Joe Rogan's Weekend
This year has been riddled with controversy so far...
Here’s to another Monday! It’s season two of 2022 and so much is happening. Just look back at everything over the weekend and you can be overwhelmed. My advice, stay off Twitter. Other than that, let’s look forward to a good week. In today’s edition we have a small update on the Joe Rogan controversy down below. Spotify’s CEO finally made a statement. Check it out!
— Luso
CNN PRESIDENT RESIGNS AFTER ROMANTIC WORK RELATIONSHIP REVEALED
Jeff Zucker, president of CNN, resigned after failing to disclose a romantic relationship with an executive at the company. The relationship was revealed through a network investigation surrounding ex-anchor Chris Cuomo who advised his brother, former Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, on how to address sexual misconduct allegations.
"As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo's tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years," Zucker disclosed in a memo. "I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn't. I was wrong. As a result, I am resigning today."
The colleague which Zucker alluded to being in a relationship with is CNN’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Allison Gollust. Gollust also acknowledged the relationship in a statement, but said that she would remain in her role at CNN.
“Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years. Recently, our relationship changed during Covid,” Gollust said. “I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time. I’m incredibly proud of my time at CNN and look forward to continuing the great work we do everyday”.
Zucker originally planned to stay on with CNN for another year after talks of retirement in 2021 saying, “I've had a change of heart. And I want to stay. Not forever, but for another year. And I feel really good about this decision."
“The timing of this departure is probably about as ill-timed as you can get. CNN is making up for a lot of lost time when the arrival of their streaming service. The vision of CNN+ is very much in question. It has Jeff Zucker’s hallmarks all over it,” stated Tim Hanlon, CEO of media consultancy The Vertere Group.
WarnerMedia’s CEO, the parent company of CNN, Jason Kilar told employees through amemo on Wednesday that he’s accepted Mr. Zucker’s resignation. He appointed three executives to jointly lead CNN on an interim basis.
USA SWIMMING HAS NEW POLICY FOR TRANS ATHLETES
The USA Swimming committee released a new policy for transgender athletes in elite competitions on, which will only apply to those who are planning on setting national records.
The policy reveals that elite transgender athletes will be required to go through a multi-layered process by submitting a “Self-Identity Verification Request” and “Elite Athlete/Event Fairness Application.”
“The purpose of Self-Identity Verification is to confirm that the athlete’s transition to a competition category different than that assigned at birth is bona fide and that the gender identity applicable for purposes of swimming competition is consistent with the athlete’s gender identity in everyday life,” states the policy.
“The purpose of the Elite Athlete/Event Fairness Evaluation process is to ensure that athletes competing in the Female competition category who have transitioned from a Male biological gender assignment at birth, do not have an unfair advantage over their cisgender Female competitors in Elite Events.”
Within both processes’ athletes applications will have to be approved by a three-person panel consisting of “a physician with experience in gender identity issues,” “a 10-Year Athlete representative,” and “a member of the USA Swimming Safe Sport Committee.”
The Elite Athlete/Event Fairness evaluation will require athletes to provide medical evidence of their testosterone concentration in their blood. This concentration must be less than five nanomoles per liter and has to be continuous for at least 36 months. This blood test is important for proving that a competitive advantage does not exist.
Some people are not approving of this new policy. Former President Trump announced at a rally this past weekend his promise to ban transgender women from participating in women’s sports if re-elected president.
Joanna Harper, a former transgender runner, however criticized of this new policy, stating that no other national or international sport has required more than 24 months of hormone or low testosterone therapy for trans female athletes, especially with NCAA championships being held in March 2022.
“I doubt that it is a coincidence that Lia will have had 34 months of hormone therapy by March 2022,” Harper wrote in an email.
What The Left/Right is Saying On: Joe Rogan Controversy
So like, what’s the sitch?
A compilation video revealed Joe Rogan using the N-word numerous times in past episodes of his show; it had been shared by the singer India.Arie, who has removed her catalog from Spotify in protest of what she called Rogan’s “language around race.”
Rogan said the compilation was drawn from “12 years of conversations” on his show, and that it looked “horrible, even to me.” The clips, he said, had been taken out of context, which he said included discussions about how it had been used by comedians like Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx, who were Black, and Lenny Bruce, who was white.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek told employees Sunday that he strongly condemns racial slurs used by Joe Rogan in the past, however he won't be cutting ties with Rogan, according to an internal memo.
"While I strongly condemn what Joe has said and I agree with his decision to remove past episodes from our platform, I realize some will want more," Ek wrote.
"And I want to make one point very clear — I do not believe that silencing Joe is the answer."
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Minor Politics
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Olympic teams raise concerns over quarantine hotels
Business & Tech
There’s a new birdie on social media vying to give Twitter a run for it’s money. It’s name is Koo.
Off Topic
An argument over an order in a Chick-fil-A drive thru in Clinton, Mississippi turned deadly after a gun unintentionally discharged in a car
Hey! You’ve reached the end! How did you like this edition? Thoughts and feedback are always welcome. Just send to Mike@scriberrmedia.com
