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Dock Shock: Ports at a Halt
Plus, some cash, a parking lot, and a heartwarming twist.
Good morning and Happy Wednesday! Here are the Flag’s Top Five stories that should be on your radar to start the day:
US: Fact checking VP debate claims from Walz and Vance's 2024 showdown (CBS News)
World: Israel vows response to Iran missile attack as fears of conflict escalation rise (Reuters)
Business: CVS lays off 2,900 workers in cost-cutting move. Here's what to know. (CBS News)
Technology: Microsoft gives Copilot a voice and vision in its biggest redesign yet (The Verge)
Sports: New York Mets and Atlanta Braves both head into the postseason after dramatic doubleheader (CNN)
And of course, some good news: Good Samaritan finds $12,000 cash in a Market Basket parking lot, returns it to owner.
BECOME A FLAG BEARER
🏀 In a place where legal briefs reign supreme, there lurks a court that isn’t exactly about justice—unless you count a three-pointer! Uncover the secrets of the Supreme Court's hidden basketball court and find out who’s making the real calls! Join us as a premium subscriber to unlock the full story!
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Most other hydration products contain way more sodium than you need, unless you’re working out for multiple hours every day. Native Hydrate contains the equivalent of a quarter teaspoon of salt for optimal hydration delivery without disrupting your health. It doesn’t undergo massive processing like most hydration supplements do, or have any added sugars.
With its unique blend of essential amino acids, branched-chain amino acids, electrolytes, and additional nutrients (like Calcium Carbonate, Choline Bitartrate, Riboflavin, Niacin, B6, Folate, B12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Choline, and Zinc) Native Hydrate makes getting proper hydration easy and enjoyable all year long.
TRENDING
Left: Waves of New Voters Could Sway Race in Key States Savannah Kuchar, USA Today
Left: How Congress Gets Its Groove Back, David Dayen, American Prospect
Left: Walz Is Fighting Nerves Heading Into Debate, Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN
Right: What Harris Needs From October, A.B. Stoddard, The Bulwark
Right: Debate Host Bias: CBS 85% Pro-Harris, 81% Anti-Trump, Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner
Right: Biden-Harris Demonizes Bibi But Deifies Zelensky, Victor Davis Hanson, American Greatness
LABOR
Dock Shock: Ports at a Halt
Today’s Top Story: On Tuesday, thousands of dockworkers at 36 ports went on strike after contract negotiations with the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) broke down over demands for wage increases, compensation, and protection from automation, potentially disrupting supply chains and raising prices if prolonged.
Reporting from the Left: Dockworkers’ strike could push up prices and cause shortages if it lasts for weeks (AP)
Reporting from the Right: Dockworkers go on strike at East and Gulf Coast ports (Fox Business)
LEFT-LEANING SENTIMENT
There Will Be More
The Top Argument From The Left: The real reason 47,000 dockworkers are on strike, Heather Long, The Washington Post: “News stories have focused on how the strike will affect consumers. Will there be enough toys for Christmas? Which grocery prices will rise? It doesn’t require a PhD in economics to understand that, the longer this goes on, the more Americans will notice. But the bigger reason everyone should pay attention is that this is an early battle of well-paid workers against advanced automation. There will be many more to come. … The fact is, container ships are getting bigger and bringing more cargo. Ports that want to operate 24 hours a day to attract larger ships are likely to automate. … The East Coast dockworkers understand what’s happening around the world. They know about shipping companies’ hefty profits in recent years. And they know President Joe Biden is unlikely to force them back. (The union has been clear that it will continue unloading any military cargo, and the strike doesn’t affect cruise ships.) For now, the workers feel emboldened. This strike will make a difference in what’s available on your local store shelves. But the ramifications are bigger than that. Disputes like this can set a precedent for what happens when machines come for all kinds of jobs.”
Honorable Mention #1: Here’s What to Know About the Looming Port Strike, Danielle Kaye, The New York Times.
Honorable Mention #2: Massive port strike begins across America’s East Coast, threatening shortages and rising prices, Chris Isidore and Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN.
RIGHT-LEANING SENTIMENT
What Are the Consequences
The Top Argument From The Right: Dockworkers Launch Strike at Ports From Maine to Texas, Paul Berger, The Wall Street Journal: “The walkout shuts down some of the country’s main gateways for imports of food, vehicles, heavy machinery, construction materials, chemicals, furniture, clothes and toys. … Big retailers, with their busy fall shopping season just starting to kick in, say that for now they can withstand the slowdown because they brought in products earlier than usual this year and diverted other cargoes to West Coast ports in case of a strike. But executives say a walkout lasting a week or longer would push up shipping costs and might trigger product shortages. … A strike lasting even one week would tie up ships for much longer periods, which could exacerbate shipping delays, eat up capacity and drive up freight rates, some industry analysts warn. The growing competition for space on ships bound for the West Coast ports was already driving up freight rates in the period leading up to the walkout. The potential for a strike ‘hasn’t impacted us in terms of delivery,’ said Yoshika Hirata, senior director of operations at Stance, an apparel brand that makes socks and underwear and imports mostly through West Coast ports. ‘But what it has impacted is the cost because obviously rates are going up because of the situation.’”
Honorable Mention #1: Dockworkers from Maine to Texas go on strike in move that could spark economic doom, Ariel Zilber, New York Post.
Honorable Mention #2: Johnson criticizes Biden over refusal to intervene in dockworker strike, Annabella Rosciglione, Washington Examiner.
FLAG THIS
Labor Unions: Popular But Mixed Views On Strength
Recent Polling found that labor unions remain popular, with 59% of Americans viewing them favorably, especially in occupations like firefighting (71%), nursing (68%), and construction (67%). While some worry about strikes and costs, many believe unions improve worker power and salaries.
Opinions on union strength are mixed: 26% think unions grew stronger over the past year, while 33% expect them to gain more influence going forward. Political divides are notable, with 81% of Democrats and 44% of Republicans holding favorable views of unions, and police unions are particularly polarizing between the two parties (YouGov).
Broadly speaking, do you support labor unions? |
WATERCOOLER
Marshall In, Thanksgiving Travel, Mouse Love Story
On This Day in 1967, Chief Justice Earl Warren swears in Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. As chief counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in the 1940s and ’50s, Marshall was the architect and executor of the legal strategy that ended the era of official racial segregation.
Today I learned the voice actors behind Mickey and Minnie Mouse got married in real life.
POWERED BY NATIVE PATH
Keeping hydrated in the summer heat shouldn't be a hassle – that's where NativePath Hydrate comes in. Unlike other commercial hydration products, Native Hydrate contains high-quality amino acids that are proven to be the optimal way to hydrate, along with subtle yet effective amounts of electrolytes.
Most other hydration products contain way more sodium than you need, unless you’re working out for multiple hours every day. Native Hydrate contains the equivalent of a quarter teaspoon of salt for optimal hydration delivery without disrupting your health. It doesn’t undergo massive processing like most hydration supplements do, or have any added sugars.
With its unique blend of essential amino acids, branched-chain amino acids, electrolytes, and additional nutrients (like Calcium Carbonate, Choline Bitartrate, Riboflavin, Niacin, B6, Folate, B12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Choline, and Zinc) Native Hydrate makes getting proper hydration easy and enjoyable all year long.
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