Episode Details

Today’s Headlines: Government shutdown looms as Congress faces a September 30th deadline to pass next year's federal budget, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy preparing for a potential stopgap measure to keep the government running temporarily. The proposed stopgap measure includes a 1% cut in federal spending for most agencies except the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, along with provisions to restore certain elements of the Trump-era border policy, but it faces opposition in the majority-Democratic Senate. Additionally, Hunter Biden has sued the IRS for unlawfully releasing his confidential tax returns, seeking documents related to the disclosure of his tax information and compensation for each unauthorized release. Meanwhile, Narcan, the opioid overdose reversal drug, is now available over the counter, but the manufacturer, Emergent BioSolutions, previously fought to prevent it from being sold without a prescription to maintain market dominance. Fast food workers in California have secured pay hikes, raising the minimum wage to $20 per hour by April 2024, part of a larger agreement involving the restaurant industry and unions. Finally, negotiations between the AMPTP and the Writers Guild are set to resume after a month-long hiatus and 140 days of striking, focusing on issues like residuals for streaming and mandatory staffing for writers rooms.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: 

• AP News: Speaker McCarthy is running out of options to stop a shutdown as conservatives balk at a new plan
• AP News: Five Americans detained in Iran walk free, released in deal for frozen Iranian assets
• NPR: Hunter Biden sues IRS over release of his tax records
• WA Post: How one company profited while delaying Narcan’s drugstore debut 
• CNBC: A fight between fast-food chains and unions in California is over, for now – what to know 
• Variety: WGA Negotiations to Restart on Wednesday 

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Amanda Duberman and Bridget Schwartz

Edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices