Transcript: February 22, 2023

Introduction

Sound: Don Lemon: “Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry.” 

A CNN anchor is in hot water for that comment – and for what he said next. Plus – is a 5-day work week a soon-to-be thing of the past? Those stories and more today on Notice News. 

CNN Anchor in Hot Water

Hey everyone, happy Wednesday. I’m Jonathan here at Notice HQ in Brooklyn. Last week, CNN morning show host Don Lemon got into some hot water for saying this:

Sound: Don Lemon: “a woman is considered being in her prime in her 20s and 30s, and maybe 40s. That’s not according to me… prime for what? It depends, just like, prime, if you look it up. If you Google woman in her prime, it’ll say a woman in her 20s, 30s, and 40s.”

He’s talking about 51-year-old Nikki Haley, who, like we told you, entered the race for president last week. Haley has proposed politicians over the age of 75 to take a mental competency test.

Both President Biden and former President Trump are over the age of 75, and the hosts of CNN’s morning show were chatting about it.

Sound: Don Lemon: “This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable. I think that it’s the wrong road to go down. She says people, politicians, are something that’s not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. sorry.”

Lemon’s remarks stunned his two female colleagues.

Sound: Don Lemon: “I think she has to be careful about saying politicians in their prime. I think you need a qualifier. Are you talking about prime for like child bearing, or are you talking about… don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are. Google it. When are women in their prime? It says 20s, 30s, and 40s.”

On Twitter, Lemon apologized for what he said, but critics have said his apology didn’t go far enough. Haley herself addressed what Lemon said to Fox News:

Sound: Nikki Haley: “This is something I have faced all of my life. It was Don Lemon yesterday, it was Whoopi Goldberg the day before. it will be someone else tomorrow… I wasn’t sitting there saying sexist, middle-aged CNN anchors should have mental competency tests, although he may have just proven that point.”

Don Lemon has been off CNN’s morning show since last Friday, but was scheduled to be back after undergoing “formal training.”

Headlines

Here’s what else is making news right now. 

President Biden vowed yesterday that the west would continue to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. The speech came just hours after Russia said it was pulling out of the last nuclear weapons treaty between our two countries.

The Environmental Protection Agency—or the EPA—says the company that operated that train that derailed in Ohio earlier this month spilling toxic chemicals must pay for all clean-up and recovery costs, or be faced with even more fines. 

And… think you love Disney? not as much as this guy. He just broke the world record for most consecutive Disneyland visits. He’s gone 2,995 days in a row – that’s eight years, 3 months and 13 days.

Is a 4-Day Work Week Imminent?

A full time job is typically Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, but will that soon be history? This week, the world’s largest trial of a 4 day work week finished in the United Kingdom. In it, 3,000 employees across 61 companies worked 4 days a week instead of 5, with no change in their pay.

The results of the trial are pretty impressive.

Employees across the board seemed much happier, reporting reduced stress, better sleep, better work life balance, and improved mental health – and some companies actually made *more* money. In fact, 15% of those employees said quote “no amount of money” could make them go back to working 5 days a week.

The five day work-week is a relatively new phenomenon – instituted in the 1920’s famously by Henry Ford. For most of the 1800s, many people worked six or even seven days a week – usually with only time off to go to church.

Researchers and organizers of the trial hope that someday soon – the four day work week will be the standard. 

Conclusion

That’s it for today – but let’s see how closely you were paying attention. Go take the notice news quiz on our website noticenews.com. I’ll be back tomorrow with more from us, Notice News.