Happening in the World: On Thursday, two of Prime Minister Theresa May’s cabinet ministers “quit her government.” This included Dominic Raab, the chief negotiator on the withdrawal from the European Union. These decisions not only predict doom for Brexit, but also for her leadership. Raab’s departure has the ability to damage May’s authority, as it increases the risk that lawmakers of her own party (Conservative Party) will challenge her draft plans for leaving the European Union. Even before the departure of Raab and Esther McVey (the work and pensions secretary), May knew it would be difficult to gain parliamentary approval of the draft plans, with the resignations, however, it will prove even more difficult than first imagined.
Happening in the US: U.S. prosecutors are now in negotiations for a potential plea deal with defendant Maria Butina, a Russian woman accused of being a clandestine foreign agent. She was arrested in July in Washington D.C. as she prepared to leave the United States. Her arrest came after she was linked with multiple attempts to influence political establishment in the United States, using her long-standing support of gun rights to gain favor with Republican politicians.
Happening in NYC: David Hockney’s “Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)” sold at Christie’s New York for a whopping $90.3 million dollars (sold at $80 million with $10.3 billion in fees), which shattered the auction record for a living artist. Much of Hockney’s work revolves around the emotional life of gay men. Hockney is a “multitalented painter, draftsman, and set designer” who got involved in the British art scene in the 1960s. At the beginning of his career, some did not take his work seriously as the colors were deemed too bright and his figures were too realistic. Now, at 81, Hockney has lost his hearing though still continues to paint and experiments with digital art.
Happening on Campus: On Monday, Director of Legal Advocacy with National Advocates for Pregnant Woman, Nancy Rosenbloom will be speaking as part of a guest lecture series hosted by Professor Katherine Franke. The topic of discussion will be Criminalization of Pregnancy. This lecture is held through Professor Franke’s class, Gender Justice, which hosts a guest speaker every week at 3 pm. Even if you aren’t in the class, students are allowed to attend the guest lecture!
Documentary of the Week: Chef’s Table, Season Four, Episode One. This episode of Chef’s Table features pastry chef and owner of Milk Bar, the craze that hit NYC in the form of compost cookies, birthday cakes without frosting on the sides, and widely acclaimed cereal milk. I went to Milk Bar and honestly wasn’t THAT great, but this documentary sure is. It’s really interesting to watch her journey from starting as a chef to starting Milk Bar, also it makes you hungry.
that one fancy british door via Wikimedia Commons