Morning Wire - Thursday Afternoon Update | 12.8.22

Episode Date: December 8, 2022

Developing stories you need to know just in time for your drive home. Get the facts first on Morning Wire. Genucel Use code "WIRE" at checkout and save 70% off their Most Popular Package: https://genucel.com/wire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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WNBA star Brittany Griner was freed from Russian captivity on Thursday in a prisoner exchange for notorious Russian arms dealer and international criminal, Victor Bout, known as the Merchant of Death. Griner was arrested in February at a Moscow airport after being caught with marijuana vaping materials and was sentenced in August to nine years in prison. U.S. diplomats had been working for her release since she was taken into custody. The president addressed why other Americans, such as U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, were not part of the swap. We've not forgotten about Paul Whelan.

This was not a choice of which American to bring home. Sadly, for totally illegitimate reasons, Russia is treating Paul's case differently than Brittany's. We are not giving up. We will never give up. More than 1,000 union members at the New York Times walked off the job today in what is set to be a 24-hour strike. It's the first such union action in more than 40 years. Union members are demanding improved wages, more favorable remote work policies, as well as an updated employee evaluation system, which they say currently allows for racial bias.

Topless sunbathing is now legal in Nantucket. The Massachusetts Attorney General approved an amendment passed in May by the residents of Nantanth. Kentucky, legalizing topless beaches for both men and women. A state judge has stopped a new Oregon law from taking effect that would create new barriers to purchasing firearms and ban the sale of any magazine larger than a 10-bullet clip. The judge says the new law violates Oregon's constitution. Andre Der Koch, a Russian-backed Ukrainian politician, faces up to 30 years in prison for fraudulently buying two properties in California in violation of U.S. sanctions. Dercotch was charged with seven criminal counts in an indictment unsealed this week. According to law enforcement officials in a press release,

Dercotch was previously sanctioned for trying to influence the 2020 elections. Peru's socialist president Pedro Castillo was arrested Wednesday after being impeached and removed from office for staging a coup to stay in power. During his first 16 months in office, Castillo has faced six criminal investigations and three impeachment attempts, including the one that removed him from power this week. U.S. prosecutors have reportedly opened a criminal investigation into whether disgraced FTX founder and major Democrat donor Sam Bankman-Fried committed financial crimes that led to the collapse of the company last month.

And iconic singer Celine Dionne revealed Thursday that she is suffering from a rare disease that prevents her from currently performing. The singer says she has been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, or SPS, a progressive disease that leaves its victims as human statues who struggle to walk or talk. Unfortunately, these fasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I'm used to. Those are your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to date.

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