David Walters, a former University of Texas swimmer, made headlines in 2008 after he earned a gold medal for Team USA during the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Nearly two decades later, his name popped up again, but for an entirely different reason.
Walters, who has been a firefighter in Los Angeles for almost 10 years, is one of the more than 7,500 firefighting and emergency personnel working to contain the devastating wildfires raging throughout Southern California this week.
The former Olympian recently spoke to News Nation about the devastation as he finished up a shift working two days straight, according to the outlet.
"We’re pretty much trying to keep what is left here standing," an exhausted Walters said. "So, we’re not laying down. We’re staying in our position – that’s correct, I did sleep on top of the hose bed last night, just staying ready to do what we can still do."
At least 10 people have died as a result of multiple wildfires as thousands evacuated their homes. Around 10,000 structures from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena have burned down as strong winds continue to fuel the fires.
The largest fire burning in Pacific Palisades began on Tuesday, and officials said on Thursday evening that containment was at 6% for that fire.
"I’m very sorry for the residents that live here," Walters continued.
"We did try our best, but we got our butts kicked. We’re getting some rest now, and we’re all trying to get our nutrition up and health up so we can stay active."
Walters, 37, won gold in the men’s 4 x 200 metres freestyle relay, where they set a then-Olympic record with a time of 7:04.66. It was his only Olympic appearance. That same year, he won his first NCAA individual title in the men’s 200 freestyle.
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, is accusing Democrats of "delaying and obstructing" top energy nominees for President-elect Trump's incoming administration.
"Senate Democrats are once again showing that delaying and obstructing the incoming Trump administration are their top priorities," Lee told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.
"Both Gov. Doug Burgum and Chris Wright's paperwork has been submitted to the Office of Government Ethics from their respective agencies. The confirmation process is moving forward as it should, and good progress has been made to ensure these nominees are thoroughly vetted and ready to serve. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee has followed every rule in noticing their confirmation hearings.
"This is the same party that, in 2009, went ahead with hearings for President Obama’s nominees under near identical circumstances. While Democrats drag their feet, Republicans are moving forward and doing the work the American people expect us to do. It's time for Senate Democrats to meet the moment with the seriousness it demands."
The Utah Republican was responding to claims from his Democratic counterpart on the committee, ranking member Martin Heinrich, who suggested that his scheduling of confirmation hearings for CEO and founder of Liberty Energy Chris Wright, Trump's pick for secretary of energy, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump's choice for secretary of the interior, breached protocol.
This week, Heinrich responded to "a breach of decades-long Senate protocol and precedent" when he said Lee set Burgum's hearing without the consent of the committee's minority.
"I am extremely disappointed that Chairman Lee has scheduled the first Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee confirmation hearing over my objection and before basic information has been given to the committee. This is a breach of protocol and precedent, established over decades by chairs of both parties," Heinrich said in a statement Wednesday after Burgum's confirmation hearing was officially set by Lee for Jan. 14.
He issued a second statement Thursday in response to Wright's Jan. 15 confirmation hearing being officially scheduled.
"I am extremely disappointed that Chairman Lee has noticed a second nomination hearing without having received information from nominees required by law and in adherence to committee rules, including a completed FBI background check and financial report," the senator said.
Heinrich said, "The documents that the Energy and Natural Resources Democrats do not have are not just paperwork. These are the documents, disclosures and (an) ethics agreement that are required by our committee rules and the law."
But, according to Lee, who assumed the role of chairman after Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., was elected to serve as Senate majority whip, his actions are in line with precedent in the committee.
He further maintained that he is "in full compliance" with all rules when it comes to setting up confirmation hearings for Trump's picks for key energy roles.
While Heinrich accused Lee of going against precedent, a similar scenario played out in 2009 in former President Obama's administration. Steven Chu and Ken Salazar, the former secretaries of Energy and the Interior, respectively, had their confirmation hearings announced by former energy Chairman Jeff Bingaman before all documents were received.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for committee Democrats said these are the only instances of this timeline of events "despite dozens and dozens of nominees being considered by the committee.
"Further, unlike the hearings Chairman Lee has noticed, the committee did receive Dr. Chu and Mr. Salazar’s disclosures only one day after the notice was issued. Days have passed since Chairman Lee noticed these hearings. But the committee has yet to receive the required documents and has no assurance that it will receive them by the time the hearings occur."
Lee's take on the criticisms from Heinrich was that Democrats "want to conflate notice with requirements that apply generally to nominations."
"Rest assured, Republicans will continue to comply with all the committee rules," he said.
In the wake of Meta’s decision to remove its third-party fact-checking system and loosen content moderation policies, Google searches on how to delete Facebook, Instagram, and Threads have been on the rise. People who are angry with the decision accuse Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg of cozying up to the incoming Trump administration at the expense […]
A construction zone. A car crash. A double parked truck. A motorcycle cop with its red-white-and blues deployed. My one-hour trip along the Las Vegas Strip in a custom-built Zoox robotaxi during CES 2025 wasn’t a dull one. A second, shorter ride the following evening, proved less eventful. And in both rides, the Zoox robotaxi […]
Hugging Face, the AI developer platform, has settled a lawsuit against Korean AI startup FriendliAI, which had accused Hugging Face of infringing on one of its patents. Per a filing on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Delaware, FriendliAI reached a “confidential agreement” with Hugging Face on January 8, and […]
The potential TikTok ban might leave casual users frustrated as they look for ways to enjoy funny animal videos or explore the latest book series. However, content creators and their agencies are working to expand their reach beyond the platform, investing in newsletters, podcasts, and establishing their authority in their niche. ADWEEK reached out to...
Hoda Kotb said farewell to Today on Friday morning after a 17-year plus stint as part of NBC News' flagship morning franchise. It was a two part farewell for Kotb, who first bid goodbye to her main Today family during the early portion of the morning broadcast. Her farewell continued during Today with Hoda and...
The new Model Y marks a noticeable change that could be just what Tesla needs as it fights slumping vehicle deliveries.
screenshot/Tesla Hong Kong
Tesla launched a redesigned Model Y in China with a revamped Cybertruck-like look.
The new model comes as Tesla reported a year-over-year sales decline amid EV market challenges.
It's similar to Apple's approach to improving a product rather than creating a new one.
Tesla's new look for the Model Y in China has a Cybertruck-like design, a noticeable change that could be just what Tesla needs to refresh its aging car lineup.
The new Tesla Model Y has updated suspension, wheels, and tires.
screenshot/Tesla Hong Kong
Tesla's new Model Y boasts a redesigned exterior, along with updated suspension, wheels, and tires. It's also quieter and more efficient and has an 8-inch rear touchscreen. The company said on its website that it includes "soft-touch textiles" that give passengers the feeling that they're "floating in space," drawing inspiration from other futuristic Tesla designs.
The interior is meant to give passengers the feeling of "floating in space."
screenshot/Tesla Hong Kong
It's not far off from Telsa's Model 3 redesign in 2023, which introduced a more luxurious and minimalist aesthetic. The upgrade similarly featured a quieter cabin and a rear screen display. The front end was made sleeker with slimmer headlights and a new wheel design. It also came with a redesigned dashboard and steering wheel.
Tesla's revamped Model 3.
Tesla
While the new Model Y's design isn't nearly as radical as completely new models like the Cybercab or Cybertruck, that might be intentional. Sometimes drastically changing the look of a vehicle can be polarizing. One Cybertruck driver previously told BI he's owned all Tesla models but only faced negative reactions on the road with his Cybertruck. The YouTuber was even told by a sponsor that he couldn't feature his truck in a video because of its polarizing nature.
The refreshed model will still generate conversation about Tesla's most popular vehicle, which is one of the world's best-selling cars. The new Model Y could stick out more on the road and help car buyers broadcast they're in the latest Tesla, which may help boost sales or convince existing Model Y owners to upgrade their vehicles.
It's similar to Apple's approach with the iPhone, where the company has stuck with enhancing the model rather than building a new phone product line. Similar to Apple, Tesla offers frequent over-the-air software updates. When it comes to hardware updates, though, Tesla often offers a revamped design and enhanced features rather than creating an entirely new vehicle.
The new model announcement comes after the company reported its first year-over-year decline. The car giant said on January 2 that it sold around 1.79 million cars in 2024, slightly under 2023's 1.8 million. While Tesla's 2024 fourth-quarter deliveries increased by over 11,000 from the year prior, it still fell short of analyst expectations by about 14,430.
It's been a challenging time for the EV industry overall, which has slowed in the last couple of years due to factors including limited charging infrastructure and a lack of affordable options. President-elect Donald Trump's upcoming inauguration adds further uncertainty to the landscape, as he has vowed to eliminate EV tax credits.
The Model Y refresh in China comes at a pivotal moment for Tesla, as the EV giant faces increasing pressure from competitors like BYD. BYD has recently experienced surging demand, and is challenging Tesla's dominance in the country.
While the new model hasn't launched yet in the US, it's giving investors something to look forward to in 2025, in addition to a new lineup of cheaper EVs.
JPMorgan told employees on Friday that their days of hybrid work days are numbered.
The new 5-day mandate starts in March and will impact roughly 30% of the bank's workforce.
See the memo explaining the new policy and rationale.
JPMorgan on Friday told employees that hybrid work is largely over. In a memo issued by the bank's operating committee, the largest US bank by assets said it is calling all workers back to the office starting in March.
"Starting in March, we'll be asking most employees currently on a hybrid schedule to return to the office five days a week. As it stands, more than half of our workforce already comes into the office full-time," said a copy of the memo obtained by Business Insider.
A company spokesman said that roughly 70% of the bank's employees were already back in the office five days a week, while everyone else was in three or four days a week.
"We know that some of you prefer a hybrid schedule and respectfully understand that not everyone will agree with this decision," the memo said, adding: "We think it is the best way to run the company."
JPMorgan, which has JPMorgan boasted more than 300,000 employees as of September 2024, is the latest in a growing list of large companies to revert to pre-pandemic office norms. AT&T and Amazon have implemented similar five-day mandates starting this month.
JPMorgan's RTO policies have been slowly ratcheting up since the COVID-19 pandemic, including when it returned all managing directors (the highest rank outside the C-Suite) to a five-day workweek in 2023.
The memo sheds some light on the company's rationale. See the full memo here:
Message from the Operating Committee
Dear colleagues,
We're proud of how our company has successfully adapted and thrived in an ever-changing environment, and this is thanks to all of you. We are a better organization because of your commitment and continued care for our customers, clients, communities and each other. Developing effective teams and maintaining a vibrant, healthy culture are clearly key for our success — and we believe best achieved through working together in person. This is why starting in March, we'll be asking most employees currently on a hybrid schedule to return to the office five days a week. As it stands, more than half of our workforce already comes into the office full-time.
We know that some of you prefer a hybrid schedule and respectfully understand that not everyone will agree with this decision. We are now a few years out of the pandemic and have had the time to evaluate the benefits and challenges of remote and hybrid working. We feel that now is the right time to solidify our full-time in-office approach. We think it is the best way to run the company. As we've discussed before, the benefits of working together in person are substantial and irreplaceable, and as we spend more time together, the more advantages we gain. Being together greatly enhances mentoring, learning, brainstorming and getting things done. It accelerates decision-making and offers valuable opportunities for spontaneous learning and creativity. It also allows our early career professionals to learn through our apprenticeship model and expand their networks by building connections with peers across the firm.
Many of our global locations, but not all, have existing capacity to allow for most or all employees to return to the office full-time in early March. We will confirm the list of locations where this is possible by the end of January. The evaluation of our locations will focus on operational readiness, including food services, cleaning and parking. For locations with capacity constraints, or where changes are needed to create capacity, we will work through plans in the coming weeks and will share information and timelines as they become available on a location-by-location basis. Until your location's readiness is confirmed, you should continue on your current work schedule. It's important to note that following a thorough review and applying stringent criteria, a few specific teams whose work can be easily and clearly measured will continue to work remotely or on a hybrid schedule. These decisions have been made in the best interest of the company. If you are on one of these teams, your manager will confirm your schedule.
We recognize that switching from hybrid to five days a week in the office may be disruptive and require adjustments for some colleagues. Importantly we will work to give you at least 30 days' notice in line with local requirements, prior to your full-time return. Once your location is ready, if you need a bit more time to accommodate the new schedule, you should discuss your needs with your manager and get their approval. We know that a lot has changed in our workplaces since returning to the office after the pandemic and recognize that it will take us some time to get all of our locations ready to accommodate a five-day-a-week schedule.
What is not changing is our support for flexibility in the workplace, which we are committed to providing at every level in a fair way. We fully recognize how important it is to be able to work remotely as life events happen, and managers will be directed to provide team members with the flexibility they need to work remotely under some circumstances, such as unexpected occurrences, family commitments or other times on occasion when you and your manager agree you can work away from the office. As always, we expect you to continue to track your time out of the office, and we will work hard to support a workplace of flexibility and collaboration.
We greatly appreciate your outstanding efforts day-in and day-out and are honored to work together on behalf of everyone we serve.
The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Meta employees criticized its decision to roll back its DEI initiatives on its internal forum.
It follows changes to Meta's content moderation policies and gets rid of third-party fact-checkers.
Meta's VP of HR said the term DEI has "become charged" and "suggests preferential treatment."
Meta employees spoke out on its internal forum against the tech giant's decision Friday to roll back its DEI program.
Staffers criticized the move in comments on the post announcing the changes on the internal platform Workplace. More than 390 employees reacted with a teary-eyed emoji to the post, which was seen by Business Insider and written by the company's vice president of human resources, Janelle Gale.
Gale said Meta will "no longer have a team focused on DEI." Over 200 workers reacted with a shocked emoji, 195 with an angry emoji, while 139 people liked the post, and 57 people used a heart emoji.
"This is unfortunate disheartening upsetting to read," an employee wrote in the comments, which had more than 200 likes.
Another person wrote, "Wow, we really capitulated on a lot of our supposed values this week."
A different employee wrote, "What happened to the company I joined all those years ago."
The decision follows sweeping changes made to Meta's content moderation policies announced by Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday. The changes include eliminating third-party fact-checkers in favor of a community notes model similar to Elon Musk's X.
As part of the changes to Meta's policy on hateful conduct, the company said it will allow users to say people in the LGBTQ community are mentally ill for being gay or transgender.
"We do allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality and common non-serious usage of words like 'weird,'"Meta said in the updated guidelines.
A separate employee wrote in response to the changes to its DEI initiatives that in addition to the updated guidelines on hate speech that, "this is another step backward for Meta."
They added, "I am ashamed to work for a company which so readily drops its apparent morals because of the political landscape in the US."
In the post announcing the decision to drop many of its DEI initiatives, Gale said the term DEI has "become charged" partly because it is "understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others."
She also said, "Having goals can create the impression that decisions are being made based on race or gender," adding that "While this has never been our practice, we want to eliminate any impression of it."
One employee told BI the moves "go against what we as a company have tried to do to protect people who use our platforms, and I have found all of this really hard to read."
Inter Miami announced on Friday that the team will travel to Peru and Panama to compete in two preseason matches, touring across North, South and Central America before the 2025 MLS campaign kicks off.
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski said the team still need to improve their mentality to win the big trophies this season as they prepare for Sunday's Supercopa final against Real Madrid
Arsenal midfielder Jorginho's representative has held exploratory talks with Palmeiras as uncertainty grows over his future at Emirates Stadium, sources have told ESPN.
Ruben Amorim has played down the prospect of Manchester United strengthening their squad in the January window but insisted that he wants to keep his best players following speculation that Kobbie Mainoo could leave Old Trafford.
