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In the latest chapter of the contentious 2024 presidential election, former president Donald Trump has gone on the offensive to protect his place on the ballot.

Trump filed a lawsuit this week against Michigan's Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, asking the court to prohibit her from leaving his name off the list of candidates. His legal team argues that Benson does not have the authority to remove him from the ballot.

This battle stems from a growing movement to keep Trump off state ballots, citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which states that no person can hold office if they engaged in insurrection after taking an oath to defend the Constitution.

At the heart of these mounting ballot challenges is Donald Trump's conduct surrounding the infamous January 6th Capitol insurrection. Legal experts argue Trump's actions in inciting the riot constituted engaging in or assisting an insurrection, which expressly prohibits him from holding office again under the 14th Amendment.

Similar efforts are underway in states like Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota and New Hampshire. Just yesterday, arguments kicked off in a Colorado lawsuit seeking to bar Trump from the ballot there over the Capitol attack.

Trump has firmly rejected these attempts, calling them election interference and nonsense. But the implications are building as we look ahead to 2024.

If Trump is barred from state primary ballots, it could effectively block his path to the Republican nomination. But he's not going down without a fight, as this new lawsuit shows.

The coming months will determine if Donald Trump's political future hangs in the balance over January 6th. This battle highlights how the Capitol riot continues to loom over the former president and American politics. 

This case has only just begun, but it's one to watch closely on the road to 2024. The Constitution grants citizens the power to shape our democracy. Now the courts will determine if that includes the extraordinary step of denying a major candidate's place on the ballot.

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As of October 30th, 2023, The United Auto Workers strike is finally over! After over a month of picket lines and stalled factories, the United Auto Workers have reached tentative deals with all three Detroit automakers. It took a lot of perseverance, but the union says these are some of their biggest contract victories in decades.

The strike started September 15th, with over 50,000 workers walking out against GM, Ford, and Chrysler. Their top complaint? Stagnant wages over the past 10 years, even as the car companies raked in profits.

In order to enact a full fledged strike, workers sacrificed, getting by on just $250 a week from the union's strike fund. But they were determined to get the automakers' attention and show that unions still have power.

Finally, after 6 long weeks, deals emerged. Ford was first, followed by Chrysler and now GM, ending the strike.

The contracts deliver major gains: an immediate 11% raise, then 3% more annually. By 2028, top wages will exceed $42 an hour - a huge 25% jump. The new contract agreements also introduce essential bonuses for workers such as more 401k contributions, and better treatment of temps.

But the wins for UAW don’t stop there. A major win for the workers was getting Ford and Chrysler to agree that employees can legally strike if the companies decide to close plants. This gives the union critical leverage if the automakers try to shift production elsewhere and put local jobs at risk.

Additionally GM will now bring battery plant workers under the main UAW contract. In the past, these employees made far less, with starting wages as low as $15 an hour. Now battery factory staff will get the same top-scale pay and benefits as other GM workers.

The deals also accelerate how fast new hires can reach the maximum wage rate. Before, it took up to 8 long years being stuck on lower pay tiers. But the new contracts slash that to just 3 years, allowing new employees to reach wage equality more quickly.

The workers still need to ratify the deals, but after decades of feeling powerless, this shows what can happen when labor sticks together and makes their voices heard.

As one UAW leader put it, through their solidarity and sacrifice, the workers achieved quote “one of the most stunning contract victories since the 1930s.” Proof that banding together as one and standing up for yourself still pays off in the end.

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UAW, GM confirm tentative agreement that brings in subsidiary and JV workers | Detroit News

UAW reaches deal with GM, ending strike against Detroit automakers | Reuters

The UAW says its strike 'won things no one thought possible' from automakers. Here's how it fared | Independent 

NCAA enforcement staff swept into Ann Arbor last week to investigate allegations claiming The University of Michigan’s Football staff stole signs from opponents using prohibited methods.

The investigation came after claims that Michigan’s offensive analyst, Connor Stalions, allegedly bought more than 30 tickets to opponents’ games and paid people to record future Michigan opponents in person and upload the footage to a shared photo album. Connor has been called a quote “psycho” by some, and was allegedly working on a manifesto to run the Michigan football program. The document was between 550 and 600 pages long and contained a blueprint for the program's future. Stalions called the document quote "the Michigan Manifesto." Stallions was suspended with pay pending the NCAA investigation. 

Since the emergence of this formal inquiry, Texas Christian University, Horned Frogs staff members came forward and said they had knowledge of Michigan’s sign-stealing antics before the 2022 College Football Playoff game. They claimed to have been “tipped off,” and decided to use quote “dummy signals” during the game instead. TCU won the match 51 to 45, much to viewers' surprise, although one could speculate this had something to do with it.

While the NCAA doesn’t have strict rules against stealing signs, they do prohibit deep, in-person scouting and using quote “illegal technology” to record opponents’ signals for later review–which is what Stalions allegedly did.

Looking ahead, NCAA investigators may interview Michigan coaches once they return from recruiting trips. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has already denied any knowledge of sign-stealing efforts and says quote, “I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action.”

Michigan is currently the #2 ranked team in the country, tied with Georgia as the favorite to win the national championship. 

For now, the only punishment for Michigan football’s 2023 season would come from the Big Ten commissioner. The NCAA’s investigation will likely go into 2024, and once a final notice of allegations is submitted, Michigan will have 90 days to respond. 

No matter the outcome, the sign-stealing scandal has football staff from all over pointing to in-helmet communication as the solution. 

The stage is set for an exciting and unexpected World Series matchup this year between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers. For the third time in MLB history, we have an all-wild card World Series and a potential first all-indoor Classic as both teams play in stadiums with retractable roofs.

The series kicks off tonight at Globe Life Field in Texas, where the Rangers will have home field advantage after winning 90 games this season. This is vaguely new territory for the Rangers franchise, who have made the World Series previously in 2010 and 2011, but have never been able to get over that final hump to secure a World Series title. 

On the flip side, the Arizona Diamondbacks are back in the Fall Classic for the first time since their dramatic 2001 World Series win over the Yankees. This year they snuck in as a surprise 6th seed with just 84 wins. But their scrappy play and underdog mentality has them believing they can shock the baseball world once again.

Heading into the series, the Rangers have already lost ace pitcher Jacob deGrom to injury earlier this season but made some key moves at the trade deadline to bolster their rotation, adding Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery. They’ll be led by righty Nathan Eovaldi in the opener tonight against Arizona’s Zac Gallen.

Additionally, the Rangers lineup is anchored by Adolis Garcia, who set a postseason record with his 8 RBIs in the ALCS and hit clutch home runs in the final 4 games. The Diamondbacks will counter with some emerging young stars of their own, including NLCS MVP Ketel Marte and Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll.

So get ready for what should be an exciting and unexpected World Series between two Wild Card teams. First pitch is at 8:03 PM Eastern tonight on Fox Will the Rangers capture that elusive first title, or will the underdog Diamondbacks play spoiler? Buckle up your seatbelts, it's going to be a fun ride!

Thank you for listening to this C2 story and let us know who you think will win the World Series!

Sources

Long Shot World Series: Diamondbacks vs Rangers is a Fall Classic few saw coming | AP News

Eovaldi set for 1st career World Series start with Rangers. Gallen gets Game 1 for Diamondbacks | AP News

World Series 2023: How to watch and what to look for in Diamondbacks vs Rangers | AP News

After nearly 22 days without a Speaker for the House of Representatives, the void has finally been filled! Previous Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted by his own caucus after 8 Republicans questioned his ability to represent the party.

The Speaker is a pivotal figure in the U.S. government, elected by all House members typically from the majority party. They act as the primary spokesperson and leader for the majority, articulating their ideas and goals. They oversee legislative proceedings to maintain order in the House as well as manage operational aspects like scheduling and committee assignments.

With the U.S. involved in many international conflicts, the need for a House Speaker is at an all time high. 

After three failed GOP nominations, Mike Johnson was voted in as the new Speaker on Wednesday, October 25th. Representative Johnson, a Louisiana Republican first elected in 2016, is most known for playing a role in challenging the 2020 election. He has a very conservative voting record and has opposed abortion rights and LGBTQ equality. Endorsed by Donald Trump, Johnson was nominated as a consensus candidate. 

As Speaker, Johnson is expected to push a conservative agenda, including overdue spending bills and avoiding a shutdown. He aims to prioritize border security, address the national debt, and respond to Biden's request for aid to Israel and Ukraine. While Republicans agree on Israel and border funding, Ukraine aid remains divisive. 

Moments after becoming Speaker, one of Johnson's first acts was legislative support for Israel.

As the least experienced Speaker in 140 years and now second in line to the presidency behind the Vice President, Johnson has much on his plate and high expectations to deliver impressive results for the House.

Thank you for listening to this C2 story and share with us your thoughts on newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson!

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Picture Miami underwater or Lousiana lined with white sandy beaches. 

Based on a comprehensive study published in the Nature Climate Communication journal on Monday, this future seems unavoidable. Hoping to model the atmospheric and oceanic changes from global warming that will impact Antarctica's ice shelves, scientists discovered a dooming issue.

The bottom of certain ice sheets are melting at faster rates than ever, and soon, nothing will keep the glaciers and large ice lands from falling into the ocean, inevitably increasing sea levels up to 10 feet. 

The study zoomed in on the West Antarctic ice sheet in the Amundsen Sea near the Southern tip of South America, predicted to be one of the largest contributors to rising sea levels brought about by climate change. It is an issue that scientists have been worried about for over 50 years, but it’s only now that we’ve gotten a closer look at the implications this melting ice block will have on the next few hundred years. 

While the study, led by , did not give exact numbers or dates, researchers agreed on one pivotal finding…

The damage is done, and there’s no stopping this colossal meltdown. 

As of now, researchers do not know how continued emission will impact the rate of melting, but they do know that cutting emissions down to the international goal of 2.7 degrees fahrenheit lower than mid-19th century levels will not stop the runaway melting process. Essentially, this ice shelf is melting, no matter what.

But what does this mean?

Well, for those of us living in 2023, it is unlikely to have a direct impact. Naughten and other scientists believe it could take hundreds, if not thousands, of years for the West Antarctic ice sheet to melt entirely, which means Miami is safe for now. But Naughten did admit quote, “Coastal communities will either have to build around or be abandoned,” when the glaciers and ice lands held at bay by ice sheets like the one in the study are set loose. However, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to cut back on emissions, and understanding how doing so could change this ice sheet’s fate is yet to be determined.

For now, researchers have only observed the impact of melting ice sheets through satellites, field science, and weather station reports. Much more information will certainly be sought after in the coming years, but the key could be looking back in time…and watching what happens below the surface. 

Do you know someone interested in the environment and our planet? Our only ask is to send this story their way, and see what they think! Thanks as always for listening to this C2 Highlight Story by Current2.

Sources:

Even with carbon emissions cuts, a key part of Antarctica is doomed to slow collapse, study says | AP News

Comprehensive study of West Antarctic Ice Sheet finds collapse may be unavoidable

Rapid Antarctic Melting Looks Certain, Even if Emissions Goals Are Met

A Russian missile strikes Ukraine, killing six

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Late Saturday, tragedy struck as Russian forces launched missiles into Ukraine, claiming the lives of six workers at a Kharkiv postal center. This devastating attack follows a grim pattern in Russia's ongoing invasion, which Ukrainian President Zelensky ferociously condemned, stating, "Russia will not be able to achieve anything through terror and murder. The end result for all terrorists is the same: the need to face responsibility for what they have done."

Kharkiv, the second-largest Ukrainian city, liberated from Russian occupation the previous year, remains a strategic target in Russia's pursuit of territorial gains. The recent attack echoes the ongoing devastation and the relentless pursuit of geopolitical expansion and goals for Russia.

Dating back to the conflict's origin in February 2022. The invasion, rooted in Russia's geopolitical ambitions, sought to swiftly overthrow President Zelensky's government but faced unexpected resistance, leading to a prolonged and devastating war. Since then, Ukraine has endured relentless assaults, with tragic events like this recent attack in Kharkiv. The ongoing assaults paint a dire picture of the humanitarian crisis ongoing in Ukraine.

Besides the six innocent lives taken, this missile strike, hitting a logistics company near the Ukrainian border, left little time for workers to seek refuge, resulting in 16 injuries.

Rescue searches are still underway in Kharkiv as some individuals are yet to be found.

Thank you for listening to this C2 story, and thanks for using Current2 as your easy way to stay informed.

Sources

6 killed in Russian rocket strike on mail depot as Ukraine reports record bomb attack numbers | AP News 

How Russia’s war in Ukraine has unfolded, month by month | NYT 

Six killed in Russia's missile attack on Kharkiv postal centre, Ukraine says | Reuters 

‘Horrific’ Russian attack on postal depot kills six in eastern Ukraine | CNN 

While the news has been filled with the Israel and Hamas conflict, and the streets filled with protestors from both sides, one place where you wouldn’t expect to find anything remotely near the situation would be a massive rivalry college football game between two Big-10 Schools.

But this past Saturday in East Lansing where #2 Michigan took on Michigan State, and went on to beat them 49-0 but that’s besides the point, an employee at Michigan State University displayed an image of Adolf Hitler on the football stadium video boards before the game.

Did this have anything to do with the Israel-Palestine conflict or was it meant to be a statement on it, absolutely not; But the timing could not have been worse.

The image was part of a YouTube video from The Quiz Channel that was being streamed on the videoboards. The video included a trivia question asking where Hitler was born, with his photo shown with the answer.

Since the incident, Michigan State has suspended the employee involved and apologized, saying the content was inappropriate and does not represent the university's values. The creator of The Quiz Channel defended including the Hitler question, saying ignoring history is not the answer. 

Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller took responsibility, apologized to the Jewish community, and said the department will stop using third-party video content without proper screening. Interim university president Teresa Woodruff also apologized and said a full review will be conducted with input from the Jewish community to ensure inclusive environments on campus.

This has been a C2 Highlight Story by Current2, thanks for taking the time to listen, share it with a friend, and we'll see you next time.

Sources:

Michigan State suspends employee involved with allowing Hitler's image to be shown on videoboards | AP News

Michigan State 'deeply sorry' for Hitler image displayed before football game

Sources

Sidney Powell Pleads Guilty in Georgia Trump Case - The New York Times

Sidney Powell pleads guilty over efforts to overturn Trump's loss in Georgia and agrees to cooperate

Trump ally Sidney Powell pleads guilty to conspiracy charges in Georgia 2020 election case - CBS News

Sources:

18 years after she disappeared, Natalee Holloway's family finally has answers | NPR

Joran van der Sloot Admits to Killing Natalee Holloway, Judge Says | NYT 

Man Tied to Natalee Holloway Disappearance Is Extradited to U.S. | NYT 

Suspect admits he killed Natalee Holloway on Aruba in 2005, pleads guilty to extorting her mother | AP 

Suspect in Holloway disappearance to appear in federal court for extortion case; plea deal possible | AP 

Joran van der Sloot Admits to Killing Natalee Holloway, Judge Says | NYT