Q-and-A on the News

Q: The president referred to Haiti and certain African countries as "s---hole countries," and that particular expletive was spoken on national TV networks. Since when can that particular expletive be spoken on television?

-- Richard H. Siegel, Atlanta

A: Federal law prohibits obscene, indecent and profane content from being broadcast on radio or TV, and the Federal Communications Commission has rules that prohibit indecent and profane content on radio and broadcast TV between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. It does not apply to cable or satellite programming, however.

Breaking FCC rules can result in fines of up to $383,083 for a single indecent broadcast; however, the FCC considers the context of the language in each complaint, the Hill newspaper reported Jan. 12.

Following the president's reported remark, media outlets appeared to struggle over whether to use the actual word, and if so, how often to use it in their news coverage.

"It is exceedingly rare for the country's biggest news organizations to publish a quote that includes an expletive; usually they employ a censored or blanked-out version. On Thursday's network evening newscasts, NBC News was the only organization that quoted Mr. Trump in full," wrote The New York Times. "Anchors at ABC and CBS used the word 'blank' instead."

The Times also reported that while CNN's Jim Acosta used the actual word, his colleague Wolf Blitzer did not, and that NBC News anchor Lester Holt began his coverage with a warning that it might not be suitable for younger audiences.

Q: What members of Congress were in the immigration/Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals meeting where President Donald Trump is reported to have used the "s---hole" word? How many of those have acknowledged the use or implied that the word was said?

-- P.N. Mercer, Hoschton, Ga.

A: On Jan. 11, Trump met with a group of senators in the Oval Office to discuss a bipartisan immigration compromise that might strengthen border security and legislatively address Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, before the program ends in March.

It was while discussing protections for immigrants from several countries that Trump reportedly said, "Why are we having all these people from s---hole countries come here?"

CNN reported that Sens. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, and Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, who worked together on the proposal, were present at the meeting, along with Republican Sens. Tom Cotton (Arkansas) and David Perdue (Georgia) and Republican Reps. Bob Goodlatte (Virginia), Kevin McCarthy (California) and Mario Diaz-Balart (Florida).

Durbin has said the president used the expletive and called Trump's language in the meeting "hate-filled" and "racist."

Cotton and Perdue released a joint statement, saying they did not hear Trump use that language. They argued the president was calling out an imbalance in the current immigration system, and in separate television news interviews, later accused Durbin of misrepresenting the president's comments.

According to CNN, Graham suggested Trump had said something questionable, but did not say he used that specific word.

Q: Would you please print the Constitution's 25th Amendment?

-- Carl Morris, Douglas, Ga.

A: "1. In case of the removal of the president from office or of his death or resignation, the vice president shall become president.

2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the vice president, the president shall nominate a vice president who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both houses of Congress.

3. Whenever the president transmits to (Congress) his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the vice president as acting president.

4. Whenever the vice president and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to (Congress) their written declaration that the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the vice president shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as acting president.

Thereafter, when the president transmits (to Congress) his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the vice president and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide (Congress) their written declaration that the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.

If Congress ... determines by two-thirds vote of both houses that the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the vice president shall continue ... as acting president; otherwise, the president shall resume the powers and duties of his office."

Q: I just read where Amazon founder Jeff Bezos now owns the Washington Post. From whom and when did he buy it? How much was paid for it?

-- Lance DeLoach, Thomaston, Ga.

A: Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos acquired the Washington Post and affiliated publications in 2013 for $250 million, according to a Post article at the time announcing the sale.

Bezos, who this month topped the Bloomberg Billionaires Index as the richest person in history with personal wealth of $110 billion, reportedly paid for the newspaper in cash. Washington Post Co. Chairman and CEO Donald E. Graham turned over the paper that four generations of his family had controlled for 80 years.

Bezos officially took control in October 2013, when the sale was completed and ownership of the paper was transferred from the Washington Post Co., which still maintains other businesses and was later renamed Graham Holdings Co., to Bezos' private investment company, Nash Holdings.

In October 2017, Fortune magazine reported, "The Washington Post is on track for its second profitable year in a row in 2017 after 'many years' of losing money, thanks in large part to new online-only subscribers, which surpassed one million in the past few months, (Post Executive Editor Marty) Baron said. He quoted Bezos' credo that now guides the paper's mission: 'Be riveting, be right and make people pay.'"

Q: Has anyone ever won the $1,000 a day or the $1,000 a week prizes playing the Georgia Lottery's Cash4Life? If so, how many?

-- Charles Reichert, Marietta, Ga.

A: Cash4Life is a multi-state game played in nine states. Since Georgia joined the game in August 2016, two Georgia Lottery players have won the game's $1,000 a day for life top prize, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Lottery Corp. told Q-and-A on the News via email. Those tickets were purchased in Cumming and Lawrenceville, she added.

No one in Georgia has won the game's $1,000 a week for life second prize, as of Jan. 22. Georgia Lottery players have won more than $8.8 million playing Cash4Life with additional prize tiers ranging from $2 to $2,500, the spokeswoman added.

Q: I have read news reports that Procter & Gamble agreed to offer Nelson Peltz a seat on the board of directors, after the contentious proxy battle. However, the P&G online list of directors does not include him. What is the status of this?

-- Jonathan Herman, Decatur, Ga.

A: The appointment takes effect March 1, according to a P&G statement. Peltz is chief executive officer and founding partner of Trian Fund Management LP.

Q: How many acres does the building footprint of Mercedes-Benz Stadium take up?

-- Hoke Kimball, Atlanta

A: The parcel of land is 30 acres, a stadium spokesperson told Q-and-A on the News. The stadium is 2 million square feet.

Fast Copy News Service wrote this column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Do you have a question about the news? We'll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a(at)ajc.com (include name, phone and city).

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