promoearn: Is time really up? Why Gary Oldman and Kobe Bryant's Oscars are a step back for #MeToo

Monday, March 5, 2018

Is time really up? Why Gary Oldman and Kobe Bryant's Oscars are a step back for #MeToo

Oldman and Bryant Oscars wins show little has changed

The #MeToo movement was expected to take center stage during the Academy Awards Sunday night, but top Oscars went to two men accused of abuse. Gary Oldman won best actor for Darkest Hour. In 2001, Oldman's ex-wife said the actor choked and beat her in front of their young children. He denied the claims, and charges were never filed. Kobe Bryant, who took home the trophy for best animated short with Dear Basketball , was arrested for sexual assault in 2003 after a hotel employee accused him of rape. The case was eventually dropped. That these men shared the stage when 94% of women in the entertainment industry said they'd experienced some form of sexual harassment or assault, was seen by many as a step back for the #MeToo movement.

Need to catch up on the Oscars? Here's what else we're reading:

•	What's an 'inclusion rider'? The award for most empowering acceptance speech goes to Frances McDormand, who explained the term.
•	McDormand loses her Oscar. Yup, that was a very close call.
•	Warren Beaty avoids envelopegate repeat. After last year's massive envelope fail, Faye Dunaway and Beatty got a chance at redemption.
•	Moments you want to talk about. Time's Up and Me Too movements had starring roles as women stole the spotlight.
•	Best dressed? A few stars really stood out.

Ex-Trump aide vows to defy Mueller subpoena, says Trump 'may have done something'

Sam Nunberg, a former Trump campaign aide who was fired in 2015 for racially charged social media posts, told USA TODAY on Monday that he will refuse to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller . Nunberg said he will not show up Friday before a grand jury and he does not intend to give investigators his old campaign emails, despite a subpoena. Nunberg also said he thinks President Trump "may have done something during the election," and he believes former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page colluded with the Russians.

Armed teachers in Florida? State Senate considers post-Parkland bill

Florida's Senate on Monday considered gun legislation crafted after last month's high school shooting that would not call for arming teachers and would not ban so-called assault weapons. Many survivors of the Feb. 14 shooting rampage in Parkland, Fla., had expressed opposition to arming teachers, as had Gov. Rick Scott. The Senate added a last-minute amendment to the bill that would arm some school staff but not classroom teachers. The measure would also add funds for mental health programs and school safety, raise the minimum age to buy all firearms, ban bump stocks and expand the three-day waiting period to include the purchase of rifles and shotguns.

Kim Jong Un meets with South Korean officials for the first time

A high-level South Korean delegation held a historic meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Monday, marking the first time South Korean officials met personally with Kim. The meeting is meant to continue the easing of tensions that started last month at the Olympics, but analysts don't expect the talks will lead to anything big like a breakthrough on the North's nuclear arms program. The U.S. has insisted that Kim drop his nuclear ambitions before it will take part in any talks, and so far Kim has adamantly refused to do so.

When it comes to business, not all states are equal

Running a successful business can be way easier in one state than in another. A report from 24/7 Wall Street ranks Massachusetts as having the best business climate, while Louisiana came in last. The report looked at such factors as economic conditions, business costs, state infrastructure, regulations, cost of living and region-specific policies like tax policy. How's your state? See the full list here.

The Short List is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.