrealistic scheduling." JetBlue argued air traffic control issues were also a factor.
Apple agrees to settle $95M class action lawsuit over Siri recordings.
The lawsuit alleges Apple's virtual assistant Siri recorded users' conversations without consent and shared them with third parties, contradicting the tech giant's privacy commitments. If approved, the settlement could compensate millions of eligible Apple device users who owned devices from September 2014 to December 2024, with potential payouts of up to $20 per device.
South Korea’s impeached president defies arrest warrant after standoff.
South Korean law enforcement officers attempted to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol at his residence Friday but were thwarted by a barricade of roughly 200 soldiers and security guards. Law enforcement eventually withdrew from the compound due to safety concerns after a six-hour standoff. Yoon faces criminal charges of abuse of authority after a short-lived martial law declaration last month. |
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This upcoming week, we'll be taking a deep dive into the life of the "Oracle of Omaha," Warren Buffett:
> How his investing strategies became financial gospel.
> The impact of growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, on his personal philosophy.
> His annual shareholder letters dating back to 1977.
... and much more. The newsletter comes out Wednesday morning. Sign up here for free! |
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Utah family raises over $30K for their daughter's prosthetic arm after insurers denied coverage. But then another company stepped in to cover the cost, so the family redirected the funds to help another child. (More)
Couple welcomes rare quadruplet daughters who are actually a set of twins. (More)
Three teenage boys from Maine save sleeping couple from house fire. (More)
Toronto man builds mobile homes for people experiencing homelessness. (More)
Firefighters gift a new bike to a boy after freeing him from a bike accident. (More) |
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Mode Mobile turns smartphones from an expense into an income stream, already helping users earn and save $325M+, driving $60M+ in revenue. This ranked them 2023’s #1 fastest-growing software company in North America, per Deloitte. They even secured the Nasdaq ticker $MODE–and you can become a pre-IPO investor for just $0.26/share.
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Today, we're sharing a story from reader Jeanne H. in Reno, Nevada.
"I take my dog to a dog park that is about 5 acres in size. One day, I was walking all over the fields with Dante for about 25 minutes. Then I returned to our truck, pressed the starter button & saw 'Key not detected.' I was very upset. We ran back on the field to a group of men with their dogs, and I asked if anyone had found a key fob. No. However, all of them immediately fanned out across the field searching with me. Within 5 minutes, I heard, 'Are these yours?' I was so happy. It would have taken me hours to find the fob alone. I am very grateful for their thoughtfulness."
What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. |
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"It’s the human desire in all of us to want to make life better for somebody else. It makes you feel larger. It makes you feel part of the whole human race. " |
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