A historic strike begins as autoworkers and Detroit’s three big car companies fail to come to an agreement. And NASA releases its findings after a yearlong study into UFOs. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.
Autoworkers go on strike against Detroit’s Big 3
For the first time ever, the United Auto Workers union has launched a strike against Detroit’s big three automakers — General Motors, Ford and Stellantis — at the same time.
UAW president Shawn Fain said the union, which represents nearly 150,000 members, would strike only at targeted locations of each company. About 12,700 workers will be on strike at these plants.
The UAW is demanding 40% hourly pay increases, a shift back to traditional pensions, as well as a 32-hour workweek at 40-hour pay. If this UAW strike lasts 10 days, economists estimate that could cost the U.S. economy $5.6 billion.
Our business correspondent Simone Del Rosario took a look at some of the costliest strikes in U.S. history in this week’s Five for Friday.
New poll released after Hunter Biden indictment, impeachment inquiry
Hunter Biden was indicted on three federal gun charges on Thursday, Sept. 14. The counts are related to falsifying records and possessing a gun while addicted to drugs.
It has been a busy week for the Biden family as Hunter’s indictment follows an impeachment inquiry launched by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy into President Joe Biden’s involvement in his son’s business affairs.
Just days before both Hunter’s indictment and the impeachment inquiry, the Associated Press took a poll asking Americans how involved they believe President Biden is in his son’s business dealings. The AP has now released those results.
One in three Americans are “highly concerned” about whether President Biden may have committed wrongdoing related to his son Hunter’s business dealings. Roughly half of Americans say they have “little or no confidence” that the Justice Department is handling its investigation into Hunter in a “fair and nonpartisan way.”
The political divide over the issue is evident with 66% of Republicans very concerned the president committed wrongdoing and only 7% of Democrats thinking the president has done something wrong. Independents are in the middle with one-third concerned over Biden’s handling of his son’s business dealings.
Ukraine president to meet with Biden in U.S. next week
President Biden will be meeting with Ukraine President Volodymir Zelenskyy in Washington next week. Congress will also be hearing from Zelenskyy on Capitol Hill, according to the Associated Press.
Zelenskyy will likely be making his country’s case for the $13 billion in additional Ukraine military funding the Biden administration is asking Congress to authorize. Biden and Zelenskyy will be in New York next week for the United Nations General Assembly.
According to sources who spoke with CBS News, the meeting in D.C. is likely to happen next Thursday.
Caesars Entertainment hit with cyberattack days before MGM
Caesars Entertainment has revealed it was the target of a cyberattack days before MGM Resorts had its systems shut down due to a security threat.
Bloomberg News reports Caesars paid millions to the ransomware group in recent weeks in order to get its data back.
Signature Vegas hotels from the Bellagio to MGM Grand were impacted on Sunday, Sept. 10 by the MGM attack, with casino slot machines and ATMs shut down.
As of Sept. 15, online reservations are still unavailable on MGM’s website. Law enforcement is working with the casinos in their investigation.
NASA releases finding on yearlong UFO study
A team of scientists and researchers brought together by NASA to investigate unidentified aerial phenomena cannot explain multiple UFO sightings, according to its latest report released Thursday.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson spoke on their findings, saying he believes there is other life in a universe as vast as ours, but the agency is still looking for hard proof.
“We are looking for signs of life, past and present. and it’s in our DNA to explore and ask why things are the way they are,” Nelson said.
NASA cited credible witness sightings of UFOs oftentimes coming from military pilots. They say some objects captured can neither be identified as humanmade nor natural phenomena.
NASA says this is the first time they have taken concrete action to seriously look into UFOs and will use new scientific techniques and satellites to continue their research on the unexplained.
Johnson & Johnson signing off on new logo
Johnson & Johnson is switching out its signature logo after more than 130 years. The famous script logo — based on the signature of co-founder James Wood Johnson — has been used since 1887. It is now being replaced by a more modern font as the company switches its focus to pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Its consumer products, including Band-Aids, Tylenol, Listerine, and baby shampoo, now fall under a new company spun off from J&J – called Kenvue.
A Kenvue spokesperson says, for now, that original Johnson & Johnson script logo will remain on their products’ packaging but will eventually be phased out as well.
Despite splitting from its consumer business. Johnson & Johnson expects its full-year 2023 sales to reach as much as $84 billion.