Los Angeles rages over racist City Council audio

Plus, Biden re-evaluates US ties with Saudi Arabia.

LA City Council president takes leave over disparaging remarks; Biden re-evaluates US-Saudi ties after OPEC+ slashes oil production.   Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin. What do you think of Vox? Tell us! Survey TOP NEWS LA City Council president takes leave over racist remarks Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nury Martinez (D) took a leave of absence Tuesday, a day after stepping down as city council president over leaked audio revealing she made racist comments. However, she did not submit to calls to resign from her job. [New York Times / Jill Cowan and Shawn Hubler] Last fall, Martinez referred to a white colleague's Black son as a monkey who deserves a "beatdown" during a private conversation with two fellow council members and a local labor leader. [Politico / Jeremy B. White, Lara Korte, Sakura Cannestra, and Owen Tucker-Smith] Martinez's comments came during a discussion about protecting Latino interests in redistricting. Her remarks underscore the history of racial tensions between Blacks and Latinos vying for influence in LA politics. [Associated Press / Christopher Weber and Michael R. Blood] In 2019, Martinez, 49, became the first Latina to serve as Council president. Her departure is the latest in a series of scandals involving council members. [Los Angeles Times / Dakota Smith, David Zahniser, Julia Wick, Benjamin Oreskes] Martinez's exit also comes less than a month before elections that could shape the Council's future, with several seats up for grabs. [USA Today / Cady Stanton] Biden reconsiders US ties with Saudi Arabia President Joe Biden is reexamining US-Saudi Arabia ties after OPEC+ decided to cut oil production last week, according to White House national security official John Kirby. [Reuters] The group of oil exporting countries announced it would slash output by 2 million barrels a day starting in November to boost falling prices — a move that could help Russia continue financing the war in Ukraine. [Axios / Jacob Knutson] OPEC+ officials reportedly ignored warnings that production cuts could strain support for Saudi Arabia in Washington. They denied the Biden administration's request to wait for a month. [Wall Street Journal / Summer Said, Benoit Faucon, Dion Nissenbaum, and Stephen Kalin] Biden's re-evaluation comes a day after Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ) called for a freeze on cooperation with Saudi Arabia and accused the kingdom of siding with Russia amid the war in Ukraine. [NYT / Peter Baker] MISCELLANEOUS The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a case that will determine if California can set its standards for treating pigs. [Vox / Ian Millhiser] Deforestation and rising temperatures associated with climate change are forcing some monkeys and lemurs to spend more time on the ground instead of in trees in search of respite and water, according to a study released Monday. [New Scientist / Madeleine Cuff] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed for Western help with air defense Tuesday as Russia escalates missile attacks across Ukraine. [NBC News / Patrick Smith and Rebecca Shabad] Baltimore prosecutors dropped all charges against Adnan Syed, the subject of the hit 2014 podcast Serial. [Vox / Aja Romano] We want to hear from you!   So much has changed in the last few years, so we want to touch base and get to know your wants and needs. Will you take Vox's audience survey today? Yes! VERBATIM "I know I can never really know or comprehend the real weight of the daily relentless anti-Black racism my son is going to face, but man, I know the fire that you feel when someone tries to destroy Black boy joy. It's a rage." [LA City Council Member Mike Bonin on Martinez's remarks about his son / L.A. Times] LISTEN TO THIS If Republicans win the midterms They've got a few legislative ideas and a LOT of investigative ones. Vox's Rachel Cohen and Ben Jacobs explain.   Listen now   ▶ Read more from Vox What did Putin accomplish with his Ukraine barrage? New York seems to have a weed store on every corner. None of them are legal. Here are 29 new movies to get excited about The 5 types of candidates to watch in the battle for the House House of the Dragon's tense, awkward family reunion This email was sent to vox@quicklydone.com. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. If you value Vox's unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.   View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service.   Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved.