Morning Run: Billionaire Bromance, Mystery Drones in the Skies, Childhood Vaccinations Questions, and Friday the 13th Explained

Published Dec 13, 2024, 12:41 PM

Robach and Holmes cover the latest news headlines and entertainment updates and give perspective on current events in their daily “Morning Run.”

Morning Run with Amy and TJ and iHeartRadio Podcast. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Morning Run. It is Friday, December thirteenth. I'm Amy Robots and I'm.

TJ Holmes and on the run. This morning, Trump and Elon Musk romance may not be exclusive anymore. With two other billionaires spending some quality time with the President elect.

Could we see the end of some childhood vaccinations? Trump wants to have what he calls a big discussion that could have huge implications.

Man, what's going on in the skies above New Jersey and New York? Congress wants some answers after weeks of unexplained large drone like objects hovering over homes and military installations.

New York prosecutors are presenting evidence to a grand jury linking Luigi Mangioni to the healthcare CEO murder, while anonymous donors are sending tens of thousands of dollars to bolster his defense funds.

Also this morning, another recall. But it's not about what you're eating it, it's about what you're drinking out of. We'll explain the Stanley mug recall.

Plus is looking for love an actual job, A legal move by some love as blind contestants could shake up the entire reality show industry.

And as we mentioned off the top, it is Friday the thirteenth. Some call this the unluckiest day of the year, but this could end up being the luckiest day of your life. We will explain.

All right, We begin our run on this Friday morning with a warning Elon Musk better watch out. Two other high profile billionaires are making a move on Musk's buddy. Of course, we're talking about President elect Trump.

And the billionaires are Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos. They are taking a dinner and donation approach to improving their relationship with the incoming president. First up, let's talk about Mark Zuckerberg. His company Meta has donated a million dollars to President elect Trump's inaugural fund. Meta is the pairing company of Facebook and Instagram. The seven figure donation comes after the two men dying together at Trump's Mar A Lago resort last month.

This signal a change in the relationship, you could say that between the two men. Just this year, you might remember, Trump threatened Zuckerberg with life in prison if he interfered in the election, and in twenty twenty one. Facebook and Instagram suspended Trump's accounts after the January sixth insurrection, and in years past, Trump is called Facebook anti Trump and an enemy of the people.

Well, it's turned to Bezos now Amazon. His company is making a million dollar donation to Trump's inaugural fund as well, but also Amazon Prime Video will stream the inauguration live and what the company is calling an in kind donation that would essentially amount to about a million dollars. The Wall Street Jeneral reports Bezos will also head to marrow Lago in the coming days to meet with Trump. Bezos also owns The Washington Post, which stirred controversy before the election by deciding not to issue a presidential endorsement, which many found to be an endorsement of Trump. Essentially, it was widely viewed as a movement to just curry favor with Trump.

Ain't it interesting to watch everyone shift, perhaps or adjust to the reality of what will be the next four years?

Yeah, kiss the ring, go kiss the ring at mar Lago.

You just said it perfectly. Nothing else needs to be said, all right? Next up on our run, Trump is opening the door to ending some childhood vaccination programs in this country. In his Person of the Year interview with Time magazine, Trump said he will be having a big discussion with Robert F. Kennedy Junior, who he is tapped to run the Department of Health and Human Services, and.

As directly if that discussion, that big discussion could lead to eliminating some vaccinations, Trump said, it could if I think it's dangerous, if I think they're not beneficial. But I don't think it's going to be very controversial. In the end, Trump again stood by the claim that vaccines might be linked to autism. That is a claim that has been strongly and repeatedly debunked by medical science.

In fact, the autism advocacy group that most people are very familiar with autism speaks. That group says it remains quote aligned with the scientific consense, which confirms that vaccines do not cause autism end quote. Trump said, I want to see the numbers at the end of the studies that we're doing, and we're going all out. We're going to know what's good and what's not good.

So the issue here, let's say you do get rid of vaccinations, so that could lead to outbreaks of one's nearly eradicated diseases like measles. But even the talk about vaccines and them being dangerous might lead people to go, yeah, you know what, I'm not going to get vaccinated. I'm not going to get my kid vaccinated. That could still have ripple effects as well. So RFK Junior if he's confirmed as the head of AHHS, he would oversee the Centers for Disease Control and the CDC is tasked with making vaccine recommendations. He's headed to Capitol Hill next week to meet with Senators about his confirmation.

Yeah, with that discussion is far from over. Next up on the Run, we head to the mysterious skies over New Jersey and New York. Congress is now getting involved. Key members of both the House and the Senate are demanding answers from federal law enforcement officials after residents there have been reporting and recording large drones in the skies. And when we say large, think up to six feet in diameter large.

That's huge.

And many of these videos have gone viral with tens of thousands of views.

And these sightings have been going on since mid November. Some videos show drones with eerie lights that suddenly go off, presumably presumably to avoid detection. Yesterday, the White House trying to downplay the siding, saying that Homeland Security, the FBI, state and local officials have not been able to corroborate any of the reported sidings, adding, law enforcement believe the alleged drones are actually manned aircraft that are operating legally. They're essentially saying these are just small airplanes that people are flying around and they have the right to do so.

Well. The bottom line is the White House saying there's no evidence that the reported sidings represent a national security or any kind of public safety threat, but lawmakers and the public aren't really buying that. They're certainly not satisfied with that remark. How Speaker Mike Johnson says he he expects a classified briefing about the drones soon, saying he's anxious to find out more.

And this certainly didn't help. Congressman Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey. He raised the anxiety level among a lot of folks when he went on Fox News and said that the drones were coming from an Iranian mother ship stationed off the coast. Yes, an Iranian mothership is sending out these drones. The Pentagon had to jump in and say, this dude does not know what he's talking about. They say, and I quote, there is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so called mothership launching drones towards the United States.

It almost had like an alien reference there with the mothership.

This is completely independent day. There was a mothership that was sending smaller ships down completely what it.

Was, completely inciting fear among everyone who are already unnerved by these sightings. In fact, both senators from New Jersey and New York, that's Corey Booker and Andy Kim from New Jersey, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand from New York. The four them sent a letter to the Homeland Security Secretary, the FBI director, and the FAA demanding a briefing on whatever is flying in the skies. Booker said this, and he makes a very good point. Without transparency from officials, rumors, fear and misinformation are just going to continue to spread.

And that can apply to almost anything in life. If there is not actual information, people are going to fill in the blanks with all this other stuff. Now, some members of the Intelligence Committee have said that they privately have received the briefings about the drones and are calling on law enforcement to share that information with the public. Other members have explained that the hesitation on holding public hearings on the topic is because, well, we don't want our adversaries watching watching what exactly.

Then, to me, everything that they have said, which has not been much, makes it even more concerning and more confusing.

We don't want our adversaries to see us discussing what.

Exactly exactly we don't.

Know, discussing these innocent drones, because I'm told that's all. It is, just some manned aircraft.

That are not operating legally. But the thing is they can't find them. They don't know where they're coming from, they don't know where they're starting off from, they don't know where they're landing because it's happening at night, they're turning off their lights and they can't follow them. So, yes, this is a topic of concern, and you can see conspiracy theorists really going crazy on this one, all right. Next up on the Run, New York prosecutors have already begun presenting evidence to a grand jury. They're building their case for an indictment against twenty six year old Luigi Mangioni, who was accused of shooting and killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan last week. Look, they've already charged him, but they're hoping that if they get an indictment from the grand jury that will strengthen their case to get Mangioni back to New York because.

Right now he's still in a Pennsylvania prison. He is challenging extradition. New York Governor Cathy Holkle says she expects though an extradition warrant any moment now, and she says she's going to sign it the second that it happens so she can get them back here York as quickly as possible. Mangioni's supporters, well, they keep going online trying to help in his legal defense. As of this recording, some seventy two thousand dollars has been raised for his legal defense on the site Give Send Go.

A group calling itself the December fourth Legal Committee. The murder of Thompson took place on December fourth, so that's why the name is what it is. But they established the fund saying, quote, we're not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right to fair legal representation. So far, the money is poured in from more than fifteen hundred anonymous donors from all over the country, some leaving messages of support along with their donations.

Yeah. One donor with the username a Frustrated Citizen thanked Mangioni for sparking awareness and thought across this sleeping nation. Mangioni's next hearing is December thirtieth. He's facing several charges, including second degree murder, but officials left open the possibility of more charges being filed. Well, stay with us here on this Friday, the thirteenth morning. Ruh, And before you take the next sip out of that Stanley mug or yours, listen up. There is a recall involving them because people are getting burned.

Welcome back everyone to the morning run. And next up on our run, check the lid on your Stanley mug. They've been popping off and people are actually getting burned. The company has recalled two point six million of their mugs because of a defect that can cause the lid to detach while you're drinking, and if you're drinking hot coffee, which is what a lot of people drink in their Stanley mugs. Well, you can see where that would be a huge problem.

Yeah, nearly one hundred such reports of the lid coming off while people are drinking, and thirty eight people suffered burns when that hot liquid got all over them. Eleven folks actually had to seek medical attention. So, which Stanley mugs are under the recall? Not that one, Not that wildly popular viral sensation one that everybody seems to have. That one is called the Stanley Quincher. That one is not involved in this recall.

The Stanley products that are involved in the recall are the Stanley switchback and the Stanley trigger Action stainless steel travel mugs. They're sold here in the US, and they come in all kinds of colors and sizes. The Consumer Product Safety says you should stop using those products emediately. Yes, it was good to point out it's not the one that we see everywhere. We both have them in our houses with our daughters because it's all the rage now. But yes, these are the mugs, and they are different from the ones with the straws.

And they are still popular. They're everywhere. These are very popular travel mugs, so you do need to check it. It's hard to explain something the seal around it. Once it gets too hot or something, it just doesn't hold and the thing comes on. But you can you imagine turning up that a twenty ounce thing of coffee and I.

Am able, you know, I'm an avid coffee drinker, and I put them into go mugs all the time. And yeah, you trust that that lid is going to stay where it is because if it doesn't, Yeah, that's a serious, serious health and safety hazard.

How long before a lawsuit?

Oh? In days?

Okay, well that'll be on the Monday morning run. Well, next up on this Friday, the thirteenth run. Finding love is an actual job, and the contestants on Love Is Blind should be compensated accordingly for their work. In a move that could shake up reality television, the National Labor Relations Board said that the folks looking for love on the popular Netflix reality show should be actually classified as employees and get the benefits of worker protection.

The Labor Board said the production companies behind the show are violating labor laws with the contracts they require the contestants to sign. They include strict non disclosure and non compete clauses. The Labor Board complaint is a first of its kind action against a reality series, which could lead to show contestants being able to unionize. Two Love Is Blind contestants filed complain with the Labor Board alleging unfair treatment while participating in the show Yeah.

Their complaints triggered an investigation, which led to the Board's decision. This fight between reality contestants and show production companies has been bubbling for quite a quite a while now, many contestants hoping to change what they see as an unfair system wildly popular reality shows that are aking huge profits on the backs of people they simply classify as contestants and therefore don't have to pay and don't have to protect.

The production companies and networks have always argued that the contestants are there voluntarily and in control of their own actions and behavior. Several lawsuits have also been filed against the production companies behind the show. So what happens now, So the.

Labor Boards ruling is going to go before a judge who's going to determine if laws were actually violated, and then whatever decision has happened, you're going to be able to appeal, so don't expect an industry shake up just yet. Love is Blind. It seems strange to have to explain as wildly popular as it is. It has seven series and seven seasons. Yes, I have spin offs and all this, but please, you're the oh, please explain this badness.

I am deeply immersed in the latest season and I've watched several before. But yeah, the basic concept is these people and in fact, one of the contestants this year actually quit her job to find love. But it hasn't worked in conventional methods, so they go into these pods. You can't see each other's face as you just find love through connection and your voice literally. And then if you find the connection, someone proposes, someone accepts, They move in together, meet the family, and a few weeks later they show up on their wedding day and they either say I do or I don't.

What could go wrong?

Yeah, and that's why it's so good.

But yet these quauses you mentioned. The non compete part of it is the Donkipedia is you can't do an interview for a year about you. You can only talk about the show. You cannot be out there as an independent individual. Talking about anything other than promoting the show in some way. Also leaving the show. I did hear about. We've heard about this. It's a fine. If they deem you're leaving for reasons that they don't find legit, they can find you up to fifty thousand dollars.

That's tough too, because this is emotionally difficult to watch sometimes when some people just and I do believe most of the people on that show are there actually to fine love who truly want to find a partner, who truly want to get married, So it's not just a stunt. I mean, sure, there's every now and then you've got people who just want to get famous or you know, be influencers. But I really do think most of the folks on this show are legit. So it'll be fascinating to see what ends up happening. What a few years from now, when we find out ultimately after appeals, et cetera, if anything changes in the industry, Well.

Considerate Love is Blind, Love Island. We could keep going on with these shows, but your site, but also a lot of the not the dating but the housewives show. Yeah, they've been in fights about treatment and they should be treated as employees and not as contestant. You're getting free labor. It's not labor, but you're putting on a show. You don't have to pay your talent. That's a big deal.

Yeah, it makes it. I mean some people get paid though, right.

Oh, but it's nothing along the lines of a talent, a real talent or a star of a show kind of a thing. Whatud ever get? I mean the mere thousands.

Well, all right, we will see and be stay tuned. Stay tuned for that. All right, for the final leg of our run. We've mentioned it. Today is Friday the thirteenth. What could possibly go wrong? So many people consider this day to be unlucky or even scary. In fact, there's a name for this common superstition. It's frigatrisk guide decaphobia, the fear of Friday the thirteenth. What is it called again, friga trist guide decaphobia.

All right, I just wanted you to an opportunity to show off I've been.

Working on this an Icelandic volcano. When you see it all written, so.

We are this, we hear Friday the thirteenth husual. The first thing people think about, probably the series of movies with Jason, the hockey mass, that kind of thing, but it goes deeper than that. It's actually rooted in religion and history. Several theories out there, but one of them behind why Friday the thirteenth is considered unlucky, goes back to the Last Supper. Judas betrayed Jesus. He was the thirteenth guest at the Last Supper, and Friday was the day Jesus was crucified.

Another theory goes all the way back to Nordic folklore where the trickster god Loki. Is it Loki or Loki It's Loki right. Loki showed up uninvited as the thirteenth guest to a feast with twelve other gods and then caused chaos and bloodshed, killing the god of light and gladness.

People have different beliefs surrounding this day, but some actually alter what they would normally do. They don't travel, don't make big decisions, don't invest because they think this is an unlucky day. Other folks have fun with it, throw a party, watch some horror movies in arnt of the day, but there are some who actually embrace this day and this number.

Fully yes and that well, specifically, one person is Taylor Swift. Today actually just happens to be her birthday, So happy birthday, Taylor. She explained her love of Friday the thirteenth like this, I'm gonna quote her here. I was born on the thirteenth. I turned thirteen on on Friday the thirteenth. My first album went gold in thirteen weeks. My first number one song had a thirteen second intro. Every time I've won an award, I've been seated in either the thirteenth seat, the thirteenth row, the thirteenth section, or row M, which is the thirteenth letter. Basically, whenever a thirteen comes up in my life, it's a good thing.

Okay, that's a lot She's gotta have a thirteen tattoo.

I think she definitely has thirteen, Like she's a jacket with thirteen on it. Yeah, she probably does.

Okay. So if you're feeling lucky, unlucky, well you're in luck today. Actually possibly get a lottery ticket, make a million's drawing tonight jackpot six hundred and seventy million dollars. So this could be your very lucky day. Do you find I don't feel anything. I'd love Forriday thirteen. Any two.

I think it's fun. I'm I think we're both the type to throw a party and watch some horror movies.

But I had no anybody lean in. Yeah, but I had to wonder. Have we had a history of this throughout the world of bad things happening? A few disasters?

There have been Apollo thirteen.

That was the number thirteen. Yeah, that on Friday the.

Thirty Still anything with thirteen? Right?

Well? Buckingham Palace was bombed in nineteen forty World War Two. You remember covering the Concordia shipwreck off the coast of Italy. Yes, thirty two people died. If you see the video, you'll remember that happened on Friday the thirteenth. Tupac died on Friday the thirteenth. Yep, he was shot earlier, but he died on that day, on Friday the thirteenth.

So happenstance, coincidence? You know, those of you who are superstitious, I get it all right. We would like you to consider this on this Friday the thirteenth. This is our quote of the day.

Worry is a fear that hasn't grown up yet. It's a misuse of our imagination.

That's a really cool way to put that.

It is what worry? Why? Why? For what?

We can imagine a lot of things, We can think about a lot of things. Why not consider or imagine a better outcome or a good outcome? Worry is wasted emotion a lot of ways. Where'd you get this one?

I can't remember where I got this one, but this.

Was from your files and I figured it was appropriate on Friday at thirteen. So I'll say it one more time for everybody for our quote of the day. Worry is a fear that hasn't grown up yet. It is a misuse of our imagination. Thank you everyone for running with us on this very unlucky day.

I'm any Robot, I'm CJ. Holmes. That's not he messed up. If something really jacked up happens to us today.

Okay, I say we buy a lottery ticket.

Enjoy your Friday the thirteen folks, it's y'all.