The latest NBC News poll indicates that the share of voters with high interest in the 2024 election is at a 20-year low, with negative views of both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is cutting into Trump’s support more than Biden’s. In a head-to-head matchup, Trump leads Biden by 2 percentage points, but when expanded to include five named candidates, Biden has a 2-point advantage. Issues like abortion and uniting the country favor Biden, while competency and dealing with inflation favor Trump.
The House passed a long-awaited foreign aid package, providing aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, and advancing plans to ban TikTok unless its Chinese parent company sells it. Fractures within the GOP were evident, with 112 Republicans voting against the aid package for Ukraine. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has threatened to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson if he doesn’t resign. The aid package for Israel could affect Biden’s prospects among Muslim Americans. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the aid, saying it gives Ukraine a chance at “victory” but acknowledges morale issues among troops.
As the Paris Olympics approach, there are concerns about high pollution levels in the river Seine, potentially leading to events being postponed or canceled. France has spent $1.5 billion upgrading the city’s sewage system ahead of the Games. E. coli levels in the river exceed safe swimming levels in parts of the city center. Two imprisoned men in Georgia are claiming they were wrongly convicted based on false claims by an informant. The Georgia Innocence Project is working to get them freed, arguing that both cases were deeply flawed.
China’s coffee market has seen significant growth, with the country surpassing the U.S. in the number of branded coffee shops. Chinese coffee chains and local independent cafes are competing with foreign brands like Starbucks in the market. This shift reflects a growing preference for coffee over traditional tea among China’s youth. In the WNBA, rookie Caitlin Clark’s joining the league has highlighted the pay disparity between women athletes and their male counterparts. The lower revenue of the WNBA is a key reason for this gap.
The 20th anniversary of “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” is being celebrated as a significant milestone in representation for Asian Americans in mainstream media. The film challenged stereotypes and paved the way for more diverse representation in Hollywood. As the film continues to resonate with audiences, it serves as a reminder of the importance of breaking down barriers and promoting diversity in the entertainment industry.
