MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT UP TO $1.1 BILLION

Guest: ANDY FIELD, ABC NEWS CORRESPONDENT 

Who wants to be a billionaire? For only the third time in the 20-year history of the Mega Millions lottery game, the big prize has reached the billion-dollar mark. The jackpot has grown to an estimated $1.1 billion -- a cash value of $648.2 million -- after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Tuesday night, according to a press release from Mega Millions. If won, it would be the second biggest jackpot in the game’s history behind the $1.537 billion ticket sold in 2018.  But before rushing out to spend $2 on a ticket, keep in mind that the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are a staggering 1 in 302.5 million.

Deets:

'I just follow my conscience': Tastries Bakery owners testify about religious beliefs guiding business 

San Bernardino developer pushes idea of seceding from California 

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The Senate pulled one helluva stunt yesterday in blocking funding for veterans exposed to toxins. Why would 42 Republicans vote against veteran interests?  The answer seems to be pretty ticky tack says Chris. 

Deets:

Blindsided veterans erupt in fury after Senate Republicans suddenly tank PACT Act 

Why did the GOP reject a bill to help veterans exposed to toxins? 

Senators Blunt, Hawley, Marshall vote against sick veterans 

The Inflation Reduction Act looks like it might pass now that Senator Joe Manchin (D- WVa) is on board.  The only question now seems to be AZ Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ).

Deets:

'Absolutely historic': Senate budget deal would be biggest climate change action ever (Climate Deal - ABC News)

Charles Schumer and Joe Manchin’s ‘Inflation Reduction Act,’ explained 

Wasn’t it just last week that the GOP was mad about the Dems trying to codify same sex and interracial marriage because it wasn’t “important” to the American people?  Looks like they CAN walk and chew gum at the same time. 

Sen. Susan Collins warns that Democrats' surprise climate deal could endanger bipartisan support for same-sex marriage bill 

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ABC Correspondent Alex Stone reports on how Monkeypox is now becoming the illness of concern in areas of California.  San Francisco is declaring a public health emergency and there are questions if California is about to do the same for the entire state.  California has close to 800 reported cases now and 47,000 doses of vaccine have been distributed.  California officials are set to update the media later today and could announce the next steps.  There are concerns elsewhere in the US.  There is pressure for a nationwide emergency declaration.  Cases are growing.  New York is declaring it an imminent threat to public health.  Currently they are mostly in the gay and bisexual community because it started to spread amongst that community but it is not a sexually transmitted disease and is fully expected to grow beyond the gay community because it can be spread through non-sexual interaction with others who are infected. 

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GDP report shows U.S. economy shrank again in the second quarter 

New York Post Prints Brutal Front Page Explaining Definition of ‘Recession’ to Joe Biden 

Exxon posts record-breaking second-quarter profit (Oil Profits - CNN)

$2,245.62 a second: ExxonMobil scores enormous profit on record gas prices 

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Listen to Friday's complete podcast of The Mark Thompson Show.

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Michael Snyder, Movie Critic & Culture Blaster joins Mark Thompson to share reviews of the following:

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It's been four months since actor Will Smith slapped Oscars host Chris Rock on stage for telling a joke about Smith's wife Jada, and the Morning Show with Nikki Medoro discusses the sincerity of Smith's just-released apology...was it enough? Did he need to do it at all? Were there other reasons motivating him to apologize now? Callers and texters weigh in with their thoughts.

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The crypto winter has wiped out millions of dollars in the portfolios of many around the world but Business Insider's Startup and Venture Capital Correspondent Melia Russell tells the Morning Show with Nikki Medoro there are many tech workers and investors who are still hopeful cryptocurrencies will make a comeback.

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The California Assembly will be voting next week on the Social Media Platform Duty to Children Act and the Morning Show with Nikki Medoro talks with the founder of #HalfTheStory, Larissa May, on how her group is trying to empower the next generation's relationship with social media. Are kids just mirroring their parents' bad behavior?

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