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If you’re in line for a position in President-Elect Donald Trump’s cabinet, you may want to brush up on your self defense skills in preparation for any future meetings. Why? Because according to a Monday report from Notus, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) — who once threatened to beat the shit out of a witness during a congressional hearing — may be tapped to serve as Secretary of Interior or head the Department of Veterans affairs.

Mullin, a former U.S. representative who was elected to the Senate in 2023, made headlines...

Running until the final general election results come in, the Deadline ElectionLine podcast spotlights the 2024 campaign and the blurred lines between politics and entertainment in modern America. Hosted by Deadline political editor Ted Johnson and executive editor Dominic Patten, the podcast features commentary and interviews with top lawmakers and entertainment figures. Now in the home stretch of the last 50 days, follow all the campaign news on the ElectionLine hub on Deadline.

“There’s been a loss of faith now in elections,” declares Stopping The Steal director Dan Reed of the aftermath of the 2020 vote.

“If two out of three Republicans already think that the last election was stolen, there’s going to be more and more less and less support for doing things the democratic way and voting for your president instead of …electing them by public acclaim, like some kind of Roman Caesar,” the Emmy winning filmmaker added on...

IATSE has taken a swipe at Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate, J.D. Vance, for the stage setup on his latest campaign stop.

“Here’s why you should hire union stagehands and stage designers,” the below-the-line crew union wrote in an X post on Tuesday, alongside the image of Vance giving a speech in Philadelphia.

Behind him, a looming sign reads “Kamala Chaos,” which has become one of several recent Republican campaign slogans targeting Vice President Kamala Harris. However, with people standing in front of the sign, only her first name is visible, leading some on social media to point out that at first glance it appears that Vance is campaigning for Harris instead of against her.

In the tweet, IATSE claims that Vance and his team did not, in fact, hire union workers for the event.

Here's why you should hire union stagehands and stage designers:

(They did not) pic.

Banner of the Union of Stagehands and Wardrobe at the Oregon State Capitol during the Seiu/Afscme union rally on May 20, 2011. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

Union leaders in Hollywood warned of another potential strike that could bring the production of television shows and movies to another halt.

The strike would involve members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the Hollywood Basic Crafts, the International Brotherhood of the Teamsters and several other unions that represent behind-the-scenes crew members and hundreds of other workers who are critical to the production of major motion pictures and hit television series.

Those members work for major studios connected to Netflix, NBC Universal, Paramount Global, Amazon, Warner Bros Discovery (Wbd), the Walt Disney Company, Lionsgate and others. Around 60,000 behind-the-scenes workers across the country are covered by a union.

The unions’ current contract is set to expire on July 31. Negotiations began on Monday with...

At the close of their first day of 2024 bargaining with studios and streamers, Hollywood’s major crew unions told members that talks are expected to continue for the rest of the week.

IATSE and the Hollywood Basic Crafts coalition (consisting of Locals with the Teamsters, Ibew, LiUNA!, Opcmia and UA) entered discussions with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on Monday starting around 2 p.m. over health and pension benefits. According to a social media update from IATSE on Monday night, the unions offered their initial proposals earlier that day and IATSE international president Matthew Loeb said in his opening remarks before the AMPTP, “Our folks understand the business they’re in, the sacrifices and precarious nature of employment, and they work within that environment anyway. But there’s no reason these companies can’t build in more protection, reliability and predictability that creates more security.”

The unions...

Although another Hollywood shutdown seems unthinkable, the teamsters’ union appears bullish about a new strike if its demands aren’t met.

It will take a long time before the damage caused by last year’s Hollywood strikes is healed.

Cinemas are bracing themselves for an incredibly tough year whilst here in the UK, and crews are still suffering from the extended fallout of the months-long shutdown. At this point, another Hollywood shutdown is simply unthinkable but IATSE, the union of teamsters who keep the US film industry up and running, has warned its members to brace themselves for strike action if a deal with studios isn’t met when its current contract comes to an end this summer.

At a rally held in Encino over the weekend, Sean O’Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of the Teamsters, told the 2000 assembled members of the trade union that they should be...

A coalition of Hollywood’s below-the-line unions rallied Sunday on the eve of their latest contract negotiations. They threatened a historic strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers if their demands weren’t met. Such a work stoppage would follow a pair of strikes in 2023 by industry writers and actors that crippled the entertainment industry and have left it limping into the new year.

“I hope they’re paying attention right down the road at the AMPTP,” IATSE vp Michael Miller announced from the stage to the crowd of around 1,000 people at Woodley Park in Encino. (Nearly 1,000 more watched a livestream online.) He then invoked a slogan repeated throughout the event: “Nothing moves without the crew.”

For the first time since 1988, the Hollywood Basic Crafts group — which includes Teamsters Local 399, Ibew Local 40, LiUNA! Local 724, Opcmia Local 755 and UA Local 78 — and the crew union IATSE are joining this...

Hollywood union leaders warned of the possibility of another strike this summer if the studios cannot reach a deal before crew contracts expire on July 31.

Speaking to a rally of more than 2,000 crew members on Sunday at Woodley Park in Encino, Sean O’Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of the Teamsters, said the unions should commit to withhold their labor — and not grant an extension — if a deal is not agreed by the deadline.

“We are not afraid to strike,” O’Brien said. “If these greedy corporations — whether it’s Amazon, Netflix, Sony… Disney — if they choose not to reward our members, they are putting themselves on strike. We will put them on their back, on their knees, begging for mercy.”

Negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are set to begin on Monday. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Teamsters and the Hollywood Basic...

Using fiery language like “solidarity is the solution to corporate greed” and “if we don’t get what we want, we will shut it f–king down day one,” union leaders on Sunday held what was dubbed a “unity rally” to rev up crew workers before joint negotiations begin Monday between IATSE, Teamsters Local 399 and Hollywood Basic Crafts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

Hundreds of workers from all facets of the below-the-line community, from electrical workers and plasterers to editors, costumers and script supervisors packed a park just west of the I-405 in Encino, CA. to gear up for what they hope will be a successful negotiation period with the studios.

This year’s bargaining cycle marks the first time since 1988 that IATSE, Teamsters and the Hollywood Basic Crafts will jointly bargain health and pension benefits for their members under the shared Motion Picture Pension and Health Plan.

Patti Davis, the daughter of Ronald Reagan, stated that her father would not want to have any association with today’s Republican Party.

“[Reagan] was much more moderate on a whole host of issues, while at the same time, much more hawkish on Russia than what you’re seeing from the modern day Republican party,” CNN’s Jim Acosta, the chief domestic correspondent for CNN, said to Davis during an interview.

“What would your father think about what he’s seeing right now,” he then asked her. “Do you have any insights on that?”

“Well I’d – I’d like to answer your question in sort of a bigger – from a bigger view than – than, you know, current – the current political scene,” Davis responded. “I’m not a political strategist, and quite frankly, I’m so tired of hearing about the current political scene.

“But – but so in a larger sense,...

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has landed a “historic” tentative agreement with Ups to avert a major labor strike.

The Teamsters, who have been in solidarity with the striking writers and actors for the last few months, have secured a deal for its more than 340,000 Ups employees that includes “lucrative” contract raises for all workers, creates more full-time jobs and includes a slew of other workplace protections and improvements.

The five-year agreement still needs to be ratified but comes with the unanimous endorsement of the Ups Teamsters National Negotiating Committee.

In fact, Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien told Deadline last week that Ups had called him to talk after he and many of his members turned up to an Amazon picket line for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA that followed their own multi-union rally for Ups drivers in Dtla.

O’Brien said that the delivery company has put $30B of “new...

“Look who’s running Hollywood right now, corporate America,” declared Teamster president Sean O’Brien on the WGA and SAG-AFTRA picket line outside Amazon’s LA HQ. Big corporations, they don’t care about their people. They care about the bottom line and the balance sheet,” he added with Hollywood Teamster leader Lindsay Dougherty by his side.

“This is a historic moment in our industry, hasn’t happened since 1960,” Dougherty stated, noting the last time the writers and actors went on strike together when Ronald Reagan ran SAG. “But, it goes to show that workers are not happy with their current conditions…with big tech, infiltrating our industry as well as the streaming companies, we need to take back what’s ours.”

“We are the largest, strongest union in the entire country,” O’Brien said of the 1.3 million Teamsters members. “We have the ability to shut this country down,” he went...

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has approved a $2 million fund to support motion picture Teamsters impacted by the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, which is now in its 56th day. The aid package was approved unanimously by the Ibt’s General Executive Board.

“We can’t rely on employers to protect and support our members,” said Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien. “Teamsters protect Teamsters. This money will go to support hardworking families.”

“The studios and tech companies should be ashamed of themselves for playing games with people’s livelihoods,” said Lindsay Dougherty, Director of the Teamsters Motion Picture and Theatrical Trade Division and Western Region Vice President. “We are committed to making sure our members are protected and getting this money into their hands as soon as possible.” Dougherty is also secretary-treasurer and chief executive office of Hollywood’s Teamsters Local 399.

The Ibt says that the Motion Picture and...

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters union is allocating $2 million to aid members that are in financial straits amid the ongoing writers’ strike.

The labor organization, which represents drivers, location managers and casting directors, among others in entertainment, will be creating a fund to assist members in need after its general executive board unanimously approved the action. Particular eligibility criteria have yet to be announced, but the fund will be dedicated to all Teamsters that work in the entertainment industry, the union announced on Monday.

“We can’t rely on employers to protect and support our members,” the union’s general president Sean O’Brien said in a statement. “Teamsters protect Teamsters. This money will go to support hardworking families.”

Fellow entertainment crew union IATSE announced that it was directing the same amount to a series of established industry charities earlier this month in order to help its members facing tough times.

Hollywood Teamsters Local 399’s Lindsay Dougherty has been named director of the Teamsters Motion Picture and Theatrical Trades Division, which represents thousands of Teamsters working in film, television, commercials, and live theater across the U.S. and Canada.

In her new role, Dougherty will be the representative on the Ibt’s international level responsible for coordinating national bargaining, addressing industry-wide issues and safety measures, offering local unions support, and overseeing organizing efforts in the Motion Picture and Theatrical Trades Division throughout North America.

Dougherty, the first woman to ever hold the position, is a rising star in Hollywood labor circles. She was appointed to the post by International Brotherhood of Teamsters president-elect Sean O’Brien. She takes over the role effective March 22, succeeding Tom O’Donnell, president of New York’s Teamsters Local 817.

Dougherty, the recording secretary, business agent and organizer at Hollywood’s Teamsters Local 399, was recently elected...