Boeing Hearing, Netflix House, and Railbiking.

Adam Rogers
June 19, 2024

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Big Stories

The U.S. is expected to add trillions of dollars to its national debt over the next decade.

U.S. debt is projected to exceed $56 trillion by 2034 due to increased spending on Social Security and Medicare, and higher interest rates making borrowing more expensive. The budget deficit is also growing, projected to be $1.9 trillion in 2024 and rising to $2.9 trillion annually by 2034.
Upcoming legislative battles over taxes and spending will be critical, especially with the 2017 tax cuts set to expire in 2025. Lawmakers must decide whether to extend these cuts, which could cost $5 trillion over 10 years if fully extended. Additionally, rising costs due to student loan cancellations, aid packages, and Medicaid have contributed to higher deficits. An agreement to reduce IRS funding could also decrease revenue.
A surge in immigration is helping reduce deficits and debt over time, with new immigrant workers expected to pay more in taxes than they consume in benefits. From 2021 to 2026, an estimated 8.7 million more immigrants will pay $1.2 trillion in federal taxes while using $300 billion in benefits.

Outgoing Boeing CEO David Calhoun apologized to families of the victims of the 737 MAX crashes.

During a Capitol Hill hearing, he faced families holding posters of their loved ones who died. Calhoun pledged to focus on safety in their memory. However, senators harshly criticized him, accusing Boeing of prioritizing profits over lives and hiding problems from regulators.
Senator Richard Blumenthal accused Calhoun of failing to deliver on safety promises made after the crashes in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people in Indonesia and Ethiopia. He highlighted the mid-flight door blowout of a 737 Max jet in Oregon that renewed concerns about Boeing's safety practices. Senator Josh Hawley bluntly asked why Calhoun hadn't resigned, questioning his high salary and responsibility in the ongoing issues.
Another Boeing whistleblower came forward just before Calhoun testified in Washington. Sam Mohawk, a quality assurance inspector, said Boeing improperly tracked and stored faulty parts, which were likely used on airplanes, including the 737 Max. He claims that Boeing has retaliated against him for exposing these issues.

President Joe Biden announced a new plan to help certain immigrants without legal status gain citizenship.

The plan allows undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens to apply for permanent residency and eventual citizenship without leaving the country. It could be available to nearly half a million immigrants.
To qualify, immigrants must have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years and be married to a U.S. citizen as of Monday. The process should be open by the end of summer, with fees yet to be determined. The announcement is part of Biden’s efforts to balance border security with compassion for immigrants.
The plan has sparked debate among politicians, with Republicans criticizing it as mass amnesty, while Democrats argue it’s a thoughtful approach to immigration reform. Latino organizations are mobilizing to support the plan, anticipating potential changes if Trump is re-elected.

Netflix is opening "Netflix House," a 100,000+ square foot space where fans can experience shows like "Bridgerton" and "Squid Game" in real life. Netflix House will open in malls in Dallas, Texas, and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, offering immersive experiences, shopping, and themed food and drinks. (More)

Robert Morris resigned as senior pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, after admitting he had "sexual behavior" with a child in the 1980s. The church's board of elders announced his resignation on Tuesday, explaining they previously thought his relationship was with an adult, not a 12-year-old child. The church is one of the largest in the U.S. (More)

A mysterious metal slab, which became popular during the pandemic, has appeared on a Las Vegas hiking trail. The Las Vegas police posted about it on social media, saying it was found near Gass Peak. Similar metal monoliths have appeared worldwide since 2020, starting in Utah and then in California and Romania. (More)

Pop star Justin Timberlake was charged with drunken driving early Tuesday in the Hamptons, New York. Police said he ran a stop sign and veered out of his lane while driving in Sag Harbor around 12:30 a.m. He was released without bond after being arraigned and is scheduled to appear in court on July 26. (More)

Massachusetts experienced a statewide outage of the 911 emergency system on Tuesday afternoon. Officials restored the system around nearly two hours after the problem began. The reason for the system failure remains unclear, and the state is investigating the cause of the disruption. (More)

Where to try America’s latest trend: Railbiking.

Try the 55 regional dishes from across the U.S.

A visual guide to playing the card game Spades.

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