Weinstein case overturned, college protests heat up

Thursday, April 25 was an action-packed day but there are a few stories worth a closer look. Let’s dig in.

Harvey Weinstein’s case was overturned

What you probably already know: The New York State Court of Appeals overturned the 2020 sex crimes case that put Weinstein behind bars and ignited the #MeToo movement. The case will now be set for a new trial.

Why? In the previous trial, the jury had been asked to consider testimony and information from sources that were not directly related to the case. Basically, others had testified about Weinstein’s bad behavior, even though he was not charged with any criminal conduct related to their testimony. The move to include that testimony was unusual and, ultimately, problematic.

What it means: The case will be retried. But some call this a victory for people like Weinstein who engage in serial misconduct and violence. Rowan Farrow wrote a piece for the New Yorker about the implications that’s worth a read.

What happens now? Weinstein remains in prison for a separate rape conviction in California while he awaits the retrial. He’s serving a 16-year sentence and is 72 years old.

College protests over Israel-Gaza heat up

What you probably already know: College students across the U.S. have taken to their campuses in protest of war in Gaza and in support of the Palestinian people. This has ignited safety concerns for Jewish students and resulted in arrests of hundreds of protesting students.

Why? Students have been motivated by some truly horrific media coverage of the conflict revealing violence against the Palestinian people, including children. Simultaneously, antisemitism and violence against Jews is on the rise across the U.S.

What it means: Colleges, including the University of Southern California, have canceled commencement exercises and other events as a result of the protests. Second Gentlemen Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, spoke with students at Columbia University and Barnard College this week and condemned antisemitism.

What happens now? If you have children in college, this is likely on their minds. High school-age children are also likely to have discussed this in school. NPR had a great piece back in October about how to talk to kids about what’s happening, especially because so many children in Israel and Palestine have been hurt by the violence. The big takeaway: Ask questions about what they’ve heard and have a conversation. Try not to get defensive if their opinions differ from your own (even when that can be difficult). School campuses have long been the epicenter of dissent and protest, and this is a highly divisive topic for young people.

A few other interesting stories to note

NPR in crisis

The New York Times reported this week that senior editors at National Public Radio have called out “extreme liberal bias” inside the organization while the nonprofit news organization struggles with falling revenue and declining audience.

Non-competes are out…for now

The Federal Trade Commission has banned companies from using non-compete agreements to prevent employees from leaving to join other companies. High-level executives in “policy-making positions” are exempt from the ban. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has sued, arguing the FTC overstepped its authority.

Everyone watches Sue Bird

WNBA star Sue Bird has joined the ownership group of her former employer, the Seattle Storm. Bird, a four-time WNBA champion and five-time Olympic gold medalist, retired in 2022 after a storied career. The Storm is the highest valued WNBA team at $151 million.