Driverless robotaxis are hitting the Los Angeles streets.

Passenger Princesses Rise Up

The Story

Driverless robotaxis are hitting the Los Angeles streets.

Because traffic wasn’t bad enough?

Take that up with the Angelinos. Yesterday, Google spinoff Waymo deployed around 50 autonomous taxis on the streets of LA and offered free rides to the roughly 50,000 people who signed up for the cab-hailing service. Waymo’s robotaxis, which already operate in Phoenix and San Francisco, are controlled by AI software and are booked via an app. California regulators gave Waymo the green light earlier this month to expand its services to the Bay Area and parts of LA.

Sounds like they’re going full speed ahead.

That’s one way to look at it, but getting to this point has been a bumpy ride. Earlier this year, Waymo voluntarily recalled its cars to tune up their software after two passengerless robotaxis crashed in Phoenix. Then last month, a Waymo robotaxi struck a cyclist in San Francisco. It’s not the only driverless car company to raise concerns. California pumped the brakes on the GM-owned robotaxi service Cruise after accidents injured pedestrians — including one who survived after being dragged over 20 feet.

That sounds scary.

Yup. Still, Waymo said its vehicles are safer, given that human drivers can fall asleep at the wheel or drive drunk. Meanwhile, some California officials are pushing for cities and counties to have the power to regulate driverless cars, since right now that responsibility falls to a state agency. Labor leaders have also protested outside of Waymo’s office amid concerns the robotaxis will snag jobs and pose a risk to workers operating emergency vehicles and garbage trucks.

theSkimm

Driverless cars are hitting the roads. Experts say the tech isn’t quite fully there yet but cities like LA, Phoenix, and San Francisco seem ready to give it a spin. Beep beep.

Who took a trip…

VP Kamala Harris. Yesterday, she visited a Planned Parenthood in Minnesota, reportedly becoming the first sitting VP or president to ever visit an abortion clinic. Harris has become one of the Biden administration’s most vocal advocates for abortion rights. That's as President Biden has faced criticism for not saying the word “abortion.” The Biden admin is making reproductive health a core part of its re-election strategy, hoping it’ll lead to similar success like in the midterms. One poll found that one in eight voters say abortion is the “most important issue” for them heading into the 2024 elections.

…Oh and speaking of the election, former President Trump’s hush-money trial in Manhattan could be delayed by a month. Though it may still be on track to wrap-up before Election Day.

Who said what he said…

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Yesterday, he said it was time for Israel to hold new elections and criticized Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Schumer said Netanyahu has “lost his way” and called him a “major obstacle to peace” as the Israel-Hamas war is in its fifth month. Schumer is the first Jewish majority leader in the Senate and visited Israel after Hamas’s Oct 7 attack. His remarks come as the Democratic Party faces ongoing criticism and internal divisions over its support for Israel. Gaza health officials say the civilian death toll has passed 31,000. As for Netanyahu, his Likud Party said Schumer is “expected to respect Israel’s elected government.” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) called Schumer’s speech “highly inappropriate.”

What's being served...

The NCAA. Yesterday, 16 female college athletes filed a lawsuit against the organization, saying it violated Title IX by allowing Lia Thomas to compete in 2022. Thomas is the first openly transgender swimmer to win a Division I title in any sport. Her success caused controversy in the sport and across the NCAA, with critics saying she had an advantage over cisgender female competitors. The athletes in the suit reportedly say Thomas' involvement in the 2022 championship and her access to the women's locker room followed a “pattern and practice of discrimination against women.” Now, they're apparently calling on the org to halt its transgender eligibility policies. The NCAA says it works to ensure fair competition but didn't directly comment on the suit.

What almost made it…

SpaceX’s Starship. Yesterday, the company successfully launched its rocket into space. It traveled at least halfway around the world before SpaceX lost contact with the rocket. SpaceX still hailed the launch as a major win since the rocket actually made it to space this time. NASA plans to use Starship one day to send astronauts back to the moon.

What Gen Z and millennials are embracing…

“Snackification.”

Who's teasing...

Meghan Markle.

What was in sync again…

*NSYNC.

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