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Hollywood Unions Condemn ABC Over Kimmel Suspension Amid White House Pressure

A protester outisde the El Capitan Entertainment Centre, where "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was recorded for broadcast. Hollywood’s most powerful unions are accusing Disney-owned ABC and the Federal Communications Commission of bowing to political pressure after the network abruptly pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the air. The move followed threats from the Trump administration and FCC Chair Brendan Carr over Kimmel’s recent monologue on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel, a frequent critic of President Trump, suggested Kirk’s allies were using his death to “score political points.” Within days, ABC affiliates signaled they would drop the show, and the network announced an indefinite suspension. The Writers Guild of America West and East called the decision “an attack on constitutionally protected free-speech rights,” while SAG-AFTRA warned it set a dangerous precedent for artistic expression. The controversy comes amid a broader wave of firings and su...
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Inflation Falls in June for First Time Since 2020

A closely-watched report on US inflation revealed that consumer price increases cooled further during the month of June. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined by 0.1% over the previous month and increased just 3.0% over the prior year in June. This marks a deceleration from May’s flat month-over-month increase and the 3.3% annual gain in prices. Notably, it’s the first time since May 2020 that monthly headline CPI came in below 0%.

On a “core” basis, which excludes the more volatile costs of food and gas, prices in June climbed 0.1% over the prior month and 3.3% over last year—cooler than May’s data. Economists had expected a 0.2% monthly uptick in core prices and a 3.4% year-over-year increase.

The markets responded to this report, with the 10-year Treasury yield falling about 9 basis points to trade around 4.2%. While inflation has remained stubbornly above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target on an annual basis, recent economic data suggests that the central bank may consider cutting rates sooner than later. Markets are now pricing in a roughly 87% chance that the Federal Reserve will begin rate cuts at its September meeting.

This data adds to other rate cut signals across the labor market and economy. The labor market added 206,000 nonfarm payroll jobs last month, ahead of economists’ expectations. However, the unemployment rate unexpectedly rose to 4.1%, the highest reading in almost three years.

Notably, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge—the core PCE price index—showed inflation easing in May, with a year-over-year change of 2.6%, in line with estimates and the slowest annual gain in more than three years.


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