Latest news with #Drescher
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
What's next for SAG-AFTRA as Fran Drescher declines to seek reelection
Fran Drescher's decision to not run for reelection as SAG-AFTRA president opens up the race to lead a major Hollywood labor union at a pivotal time as actors face issues such as the rise of AI and a challenging job market two years after a long strike. Actors Sean Astin and Chuck Slavin are seeking to succeed Drescher in the upcoming election that aims to address concerns about job protections, healthcare and expanding residuals. Astin, known for acting in the "The Lord of the Rings" films, is on SAG-AFTRA's national and local L.A. board, while Slavin is on the union's New England board. "It's time in this specific situation where we really need reform," Slavin said in an interview. "We're not getting it, because what we're getting right now is a rearrangement of the deck chairs on the Titanic." Hollywood's entertainment industry has significant obstacles, as companies cut back on production amid studio consolidation and many TV and films are made elsewhere due to lower costs and financial incentives. Meanwhile, innovation in AI technology has made it easier for artists to create their own visual effects and conceptualization of their ideas without hiring actors. All of that has made it more difficult for performers and other entertainment workers to find jobs that are sustainable to live in Southern California. Hollywood unions are preparing to negotiate new contracts with major studios next year. In 2023 - the last contract negotiations - the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA led dual Hollywood strikes that resulted in companies halting work on many productions. The deals that ended the strikes carved out more pay and AI protections for writers and actors. Drescher was the face of the actors' strike, delivering a fiery speech that addressed class issues in the entertainment industry. She asked whether Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger was an "ignoramus" after he said actors' demands were not realistic. SAG-AFTRA's contract, reached after a 118-day strike, brought an estimated $1 billion in gains for members over three years, according to the union. The contract included streaming bonuses and AI protections, including requiring employers to have consent from actors before creating or using "digital replicas" and to pay performers if those replicas were used. "Here's a woman who's challenging these male moguls and having to arm wrestle them, knowing that her own career could be at stake," said Stephen Galloway, dean of Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. "She was fearless." Drescher, known as the lead character in the sitcom "The Nanny," had positioned herself as a nonpartisan leader. She was reelected amid the strike in 2023, receiving 81% of the votes cast. In her campaign statement, Drescher said that "member unity will be my greatest legacy." Drescher and SAG-AFTRA pushed for national and state legislation to bring more AI protections to performers, including bills that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law last year that gave actors more control over their digital likenesses. Drescher's decision to not run for reelection became official on Friday when her name did not appear on the voter guide distributed by the union. She did not respond to a request for comment. Slavin said that while Drescher did a "fine" job, he felt the AI protections in its current contract could have gone a lot farther. The contract ended up getting approved by 78% of the votes cast by SAG-AFTRA's members. Slavin, who has acted in the movie "Annabelle Hooper and the Ghosts of Nantucket," said his platform will prioritize AI guardrails, equitable contracts for all members regardless of their market size, advocate for better residuals and help protect vulnerable workers. Astin is running as part of the "The Coalition" slate, which advocates for issues including AI protections, strengthening U.S. production and expanding residuals, according to its website. Astin's representative did not respond to a request for comment. (Staff writer Meg James contributed to this report.) Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
What's next for SAG-AFTRA as Fran Drescher declines to seek reelection
Fran Drescher's decision to not run for reelection as SAG-AFTRA president opens up the race to lead a major Hollywood labor union at a pivotal time as actors face issues such as the rise of AI and a challenging job market two years after a long strike. Actors Sean Astin and Chuck Slavin are seeking to succeed Drescher in the upcoming election that aims to address concerns about job protections, healthcare and expanding residuals. Astin, known for acting in the 'The Lord of the Rings' films, is on SAG-AFTRA's national and local L.A. board, while Slavin is on the union's New England board. 'It's time in this specific situation where we really need reform,' Slavin said in an interview. 'We're not getting it, because what we're getting right now is a rearrangement of the deck chairs on the Titanic.' Hollywood's entertainment industry has significant obstacles, as companies cut back on production amid studio consolidation and many TV and films are made elsewhere due to lower costs and financial incentives. Meanwhile, innovation in AI technology has made it easier for artists to create their own visual effects and conceptualization of their ideas without hiring actors. All of that has made it more difficult for performers and other entertainment workers to find jobs that are sustainable to live in Southern California. Hollywood unions are preparing to negotiate new contracts with major studios next year. In 2023 — the last contract negotiations — the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA led dual Hollywood strikes that resulted in companies halting work on many productions. The deals that ended the strikes carved out more pay and AI protections for writers and actors. Drescher was the face of the actors' strike, delivering a fiery speech that addressed class issues in the entertainment industry. She asked whether Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger was an 'ignoramus' after he said actors' demands were not realistic. SAG-AFTRA's contract, reached after a 118-day strike, brought an estimated $1 billion in gains for members over three years, according to the union. The contract included streaming bonuses and AI protections, including requiring employers to have consent from actors before creating or using 'digital replicas' and to pay performers if those replicas were used. 'Here's a woman who's challenging these male moguls and having to arm wrestle them, knowing that her own career could be at stake,' said Stephen Galloway, dean of Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. 'She was fearless.' Drescher, known as the lead character in the sitcom 'The Nanny,' had positioned herself as a nonpartisan leader. She was reelected amid the strike in 2023, receiving 81% of the votes cast. In her campaign statement, Drescher said that 'member unity will be my greatest legacy.' Drescher and SAG-AFTRA pushed for national and state legislation to bring more AI protections to performers, including bills that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law last year that gave actors more control over their digital likenesses. Drescher's decision to not run for reelection became official on Friday when her name did not appear on the ballot distributed by the union. She did not respond to a request for comment. Slavin said that while Drescher did a 'fine' job, he felt the AI protections in its current contract could have gone a lot farther. The contract ended up getting approved by 78% of the votes cast by SAG-AFTRA's members. Slavin, who has acted in the movie 'Annabelle Hooper and the Ghosts of Nantucket,' said his platform will prioritize AI guardrails, equitable contracts for all members regardless of their market size, advocate for better residuals and help protect vulnerable workers. Astin is running as part of the 'The Coalition' slate, which advocates for issues including AI protections, strengthening U.S. production and expanding residuals, according to its website. Astin's representative did not respond to a request for comment. Staff writer Meg James contributed to this report.
NBC Sports
18-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Kicker Micah Drescher Accepts Navy All-American Bowl Invitation
Kicker Micah Drescher (Hinsdale, IL/ Hinsdale Central High School), has officially accepted his invitation to the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl. Having been selected to play in the twenty sixth edition of the Navy All-American Bowl, Drescher will play in the annual East vs. West matchup on Saturday, January 10, 2026, in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Bowl will be nationally televised, live on NBC at 1:00 PM ET, and will feature the nation's top 100 high school football players. Honored to have the opportunity to play in the Navy All-American Bowl @AABonNBC and for receiving my gold Top 12 shirt. Thank you @Chris_Sailer for the fantastic Top 12 camp. @CNendick25 @HCRedDevilFB @UMichFootball @JTBrown721 @Garrett__Alan @jbrowngoblue @CoachKurzner Drescher was selected by the Navy All-American Bowl Selection Committee, comprised of the All-American Bowl, 247Sports, and NXGN. Navy All-Americans are eligible for the Navy All-American Bowl Player of the Year Award, Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year Award, Navy All-American Bowl Defensive Player of the Year Award, Navy All-American Bowl Man of the Year, and Navy All-American Bowl Game MVP Award. Only 100 football players receive the honor of wearing the Navy All-American Bowl jersey each year. The 2026 Navy All-American Bowl from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, will be presented live on NBC and Peacock. About the All-American Bowl As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics and Paralympics, the Premier League, and primetime's #1 show for an unprecedented 13 consecutive years: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than four million unique television viewers and more than 25,000 fans in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled, as it features: 631 draft picks; 103 Super Bowl champions; 274 Pro Bowl selections; and 18 Heisman finalists. For more information, visit or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@AABonNBC).
Hamilton Spectator
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Ford gutted Ontario's environmental laws. Now he wants Ottawa to clear the last line of defence
If the Bill 5 megaprojects proposed by Ontario Premier Doug Ford — like mining in the Ring of Fire or building Highway 413 — push federally listed species, such as the boreal caribou or redside dace, to the brink, only the federal Species at Risk Act still stands in the way. Now, Ford is demanding that Ottawa clear that last line of defence — and this time, he's brought an ally: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Backed by Alberta, Ford's government is calling on Ottawa to repeal some of Canada's key environmental laws, which experts warn are now the only measure preventing species' extinction, climate backsliding and unchecked industrial expansion. Both provinces want Ottawa to repeal the Impact Assessment Act, carbon-pricing legislation, clean electricity regulations and parts of the Species at Risk Act — many of which echo protections Ford has already weakened in Ontario. In their joint letter , they claim provinces are better equipped to oversee environmental protection and federal rules amount to overreach, saying they 'disproportionately harm' project development without delivering 'any quantifiable benefits.' The letter comes in the context of the recently passed Bill C-5, which accelerates projects deemed to be in the national interest by Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet. Ford has submitted a list of his 'nation-building projects' to Ottawa — including a proposed tunnel under Highway 401 and mining developments in the Ring of Fire — which experts say would likely face federal scrutiny under the same laws he now wants repealed, due to their impact on First Nations, wildlife and water. Michael Drescher, associate professor at the University of Waterloo, said after Ontario passed its own project-acceleration law, the similarly named Bill 5 — which created Special Economic Zones allowing the province to suspend its own environmental laws — federal laws remain the only meaningful barrier. 'That's probably why they're now pushing the federal government to rescind or repeal those laws,' he said. Drescher questioned the provinces' push to repeal federal environmental laws, arguing it's unnecessary since Ottawa already has tools like Bill C-5 to exempt specific 'nation-building' projects. He said the joint letter from Ontario and Alberta appears less about streamlining approvals and more like an effort to eliminate environmental safeguards altogether. Drescher warned that repealing federal laws could undermine Canada's international climate and biodiversity commitments, including those under the Paris Agreement — responsibilities that fall to the federal government, not the provinces. While the federal government has dropped its carbon levy on consumers, the industrial carbon price remains in effect — requiring major polluters, such as steelmakers, cement plants and oil refineries, to pay for their emissions. Ontario, like Alberta, currently has its own industrial carbon pricing regime, which is expected to generate billions in revenue over eight years. But the only reason it exists is because the federal backstop — upheld by the Supreme Court — requires provinces to have one. Both provinces have requested the backstop be removed. Tim Gray, executive director at Environmental Defence, warns repealing the federal industrial carbon tax would lead Ontario to scrap its own system. 'I think it'd be about five minutes before Ontario cancelled its [own] program,' Gray said. British Columbia did the same immediately after the federal government cancelled the consumer carbon tax in March, and for the same reason — the backstop no longer existed. Without the federal backstop on the industrial carbon price, Ontario's biggest industrial polluters would no longer have any incentive to reduce emissions. Canada's efforts to transition to a cleaner, lower-emission economy would lose one of its key mechanisms, Gray added. Gray also rejected the claim that the federal Impact Assessment Act blocks development. 'It's a project review mechanism… Not every project that every industry proposes is always a good idea,' he said. In most cases, he added, federal oversight improves outcomes by identifying environmental risks early and recommending mitigation strategies that benefit both the economy and the public. Along with their joint letter, Ontario and Alberta signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote a more 'investment-friendly' regulatory environment for energy and trade infrastructure. The agreement also includes plans to cooperate on nuclear development, including both small-modular and large-scale reactor technologies. Peter Graefe, a political science professor at McMaster University, said resource industries are pressuring governments to weaken environmental protections — and provinces like Ontario and Alberta are responding by demanding less federal oversight. Graefe said this reflects a larger shift away from environmental protection and toward rapid resource extraction — a trend he believes includes the current federal government. While Ottawa may not repeal laws outright, he said it appears willing to soften them under pressure. But he warned the political fallout could be significant. 'The Liberal government is going to pay a bigger price with their electoral base if they agree to this,' Graefe said, adding it could push climate-focused voters toward the NDP or Greens. Graefe said provinces may want federal backing to share the political fallout from controversial development. 'If the federal government says yes, it's not just the province anymore. They can say, 'We're doing all this — and it's not just us.'' If projects later stall or fail, provinces could shift the blame to Ottawa. 'That's an easy way to get out of it — to say, 'The federal government blocked us,' as opposed to, 'It was a bad idea,'' he added. Drescher said leaving environmental protection solely to provinces could have serious consequences. Pollution, habitat loss and species decline don't stop at provincial borders, which is why federal involvement is essential, he added. Without national standards, decisions made in one province can harm ecosystems and communities elsewhere, whether through shared waterways, migratory species or air pollution, Drescher said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
National Observer
09-07-2025
- Politics
- National Observer
Ford gutted Ontario's environmental laws. Now he wants Ottawa to clear the last line of defence
If the Bill 5 megaprojects proposed by Ontario Premier Doug Ford — like mining in the Ring of Fire or building Highway 413 — push federally listed species, such as the boreal caribou or redside dace, to the brink, only the federal Species at Risk Act still stands in the way. Now, Ford is demanding that Ottawa clear that last line of defence — and this time, he's brought an ally: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Backed by Alberta, Ford's government is calling on Ottawa to repeal some of Canada's key environmental laws, which experts warn are now the only measure preventing species' extinction, climate backsliding and unchecked industrial expansion. Both provinces want Ottawa to repeal the Impact Assessment Act, carbon-pricing legislation, clean electricity regulations and parts of the Species at Risk Act — many of which echo protections Ford has already weakened in Ontario. In their joint letter, they claim provinces are better equipped to oversee environmental protection and federal rules amount to overreach, saying they 'disproportionately harm' project development without delivering 'any quantifiable benefits.' The letter comes in the context of the recently passed Bill C-5, which accelerates projects deemed to be in the national interest by Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet. Ford has submitted a list of his 'nation-building projects' to Ottawa — including a proposed tunnel under Highway 401 and mining developments in the Ring of Fire — which experts say would likely face federal scrutiny under the same laws he now wants repealed, due to their impact on First Nations, wildlife and water. Michael Drescher, associate professor at the University of Waterloo, said after Ontario passed its own project-acceleration law, the similarly named Bill 5 — which created Special Economic Zones allowing the province to suspend its own environmental laws — federal laws remain the only meaningful barrier. 'That's probably why they're now pushing the federal government to rescind or repeal those laws,' he said. Drescher questioned the provinces' push to repeal federal environmental laws, arguing it's unnecessary since Ottawa already has tools like Bill C-5 to exempt specific 'nation-building' projects. He said the joint letter from Ontario and Alberta appears less about streamlining approvals and more like an effort to eliminate environmental safeguards altogether. Drescher warned that repealing federal laws could undermine Canada's international climate and biodiversity commitments, including those under the Paris Agreement — responsibilities that fall to the federal government, not the provinces. Carbon pricing at risk While the federal government has dropped its carbon levy on consumers, the industrial carbon price remains in effect — requiring major polluters, such as steelmakers, cement plants and oil refineries, to pay for their emissions. Ontario, like Alberta, currently has its own industrial carbon pricing regime, which is expected to generate billions in revenue over eight years. But the only reason it exists is because the federal backstop — upheld by the Supreme Court — requires provinces to have one. Both provinces have requested the backstop be removed. Tim Gray, executive director at Environmental Defence, warns repealing the federal industrial carbon tax would lead Ontario to scrap its own system. 'I think it'd be about five minutes before Ontario cancelled its [own] program,' Gray said. British Columbia did the same immediately after the federal government cancelled the consumer carbon tax in March, and for the same reason — the backstop no longer existed. Without the federal backstop on the industrial carbon price, Ontario's biggest industrial polluters would no longer have any incentive to reduce emissions. Canada's efforts to transition to a cleaner, lower-emission economy would lose one of its key mechanisms, Gray added. Gray also rejected the claim that the federal Impact Assessment Act blocks development. 'It's a project review mechanism… Not every project that every industry proposes is always a good idea,' he said. In most cases, he added, federal oversight improves outcomes by identifying environmental risks early and recommending mitigation strategies that benefit both the economy and the public. More than a letter Along with their joint letter, Ontario and Alberta signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote a more 'investment-friendly' regulatory environment for energy and trade infrastructure. The agreement also includes plans to cooperate on nuclear development, including both small-modular and large-scale reactor technologies. Peter Graefe, a political science professor at McMaster University, said resource industries are pressuring governments to weaken environmental protections — and provinces like Ontario and Alberta are responding by demanding less federal oversight. Graefe said this reflects a larger shift away from environmental protection and toward rapid resource extraction — a trend he believes includes the current federal government. While Ottawa may not repeal laws outright, he said it appears willing to soften them under pressure. But he warned the political fallout could be significant. 'The Liberal government is going to pay a bigger price with their electoral base if they agree to this,' Graefe said, adding it could push climate-focused voters toward the NDP or Greens. Graefe said provinces may want federal backing to share the political fallout from controversial development. 'If the federal government says yes, it's not just the province anymore. They can say, 'We're doing all this — and it's not just us.'' If projects later stall or fail, provinces could shift the blame to Ottawa. 'That's an easy way to get out of it — to say, 'The federal government blocked us,' as opposed to, 'It was a bad idea,'' he added. Drescher said leaving environmental protection solely to provinces could have serious consequences. Pollution, habitat loss and species decline don't stop at provincial borders, which is why federal involvement is essential, he added. Without national standards, decisions made in one province can harm ecosystems and communities elsewhere, whether through shared waterways, migratory species or air pollution, Drescher said.
