Horizon cutting-room links: Tuesday, 17 December 2024

DC weather: Rain and patchy fog before midnight, then patchy fog and a slight chance of rain between midnight and 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 46. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Federal agencies in the Washington, DC area are Open. Employees are expected to begin the workday on time. Normal operating procedures are in effect.

“Hegseth’s Guard Left the Army After the Beating of a Civilian During Training,” New York Times

“The guard, a former Army Special Forces master sergeant named John Jacob ‘Jay’ Hasenbein, left the military after a 2019 training event in which witnesses said he beat a civilian role player — kicking him, punching him and leaving him hogtied in a pool of his own blood.”

“Mr. Hegseth’s choice of Mr. Hasenbein as a security escort is the latest instance in which he has stood by soldiers accused of crimes.”

“Carlos Watson, Ozy Media Co-Founder, Is Sentenced to Almost 10 Years in Prison,” New York Times

“The sentence came five months after a federal jury convicted Mr. Watson and Ozy Media of conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud. The jury also convicted Mr. Watson of identity theft, following a two-month trial during which witnesses detailed an impersonated phone call, fabricated contracts and misleading claims about Ozy’s earnings from 2018 to 2021.”

“Donald Trump 'eyes deal' for Waldorf Astoria DC hotel,” New York Post

"President-elect Donald Trump is weighing a bid to save the failing Waldorf-Astoria hotel in Washington, DC – and rebrand it once more as a Trump International Hotel.”

“Meta Urges California Attorney General to Stop OpenAI From Becoming For-Profit,” in the Journal

“In a letter to Attorney General Rob Bonta dated Thursday, Meta said allowing the ChatGPT maker to become a for-profit company would set a dangerous precedent of allowing startups to enjoy the advantages of nonprofit status until they are poised to become profitable.”

“Why Musk Doesn’t Have Access to SpaceX’s Biggest Government Secrets,” the Journal

“Trump will have the power to give Musk and others working for DOGE broad access to classified information as they search for cuts.”

“Musk had a secret-level clearance before he secured the top-secret clearance in 2022, a process that took years, according to people familiar with his clearance. The unusually long government review of his application was believed within SpaceX to have been the result of Musk’s 2018 podcast interview with Joe Rogan in which he smoked marijuana, which is illegal under federal law, the people said.”

“Universal Music's New Hotel Brand Banks on Trend in Live Tourism,” in Skift

“The Umusic Hotel Madrid’s guest rooms feature small Bluetooth Marshall amp speakers in the ceilings. The hotel features a vinyl library, a rooftop bar, and a music venue. … The hotel has hosted concerts, album launches, and parties for renowned artists.”

“For developers and owners, Solé reckoned: ‘We offer a distinctive proposition, a brand that not only drives room and food-and-beverage revenue but also entertainment revenue.’”