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GOOD NEWS IN POLITICS: Congress approves bill to end forced arbitration in sexual assault cases

The bill, called the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, was passed with a large bipartisan vote by the House of Representatives on Monday and heads to President Biden's desk for his signature.

Congress approves bill to end forced arbitration in sexual assault cases

Image: Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson speaks as (L-R) U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) look on after passage of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act. Alex Wong/Getty Images

 

February 10, 202212:16 PM ET Deirdre Walsh Instagram Twitter

NPR.org | February 10, 2022

"The Senate approved legislation banning the practice of using clauses in employment contracts that force victims of sexual assault and harassment to pursue their cases in forced arbitration, which shields accused perpetrators.

Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., introduced the bill five years ago and lawmakers negotiated with business leaders to get support for the bill. In a sign of the overwhelming support for the measure, it was approved by voice vote in the chamber...

The bill gives individuals a choice between going to court or going to arbitration to resolve allegations in cases related to sexual harassment or assault. The measure is also retroactive — invalidating any existing forced arbitration clauses in ongoing cases that could make it difficult for any survivors to litigate cases against their employers.

Gillibrand said this bill represents "one of the most significant workplace reforms in history." She said estimates indicate about 60 million Americans are subject to these clauses.

"No more arbitration in the basement about misconduct up top," Graham said. He predicted that corporate America will "up their game" and adopt new practices as a result of the bill.

Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox News anchor who accused Roger Ailes, the then CEO of the news outlet, of sexual harassment more than five years ago, learned the clause forcing arbitration was in her contract. She pursued litigation against Ailes personally and won a settlement, but has been part of the effort to press Congress to change the law. . ."

READ MORE:

 

LATE-NIGHT GUY TALK. . .Go Natural "It’s a new day. A little bit of hair is fine!” | HuffPost

In a Wednesday appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” the actor said he plans to forgo body waxing for his forthcoming role in “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” in an effort to reflect current tastes in male grooming.

Channing Tatum Says He Won't Be Waxing For Third 'Magic Mike' Movie

Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel, the actor said he and his co-stars may "go natural" when they return for a third installment of the male stripper franchise.

By Curtis M. Wong Senior Culture Reporter, HuffPost

HuffPost

 

"Channing Tatum says the hunky dancers of “Magic Mike” are likely to look a bit more hirsute when they return for a third movie. . .

Though Tatum didn’t specify just how hairy of a situation fans can expect, he told Kimmel: “It’s a new day. A little bit of hair is fine!”

Watch Channing Tatum’s chat with Jimmy Kimmel below.

While no dancer-specific statistics appear to be available, a Los Angeles Times article published in December hinted at an overall resurgence in the popularity of chest hair among men.

“Of course, the clean chest is still a prized commodity in Southern California,” journalist Dave Schilling wrote. “But the scales are tipping back toward the hirsute ... Chest hair is something we equate with the past, with bygone days of what it meant to be a sexual, stylish being in the 20th century.”

2012’s “Magic Mike,” which also starred Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello and Matthew McConaughey, was loosely based on Tatum’s real-life experiences as a stripper. A sequel, “Magic Mike XXL,” arrived three years later. The two films reportedly raked in a combined $300 million at the box office worldwide.

Though Tatum didn’t divulge many plot points in his chat with Kimmel, he said he hoped the new film would be “the Super Bowl of stripper movies” and would feature “the best dancers in the world” as well as a “really strong female central character.”

Tatum, who returns to the big screen next week in the comedy “Dog,” confirmed in November that a third installment of the “Magic Mike” franchise was on the way. The new film will be directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay by Reid Carolin, who also wrote the first two films in the series. It premieres exclusively on HBO Max."

BEA News: U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, December 2021 (08 Feb 2022)

BEA News: U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, December 2021
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has issued the following news release today:

The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in December 2021 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $79.3 billion in November (revised) to $80.7 billion in December, as imports increased more than exports. The previously published November deficit was $80.2 billion. The goods deficit increased $3.2 billion in December to $101.4 billion. The services surplus increased $1.8 billion in December to $20.7 billion.

The full text of the release on BEA's website can be found at: www.bea.gov/news/2022/us-international-trade-goods-and-services-december-2021

========================================================================

News Release

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, December 2021

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $80.7 billion in December, up $1.4 billion from $79.3 billion in November, revised.

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Deficit

Deficit:	$80.7 Billion	+1.8%°
Exports:	$228.1 Billion	+1.5%°
Imports:	$308.9 Billion	+1.6%°
Next release: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 (°) Statistical significance is not applicable or not measurable. Data adjusted for seasonality but not price changes Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, The 2021 increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $168.7 billion, or 18.3 percent, to $1,090.7 billion and a decrease in the services surplus of $13.8 billion, or 5.6 percent, to $231.5 billion. The goods and services deficit was 3.7 percent of current-dollar gross domestic product in 2021, up from 3.2 percent in 2020. Exports (exhibits 3, 6, and 7) Exports of goods increased $333.2 billion to $1,762.0 billion in 2021.    Exports of goods on a Census basis increased $329.6 billion. Industrial supplies and materials increased $169.6 billion. Other petroleum products increased $25.2 billion. Natural gas increased $21.2 billion. Crude oil increased $19.9 billion. Capital goods increased $59.3 billion. Other industrial machinery increased $11.1 billion. Semiconductors increased $11.0 billion. Civilian aircraft increased $7.7 billion. Consumer goods increased $47.3 billion. Pharmaceutical preparations increased $24.1 billion. Cell phones and other household goods increased $5.9 billion. Gem diamonds increased $5.0 billion. Foods, feeds, and beverages increased $25.9 billion. Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines increased $15.7 billion.    Net balance of payments adjustments increased $3.5 billion. Exports of services increased $60.9 billion to $766.6 billion in 2021. Other business services increased $26.8 billion. Financial services increased $17.7 billion. Imports (exhibits 4, 6, and 8) Imports of goods increased $501.8 billion to $2,852.6 billion in 2021.    Imports of goods on a Census basis increased $497.0 billion. Industrial supplies and materials increased $169.7 billion. Crude oil increased $56.3 billion. Other petroleum products increased $18.2 billion. Iron and steel mill products increased $14.2 billion. Consumer goods increased $126.8 billion. Cell phones and other household goods increased $22.9 billion. Toys, games, and sporting goods increased $16.7 billion. Cotton apparel and household goods increased $11.3 billion. Capital goods increased $117.5 billion. Electric apparatus increased $16.2 billion. Computer accessories increased $12.9 billion. Medical equipment increased $12.3 billion. Semiconductors increased $11.1 billion. Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines increased $36.8 billion. Other automotive parts and accessories increased $20.8 billion. Foods, feeds, and beverages increased $27.8 billion.    Net balance of payments adjustments increased $4.9 billion. Imports of services increased $74.7 billion to $535.0 billion in 2021. Transport increased $32.1 billion. Travel increased $22.0 billion. Goods by Selected Countries and Areas – Census Basis (exhibits 14 and 14a) The 2021 figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with South and Central America ($53.6), Hong Kong ($25.8), Netherlands ($18.2), Brazil ($15.6), Australia ($14.0), and Belgium ($12.7). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($355.3), European Union ($219.6), Mexico ($108.2), Germany ($70.1), Japan ($60.2), Ireland ($60.2), Canada ($49.5), Malaysia ($41.0), Taiwan ($40.2), Italy ($39.3), Switzerland ($39.0), Thailand ($34.7), India ($33.1), South Korea ($29.2), Russia ($23.3), France ($20.3), and Indonesia ($17.6). The deficit with China increased $45.0 billion to $355.3 billion in 2021. Exports increased $26.6 billion to $151.1 billion and imports increased $71.6 billion to $506.4 billion. The deficit with the European Union increased $35.4 billion to $219.6 billion in 2021. Exports increased $40.4 billion to $271.6 billion and imports increased $75.8 billion to $491.3 billion. The deficit with Switzerland decreased $17.8 billion to $39.0 billion in 2021. Exports increased $5.9 billion to $24.0 billion and imports decreased $11.9 billion to $63.0 billion. *             *             * All statistics referenced are seasonally adjusted; statistics are on a balance of payments basis unless otherwise specified. Additional statistics, including not seasonally adjusted statistics and details for goods on a Census basis, are available in exhibits 1-20b of this release. For information on data sources, definitions, and revision procedures, see the explanatory notes in this release. The full release can be found at www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/current_press_release/index.html or www.bea.gov/data/intl-trade-investment/international-trade-goods-and-services. The full schedule is available in the Census Bureau’s Economic Briefing Room at www.census.gov/economic-indicators/ or on BEA’s website at www.bea.gov/news/schedule.

Exports, Imports, and Balance (exhibit 1)

December exports were $228.1 billion, $3.4 billion more than November exports. December imports were $308.9 billion, $4.8 billion more than November imports.

The December increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $3.2 billion to $101.4 billion and an increase in the services surplus of $1.8 billion to $20.7 billion.

For 2021, the goods and services deficit increased $182.4 billion, or 27.0 percent, from 2020. Exports increased $394.1 billion or 18.5 percent. Imports increased $576.5 billion or 20.5 percent.

COVID-19 Impact on International Trade in Goods and Services

The global pandemic and the economic recovery continued to impact international trade in December 2021 and throughout the year. The full economic effects of the pandemic cannot be quantified in the statistics because the impacts are generally embedded in source data and cannot be separately identified.

Three-Month Moving Averages (exhibit 2)

The average goods and services deficit decreased less than $0.1 billion to $75.5 billion for the three months ending in December.

• Average exports increased $7.1 billion to $225.6 billion in December.
• Average imports increased $7.0 billion to $301.2 billion in December.

Year-over-year, the average goods and services deficit increased $9.9 billion from the three months ending in December 2020.

• Average exports increased $39.4 billion from December 2020.
• Average imports increased $49.3 billion from December 2020.

Exports (exhibits 3, 6, and 7)

Exports of goods increased $2.0 billion to $158.3 billion in December.

   Exports of goods on a Census basis increased $2.2 billion.

• Consumer goods increased $1.2 billion.
  • Pharmaceutical preparations increased $1.0 billion.
• Capital goods increased $0.9 billion.
  • Civilian aircraft engines increased $0.6 billion.
• Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines increased $0.8 billion.
  • Passenger cars increased $0.8 billion.
• Industrial supplies and materials increased $0.5 billion.
  • Nonmonetary gold increased $1.2 billion.
  • Natural gas liquids decreased $0.6 billion.
• Foods, feeds, and beverages decreased $1.1 billion.
  • Soybeans decreased $0.5 billion.

   Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $0.2 billion.

Exports of services increased $1.4 billion to $69.9 billion in December.

• Transport increased $0.6 billion.
• Travel increased $0.5 billion.

Imports (exhibits 4, 6, and 8)

Imports of goods increased $5.2 billion to $259.7 billion in December.

   Imports of goods on a Census basis increased $5.3 billion.

• Consumer goods increased $5.2 billion.
  • Cell phones and other household goods increased $2.4 billion.
  • Toys, games, and sporting goods increased $1.0 billion.
  • Household appliances increased $0.6 billion.
• Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines increased $2.4 billion.
  • Passenger cars increased $1.4 billion.
  • Other automotive parts and accessories increased $0.6 billion.
• Capital goods increased $2.3 billion.
  • Telecommunications equipment increased $0.6 billion.
  • Computers increased $0.5 billion.
• Industrial supplies and materials decreased $3.2 billion.
  • Crude oil decreased $1.3 billion.
  • Finished metal shapes decreased $0.7 billion.
  • Fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides decreased $0.7 billion.

   Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $0.2 billion.

Imports of services decreased $0.4 billion to $49.2 billion in December.

• Travel decreased $0.5 billion.
• Transport increased $0.1 billion.

Real Goods in 2012 Dollars – Census Basis (exhibit 11)

The real goods deficit increased $1.3 billion to $111.2 billion in December.

• Real exports of goods increased $4.8 billion to $153.7 billion.
• Real imports of goods increased $6.0 billion to $264.9 billion.

Revisions

In addition to revisions to source data for the November statistics, the seasonally adjusted goods data were revised for January through November so that the totals of the seasonally adjusted months equal the annual totals.

Revisions to November exports

• Exports of goods were revised up $0.3 billion.
• Exports of services were revised up $0.2 billion.

Revisions to November imports

• Imports of goods were revised down $0.4 billion.
• Imports of services were revised up $0.1 billion.

Goods by Selected Countries and Areas: Monthly – Census Basis (exhibit 19)

The December figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with South and Central America ($5.4), Hong Kong ($1.9), Brazil ($1.2), Singapore ($0.8), and United Kingdom ($0.6). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($34.1), European Union ($16.3), Mexico ($11.0), Germany ($5.3), Japan ($5.0), Canada ($4.2), India ($3.9), Taiwan ($3.8), South Korea ($3.7), Italy ($3.1), France ($0.8), and Saudi Arabia ($0.7).

• The deficit with China increased $6.0 billion to $34.1 billion in December. Exports decreased $2.2 billion to $11.8 billion and imports increased $3.8 billion to $45.9 billion.
• The deficit with South Korea increased $1.4 billion to $3.7 billion in December. Exports decreased $0.9 billion to $4.8 billion and imports increased $0.5 billion to $8.5 billion.
• The deficit with the European Union decreased $3.0 billion to $16.3 billion in December. Exports increased $0.7 billion to $25.1 billion and imports decreased $2.4 billion to $41.4 billion.

Annual Summary for 2021

Exports, Imports, and Balance (exhibit 1)

For 2021, the goods and services deficit was $859.1 billion, up $182.4 billion from $676.7 billion in 2020. Exports were $2,528.5 billion, up $394.1 billion from 2020. Imports were $3,387.7 billion, up $576.5 billion from 2020.

The 2021 increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $168.7 billion, or 18.3 percent, to $1,090.7 billion and a decrease in the services surplus of $13.8 billion, or 5.6 percent, to $231.5 billion.

The goods and services deficit was 3.7 percent of current-dollar gross domestic product in 2021, up from 3.2 percent in 2020.

Exports (exhibits 3, 6, and 7)

Exports of goods increased $333.2 billion to $1,762.0 billion in 2021.

   Exports of goods on a Census basis increased $329.6 billion.

• Industrial supplies and materials increased $169.6 billion.
  • Other petroleum products increased $25.2 billion.
  • Natural gas increased $21.2 billion.
  • Crude oil increased $19.9 billion.
• Capital goods increased $59.3 billion.
  • Other industrial machinery increased $11.1 billion.
  • Semiconductors increased $11.0 billion.
  • Civilian aircraft increased $7.7 billion.
• Consumer goods increased $47.3 billion.
  • Pharmaceutical preparations increased $24.1 billion.
  • Cell phones and other household goods increased $5.9 billion.
  • Gem diamonds increased $5.0 billion.
• Foods, feeds, and beverages increased $25.9 billion.
• Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines increased $15.7 billion.

   Net balance of payments adjustments increased $3.5 billion.

Exports of services increased $60.9 billion to $766.6 billion in 2021.

• Other business services increased $26.8 billion.
• Financial services increased $17.7 billion.

Imports (exhibits 4, 6, and 8)

Imports of goods increased $501.8 billion to $2,852.6 billion in 2021.

   Imports of goods on a Census basis increased $497.0 billion.

• Industrial supplies and materials increased $169.7 billion.
  • Crude oil increased $56.3 billion.
  • Other petroleum products increased $18.2 billion.
  • Iron and steel mill products increased $14.2 billion.
• Consumer goods increased $126.8 billion.
  • Cell phones and other household goods increased $22.9 billion.
  • Toys, games, and sporting goods increased $16.7 billion.
  • Cotton apparel and household goods increased $11.3 billion.
• Capital goods increased $117.5 billion.
  • Electric apparatus increased $16.2 billion.
  • Computer accessories increased $12.9 billion.
  • Medical equipment increased $12.3 billion.
  • Semiconductors increased $11.1 billion.
• Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines increased $36.8 billion.
  • Other automotive parts and accessories increased $20.8 billion.
• Foods, feeds, and beverages increased $27.8 billion.

   Net balance of payments adjustments increased $4.9 billion.

Imports of services increased $74.7 billion to $535.0 billion in 2021.

• Transport increased $32.1 billion.
• Travel increased $22.0 billion.

Goods by Selected Countries and Areas – Census Basis (exhibits 14 and 14a)

> The 2021 figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with South and Central America ($53.6), Hong Kong ($25.8), Netherlands ($18.2), Brazil ($15.6), Australia ($14.0), and Belgium ($12.7).

> Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($355.3), European Union ($219.6), Mexico ($108.2), Germany ($70.1), Japan ($60.2), Ireland ($60.2), Canada ($49.5), Malaysia ($41.0), Taiwan ($40.2), Italy ($39.3), Switzerland ($39.0), Thailand ($34.7), India ($33.1), South Korea ($29.2), Russia ($23.3), France ($20.3), and Indonesia ($17.6).

• The deficit with China increased $45.0 billion to $355.3 billion in 2021. Exports increased $26.6 billion to $151.1 billion and imports increased $71.6 billion to $506.4 billion.
• The deficit with the European Union increased $35.4 billion to $219.6 billion in 2021. Exports increased $40.4 billion to $271.6 billion and imports increased $75.8 billion to $491.3 billion.
• The deficit with Switzerland decreased $17.8 billion to $39.0 billion in 2021. Exports increased $5.9 billion to $24.0 billion and imports decreased $11.9 billion to $63.0 billion.

*             *             *

All statistics referenced are seasonally adjusted; statistics are on a balance of payments basis unless otherwise specified. Additional statistics, including not seasonally adjusted statistics and details for goods on a Census basis, are available in exhibits 1-20b of this release.

For information on data sources, definitions, and revision procedures, see the explanatory notes in this release. The full release can be found at www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/current_press_release/index.html or www.bea.gov/data/intl-trade-investment/international-trade-goods-and-services.

The full schedule is available in the Census Bureau’s Economic Briefing Room at www.census.gov/economic-indicators/ or on BEA’s website at www.bea.gov/news/schedule.

RAPID INFLATION EXCEEDING FORECASTS | NY Times

Intro: A key inflation measure released on Thursday showed that prices are climbing at the fastest pace in 40 years and broadening to touch nearly every corner of the American economy, heightening the risk that they will stay elevated for longer and that policymakers may have to react more aggressively.

Rapid Inflation Stokes Unease From Wall Street to Washington

Consumer Price Index data showed prices climbing faster than expected, picking up across a broad array of goods and services

(Note: Does not include food and energy)

By Jeanna Smialek and Madeleine Ngo

Feb. 10, 2022

 

"Markets tumbled after the government released Consumer Price Index data for January, which showed prices jumping 7.5 percent over the year and 0.6 percent over the past month, exceeding forecasts. More worrying were the report’s details, which showed inflation moving beyond pandemic-affected goods and services, a sign that rapid gains could prove longer lasting and harder to shake off. . .

Economists thought price gains would fade quickly in 2021 — making now-infamous predictions that inflation would prove “transitory” — only to have those projections proved wrong time and again as booming consumer demand for goods collided with roiled global supply chains that could not ramp up production fast enough.

Lately, it is more than just shortages of goods at play. Price gains are increasingly hitting consumers in hard-to-avoid ways as they show up in necessities: January’s inflation reading was driven by food, electricity and shelter costs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. . .

Understand Inflation in the U.S.

• Inflation 101: What is inflation, why is it up and whom does it hurt? Our guide explains it all.
• Your Questions, Answered: We asked readers to send questions about inflation. Top experts and economists weighed in.
• What’s to Blame: Did the stimulus cause prices to rise? Or did pandemic lockdowns and shortages lead to inflation? A debate is heating up in Washington.
• Supply Chain’s Role: A key factor in rising inflation is the continuing turmoil in the global supply chain. Here’s how the crisis unfolded.

Ryan Sweet, an economist at Moody’s Analytics, estimated that inflation was costing the average household $276 a month, compared with a more normal rate of inflation, which had been hovering just around 2 percent before the pandemic. . .

> The White House has introduced policies that might help to ease inflation slightly — discussing plans to help place military veterans into the short-staffed trucking industry, for instance — but the Fed is primarily in charge of slowing down demand to keep prices under control.

> Fed officials have already shifted away from trying to foster a quick economic rebound and toward bringing inflation down. . .

> The inflation reading sent stocks down and government bond yields up. The S&P 500 dropped 1.8 percent, while the Nasdaq composite fell 2.1 percent. The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes rose 0.1 percentage points, to about 2.03 percent, the highest level since November 2019.

But emerging trends could keep inflation high.

--- Jobs data released last week showed that average hourly earnings climbed rapidly — and much more than economists expected, though still not quite enough to keep up with rapid inflation. Rising pay could lift prices if companies pass those costs along to customers to protect their own profit margins.

For now, corporate profits look strong and productivity is high, which may give companies room to absorb bigger wage bills. And if pay continues to rise less quickly than prices, it may weigh on demand as consumers struggle with costs. . ."

Reference: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/10/business/economy/inflation-cpi-january-2022.html

IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING OFFICIAL TRAILER