An important global political event takes place today, with the second and final round of the French presidential election occurring. In one of the world’s largest economies and most important political powers, the results of this election will be watched closely worldwide. Incumbent Emmanuel Macron is looking to win reelection while fighting off challenger Marine Le Pen.
Inside this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts, France is heading to the polls, the NFL Draft is getting ready to start, and a look inside the dynasty of Rupert Murdoch. Plus, some of the top headlines from the past week you’ll want to keep your eyes on.
Also, you should go listen to the latest episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast! Episode 60 features a breakdown of the second round of the French presidential election, which takes place today. You’ll want to get all the facts regarding this pivotal race across the pond. Download and listen to the Zander’s Facts podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
Zander’s Weekend Facts is here to give you the facts about what has been going on in the world around us this past week. You’ll just have to read these facts, instead of listening to them on the Zander’s Facts podcast.
Here is Zander’s Weekend Facts for Sunday, April 24, 2022:
The French vote today
Today marks the second and final round of the 2022 French presidential election. One of the world’s largest economies heads to the polls to decide the leader of their country for the next five years. Incumbent Emmanuel Macron is looking to be the first French president to be reelected since 2002, which challenger Marine Le Pen looks to shift France towards a more independent focus from their current global one.
French President Emmanuel Macron is seen as a moderate from La République En Marche!, a French political party he started in 2016. During his first five-year term, Macron has advocated for several reforms, including fighting corruption, reforming pensions, and overhauling labor policy. He has had to navigate through the coronavirus pandemic, which he has led France through since early 2020. He has also made France a leader against Russia since the eastern European nation invaded Ukraine.
Marine Le Pen is looked on as a far-right challenger in the same mold as Donald Trump from the United States. Le Pen is a member of the National Rally party, a far-right French political party founded by her father, Jean Marie Le Pen. Le Pen has shared several controversial opinions during her three campaigns for President, including heavily restricting immigration in the country, along with removing France as a leader on the world stage by potentially leaving the European Union and NATO. Le Pen advocated for a closer relationship to Russia before the invasion of Ukraine, however, she still is calling to ease off sanctions and believes Russia can become an ally in the near future.
The two met in the previous presidential election, with Macron crusing to victory with 66% of the vote in 2017. While this election will most likely not result in that wide of a margin, Macron is expected to be reelected. After polls showed an extremely close race when the matchup was decided, Macron has closed with a double-digit lead. The polls in France will close at 8:00 pm local time (3:00 pm et) and the result should be unveiled shortly thereafter.
For more facts on the French presidential election, listen to this week’s episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast (Episode 60) for a full breakdown. These external sources also have quality information to expand your knowledge:
Washington Post - France votes as Macron faces far-right challenge from Le Pen in presidential runoff
NPR - Macron attacks Le Pen on Russia, Muslim headscarf ban pledge
A new class for football
The National Football League will introduce a new group of players this week as the NFL Draft is set to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Each year, the NFL Draft is held for teams to select players who have not been a part of the league to join their squads. The order of the seven-round draft is determined by the results of the previous season.
Each year, around the time of year the draft takes place, many media personalities attempt to predict who each team will select with their draft picks. This includes ESPN NFL analyst Mel Kiper Jr., who is arguably the most well-known draft analyst. Last year, I attempted to create a mock draft, similar to Kiper and other “experts”, for the first round of the 2021 draft. I shared my mock draft last year on Episode 13 of the Zander’s Facts podcast (which is conveniently linked below).
Last year’s mock draft resulted in a success. Kiper got five picks from his final mock draft correct, while I got seven picks correct from my mock draft. This year, the goal is to once again topple the draft expert by selecting more correct picks. To do this, I have once again created my own mock draft for the 2022 NFL Draft first round. While last year’s mock draft was unveiled on the podcast, I will unevil this year’s mock draft right here (consider this a Zander’s Weekend Facts exclusive). Here is who I believe will be selected with all 32 picks of the first round:
Pick #1: Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
Pick #2: Detriot Lions: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
Pick #3: Houston Texas: Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
Pick #4: New York Jets: Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Pick #5: New York Giants: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
Pick #6: Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
Pick #7: New York Giants: Jeramine Johnson II, DE, Florida State
Pick #8: Atlanta Falcons: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
Pick #9: Seattle Seahawks: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
Pick #10: New York Jets: Drake London, WR, USC
Pick #11: Washington Commanders: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Pick #12: Minnesota Vikings: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Pick #13: Houston Texans: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
Pick #14: Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
Pick #15: Philadelphia Eagles: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Pick #16: New Orleans Saints: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
Pick #17: Los Angeles Chargers: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
Pick #18: Philadelphia Eagles: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Pick #19: New Orleans Saints: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Pick #20: Pittsburgh Steelers: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Pick #21: New England Patriots: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
Pick #22: Green Bay Packers: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Pick #23: Arizona Cardinals: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
Pick #24: Dallas Cowboys: George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
Pick #25: Buffalo Bills: Daxton Hill, CB, Michigan
Pick #26: Tennessee Titans: Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
Pick #27: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State
Pick #28: Green Bay Packers: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
Pick #29: Kansas City Chiefs: Boye Mafe, DE, Minnesota
Pick #30: Kansas City Chiefs: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Pick #31: Cincinnati Bengals: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
Pick #32: Detriot Lions: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
Here is a link to Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft on ESPN.com: (A non-paywall link is also provided if the first link is unavailable)
ESPN - NFL mock draft 2022: Mel Kiper's new predictions for top 64 picks in Rounds 1 and 2, including a first-round trade
On3 - Mel Kiper releases brand new two-round mock two weeks before 2022 NFL Draft
You can also compare my mock draft to other “experts” using this compilation:
Sporting News - NFL mock drafts 2022: Compare latest from Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, Daniel Jeremiah & other experts
We will have to wait until Thursday night to determine who’s mock draft skills are superior. The 2022 NFL Draft is slated to begin with the first round on Thursday night at 8:00 pm et. The second and third rounds will occur on Friday night beginning at 7:00 pm et. The final rounds (4-7) will take place on Saturday beginning at 12:00 pm et. The draft can be watched on all three days on ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network.
What Zander’s listening to this week
After last week’s inaugural edition of “What Zander’s reading this week”, I thought it appropriate to continue the series this week with something I was intrigued by in the audio format. On Thursday’s edition of NPR’s Fresh Air, host Terry Gross takes a look at one of the most powerful families in global media, the Murdochs.
Rupert Murdoch is the founder and chairman of News Corp and Fox Corporation. The two companies hold several major media assets, including Fox television network, Fox News, Fox Sports, and The Wall Street Journal. He has four children, including Lachlan, who currently co-chairs News Corp and is the executive chairman and CEO of Fox Corporation. As 91-year-old Rupert winds down, his children have been jockeying for control and influence of the family businesses.
The New York Times journalist Jim Rutenberg joins Gross to discuss what has been going down behind the scenes between the family members, and how it not only matters for the future of the companies, but also society itself. The 41 minute interview is linked below and is well worth your time:
Zander’s Facts Sporting Club
The temperatures are starting to heat up, and so is the action in the sporting club. Here are the latest notes from the world of sports in ZF SC:
The NBA Playoffs are in full force as the First Round of action continues. While we are a week into the postseason, no teams have advanced to the Conference Semifinals yet. Before today’s games tip-off, here’s an updated look at each First Round series:
East: #1 Miami Heat have a 2-1 series lead over #8 Atlanta Hawks.
East: #2 Boston Celtics have a 3-0 series lead over #7 Brooklyn Nets.
East: #3 Milwaukee Bucks have a 2-1 series lead over #6 Chicago Bulls.
East: #4 Philadelphia 76ers have a 3-1 series lead over #5 Toronto Raptors.
West: #1 Phoenix Suns have a 2-1 series lead over #8 New Orleans Pelicans.
West: #2 Memphis Grizzlies and #7 Minnesota Timberwolves are tied in a 2-2 series.
West: #3 Golden State Warriors have a 3-0 series lead over #6 Denver Nuggets.
West: #4 Dallas Mavericks and #5 Utah Jazz are tied in a 2-2 series.
The First Round of the NBA Playoffs continues today with a quadruple-header. First, the Bucks face the Bulls at 1:00 pm et and the Warriors face the Nuggets at 3:30 pm et on ABC. Then, the Heat face the Hawks at 7:00 pm et and the Suns face the Pelicans at 9:30 pm et on TNT. The NBA Playoffs are going on now and run through the end of the NBA Finals in mid-June. The entire postseason can be viewed on ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT.
Villanova men’s basketball coach Jay Wright announced his surprising decision to retire on Wednesday. At only 60 years old, Wright has rebuilt a powerhouse at Villanova. Since getting the head coaching job at one of the Big East’s basketball powers in 2001, the Wildcats have been to four Final Fours while winning two National Championships. Wright was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last year and his 642 career wins as a head coach rank 48th all-time in college basketball. Wright’s last game as a head coach was this year’s Final Four matchup against eventual National Champion Kansas.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel has reportedly requested a trade away from the team. Samuel, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, did not ask the team to make an offer for a new contract. The report was a shock to many, including some within the 49ers organization, but Samuel has taken steps in recent weeks to remove all mentions of the team from his social media accounts. Samuel will undoubtedly have suitors, as he has been one of the top wide receivers in the NFL since his breakout season in 2021.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club announced this week that Russian and Belarusian tennis players would not be allowed to compete in this year’s edition of The Championships, Wimbledon. Wimbledon is the only tennis major so far to ban players from the two countries whose militaries have invaded Ukraine. The move has received widespread condemnation in the tennis world, including from Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and tennis icon Billie Jean King, for punishing individual players, some who do not reside or have contact with Russia or Belarus.
Major League Soccer club D.C. United fired their head coach Hernan Losada on Wednesday. With the MLS season only six games young, the club sat at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table at the time of Losada’s departure. Losada joined the club before the 2021 season kicked off, coming from Belgian club Beerschot. United fell just one points short of clinching a spot in the MLS Playoffs last season. Assistant coach Chad Ashton has been named interim coach, having been an assistant at the club since 2007 and serving as interim for the final month of the 2020 season. D.C. won their first match without Losada on Saturday night at home against New England Revolution, 3-2.
The UEFA Champions League returns this week with the first leg of the Semifinal round. On Tuesday, Manchester City faces Real Madrid in Manchester, England. On Wednesday, Liverpool faces Villareal in Liverpool, England. Then the next week, Villareal and Liverpool will face off on Tuesday, May 03, while Real Madrid and Manchester City will face off on Wednesday, May 04. The two teams who win their semifinal matchups will advanced to the final on Saturday, May 28. All matches will kick off at 3:00 pm et and can be watched on CBS and Paramount+.
Rapid-fire Facts
The top headlines you need to know with only the facts in rapid-fire fashion:
As we learn more about the efforts to overturn the 2020 election, several developments were unearthed this week. First, audio revealed on Thursday appeared to feature the top Republicans in Congress, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), fret over how to handle the January 6 insurrection and former President Trump’s involvement. Then on Friday, audio was released with McCarthy telling congressional Republicans that Trump acknowledged he deserved some blame. Additionally, text messages between former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) appear to show Lee showing his support and willingness to participate in discourse to overturn the election, although Lee refutes the meaning of those messages. Finally, it was also found that Meadows was registered to vote in three states, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, at the same time.
The New York Times - ‘I’ve Had It With This Guy’: G.O.P. Leaders Privately Blasted Trump After Jan. 6
Associated Press - McCarthy, Trump have ‘positive’ call despite Jan. 6 audio
Deseret News - ‘I was not there to do his bidding’: Sen. Mike Lee breaks his silence about White House text messages
Forbes - Mark Meadows Was Registered To Vote In Three States At The Same Time, Report Says
Over the past several weeks, The Walt Disney Company has repeatedly been at odds with the state of Florida and its governor Ron DeSantis (R). After initially remaining silent, Disney went on the attack against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, vowing to fight to have the law repealed. For Republicans in Florida, that was enough to pass a law that will end Disney’s right to operate a special tax district around Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. For 55 years, Disney has been allowed to govern the land Disney World sits on, until June 2023. How Disney will respond is not yet clear, but they are not expected to go down without a fight. Disney has long been one of the largest political donors for Florida politicians and has attracted tens of millions of vacationers to its parks in Florida each year, along with generating billions per year in tax revenue. As NPR explains in the second article, there are several factors in play with the special tax district that could actually hurt taxpayers more than the company itself.
It has been a turbulent week for Netflix, whose stock price dropped nearly 35% this past week and is down about 64% from the beginning of the year. At the company’s earnings report for the first quarter of 2022, Netflix announced it had lost 200,000 subscribers, after it was expected to gain 2.5 million. The company cited the suspension of the service in Russia for the drop, along with rivals Disney and HBO gaining ground with their streaming services. Additionally, the company is expected to target password-sharing, potentially adding more bad pr to a company searching for answers to retain growth.
The new parent company of CNN and WarnerMedia, Warner Bros. Discovery, announced this week that CNN’s streaming service, CNN+, will shut down. The streaming service, which only launched a little less than two weeks ago, was suffering from low viewership and subscriber numbers along with a change in company leadership. CNN hired several big names from rival networks, including Chris Wallace from Fox and Kasie Hunt from NBC to front the service. Wallace, Hunt, and others are expected to remain with CNN and appear on the cable network going forward. CNN+’s last day will be April 30.
Wrapping up the Facts
Before this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts wraps up, here’s another reminder to check out the latest episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast. Download and listen to Episode 60 wherever you get your podcasts. Check out Zander’s Facts’ Linktree page for more on anything Zander’s Facts related: Zander's Facts on Linktree
There will not be a new episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast this week. However, you could listen to any past episodes of the podcast you may have missed. Plus, there will be a new ZF Flashback dropping in the podcast feed this Wednesday morning that you will want to check out! Zander’s Facts returns with a new episode on Wednesday, May 04, as ZF Ukraine expert Dr. Bobby joins the pod to discuss the conflict in eastern Europe.
Do remember to check out the next edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts next Sunday! If you haven’t already, make sure to sign up with the link below to get Zander’s Weekend Facts in your inbox every Sunday so you don’t miss anything!
That’s a wrap on this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts. The Facts in print return on Sunday, May 01, 2022.