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November 14th, 2023

Good morning, and happy Tuesday! It is the 66th anniversary of the Apalachin meeting, an ill-fated summit of the American Mafia in a rural New York state town about 200 miles northwest of Manhattan. Over half the participants were detained in 1957 after state police raided the conference – an event that compelled law enforcement to acknowledge the existence of nationwide organized crime and has become part of popular culture, most famously in the comedy film Analyze This.

In Today’s Brief

Tim Scott: Exits GOP presidential race
Iceland: Volcano eruption still expected
Dickie V: Hoops legend is cancer free
Economy: Consumer spending drops

...and more

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Supreme Court sets ethics code

The U.S. Supreme Court established a formal ethics code for justices yesterday following immense criticism and pressure after some of its nine members accepted gifts and trips from wealthy individuals.

A first: The court did not previously have written standards, but justices said they have long abided by unwritten ethics guidelines and the ethics code established for lower court judges in 1973. Justices said the lack of official standards created the perception they were not adhering to ethics rules.
What it addresses: The code addresses matters such as speaking at outside events, financial and political activities and circumstances when justices should recuse themselves from cases. The code has no enforcement mechanism, which has drawn criticism.
Past controversies: Justice Clarence Thomas had financial ties to and accepted luxury vacations from Republican donor and billionaire Harlan Crow for years without including them on financial disclosure forms. Justice Samuel Alito took an Alaska fishing trip with billionaire Paul Singer, whose hedge fund has a case before the court. And Justice Sonia Sotomayor had her staff push sales of her books at events.

Biden speaks out on Gaza hospitals

President Joe Biden said Gaza hospitals must be protected and urged "less intrusive actions" as Israel's war with Hamas continues and outcry over the humanitarian crisis in the enclave grows.

Hospitals fail: A health ministry official said 32 people have died at Al-Shifa, the largest hospital in Gaza, over the last three days; three newborn babies are said to be among the dead. Al-Shifa and Al-Quds, Gaza's second-largest hospital, have ceased operations due to airstrikes and a lack of electricity and supplies.
Tanks advance: Israel said its military has moved outside Al-Shifa, alleging Hamas is using the hospital (and others) as a command center and patients inside it as shields with tunnels running under the facility. The White House supported Israel's claims about Hamas' use of the hospital and said its military faces a challenging situation as it works to defeat the militant group.
Negotiations: Hamas' armed wing said it has discussed releasing 70 hostages held in Gaza in return for a five-day truce. Israel has said it will not accept any ceasefire without the release of all hostages despite increased calls worldwide.

Surprise return roils UK politics

Former United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron was named Foreign Secretary yesterday following a government shakeup.

How it happened: Rishi Sunak, the current PM and the leader of the Conservative Party, fired controversial Home Secretary Suella Braverman after she accused police of giving preferential treatment to pro-Palestinian protestors at recent demonstrations. Sunak then shifted James Cleverly from his FS post to HS, clearing the way for Cameron, the former Tory leader.
Cameron’s past: He was PM from 2010-16, but resigned after the UK voted to leave the European Union (Cameron was a Remain supporter) and then left Parliament. Only current MPs or members of the House of Lords can serve as cabinet members, so King Charles III had to award Cameron a lifelong peerage before the move.
What it means: Sunak is dumping Braverman, a populist hardliner, for the more centrist Cameron as the Labour Party angles to return to power for the first time in over a decade. The UK’s next general election is scheduled for 2025, but there is speculation Sunak could call for a snap election sooner.

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U.S. News

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott abruptly suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination; Scott was struggling in the polls, but the move caught campaign staff off-guard (More)
A U.S. Secret Service agent opened fire on three people after an attempted break-in of a government vehicle late Sunday night in Washington; the detail was protecting Naomi Biden, President Biden’s granddaughter (More)
Maryanne Trump Barry, former President Trump’s older sister, has died at 86; she was a former federal judge and prosecutor (More)

World News

Iceland remains in a state of emergency as it awaits an imminent volcanic eruption, but scientists now expect the event will be much smaller than initially feared (More)
El Salvador has instituted a fee of over $1K for travelers from dozens of countries if they pass through its main airport; the measure is believed to be the result of U.S. pressure to slow migration at the southern border (More)
Government officials in Nepal have banned the social media app TikTok; they claim the platform has disrupted social harmony and spread indecent materials (More)

Entertainment & Sports

ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale announced he is cancer free, but his throat is still recovering and will delay his return to work (More)
There is fierce competition to win the screen adaptation rights to pop star Britney Spears' recent memoir; Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and Reese Witherspoon are all reportedly interested (More)
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said he will attend and speak at a Friday court hearing on his Big Ten suspension; the school has filed a temporary restraining order against its conference (More)

Business & Markets

Major indexes closed mixed yesterday with only the Dow closing higher (Dow +0.16%, Nasdaq -0.22%, S&P 500 -0.08%)
Consumer spending dropped in October, according to debit and credit card transaction data analysis; appliance and electronics sales experienced a particular slide (More)
Ford production workers in Kentucky voted against the United Auto Workers’ tentative deal with the car manufacturer; experts still believe union members are likely to ratify the labor agreement (More)

Tips & Tricks

Feel Good: Not only can cats and dogs coexist, but they can also save each other; a hound in Cornwall, England, led her owner to an abandoned mineshaft where, 100 feet under the ground, workers were able to save the woman’s kitten after several days missing
Be Safe: If you have cantaloupes in your kitchen, make sure you check the labels; there is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration recall for a company that distributed melons in 10 states in different parts of the country as well as Canada
Go Deep: A new federal rule starting next month will make it easier for workers with joint employers – staff at a franchise fast-food restaurant, for example – to unionize, but legislators and independent owners are pushing back
Sneak Peek: There is a new trailer for The Garfield Movie, the latest big screen spin on the iconic cartoon character due in 2024; Chris Pratt is the voice of the wise-cracking feline and Samuel L. Johnson will voice his long-lost father
Tech Savvy: No one ever plans on losing their cell phone, but things happen in life – that is why experts say it is important to take precautionary measures, such as backing up data and enabling location tracking, to minimize stress and inconvenience if you do misplace it
New Idea: New York state has named famed sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer as its first loneliness ambassador; she will work to combat social isolation for people of all ages in the honorary role
Life Hack: If you saw someone walking backwards on the street, you would likely look at them funny – but they may be the ones laughing given experts say a reverse stroll can deliver some striking mental and physical benefits

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Tip-Offs

Prince Harry will not be attending his dad’s birthday party today.

… and the internet would like to forget a few things come 2024.

A bombshell new report details a ‘toxic atmosphere’ at the FDIC.

Meet the top contenders to win Best Picture at the 2024 Oscars.

… while this new horror movie embraces its bad special effects.

Overnight train travel’s comeback in Europe is quite complicated.

Offshore wind farms are using water bubbles to protect wildlife.

Taylor Swift has politely asked fans to stop throwing stuff on stage.

Looking Back …

On November 14th: Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick is published (1851); the British Broadcasting Company begins radio service (1922); the Marshall University football team plane crashes in Huntington, West Virginia, killing 75 people including 37 players and eight coaches (1970); businessman Gary Vaynerchuk is born (1975).

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