Monday, January 18th, 2021
Insider Attack?, MLK Day & Wikipedia Turns 20
All the news you need in about 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by MunkPack.com (Listen for the discount code) and BlueNile.com
Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want to review the latest happenings...
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Today, the nation is celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior. It’s MLK Day. Usually, this federal holiday is full of parades and festivals to honor the civil rights leader and inspire others to continue his movement. However, because of the pandemic, cities and organizations across the country are holding virtual workshops, exhibits, wreath-laying ceremonies, and parades. People are also encouraged to give back since MLK Day is also known as a day of service.
Read More: MLK Day, USA Today, NY Times, CNN
National Guard Members Vetted
U.S. Defense officials are reportedly worried about a possible insider attack on Inauguration Day this Wednesday. The AP reports the FBI is now vetting all 25,000 national guard troops in D.C. for the event. Commanders are also being told to look for any problems within their ranks. That said, there is so far no evidence of any specific threats and officials say the vetting hasn’t flagged any issues they are aware of.
Read More: AP, Newsweek
Members of Congress Investigated
Capitol police are also looking into whether some members of Congress helped rioters who stormed the building. A few Democratic lawmakers raised concerns that some of their Republican colleagues might have let members of the mob inside the Capitol one day before the invasion. Investigators will likely sweep through emails and text messages to see if the invasion was, in any way, an inside job. Meanwhile, a retired Army lieutenant will be leading a security review of the U.S. Capitol.
Read More: NY Times, Politico, WaPo
State Capitals Mostly Quiet
Many state capitol buildings are also on lockdown all around the country. Dozens of states activated national guard troops and set up barriers. Some, like Texas and Pennsylvania, aren’t letting any of the public on capitol grounds. The FBI warned last week that armed and potentially violent protests were being planned on state capitals in support of President Trump. They were supposed to last yesterday and last through Inauguration Day. So far, only small groups of protesters have shown up and there haven’t been any reports of violence.
Read More: AP, Reuters, USA Today
Biden’s First 10 Days
President-elect Joe Biden is preparing more than a dozen executive orders for his first day in the White House. Many of them are meant to reverse some of the executive orders President Trump put in place. For example, Biden’s transition team says the president-elect will rejoin the Paris agreement meant to help curb climate change. He also plans to get rid of the travel ban on some Muslim-majority countries, extend nationwide restrictions on evictions and foreclosures, and more.
Read More: NPR, Politico, WSJ, NY Times
2nd COVID Strain Growing
The more contagious COVID-19 strain that was first found in the UK is spreading quickly here in the U.S. Now, federal health authorities say the newer strain will likely be the main one here by March. So far, at least 76 people in 12 states have this new version and the CDC expects those numbers to rise in coming weeks. It looks like this COVID strain doesn’t cause more severe cases. However, because it’s more contagious, it could lead to more hospitalizations and deaths by infecting more people overall.
Read More: NBC News, NY Times, WSJ, CDC
Smartwatches May Help Detect Virus
New research shows wearable devices, like Fitbits or Apple Watches, might be able to detect early signs of COVID-19. A couple of new studies show the watches have been able to spot subtle changes in your heart rate. For example, one study from Stanford showed 81% of COVID-19 patients experienced heart rate changes up to nine days before other symptoms set in. Experts say this shows wearables could help to let people know they need to isolate sooner and get a test.
Read More: CBS News, 9to5 Mac, Stanford Study, Mount Sinai Study
Virgin’s Rocket Reaches Orbit
Virgin Orbit successfully launched a 70-foot rocket into space from a 747 airplane flying at 35,000 feet. The rocket was strapped under the plane’s wing. Then, it detached and ignited before soaring into space. Virgin says this is a historic first. It’s supposed to be more cost-friendly since it makes planes the launch pad. Yesterday’s launch sent 10 satellites into orbit. They’ll be used for weather-tracking and other scientific research.
Read More: The Verge, AP, Axios, Virgin Orbit
NRA Declares Bankruptcy
The National Rifle Association, or NRA, filed for bankruptcy and wants to move its headquarters from New York to Texas. The gun-rights group says it is in its “strongest financial condition in years,” but that it filed for bankruptcy to escape what it calls “a corrupt political and regulatory environment in New York.” It’s faced legal issues in New York in recent years. The state’s attorney general has accused the NRA of diverting charitable funds for personal use.
Read More: FOX Business, CBS News, USA Today
Dating Apps Banning Rioters
Certain dating apps are now banning rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol earlier this month. Tinder, Hinge, OK Cupid, and Bumble are all using images captured inside the Capitol to identify and ban users on their platforms. Some users have joined the effort. They’re reportedly tracking down rioters and striking up conversations with them on apps. Then, they’ll see if they can get a confession or an incriminating photo, so they can turn it over to the FBI.
Read More: WaPo, Cnet, The Verge
Wikipedia Turned 20
Wikipedia is now 20 years old. The free online encyclopedia first debuted on January 15th, 2001. Two decades later, Wikipedia is among the top 15 sites on the internet. There are 55 million articles across 300 languages and it’s visited more than 15 billion times every month. The site does face criticism because non-experts can make contributions, but there are restrictions on updating certain entries. Reports say most of the time, edits that don’t meet Wikipedia’s standards are addressed within five minutes.
Read More: MarketWatch, Al Jazeera, Axios
Bills Fans Donate to Lamar Jackson Charity
Thousands of football fans are showing incredible sportsmanship in the name of an injured player. It started when the Buffalo Bills played the Baltimore Ravens. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson left the game with a concussion and the Bills ended up winning 17-3. Later, some Bills fans went to Reddit and asked people to donate to Jackson’s favorite charity. It’s a child hunger organization called Blessings in a Backpack. At last check, that charity had received 9,000 individual donations totaling about $240,000.
Read More: USA Today, SI, ESPN
Money Monday: How Americans Plan to Spend Stimulus Money
A new poll shows how Americans plan to spend that $600 direct payment from the last relief bill. The consumer research company Morning Consult surveyed 2,200 people. It found many are planning to use it on expenses like rent, groceries, utilities, and debt payments. People on the higher end of the qualifying salaries say they’re planning to save the money instead. A smaller portion say they’ll use the money to make purchases for their homes, so some retailers could see an uptick in business.
Read More: Morning Consult, Forbes, CNN