November 1, 2021 Briefing
Politics:
“In a federal lawsuit filed Thursday in Tampa, the state called vaccination requirements for government contractors a ‘radical intrusion on the personal autonomy of American workers.’ It alleges that the administration issued the mandate based on a law that doesn’t give it such power.”
U.S. government in financial-settlement talks with families separated at southern border - MarketWatch
“The Biden administration is in talks to offer immigrant families that were separated during the Trump administration around $450,000 a person in compensation, according to people familiar with the matter, as several agencies work to resolve lawsuits filed on behalf of parents and children who say the government subjected them to lasting psychological trauma.”
Ten Republican-led states sue over Biden’s vaccination mandate for federal contractors. - The New York Times
“The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, was led by Missouri’s attorney general, Eric Schmitt, and the attorney general of Nebraska, Doug Peterson. The other eight states are Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.”
“Another group of states including Georgia, Alabama, Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Georgia.”
Business:
“This early read on whether workers will actually quit their jobs over mandates comes as more employers are requiring shots. One-quarter of workers surveyed by KFF in October said their employer has required them to get vaccinated, up from 9% in June and 19% last month.”
“Costco has raised its minimum U.S. wage to $17 an hour, and Starbucks will raise its starting pay to $15 an hour. They join a growing list of chains that have added new incentives, trying to keep their workers in a year of mass resignations and stepped-up labor organizing.”
3 reasons why sign-on bonuses aren't solving the labor shortage - Business Insider
“A quick look at job postings on career sites like Indeed and you'll see various businesses emphasizing sign-on bonuses. In fact, Indeed data shows postings with hiring incentives, including bonuses, have doubled since last year; about 5% of postings noted hiring incentives as of early October.”
American Airlines cancels more than 600 flights on Sunday - CNN Business
“The airline has now canceled more than 1,500 flights since Friday, as it deals with weather issues and staffing shortages that started last week.”
Culture:
Texas Sees Massive Drop in Abortions as New Stats Show Abortion Ban Saving Thousands of Babies - Life News
“Texas abortion facilities reported a huge drop in abortion numbers during the first 30 days when the state heartbeat law was in effect, according to new research from the University of Texas at Austin.”
Former US soldier sneaks into Afghanistan on heroic rescue mission, saves family and Christians from the Taliban - Blaze Media
“A former U.S. soldier embarked on a dangerous rescue mission to save his family members and Christians from the Taliban in Afghanistan, according to a Fox News report. The ‘proud American soldier’ claims he was forced to sneak into the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan to rescue his relatives because the U.S. government didn't offer him or his family any assistance.”
Health:
“Children as young as 5 may be able to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in the U.S. as soon as next week. While some parents aren't sure how they feel about this, others are waiting eagerly for a chance to protect their children from COVID-19. But federal agencies can't be rushed. Here's what still needs to happen before the Pfizer-BioNTech shots can start going into kids' arms.”
“Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch dissented, saying they would have blocked the mandate. Two of the court's other conservatives, Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, said they agreed the court should not take the case, because it came on an emergency appeal without benefit of a full briefing.”