The union representing more than 160,000 television and movie actors announced today that its members were going on strike after negotiations with the major Hollywood studios over a new contract collapsed.
It is the first time in 63 years that both actors and screenwriters, who went on strike in May, have taken part in a walkout at the same time. The dual action will effectively bring the industry to a standstill.
“I don’t think Hollywood is ready for this,” my colleague Nicole Sperling, who covers entertainment, told me, noting that studio executives were caught off guard by the resolve of the actors. “Hollywood was already about 80 percent shut down, but any production that was hobbling along will now close and upcoming projects will be severely hampered.”
The two sides are divided on a range of issues, including pay and the use of artificial intelligence. The actors’ union says it is trying to ensure living wages for its members and to protect them from having their likenesses used in productions they took no part in. The studios argue that this is a difficult time for an industry upended by streaming services.
Nicole told me that she’s hearing very little agreement between the unions and the studios, with vitriol becoming increasingly common on both sides.
“I would not be surprised if this went through the rest of summer,” Nicole said. “It’s going to be painful if it does — not only for the writers and actors, but the studios as well.”
For more: Here’s how the strike could affect what you watch.
The first over-the-counter birth control pill
The F.D.A. approved a birth control pill to be sold without a prescription for the first time in the U.S. The medication, Opill, is expected to hit store shelves next year and will become the most effective method of birth control available over the counter — more effective than condoms, spermicides or other methods.
The approval was supported by many medical experts and associations who anticipate that it will significantly expand access to contraception across the country. The pill is expected to be especially useful for young women, teenagers and those who have difficulty dealing with the time, costs or logistical hurdles involved in visiting a doctor to obtain a prescription.
Here’s how the pill works and what its side effects are.
Turmoil has engulfed Russia’s military
In the three weeks since the unsuccessful mutiny by Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner troops, recriminations have reverberated through Russia’s military ranks. Just last night, a fired general released a video in which he said his troops “were hit in the rear by our senior commander, who treacherously and vilely decapitated our army at the most difficult and tense moment.” He said his removal was retribution for voicing the truth about battlefield problems.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that at least 13 senior Russian officers have been detained for questioning in the days after the insurrection, as well as about 15 who have been suspended from duty or fired.
This summer’s heat is proving to be deadly
Hot weather is nothing new in places like southern Texas, where summer temperatures regularly climb well past 100 degrees. But the wave of punishing heat and stifling humidity that began last month is presenting deadly new hazards. In the city of Laredo, 10 people died over the last month from heat-related illnesses — a sign that the eventual death toll from this year’s heat waves could be substantial.
In Phoenix, which is also experiencing extreme heat, my colleague said that going on a walk felt “like being on the edge of death.”
More top news
Tech: The F.T.C. opened an investigation into OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, over whether the chatbot has harmed consumers.
Investigations: Prosecutors have questioned witnesses, including Jared Kushner, about whether Donald Trump privately acknowledged he lost the 2020 election.
Politics: A super PAC aligned with Donald Trump paid Melania Trump $155,000 in late 2021, an unusual payment not disclosed in the group’s initial reports.
Court: Jurors in the Pittsburgh synagogue trial found the gunman eligible for the death penalty. The trial’s next phase will determine his sentence.
Elections: A New York appeals court ordered the state’s congressional map be redrawn, giving Democrats a fresh chance to tilt a House battleground leftward.
Climate: Natural gas, long seen as a cleaner alternative to coal, can be just as harmful to the environment, a new study found.
Washington: The Secret Service closed its investigation into how cocaine ended up in the White House after failing to identify any suspects.
International: Allies of Thailand’s military junta rejected the top candidate for prime minister, in another grave blow to the country’s damaged democracy.
Police: An officer in a New York suburb shot a man after he was accused of eating some grapes and a banana without paying, his family said. He died a week later.
EVENING WIND DOWN
Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ model
After the Korean-language drama “Squid Game” became the most-watched show ever on Netflix, it signaled something to the streaming service that felt counterintuitive: A laser focus on local taste can deliver a global audience.
The realization has led Netflix to create shows and movies that resonate with a single market’s audience, instead of programs that appeal to all 190 countries where the service is available. It’s betting that a compelling story somewhere is compelling everywhere, no matter the language.
Therapy where the clothes sometimes come off
Unlike traditional therapists, who are taught to keep clients at arm’s length, surrogate partner therapists also use physical touch. As one practitioner put it, a surrogate partner “enters into a temporary relationship” with a client on an intimate level.
That’s because surrogate partners specialize in helping people who, for any number of reasons, are less than comfortable with sex. Some clients are adult virgins who have severe anxiety; others have recently undergone a gender transition and are looking for help getting accustomed to their new bodies.
Dinner table topics
A candy-colored cruise ship: Some can’t wait to board the new Icon of the Seas. Others call it a “monstrosity” that is bad for the environment.
Home design: Banana Republic wants to outfit your home, too.
Mushroom chocolate: A new wave of confections are harnessing the ancient pairing of fungi and cacao (without the hallucinogenic effects).
A quandary: I dated a celebrity. Do I have to tell my wife?
WHAT TO DO TONIGHT
Cook: Whipped cream and store-bought dulce de leche are all you need for this salted caramel ice cream.
Watch: “Theater Camp” is a bitterly funny mockumentary set at a drama institute.
Read: Here are the best books by John le Carré.
Listen: On Popcast, our critics talk about the run-in between Britney Spears and the basketball sensation Victor Wembanyama.
Gawk: The James Webb telescope released a stunning new image for its first anniversary.
Plan: How to spend 36 hours in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Hunt: What house would you buy in Oakland with a budget of about $650,000?
Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here.
ONE LAST THING
The martini has lost its mind
The question “What’s in a martini?” seems like it should have a simple answer. A traditional dirty martini, for example, is a cocktail of gin, vermouth, an olive brine and a garnish. But these days, it seems like a martini can be just about anything.
Not only are people swapping gin for vodka — which first became popular decades ago — but bars all over the country have been slapping the “martini” label on any drink served straight-up in a V-shaped glass. As a result, we’re left with the chicken soup martini (with broth and MSG instead of brine), the Caprese martini (with basil and olive oil), and cocktails washed with sushi rice or splashed with squid ink.
Have an unconventional evening.
Thanks for reading. Sarah Hughes was our photo editor today. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew
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