NPR News: 07-18-2024 11AM EDT
Digest
The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee concluded with Donald Trump accepting the GOP nomination for president. JD Vance, the new GOP vice presidential nominee, spoke at a breakfast event called the God and Country Breakfast, where he assured social conservatives that they are welcome in the Republican Party. Vance addressed concerns that the party is becoming less welcoming to social conservatives, stating that they have a seat at the table. Meanwhile, President Biden is self-isolating at his Delaware home after testing positive for COVID-19, while Vice President Harris is campaigning in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she criticized Vance as a rubber stamp for Trump. The Biden campaign is urging Vance to commit to the Vice presidential debate, while the Trump campaign has said they cannot commit, implying that Harris will ultimately be the presidential nominee. In other news, John Deere, a farming equipment manufacturer, has distanced itself from diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, leading the National Black Farmers Association to call for a boycott and the CEO's resignation. The company is auditing its training materials and policies to remove socially motivated messages and reaffirming that diversity quotas and pronoun identification are not company policy. Thousands of unionized machinists for aircraft maker Boeing have taken an initial vote that could lead to a strike, as contract talks are underway and the machinists contract expires on September 12th. Researchers have unearthed fossil fragments in Argentina that suggest humans may have lived in South America before the end of the last ice age, with the fossils dating back to about 21,000 years ago. Finally, Sotheby's auctioned off the fossilized remains of a Stegosaurus for more than $44 million, exceeding its estimated price of $6 million.
Outlines
Republican National Convention Concludes
This Chapter covers the final night of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Donald Trump accepted the GOP nomination for president. The chapter also highlights the speech by JD Vance, the new GOP vice presidential nominee, at a breakfast event where he addressed concerns about the party's stance on social conservatives.
John Deere Distances Itself from DEI Efforts
This Chapter discusses John Deere's decision to distance itself from diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, leading to calls for a boycott and the CEO's resignation. The company is auditing its training materials and policies to remove socially motivated messages and reaffirming that diversity quotas and pronoun identification are not company policy.
Boeing Machinists Vote on Potential Strike
This Chapter reports on the initial vote by unionized machinists for aircraft maker Boeing that could lead to a strike. Contract talks are underway, but the machinists contract expires on September 12th. The machinists are seeking a pay increase of more than 40 percent and improved job security.
Fossil Evidence Suggests Early Human Presence in South America
This Chapter explores the discovery of fossil fragments in Argentina that suggest humans may have lived in South America before the end of the last ice age. The fossils date back to about 21,000 years ago, and the team analyzed cut marks on the bones, concluding they were likely made by stone tools when the animal was butchered by ancient humans.
Keywords
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is a quadrennial event held by the United States Republican Party to formally nominate its presidential and vice presidential candidates. It is typically held in the summer before the presidential election.
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He was born and raised in the New York City borough of Queens and received an economics degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Trump entered the family's real-estate business in 1971, renamed it The Trump Organization, and expanded its operations from Queens and Brooklyn into Manhattan. The company built or renovated skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump later started various side ventures, mostly by licensing his name. Trump and his businesses have been involved in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions, including six bankruptcies.
JD Vance
James David Vance is an American author, venture capitalist, and politician. He is the author of the 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, which became a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a film. Vance was elected to the United States Senate from Ohio in 2022. He is a member of the Republican Party.
John Deere
Deere & Company, commonly known as John Deere, is an American corporation that manufactures agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery. It is one of the largest producers of agricultural equipment in the world. The company was founded in 1837 by John Deere, a blacksmith who invented the self-scouring steel plow. Deere's headquarters are located in Moline, Illinois, United States.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are three interconnected concepts that are often used together to describe efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace or society. Diversity refers to the presence of a wide range of people with different backgrounds, identities, and perspectives. Equity means ensuring that everyone has fair and equal opportunities, regardless of their background or identity. Inclusion means creating a sense of belonging for everyone, where they feel valued and respected.
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. It is one of the largest aerospace manufacturers in the world. Boeing was founded in 1916 by William Boeing in Seattle, Washington. The company has been involved in many significant milestones in aviation history, including the development of the first commercial jetliner, the Boeing 707, and the first supersonic jetliner, the Boeing 2707.
Stegosaurus
Stegosaurus is a genus of herbivorous ornithischian dinosaur that lived in North America during the Late Jurassic Period. It is known for its distinctive plates along its back and its spiked tail. Stegosaurus was one of the largest dinosaurs, reaching up to 30 feet in length and weighing up to 7 tons. It is believed to have been a slow-moving herbivore that grazed on low-lying plants.
Q&A
What was the main focus of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee?
The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee concluded with Donald Trump accepting the GOP nomination for president. JD Vance, the new GOP vice presidential nominee, also spoke at a breakfast event, addressing concerns about the party's stance on social conservatives.
What did JD Vance say about social conservatives in the Republican Party?
JD Vance assured social conservatives that they are welcome in the Republican Party, stating that they have a seat at the table. He addressed concerns that the party is becoming less welcoming to social conservatives.
What is John Deere's current stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts?
John Deere has distanced itself from diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, leading to calls for a boycott and the CEO's resignation. The company is auditing its training materials and policies to remove socially motivated messages and reaffirming that diversity quotas and pronoun identification are not company policy.
What is the current status of contract negotiations between Boeing and its unionized machinists?
Contract talks are underway between Boeing and its unionized machinists, but the machinists contract expires on September 12th. The machinists have taken an initial vote that could lead to a strike, as they are seeking a pay increase of more than 40 percent and improved job security.
What evidence suggests that humans may have lived in South America before the end of the last ice age?
Researchers have unearthed fossil fragments in Argentina that suggest humans may have lived in South America before the end of the last ice age. The fossils date back to about 21,000 years ago, and the team analyzed cut marks on the bones, concluding they were likely made by stone tools when the animal was butchered by ancient humans.
Show Notes
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