SpaceX Rocket Explodes

Elon Musk hoped his Starship would take a lap around the Earth before plummeting into the Gulf of Mexico.

It didn’t get that far, but it did accomplish what company president Gwynne Shotwell called the real goal—”to not blow up the launchpad.” This was the first attempt at launching the two-stage rocket combination of Starship + Super Heavy rocket, and it made it 24 miles into the Texas sky before failing to separate its two components.

At that point, the spacecraft self-destructed and headed for the ocean. Elon Musk had given the launch a 50/50 shot at its best-case scenario (one trip around the globe and then falling into the sea), but he tweeted that SpaceX “learned a lot for next test launch” and said another attempt will be made in a few months.

House Passes Title IX Amendment

The House of Representatives passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

If the bill passes through the Senate and gets President Biden’s signature (it certainly won’t) it will ban biological males from competing against women at federally supported schools and colleges.

House Republicans are championing the bill as a common-sense measure that prevents girls from facing unfair or dangerous competition.

“Biological women and girls should only be competing against other biological women and girls,” Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) said. “And I don’t care how many surgeries you have, I don’t care how many chemicals you put into your body. You’re not going to be a biological woman.”

House Democrats are reviling the bill and calling it an attack on vulnerable children.

Alec Baldwin Cleared of Manslaughter

Prosecutors are dropping an involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin.

The actor was rehearsing with a gun on the set of Rust when the gun fired and cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed. Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger, although a forensic report states that the gun could not have fired without the trigger being pulled.

The prosecutors dropped the charges after learning of "new facts that demand further investigation and forensic analysis.” They made it clear that the charges may be filed again and that Baldwin is not yet completely exonerated.

➤ Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) attacked President Biden’s handling of the debt crisis. He said the White House’s unwillingness to negotiate a compromise signals a “deficiency of leadership” that needs to change. (More)

➤ Larry Elder is jumping into the ‘24 GOP presidential primary. Elder lost his bid for governor in California, but he gained national name recognition in the process. (More)

➤ Fox News host Dan Bongino is leaving the network. The former Secret Service agent was a regular contributor on Fox for 10 years. “This wasn’t some WWE brawl that happened. We just couldn’t come to terms on an extension.” (More)

➤ The Federal Government has very little to show for its $1 billion worth of research into long-covid treatments. One reason for the poor results: the National Institute of Health hasn’t signed up a single patient for observation and testing. (More)

➤ Tom Brady is 44, but he may not hang up his cleats just yet. He declined to rule out a return when asked about playing for the Dolphins. (More)

➤ Oakland is losing another professional sports team to Los Vegas. The A’s have reached an agreement to purchase stadium land close to the Vegas Strip. (More)

➤ The Warriors are losing patience with Draymond Green. (More)

Market Report   4/20/23

➤ Ikea is adding eight new stores in the U.S. It’s part of a $2.2 billion to compete in the American big-box space. (More)

➤ BuzzFeed is shutting down its unprofitable news division. (More)

➤ Tesla shares fell by over 9% yesterday. The fall wiped out $51 billion in market capitalization—more than the value of Ford and GM combined. (More)

➤ Scientists have developed a new alloy that could allow for nuclear-powered space flight. (More)

➤ Famed F1 racer Michael Schumacher is suing over an AI-generated fake interview with him published in a magazine. (More)

➤ A sheriff in Oklahoma was secretly recorded talking to local officials about hiring hit men, killing local journalists, and lynching black people. The governor is calling for him to resign. (More)

➤ The United States government has declassified footage of an unidentified flying object filmed in the Middle East. (Watch)

Today’s Trivia

Tom Brady was the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Who was the youngest?