April 19, 2025 Happy Wednesday, everyone! Do you notice anything different about Wake-Up Call this morning? It's been almost two years since we started Katie Couric Media and launched this newsletter. While we’ll still be in your inbox every morning with the latest news and stories you’ll enjoy, our look is getting a makeover. We'll have some more surprises coming next week but for now, let's take a look at the news:
Get Smart 
Getty Images Sign of Survival Two members of the court’s conservative majority signaled they’d largely preserve Obamacare, including key protections for pre-existing health conditions. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh appeared to suggest that if the court were to strike down the individual mandate requiring everyone to buy health insurance, the rest of the law should be left intact. This comes after the Trump Administration and a group of Republican states argued that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional and should be struck down in its entirety. President-elect Joe Biden criticized the administration’s efforts, calling them "cruel and needlessly divisive." In Transition House committee leaders are urging the Trump administration to comply with record-keeping laws as President-elect Joe Biden moves forward with transition plans. Republicans have largely backed President Trump’s refusal to concede due to unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud (which have been debunked by international observers, plus officials in every state). While the White House directed federal agencies to move forward with the president’s February budget, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ignored Biden's win, predicting “a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.” Biden called the president’s unprecedented response an “embarrassment,” but maintained that it won't affect preparations to govern come January. Meanwhile, the removal of senior defense officials and installation of Trump loyalists at the Pentagon has triggered alarm. Updates here. Coronavirus: The Latest
Kenosha Charges Officials charged a teenager with giving Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, the rifle he used to shoot and kill two people at a protest that erupted in Kenosha over the summer. Dominick Black, 19, told investigators he bought the gun for his underage friend, who’s now facing homicide and attempted homicide charges. Rittenhouse’s mother, speaking to the Chicago Tribune deflected blame for the shootings away from her son and Black, but acknowledged the 17-year-old “shouldn’t have been there.” Attorneys for Rittenhouse, who’s being held on $2 million bail, claim he was acting in self-defense. Antitrust Breach The E.U. on Tuesday hit Amazon with antitrust charges and said it’s opening a second investigation into the company. Officials accused Amazon of using nonpublic data it collects from vendors on the site to boost sales of its own products and services. The complaint caused shares of the e-commerce giant to fall, which weighed down Nasdaq. Meanwhile, the Dow closed higher as Boeing shares soared and investors stay optimistic about the prospect of a vaccine. Daily Special 
This Veterans Day, meet Jake Wood, a vet who served four years in the Marine Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan. When Wood returned to the U.S. in 2010, he was at a loss of what to do with his life — until he saw an earthquake bring devastation to Haiti. The event spurred him to create Team Rubicon, a team of veterans that helps people hurt by natural disasters. Wood, who just wrote the book, Once a Warrior, offers his advice on how to find your purpose in life, and more… 
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The Lighter Side
Get Inspired Sydney Barber is poised to become the first Black woman to serve as U.S. Naval Academy brigade commander, which is the highest leadership position within the student body. As of this spring, Barber will be the 16th woman to serve as a brigade commander in the 44 years women have been attending the Naval Academy. “I am humbled to play a small role in this momentous season of American history,” Barber said. Barber isn’t the first Black woman to make history in the military this year — in July, Lieutenant Madeline Swegle became the U.S. Navy's first Black female fighter pilot.
See you soon! 
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