Workers Strikes On The Rise Despite Strong Economy; Trump Appoints Loyal Ally Richard Grenell To Be Acting DNI; Deadly Hookah Lounge Attacks In Germany
ROMANS: The economy is strong so why are so many workers hitting the picket lines. Last year 46,000 GM stopped work to ask for stronger protections and better health care. More than 92,000 public school teachers in North Carolina went on strike, the largest walk out of 2019. At least 425,000 workers took part in large scale walkouts in both 2018 and 2019. In contrast, only 25,000 workers participated in major strikes during 2017. Now protests have surged even though the unemployment rate is at a 50- year low. And the Economic Policy Institute says two factors are driving workers to walk out. Employees aren't getting the higher wages that tight labor market normally brings. And workers are aware if they lose their jobs, they're confident they can get another one quickly. Due to tight labor market wage growth has been pretty flat for most Americans. At the end of last year average hourly wage growth dipped below 3 percent for the first time in a year and a half.</s>JARRETT: A staunch Trump loyalists is now the nation's acting the spy chief. Richard Grenell, the U.S. Ambassador to Germany tapped by the President to be the Acting Director of National Intelligence. Even in an acting role, Grenell's lack of experience is likely to rattle the intelligence community. The community has already endured repeated attacks from the President over the Russia investigation, and of course the whistleblower complaint that led to his impeachment.</s>ROMANS: Grenell's appointment is even raising concerns among the President's allies. Grenell has zero intelligence related experience. One Trump advisor describes him as out of his league for the DNI job. The DNI role was formed for the purpose of coordinated the Intel agencies to prevent another catastrophic attack in the wake of 9/11. The President has relied on acting officials a lot and Mick Mulvaney has been Acting Chief of Staff for over a year. All right new rules for your teenager's favorite app, CNN Business as the details on changes coming to TikTok.