Got the Bad News Blues

Start your day smarter with the most important world news, plus intriguing and offbeat stories. www.ozy.com [OZY]( [OZY]() Your World. Bold & Bright [Presidential Daily Brief]( Sponsored by [Cariuma]( Start your day smarter with a dossier on the most important world news, rounded off with a shot of intriguing and offbeat stories. Like the president, you deserve no less. Feb 17, 2023 Today A Georgia grand jury suggested at least one witness who testified at Donald Trump’s election tampering investigation may have perjured themselves. Dominion Voting Machines released documents that show Fox News’ biggest names slamming Trump and his allies. Residents in East Palestine described the Ohio town as like Chernobyl. And a top Pentagon official is planning to stop by Taipei. All this and more in today’s PDB. [OZY’s Pick For Spring Kicks]( [Cariuma]( We don’t know about you, but we’re over these winter blues. And…we have just the thing. Meet the OCA Low, by the cool, sustainable sneaker brand, [Cariuma](. Good news, they just cleared a 77k+ person waitlist- right in time for spring! With a comfort-first feel and dozens of colors to choose from, it’s no wonder they’re loved by celebs, skaters, and surfers (and even the OZY Tribe!). Exclusive to OZY readers: Get 15% off your pair of Cariumas with code [OZYFEB](, before they sell out again! [SHOP NOW]( IMPORTANT Liar, Liar? Georgia Grand Jury Trump Trial Flags Possible Perjury The Atlanta special grand jury — the toughest of former President Donald Trump’s legal challenges yet — released parts of its final report Thursday on attempted election tampering in the state. While the excerpts have not revealed if any arrests were recommended in the investigation, it did suggest evidence of possible perjury by “one or more” witnesses. The grand jury recommended Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis pursue “appropriate indictments for such crimes where the evidence is compelling.” Trump had spoken with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on the phone shortly after the election and demanded he “find 11,780 votes.” (Sources: [NYT](, [AP]() Two-Faced Dominion Finding Reveals Talking Heads Slammed Trump in Private Donald Trump was a “demonic force” in the days following the 2020 election, according to Fox’s heavy-hitter Tucker Carlson. “Such an idiot,” Laura Ingraham told colleague Sean Hannity in a separate message, while founder Rupert Murdoch privately lamented Trump’s rhetoric. The messages stand in contrast to Fox News’ election coverage and Trump’s “stop the steal” campaign, and form part of Dominion Voting System’s $1.6 billion lawsuit filed Thursday. The voting technology manufacturer alleges Fox News peddled conspiracy theories against the company because “the lies were good for Fox’s business.” Fox News continues to deny Dominion’s claims. (Sources: [WaPo](, [CNN]() Disaster Anxiety, Unanswered Questions as East Palestine Mull What’s Next “We’re going to relocate. We can’t do it no more,” one resident said. Businesses and households in the town are considering their futures after “East Palestine’s Chernobyl.” Norfolk Southern Corporation President and CEO Alan Shaw released an open letter to the East Palestine community on Thursday, pledging the company’s support. “We are here and will stay here for as long as it takes to ensure your safety and to help East Palestine recover and thrive,” he wrote. It came a day after representatives pulled out of attending a town hall meeting designed to allow East Palestinians to voice their concerns. (Sources: [BBC](, [Columbus Dispatch]() Stormy Waters Ahead Pentagon Officials Head to Taipei Amid US-China Tensions Michael Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, will soon visit Taiwan following a trip to Mongolia. Taiwan defense minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said he had not been formally notified, but added Taiwan would welcome friendly advice. “Suggestions that are beneficial to Taiwan’s defense operations are very good,” he said. The Pentagon did not comment directly on the visit but said: “support for Taiwan and military relations with Taiwan is in response to the current threat posed by the People’s Republic of China.” It would be the most high-profile visit since former speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taiwan in August. (Source: [The Guardian]() Briefly Here are some things you should know about today: No more. Nicaragua stripped the citizenship of 94 people, including journalists and opposition figures, just days after 222 formerly jailed individuals were deported. A judge called the 94 “fugitives of the law.” (Source: [NPR]() Landed. A boat carrying 71 Rohingya asylum seekers washed ashore in Indonesia’s Aceh province Friday. The passengers, including 20 children, fled refugee camps in Bangladesh citing a lack of opportunity there. (Source: [AP]() Official. After weeks of speculation, police in the Australian state of Queensland confirmed that the shooting to death of six people, including two police officers, at a rural property in December, was Australia’s first terror attack motivated by “Christian extremist ideology.” (Source: [SBS]() [The Shoe with the 77k Waitlist is Back in Stock!]( [Cariuma]( From LA to NYC, and Munich to Sydney meet the shoe that’s loved by celebs, surfers, and skaters alike. The [OCA Low]( is the perfect shoe for spring – with a vast variety of shades and prints to pick from, they’re sure to meet the vibe check. Don’t wait around – these comfy kicks fly off the shelves (they just cleared a 77k+ person waitlist!) and won’t be here for long. Claim your cool, and use your limited-time code [OZYFEB](for 15% off your pair of Cariumas. [SAVE 15% NOW]( INTRIGUING Missing In Action Where in the World Is Banker Bao Fan? That’s the question in China’s financial sector after the high-profile tech banker went incommunicado in recent days. China Renaissance Holdings, where Bao Fan is chief executive, released a market update Thursday that said the firm had not been able to contact him. The news sent shares in the company tumbling 50% on the Hong Kong stock exchange Friday and raised fears of a renewed crackdown on business leaders by Beijing. China Renaissance does not have “any information that indicates that Mr Bao’s unavailability is or might be related to the business and/or operations of the group,” the statement said. (Source: [BBC]() Unsubscribing YouTube’s Wojcicki Stepping Down After Formative Time at Helm Susan Wojcicki petitioned Google bosses to buy out the video service in 2006, before being tapped as CEO in 2014. “The time is right for me, and I feel able to do this because we have an incredible leadership team in place at YouTube,” she wrote in a blog post. She’ll hand over the reins to chief product officer Neal Mohan. Under Wojcicki’s tenure, the platform became a Silicon Valley success story, carving out dominance in video streaming and bringing in billions to umbrella owner Alphabet. Fears about rising misinformation campaigns and child privacy remain a challenge for successor Mohan. (Source: [CNBC]() Stay In Bed Period Pain? Take the Day Off, Says Spain A law approved by parliament on Thursday will give Spanish women medical leave days specifically for period pain. It’s the first of its kind in Europe. “It’s a historic day for feminist progress,” Equality Minister Irene Montero tweeted, but not all are convinced. Major union UGT worries it could affect women’s “access to the labor market” and stigmatize them — a view shared with the right-wing opposition Popular Party. The state, rather than employers, will fund the leave. The new law also reverses a previous government’s limits on abortion access, now allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to terminate pregnancies without parental consent. (Source: [France24]() To Be Sure? This Man Suddenly Spoke With an Irish Accent. Experts are Stumped Foreign accent syndrome is incredibly rare, researchers from North Carolina’s Duke University and the Carolina Urologic Research Center of South Carolina said. But patients who suffer strokes, trauma or psychiatric disorders may suddenly begin speaking in a different accent. “To our knowledge, this is the first case of FAS described in a patient with prostate cancer and the third described in a patient with malignancy,” the researchers wrote. Two cases were previously identified in women battling cancer. The US man had lived for several years in England and had friends and relatives from Ireland, but never visited the country himself. (Source: [The Guardian]() It’s a Marathon Russian Doping Scandal First, War Next for World Athletics The Russian Athletics Federation was banned from international competition in 2015 after an investigation revealed widespread doping across the country. “The Council will discuss the roadmap for reinstatement but specifically around the egregious attack on the integrity of our sport through doping,” World Athletics President Coe said on the sidelines of an event in Australia on Friday. Questions about Russian and Belarusian athletes competing in world events were reignited in recent weeks as the International Olympic Committee prepares to rule on participation ahead of next year’s Paris Games. Federations like World Athletics have the final say in who can compete. (Source: [Reuters]() NOW STREAMING FROM OZY STUDIO COMMUNITY What else are you curious about? Share your questions or thoughts with us at OzyCommunity@Ozy.com ABOUT OZY OZY is a diverse, global and forward-looking media and entertainment company focused on “the New and the Next.” OZY creates space for fresh perspectives, and offers new takes on everything from news and culture to technology, business, learning and entertainment. [www.ozy.com]( / #OZY Curiosity. Enthusiasm. Action. That’s OZY! [TV]( | [PODCASTS]( | [NEWS]( | [FESTIVALS]( A Modern Media Company OZY Media, 800 West El Camino Mountain View, California 94040 This email was sent to {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy](