House GOP Plays Trump Name Game

Good morning and happy Wednesday. In Japan, married couples are required by law to have the same last name. An economics professor is campaigning to abolish the civil code for a practical reason: He projects that every person in the country will have the same last name by the year 2531 if no change is made. That should be enough advance notice to get something done. Have a great day!

In Today’s Brief

• Biden: Phone call with Xi

• Peru: Government in disarray

• Nebraska: Electoral College change?

• Endeavor: Going private again

• Taylor Swift: Billionaire status

... and more

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Top Tips

1) Trump air

Former President Donald Trump has put his name on many things. Now some of his allies want to follow suit.

• What happened: Seven House Republicans have lined up behind legislation that would rename Virginia's Dulles Airport as Donald J. Trump International Airport. Pennsylvania Rep. Guy Reschenthaler authored the bill. Congress has oversight of the airport through the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

• Long shot: There is a good chance the bill will never get beyond an election year stunt. But if it was to pass the house, where the GOP has a slim majority, it would almost assuredly go nowhere in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

• The history: The region's other major airport was renamed after former President Ronald Reagan in 1998 when the GOP controlled both chambers and got then-President Bill Clinton to sign off. And Trump owned his own airline, Trump Shuttle, from 1989 to 1992.

2) Gaza tragedy

Israel is under fire after it killed aid workers in an airstrike.

• What happened: Seven civilians working with World Central Kitchen to deliver food died after an operation Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called "unintentional." WCK, organized by celebrity chef Jose Andres, said the workers were clearly marked in armored cars inside a "deconflicted zone."

• The response: Israel apologized for the attack, which drew widespread condemnation. Three UK citizens and a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen were killed along with a Palestinian and citizens of Australia and Poland. WCK has since suspended its operations in the region, which officials have said faces the threat of famine.

• Big picture: It is another misstep for Israel and it comes at a tense time. Iran has threatened retribution after an Israeli strike on its embassy in Syria killed top military leaders. The U.S. reportedly informed Iran it had no advance knowledge or involvement in that airstrike.

3) Magic showdown

It's decision day for Disney.

• The story: The future course of the entertainment and media giant will be determined today when a high-stakes shareholder vote is finalized, concluding one of the most expensive proxy battles ever with two competing slates running against Disney's picks to be on the company's board.

• The issue: Disney's stock price has gone up 50% in the last six months, but some activist investors want more and are angling to get on the board to impact the company's plans. Billionaire corporate raider Nelson Peltz and former Disney executive Jay Rasulo are making the most prominent bid; Peltz has campaigned for months.

• State of play: CEO Bob Iger's slate got a boost when Vanguard, Disney's largest investor, pledged its support. The company's picks appeared to be in the lead as of last night. But all votes can be changed through today's meeting and even if Disney wins, it still faces major questions about where its business goes and what its post-Iger future looks like.

Quick Tips

U.S. News

• President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone yesterday. Biden discussed North Korea, Russia, Taiwan and other matters with Xi, according to a White House readout (More)

• The nation's largest fresh egg producer found bird flu at its Michigan and Texas plants. There are no recalls or known issues with eggs currently in the market; officials say there remains little risk to humans (More)

• Six inmates at a New York state correctional facility are suing to overturn a planned lockdown during next week's solar eclipse. The men argue the decision violates their religious freedom (More)

World News

• Six of Peru's government ministers resigned as a corruption scandal roils the South American country. President Dina Boluarte's future is in question after her home was raided last weekend amid allegations of improperly obtained luxury watches (More)

• The U.S. and United Kingdom agreed to test advanced artificial intelligence together. It is the first bilateral AI deal of its kind; both nations have largely allowed domestic developers to regulate themselves (More)

• At least 29 people were killed in a fire at a popular Istanbul nightclub. The basement-level Masquerade club reportedly was undergoing renovations that caused the blaze (More)

Campaign News

• Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen endorsed legislation to reinstate a winner-take-all system for the state's Electoral College votes. The state, a Republican stronghold, currently awards its five votes by district; the Democratic nominee has won a single vote in two of the last four elections (More)

• Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola has amassed a $2.5M warchest as she aims to secure re-election. No House Democrat represents a more GOP-heavy consituency; Peltola is the state's only representative in the chamber (More)

• Vice President Kamala Harris continues to take a more active role on the campaign trail. She has made close to a dozen appearances on the stump nationwide in the last month (More)

Business & Markets

• Major indexes closed down yesterday as the markets' rough start to Q2 continued (Dow -1.00%, Nasdaq -0.95%, S&P 500 -0.72%).

• Endeavor is going private again. Silver Lake, a private equity firm, is taking 100% control of the entertainment giant at a $13B evaluation; UFC and WWE parent company TKO will remain publicly traded (More)

• General Electric completed its split into three independent businesses yesterday. GE Aerospace, GE HealthCare and GE Vernova will all be publicly traded (More)

Entertainment & Sports

• Taylor Swift is officially a billionaire. Forbes has pegged the pop star's net worth at $1.1B due to the success of the Eras Tour and the value of her music catalog and real estate holdings (More)

• Monday's Iowa-LSU NCAA Tournament game was the highest-rated women's college basketball contest ever. Over 12M viewers watched the Hawkeyes' victory on ESPN (More)

• Grey's Anatomy has been renewed for a 21st season. The long-running ABC medical drama series has won two Emmys and a Golden Globe for best television drama (More)

Quick Hitters

• Look Out: A two-pound piece of the International Space Station may have crashed through a Florida man's roof. NASA is investigating, and it may have to pay for the repairs.

• Go Deep: How would an iPhone equipped with Google's Gemini AI technology work? Here are some guesses.

• Take Note: If you are planning on getting a spray tan anytime soon, make sure you are prepared. Here are some tips to get the most out of your fake glow.

• Sleep Hack: Is there any best way to hit the hay? A doctor explains why you should be on your back as you snooze.

• Life Hack: Vinyl records are having a bit of a comeback. Here's how you can clean them without worrying about damaging them.

• OPTIMIZE ME: Researchers “found convincing evidence that higher intake of ultra-processed foods was associated with 50% increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death, a 48% to 53% higher risk of anxiety and common mental disorders, and a 12% greater risk of type 2 diabetes”

Want more health and wellness news? Subscribe to our brand new newsletter, Optimize Me, and start living a healthier life through diet, exercise, sleep, and mindfulness:

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Looking Ahead …

Meet Laverne Biser, a 105-year-old Texas man who is ready to experience his 13th solar eclipse after traveling all around the world to see them. And you think you are excited for next Monday.

Question of the Day

Yesterday’s results:

Have you ever been to Pearl Harbor?

• No (61%)

• Yes (39%)