logo
Little Progress to Report From Shawn Fain's UAW

Little Progress to Report From Shawn Fain's UAW

Two years ago United Auto Workers members elected Shawn Fain to lead their union out of a decade of corruption. Now the high hopes that swept Mr. Fain into the president's office are crashing down.
In a report this week, the union's court-appointed federal monitor says Mr. Fain retaliated against a fellow elected official, Margaret Mock, the union's secretary-treasurer.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Former assistant describes putting on gloves to clean up Diddy's freak offs - as $6k bill for hotel damage revealed
Former assistant describes putting on gloves to clean up Diddy's freak offs - as $6k bill for hotel damage revealed

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Former assistant describes putting on gloves to clean up Diddy's freak offs - as $6k bill for hotel damage revealed

The former assistant for Sean 'Diddy' Combs described how he set up and cleaned up hotel rooms after 'freak offs.' Brendan Paul, who worked as the rapper's assistant for 18 months until he was arrested in March 2024 for cocaine possession, testified about his role preparing and tidying up hotel rooms after his boss and his then-girlfriend had 'freak offs.' Clad in a blue suit, the former Syracuse basketball player spoke quickly and confidently while on the stand Friday morning. Paul, who worked 100-hour weeks for the mogul, recalled 'advancing' locations for his boss's hotel stays. This included setting up hotel rooms, bringing baby oil, lubricant, condoms, candles and liquor, as well as calling room service to bring up extra towels, sheets, and water, he testified. Although Paul said he didn't know what the 'wild king nights' — another term for 'freak offs' — entailed, he understood they involved sex and partying. When cleaning up, Paul recalled putting on gloves 'for sanity reasons' while placing towels and sheets 'in a nice pile.' He noted the rooms were often 'in disarray.' He said he understood he was tasked with tidying up the rooms after 'wild king nights' to 'avoid getting damage charges.' He then left cash tips for hotel staff. Later in the day, however, the jury learned that Diddy was charged hundreds, and sometimes thousands, for damages to hotel rooms. Records revealed that the mogul was charged $6,000 for 'losses and damages' during his stay at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Miami in December 2021. The mogul faces five federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He's pleaded not guilty. The former assistant's duties were one of several shocking revelations during Friday's testimony. Paul recalled working three days straight without sleeping while the mogul worked on releasing his 2023 album 'The Love Album: Off the Grid.' Diddy told his team to 'move like SEAL Team Six,' which Paul took to mean 'be militant' and 'get things done without him asking,' he testified. Asked about how he feels about Diddy today, Paul replied: 'It's complicated.' The mogul shot a 'thumbs up' at his defense attorney Brian Steel after he cross-examined Paul. The government expects to rest its case as soon as Monday. If that's the case, the defense said it could rest its case on Tuesday or Wednesday, meaning the jury could have the case as early as next week. At The London West Hollywood in January 2023, records revealed a $3,750 charge for damaged furniture. A damage report read in court Friday stated that hotel staff noticed 'bodily fluids stained on the wood floor' as well as 'used linens in various sections of the room.' Months later in April at the same hotel, a damage report revealed a $1,800 charge for towels that 'appear to have been soaked in baby oil' and signs of smoking in the room. While on the stand, Paul clarified he was 'absolutely not' a drug mule. Brian Steel, one of Diddy's defense attorneys, asked if drugs were just a 'minor part' of what he did for his boss; Paul agreed. The witness also clarified that when he was arrested, he had Diddy's cocaine. 'I was sweeping his room earlier that morning' when he grabbed the drugs and put them in his bag and 'I forgot to put it elsewhere," he said on the stand. He had 0.7 grams of cocaine on him at the time of his arrest, he testified. Paul didn't tell police at the time that they weren't his drugs out of 'loyalty' to his boss, he told the court.

Diocese of Winona named in 3 lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct from more than 50 years ago
Diocese of Winona named in 3 lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct from more than 50 years ago

Yahoo

time17 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Diocese of Winona named in 3 lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct from more than 50 years ago

Jun. 20—WINONA, Minn. — The Diocese of Winona has been named in three personal injury lawsuits filed this year, all alleging sexual misconduct from more than 50 years ago. The most recent complaints were filed Friday, June 6, in Winona County District Court. However, according to the date the complaints were originally drafted, the lawsuits have been in the works for over nine years. The cases are the results of the Minnesota Child Victims Act of 2013, which lifted the statute of limitations on past claims of child sexual abuse for a three-year period that ended in August 2016. More than 100 claims of child sexual abuse by clergy arose after the act was passed. The three complaints filed in 2025 were signed in March and May 2016. Two of the cases allege sexual misconduct by Sylvester Brown and Harold Mountain, two priests with previous sexual abuse allegations filed against them. In a statement, the Diocese said the filings were "known and anticipated by the parties and stem from insurance issues that were addressed in the Bankruptcy of the Diocese." "On Oct. 14, 2021, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota confirmed a Plan of Reorganization for the Diocese. The Plan provided for a substantial trust to compensate survivors of sexual abuse within the Diocese," the statement continued. The trust was funded with more than $22 million of Diocesan assets, and insurance coverage settlements of $6.5 million. "This plan was jointly submitted to the Court by the Diocese and the Committee of Unsecured Creditors, who represent the survivors of sexual abuse. The funds contributed by the Diocese toward the negotiated settlement fully satisfied the Diocese's financial obligation owed to the Settlement Trust," the Diocese said. According to the complaints, each case alleges three counts relating to negligence and demands payment for the damages in excess of $50,000. The unnamed plaintiffs are referred to as Doe 221, Doe 257 and Doe 276. In addition to the Diocese of Winona, the complaints name St. Casimir's Catholic Church in Wells, Minnesota; Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Blue Earth, Minnesota; and Cotter High School in Winona, Minnesota. The first complaint filed against the Diocese claims that Tom Bork, a former Cotter High School teacher employed by the Diocese of Winona, molested Doe 276 when they were 15 or 16. The alleged sexual contact having occurred from 1972 to 1973. According to court documents, the district judge dismissed the claims against Cotter High School with prejudice in April. A pretrial hearing for the case is scheduled for May 22, 2026, in Olmsted County District Court. The second case opened this year was filed in Winona County. It claimed that Harold Mountain, a now-deceased priest at St. Casimir's Catholic Church, sexually abused Doe 221 when they were 7 or 8. The child was a parishioner, student and participant in church activities. The alleged abuse occurred from 1968 to 1969, the complaint said. The second complaint in Winona County involves Doe 257, who claims Sylvester Brown, a priest at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, molested him when he was 13. The alleged abuse occurred around 1974, according to the complaint. The complaints were filed by Jeff Anderson of Jeff Anderson & Associates. The law firm represents survivors of clergy abuse. "While the Diocese cannot comment on the facts related to this matter, we pray for a just resolution for all of those involved," the statement from the Diocese concluded. "The Diocese remains steadfast in its commitment to healing and justice for all survivors." Those experiencing sexual exploitation can call a 24-hour crisis line at 507-289-0636 to speak to someone who can direct you towards help.

Trump says "maybe" he'll try to fire Fed chief Jerome Powell
Trump says "maybe" he'll try to fire Fed chief Jerome Powell

CBS News

time18 minutes ago

  • CBS News

Trump says "maybe" he'll try to fire Fed chief Jerome Powell

President Trump suggested Friday he may try to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling the central bank leader a "Total and Complete Moron" for leaving interest rates steady. The president has been lashing out against Powell for months, criticizing the central banker — whom Mr. Trump appointed in his first term — for not lowering interest rates at a faster pace. It's unclear whether the president is legally allowed to fire Powell before his term ends in May 2026, and Mr. Trump said in April he has "no intention" of doing so. But in a post criticizing Powell on Friday, Mr. Trump floated the idea, writing: "Maybe, just maybe, I'll have to change my mind about firing him?" "But regardless, his Term ends shortly!" the president added. Any attempt to fire Powell would be legally contentious. Federal law and prior court precedent says members of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors, including the chair, can only be fired "for cause." The Supreme Court ruled last month that the Trump administration can fire members of other independent federal agencies — but specifically exempted the Fed, calling the central bank a "uniquely structured, quasi-private entity." Powell said last year he will not resign if Mr. Trump asks him to step down. The two met at the White House last month. Mr. Trump also called Powell a "dumb guy" in his Friday evening post. "I fully understand that my strong criticism of him makes it more difficult for him to do what he should be doing, lowering Rates, but I've tried it all different ways," Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. "I've been nice, I've been neutral, and I've been nasty, and nice and neutral didn't work! He's a dumb guy, and an obvious Trump Hater, who should have never been there." The Fed declined to comment to CBS News. Why has Trump criticized Powell? Mr. Trump's issues with Powell hinge on the Federal Reserve's interest rate policies. The central bank's interest rate-setting committee, which is chaired by Powell, has kept its benchmark rate steady so far this year, after lowering it slightly from a two-decade high last year — following a series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023 to quell inflation. Most recently, the committee opted against lowering rates earlier this week, drawing backlash from Mr. Trump. The decision comes with tradeoffs. High interest rates can slow down economic growth and make it more expensive for Americans to borrow money, which is why Mr. Trump wants cuts. But lowering interest rates too quickly could overheat the economy and cause inflation to spike yet again. While inflation has cooled off in recent years, it's still higher than the Fed's 2% annual target, and the Fed warns Mr. Trump's tariffs could push prices up. "Because the economy is still solid, we can take the time to actually see what's going to happen," Powell said earlier this week. Mr. Trump disagrees, nicknaming Powell "Mr. Too Late" and arguing that inflation is already low. On Friday, the president amped up his criticism, calling Powell a "numbskull" and suggesting the other members of the rate-setting Federal Open Monetary Committee "override" him. Mr. Trump also said Powell should lower interest rates immediately and just hike them again if inflation spikes — an idea that's at odds with the Fed's cautious strategy. "Don't say that you think there will be Inflation sometime in the future, because there isn't now but, if there is, raise the Rates!" wrote Mr. Trump. The attacks are a redux of Mr. Trump's first-term criticism. The president pushed back against Powell after the Fed hiked interest rates in 2018, but called Powell his "most improved player" for slashing rates during the 2020 pandemic.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store