[Hi , Welcome {NAME} siknNNBm-keQlsQkiQnkmkLNqUO2mBhlB7mL0fsoJTCo3wIhEmO0iAyGgID0YqM3fdOFgGyCm_BpNp2e2moJTCMGnGmLnqlk](siknNNBm-keQlsQkiQnkmkLNqUO2mBhlB7mL0fsoJTCo3wIhEmO0iAyGgID0YqM3fdOFgGyCm_BpNp2e2moJTCMGnGmLnqlk) Good morning, My name is Chris Dobstaff, and I'm the associate editor for newsletters . I mostly work in the background to ensure all of our newsletters arrive in your inbox on time, and I'm very excited to be bringing you this morning. Country music is having a moment this summer. In June, singers Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs made history when their songs âLast Nightâ and âFast Carâ (a cover of the Tracy Chapman classic) held the top two positions on the Billboardâs Hot 100 list, the first time both spots were taken up by country songs since 1981. This week, Jason Aldeanâs controversial âTry That in a Small Townâ reached the number one spot, with Wallen and Combs in the next two positions. Itâs the first time in history that country songs have held all three spots, Billboard said. So put on some cowboy boots and letâs dig into some more Wednesday headlines, Chris Dobstaff Associate Editor, Former President Donald Trump was charged with four new federal crimes Tuesday related to his efforts to stay in office despite losing the 2020 election, following months of investigation into the leadup to the January 6 Capitol riot. Trumpâs 2024 presidential campaign blasted the indictment in a statement, claiming it was âelection interferenceâ and âreminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.â Former Vice President Mike Pence, who prosecutors allege was âdirectly pressuredâ by Trump, said âanyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be president of the United States.â Credit rating agency Fitch downgraded the U.S.âs âLong-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Ratingâ to AA+ from AAA because of expected fiscal deterioration, growing debt and âthe erosion of governanceâ resulting in repeated debt limit standoffs. Fitch predicts a recession for the U.S. economy at the end of this year and into 2024 that will slow annual real GDP growth and leave job vacancies higher than pre-pandemic levels, which also contributed to the rating change. Tesla is under investigation by U.S. auto safety regulators over complaints that new Model 3 and Model Y vehicles can lose steering control, according to a filing Tuesday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received 12 complaints alleging a loss of steering control and power steering in the 2023 vehicles, though only one crash was reported. The investigation into new Tesla vehicles is the fifth started by U.S. auto safety regulators in the last three years. Former President Donald Trump and his political network are spending exorbitant sums to defend the ex-president against mounting legal woes, according to multiple reports citing new financial disclosures. Trump's political operation has spent about $25 million in legal fees, according to the Associated Press, which also cited a person familiar with the situation who said the figure is closer to $40 million. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantisâ campaign capitalized on the new revelations by claiming Trump's supporters were âscammedâ into footing his legal bills. New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliverâwho was serving as acting governor while Gov. Phil Murphy (D) was out of the stateâdied Tuesday, according to a family statement. Oliver, 71, was taken to a hospital in Livingston, New Jersey, for âmedical careâ on Monday, after announcing she would be unable to carry out the duties of acting governor. The NFL and CBS Sports announced they will be airing a âkids-centric presentationâ of the Super Bowl next year on Nickelodeon in an effort to get younger kids interested in the gameâand if youâre wondering whether slime will be involved, the answer is yes. The NFL has been trying to grow its younger audience for years. Excluding new streaming deals, the average age of an NFL viewer last season was 54. Legendary golfer Tiger Woods will join the PGA Tour board ahead of its controversial merger with Saudi Arabiaâs sovereign wealth fund, the financial backer of LIV Golf. Woods said he and the five other active golfers on the board, including world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, âwill do their best to make certain that any changes that are made in Tour operations are in the best interest of all Tour stakeholders.â Reed Jobs, the son of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, is starting a new venture capital firm to fund new treatments against cancerâand the firm has raised $200 million from investors. The firm, called Yosemite, is an off-shoot of Emerson Collective, a hybrid investment, social impact and philanthropic firm founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, Steve Jobsâ wife. An article in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases reported that cases of leprosy are on the rise in Florida, noting that "central Florida represents an endemic location for leprosy." However, contrary to headlines in multiple news outlets, the CDC has not issued a travel advisory for the state. âEmerging Infectious Diseases is published by CDC, but the authors are often not affiliated with CDC,â an agency spokesperson told Forbes. The federal grand jury investigating Donald Trump's actions surrounding the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol is meeting today in downtown Washington. | Scott Olson/Getty Images âWhat to Do When Your Dog Bites (and Happens to Live in the White House),â by Alexandra Horowitz for NYT TRUMP The federal grand jury investigating DONALD TRUMPâs actions surrounding the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol is meeting today in downtown Washington, fueling ongoing speculation that special counsel JACK SMITH could issue an indictment on charges related to Trumpâs efforts to overturn the 2020 election as soon as this week. Live updates from NBC Despite the looming indictment, Kyle Cheney reports there is an odd âstatus quoâ at the courthouse, characterized by âhigh anxiety, heavy media presence but no news yet to speak of.â DEVELOPING â âââNew Jerseyâs lieutenant governor dies,â by Dustin Racioppi: New Jersey Lt. Gov. SHEILA OLIVER, a trailblazing political leader, has died, according to her family and the governorâs office. Oliver, 71, was admitted to the hospital Monday for unspecified reasons. She had been serving as acting governor with Gov. PHIL MURPHY on an overseas vacation. ⦠[Oliver] was the first Black female Assembly speaker and the second Black woman in the nationâs history to lead a house of a state legislature.â According to new Labor Department data released today, job turnover in the United States has fallen to its lowest level in two years, indicating a further cooling-off of the nationâs labor market when compared to pandemic-era trends. Hiring has slowed: Companies across the country are hiring at considerably lower rates, with the department reporting 5.9 million new jobs in June, down from 6.2 million in May. So has the âquit rateâ: Meanwhile, the total "quits-rateâ in the labor market, or the rate at which employees are voluntarily leaving their employer, has fallen from 2.6% in May to 2.4% in June. While still slightly higher than pre-pandemic rates, the dip further indicates a slowing of the "Great Resignation" that slammed businesses earlier this year. More from NYT Whatâs ahead ⦠On Friday, the Labor Department will release the July employment data, which could paint a fuller picture of the state of the labor market. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API): The Department of the Interior is required by law to develop a five-year plan for offshore oil and natural gas leasing that delivers billions to communities across America and strengthens U.S. energy security. But the Biden administration is more than a year overdue in delivering an offshore oil and gas leasing program, despite announcing wind lease sales. Itâs past time to get going on U.S. offshore oil and natural gas leasing. AD WARS â SFA Fund Inc., a super PAC supporting former South Carolina Gov. NIKKI HALEYâs presidential campaign, is throwing about $13 million behind digital and television ads in Iowa and New Hampshire starting this month, Fox Newsâ Paul Steinhauser reports. âThe spots from SFA Fund, which were shared first nationally with Fox News on Tuesday, spotlight her national security and foreign policy credentials ⦠âNikki Haley fought Americaâs enemies at the U.N. and won,â the narrator in the spot running in New Hampshire says. âNikki Haley â tough as nails â smart as a whip â unafraid to speak the truth.â Watch the 30-second ad HEâS NOT RUNNING â âRepublican Rep. Tom Tiffany says he won't challenge Sen. Tammy {NAME} in Wisconsin,â by NBCâs Adam Edelman: âIn a statement, Rep. TOM TIFFANY [R-Wis.] said heâd decided to instead run for re-election to his congressional seat but criticized [Sen. TAMMY] {NAME} for being a ârubber stamp for the Biden administration.â ⦠His decision to not run is another blow to state and national Republicans, who had sought a strong challenger to take on {NAME} as part of their quest to retake the Senate majority.â HE IS RUNNING, RIGHT? â âRepublicans are all in on David McCormick for Senate. So where is he?â by Philly Inquirerâs Julia Terruso: âSeveral Republican sources who know [DAVID] McCORMICK say heâs eyeing a potential fall entrance but is being cautious about the decision, coming off the primary loss to MEHMET OZ last year. Heâs wary of whatâs expected to be a tough run against [Sen. BOB] CASEY, a well-known incumbent, sources said, as well as how the outcome of the presidential GOP primary could impact Pennsylvaniaâs Senate race. ââHeâs staring down the barrel of two guns â trying to beat Bobby Casey is not an easy thing to do, even in a great environment,â GOP strategist VINCE GALKO said. âThe other thing is, does he want to be running in a swing state with Donald Trump at the top of the ticket? How does that play?ââ AI ON THE BRAIN â As Washington grapples with how to best regulate artificial intelligence and generative tools like ChatGPT, White House conversations about AI have taken on a âdeeper meaningâ for President Biden, who âhas suggested that decisions made around the technology could impact generations and shape part of his legacy,â WSJâs Sabrina Siddiqui reports this morning. âHe views this as an existential challenge,â White House deputy chief of staff BRUCE REED said, âThis is not just another issue that came along. This is a technology that has the potential for phenomenal good or ill.â âAides say the push to do more has been driven by Biden himself, who has voiced particular concern over the technologyâs implications for foreign policy and national security. The president has cited the potential danger of a deep fake featuring the U.S. president being mistaken as authentic overseas ⦠The president has also questioned the technologyâs potential effects on democracy.â ATTENTION PLAYBOOKERS! You need to keep up with the latest political news and nuggets, so hereâs a juicy tip: You need to add California Playbook to your daily reading. We have a new team at the helm who are eager to take you inside the political arena in California, from Sacramento and Los Angeles to Silicon Valley and throughout the Golden State! Get the latest exclusive news and buzzy scoops from the fourth largest economy in the world sent straight to your inbox. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. TURN THE PAGE â Rep. DERRICK VAN ORDENâs (R-Wisc.) curse-laden tirade against teenage Senate pages last week is adding fuel to the fire for Democrats, who previously tried to paint Van Orden as âan extremist who lacked the temperament for public office,â The Daily Beastâs Ursula Perano reports. âNow, as Democrats hope to flip the seat next cycle, party operatives say Van Orden spewing obscenities at adolescent pages fits right into their narrative â and pushes it forward.â INVESTIGATION STATION â The House Select Committee on China is investigating asset management company BlackRock and stock market index MSCI for âfacilitating American investment in Chinese companiesâ accused of human rights violations, WSJâs Kate OâKeeffe and Corrie Driebusch scoop. âThe panel told the firms that a review of just a sliver of their activities â which arenât illegal â showed that they are causing Americans to fund more than 60 Chinese companies that U.S. agencies have flagged on security or human-rights grounds.â ECO UPDATE â Thirty-nine Senate Republicans, including Minority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL, JOHN THUNE (S.D.) and SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO (W.Va.) are pushing the EPA to withdraw its proposed limits on coal and nuclear power gas emissions, arguing in a letter to EPA Administrator MICHAEL REGAN that the agency âgrossly misinterpretedâ its authority under the Clean Air Act, WaPoâs Maxine Joselow reports. â[T]he letter offers a window into the approach Republicans might take if they gain full control in Washington, and the legal arguments that GOP attorneys general might make when challenging the final rule in court.â GUNS IN AMERICA â WSJâs Jacob Gershman is up with a deep dive on how lower courts are struggling to navigate the Supreme Courtâs latest interpretation of the Second Amendment when litigating recent gun cases: âThe decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen decreed that gun-control laws of today must have a clear forerunner in weapons regulations around the time of the nationâs infancy ⦠Judges are at odds about how to use centuries-old weapons laws, many obscure, to evaluate modern-day restrictions and firearm offenses.â Related read: âA Craigslist for Guns, With No Background Checks,â by NYTâs Serge Kovaleski and Glenn Thrush LOAN LURCH â âChaos Looms as $1.5 Trillion Student-Loan Pause Abruptly Ends,â by Bloombergâs Janet Lorin: âSome companies that administer the loans have slashed staff this year, even as they work to shore up computer systems and train workers before the deadline to resume payments in October for the first time since the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. About 6.4 million borrowers, including some who left school during the pause, still lack a repayment plan, according to the Education Department.â DANCE OF THE SUPERPOWERS â The Department of Homeland Security announced today that it will ban goods from two Chinese-based manufacturing companies, Camel Group Co. and Chenguang Biotech Group Co., as part of its efforts to combat forced labor and ongoing crimes against Uyghurs and other minority groups. The move brings the total of banned companies under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act to twenty four, DHS noted. More from Reuters POINT OF ENTRY â âU.S. restricts visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders because of security concerns,â by APâs Bela Szandelszky: âA senior U.S. government official said the change followed years of failed efforts by the U.S. to work with Hungaryâs government to resolve the security concerns. ⦠Hundreds of thousands of Hungarian passports were issued without stringent identity verification requirements, some of them to criminals who pose a safety threat and have no connection to Hungary, the official said.â X MARKS THE FRAUGHT â âElon Muskâs X Sues Nonprofit That Accused It of Allowing Hate Speech,â by WSJâs Alexa Corse The Biden White House says, "we want to see more supply" of American oil and natural gas. Their policy actions tell another story. TRANSITIONS â Lauren Morrison is now a financial policy analyst with the FAA contracted through A3 Technology. She previously was a government relations assistant at the ONE Campaign. ⦠Heather Valentine is starting her own government relations firm, Valentine Strategies. She previously was director of government relations at Bread for the World. ⦠Anna Pacilio is now deputy media relations director at NARAL Pro-Choice America. She previously was associate VP at Jennifer Bett Communications and is a Sunshine Sachs, Beto OâRourke and EMILYâs List alum. Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Thank you for being part of The Production Community, the first online community created exclusively for production professionals in the entertainment industry. As one of our premier members, you have just been awarded your first badge for joining the Production Community! You can now earn points and badges through your activity and contributions on the community site by asking questions in the forum, liking posts, offering your perspective, others liking your posts, and more. 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