Dems push for higher workplace vaccine fines, Wisconsin attack suspect charged: 5 Things podcast
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On today's episode of the 5 Things podcast: Democrats push for jump in workplace fines amid vaccine requirement debate
Courts are still working to decide whether certain companies actually must force their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Plus, a sixth person is dead after the Wisconsin parade tragedy, President Joe Biden will nominate a new budget director, we have some advice for when to hit the road for Thanksgiving and it's a big movie release day ahead of the holiday.
Podcast: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here.
Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.
Taylor Wilson:
Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson, and this is 5 Things you need to know Wednesday, the 24th of November, 2021. Today the legality of COVID-19 vaccine requirements in the workplace. Plus, a child marks the sixth person dead in the Wisconsin parade tragedy, and more.
Here are some of the top headlines.
The jury will continue to deliberate today in the Ahmaud Arbery murder trial. The nearly all white panel began deliberations yesterday to decide whether three white men are guilty of murdering the Black 25-year-old last year.
Sweden's parliament has approved its first female prime minister. Magdalena Andersson recently became the new leader of the Social Democratic Party.
And NASA has launched a spacecraft to smash into an asteroid. Its mission, to test whether it would be possible to knock a speeding space rock off course if one were to threaten earth. If all goes well, it'll smash into an asteroid next September.
Courts are working to decide whether COVID-19 vaccine requirements can actually be enforced. That includes the New Orleans based US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. It stopped a rule from going forward requiring businesses with 100 or more workers to vaccinate. That's due to challenges from conservative states and a number of companies. But even as courts make their decisions on vaccine requirements, Democrats are moving ahead on efforts to increase fines for workplace safety violations. White House correspondent, Maureen Groppe, reports.
Maureen Groppe:
They're taking action to dramatically increase fines for OSHA violations. This is not in direct response to this vaccination rule, this is something that they were working on independently. But because of the timing, it's extra significant because this vaccination rule would affect so many companies. It affects businesses with at least 100 employees. And so that would be, if that does go into effect, that would be going into effect at the time that there'd be a huge increase in the maximum fines that a business could get for violating any one of OSHA's rules, not just the vaccination requirement.
Right now, it's in limbo. A circuit court put a stay or a hold on it in response to legal challenges from conservative states and businesses. The court said until they've had the time to review whether they think the law is valid or not, that the federal government cannot enforce it. We're waiting for the courts to make a final decision on whether the rule can either go into effect temporarily or permanently or not at all.
There's not a specific timeframe. Legal experts expect the court to act fairly quickly on this, but we don't know exactly if that will be in a few weeks, longer than that, we just don't know.
Taylor Wilson:
You can read more of Maureen's recent work, including a piece on President Joe Biden's next pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration, on USATODAY.com.
Taylor Wilson:
An eight-year-old boy has become the sixth person dead after a driver slammed into a Wisconsin Christmas parade on Sunday. Police said Darrell Brooks Jr. was fleeing a domestic disturbance, where a knife was reported, when he drove an SUV into the parade route Sunday night. And a criminal complaint seems to show Brooks's driving as more intentional than might be expected of a fleeing suspect. Witnesses say he plowed into pedestrians despite plenty of opportunities to leave the parade route. Brooks was charged in court yesterday. Waukesha District Attorney, Susan Opper.
Susan Opper:
Mr. Brooks is facing five consecutive life sentences if he's convicted on all counts in this complaint. I wish to notify the court sadly that today we learned of another death of a child related to this case. We do expect a sixth count for first degree intentional homicide to be issued or added, excuse me, to this case. I can advise the court that I am aware, I've been made aware through investigators, that there are other individuals in critical condition. I think we've remarked on the number of actual injured parties in our complaint, it exceeds 60 people.
Taylor Wilson:
One police officer said Brooks passed by several possible exits before ramming into the heart of the parade, but that he instead picked up speed, driving in a zigzag motion. Brooks was already out on bail for another pending case that included an allegation he intentionally hit a woman with his car earlier this month after a fight. Meanwhile, more than a million dollars has been raised for the parade's victims and several people are still in critical condition, including an additional six children.
President Joe Biden will today nominate Shalanda Young as Budget Director. That comes months after his initial choice, Neera Tanden, was forced to withdraw her nomination over objections by Congress. Young has served as acting director of the Office of Management and Budget since March, and she'd become the first Black woman as budget director. In the job she would play a major role in overseeing Biden's economic agenda. That includes working with federal agencies on how to implement the recently passed $1.2 trillion infrastructure package, and potentially the president's broader social and climate spending bill, if it survives the Senate.
If you haven't started driving yet to see family and friends for tomorrow's Thanksgiving holiday, tonight could be the best time to start. According to the transportation analytics company, INRIX, the best time to take off is after 9:00 PM or before 11:00 AM tomorrow. As for returning, you'll want to leave before noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. INRIX finds that traffic delays will be up about 40% for the holiday compared to normal work days. And overall it'll be a busier Thanksgiving than last year, with AAA projecting nearly four million more people hitting the roads compared with 2020.
Ahead of the long holiday weekend, there are some big movies and TV coming out today. First up, Marvel's Hawkeye hit Disney+ this morning.
HAWKEYE trailer:
Ava Russo as Lila Barton:
This is the first Christmas we've had together in years.
Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton:
I love you guys. I'm making up for some lost time.
News Broadcaster:
Authorities are wondering if the masked vigilante who terrorized the city's underworld is back.
Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton:
The past has caught up with me.
Ava Russo as Lila Barton:
Should we be worried?
Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton:
No, no, it's nothing. I'll be home for Christmas, I promise.
Taylor Wilson:
This is series follows Clint Barton, played by Jeremy Renner, and his relationship with the next Hawkeye, Kate Bishop, played by Hailee Steinfeld. Plus his relationship with his family after Avengers Endgame. There's also Encanto.
ENCANTO trailer:
María Cecilia Botero as Abuela Alma:
Many years ago this candle blessed our family with a miracle. Our house, our casita, came to life with magic.
Noemi Josefina Flores as Young Mirabel:
Hola casita. Floors! Drawers! Let's go!
María Cecilia Botero as Abuela Alma:
In time, every member of our family...
Rhenzy Feliz as Camilo:
Cecilia, up top!
María Cecilia Botero as Abuela Alma:
... was given their own magical gift.
[Bird chirping]
Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Antonio:
Uh-huh, uh-huh, I understand you.
Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel:
I'm not super strong like Luisa.
Man:
The donkey's got out again.
Jessica Darrow as Luisa:
On it!
Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel:
Or effortlessly perfect, like Señorita Perfecta Isabela.
Taylor Wilson:
The latest collaboration between Disney and Lin-Manuel Miranda hits theaters today. Set in the mountains of Colombia, the movie follows 15-year-old Mirabel as she digs up secrets and insecurities in her magical and gifted family. And finally, there's House of Gucci.
HOUSE OF GUCCI trailer:
Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani:
I don't consider myself to be a particularly ethical person, but I am fair.
Man:
Can you keep a secret?
Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani:
Father, son and House of Gucci.
Taylor Wilson:
Lady Gaga is back on the big screen in director Ridley Scott's telling of three tumultuous decades of the Gucci fashion house.
Taylor Wilson:
And thanks for listening to 5 Things. A reminder, you can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, your smart speaker, or wherever you prefer to listen. And a thanks to PJ Elliot for his great work on the show. I'm back tomorrow with more of 5 Things from USA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 6th person dies in Wisconsin tragedy, holiday movie releases: 5 Things podcast
