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[h=4]The Short List: Swift takes down Apple; Confederate flag debate; Supreme Court rulings[/h]Out of the loop today? We've got what you missed on Taylor Swift's incredible Apple takedown, the Confederate flag debate and the Supreme Court's latest rulings.
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Out of the loop today? We've got what you missed.(Photo: Michel Porro, Getty Images)
Taylor Swift's Apple takedown cements her status as one of the most powerful people in media
Behold the power of Taylor Swift. That's what Apple is doing Monday — you know Apple, just one of the richest and most powerful corporations in history. It all went down over Apple Music, the company's new streaming service. Here's how the 25-year-old pop star, in the course of one day, got the tech behemoth to reverse a position she said hurts artists: Apple Music's policy. Apple decided not to pay artist royalties during the three-month trial period for its soon-to-be-launched Apple Music. Swift revolts. Swift thought this was bunk, and she wasn't about to shake it off. So she scolded Apple on Sunday in an open letter on her Tumblr (oozing her signature sweetness with "To Apple, Love Taylor"). In it, she said she wouldn't let 1989, the top-selling album of 2014 and of 2015 so far, on Apple's service. She wrote: "We don't ask you for free iPhones. Please don't ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation." Ouch. Apple's response. They listened (a legion of fans goes a long way). Her post clearly catalyzed high-level meetings, and late Sunday night Apple Music chief Eddy Cue tweeted "#AppleMusic will pay artist for streaming, even during customer's free trial period" followed by, "We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple." What this means for the industry. OK, Swift isn't the first music artist to leverage her talent and sales power to get her way against powerful music distribution bosses, and she won't be the last. But she's probably the youngest, and the nicest, to do so and win so decisively, and with positive implications for other music artists less rich and famous than she. If Swift won, does that mean Apple lost? Not really. With nearly $200 billion in cash reserves, USA TODAY tech columnist Jefferson Graham says the company can afford to pay artists. Plus, Swift's open letter translated to thousands of headlines for Apple. If people weren't aware the company was set to launch a new music service, they are now.
Taylor Swift orders U.S. Treasury to put her pic on $10 bill.
— Tom Petruno (@tpetruno) June 22, 2015
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On race: S.C. gov says ditch Confederate flag, GOP's white supremacist problem, Obama drops 'n-word'
After a white man gunned down nine black churchgoers in a Charleston, S.C., church last week, America's conversation on race has reached a fever pitch. What we're talking about today: The Confederate flag. Some say it's a part of our history. Others say it's an ugly symbol of hate. On Monday, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley called for the removal of the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds. Candidates return money from white supremacist. Republican presidential candidates are quickly distancing themselves from the leader of a suspected white supremacist group who 1) appears to have influenced Charleston shooter Dylann Roof and 2) has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Republican candidates in recent years, including White House contenders Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Rick Santorum. Obama says the "n-word." In a podcast with comedian Marc Maron, the president said the legacy of slavery and racism still hangs over the nation. "And it's not just a matter of it not being polite to say n----r in public," he said. "That's not the measure of whether racism still exists or not."
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South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is expected to call for the Confederate flag to be removed from the state capitol. Kinfay Moroti/USA Today
Supreme Court rules on Spider-Man and raisins. No gay marriage or Obamacare — yet
The Supreme Court's term is rapidly drawing to a close. That means the justices are issuing a slew of big decisions in the coming weeks on things like the future of same-sex marriage (likely to come on the term's last day) and Obamacare. While we wait, we've got Spider-Man, raisins and hotel searches. Spider-Man: The high court said Monday the inventor of a Spider-Man web-shooting toy can't keep reeling in royalties after his patent ran out. Stephen Kimble sold his patent for the toy to Marvel in 2001 and earned millions. Marvel stopped making payments in 2010 once the patent expired. A lot of people, including the justices, seem to agree with Kimble that the precedent on royalties and expiring patents is flawed, but they said it's up to Congress to change patent laws. Raisins: Score one for the little guy. The Supreme Court sided with a renegade raisin farmer in his battle against the federal government. A majority of justices ruled the 66-year-old Agriculture Department program, which seizes excess raisins from producers in order to prop up market prices, is unconstitutional. Hotels: The justices struck down a Los Angeles ordinance that said police can force hotel and motel owners to let them search guest registries on demand. Police said the searches let them investigate crimes like human trafficking, drug peddling and prostitution. The court said it violated the 4th Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and punishes hotel owners if they don't comply, which isn't cool. Hotel owners can still let police search their registries and police can still conduct surprise inspections. Just get the warrant first.
Can Jordan Spieth win the Grand Slam?
Jordan Spieth is a historic talent. He took home his second major at the U.S. Open on Sunday. He won his first major — the Masters — nine months after turning an age that let him legally drink the celebratory champagne. He's the youngest to win two majors in 93 years. Now he's on a quest to become the first in history to win the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship in the same year. For the Win's Chris Chase says he'd love to see it, but he doesn't think it's possible. Why? Well, it's really, really hard. The greats of the game couldn't do it. Tiger Woods once won four-straight majors (from the 2000 U.S. Open through the 2001 Masters), but never came close to the real Slam. And golf has become completely global and with players who, while ranked outside the top 50, are easily capable of winning a major. Read more on why Chase thinks the Grand Slam will remain elusive for golf's newest, brightest star.
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Jordan Spieth claimed the 2015 U.S. Open trophy Sunday, making him the 6th golfer in history to win both the Open and the Masters in the same year.
Video provided by Newsy Newsy
Caitlyn Jenner wins Father's Day by off-roading in wedges
In case you were wondering, yes, the Jenner-Kardashian clan all came together to celebrate Caitlyn on Father's Day — her first after her transition from male to female. Jenner posted a sweet photo on Twitter featuring her children Burt Jenner, Casey Jenner, Brandon Jenner, Kendall Jenner, and her stepdaughters Kim and Khloe Kardashian. Son-in-law Kanye West — flashing an uncharacteristically huge grin — granddaughter North West, and daughter-in-law Leah Jenner also joined in on the off-roading. On Sunday, Kendall and Kylie paid tribute to their dad. Yes, they still call her dad. Because that's what she'll always be.
If you only read one thing tonight, read this:Pentagon pays Syrians $400 per month to fight ISIS
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She's not alone in her grief. Swipe through more moving shots from the Day in Pictures.
Auburn Sandstrom cries while praying in front of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. The sidewalk memorial pays tribute to the nine people killed June 17 at the church.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: David Goldman, AP)
Did you see it? Star Wars child actor arrested after car chase.
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A former child actor who starred in one of the "Star Wars" movie sequels faces charges after leading South Carolina deputies on a high-speed chase. Wochit
Who's your granddaddy? Could be a Neanderthal.
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This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.
Contributing: Jefferson Graham, Marco della Cava, Edward Baig, Maria Puente, Brian Mansfield, Richard Wolf, Bart Jansen, David Jackson, Brad Heath, Fredreka Schouten, Cindy Clark, Maeve McDermott, USA TODAY; Chris Chase, For the Win; Steve DiMeglio, USA TODAY Sports; Associated Press
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