Friday, February 7th, 2020
Trump Celebrates, New Travel Rules & Oscars Preview
All the news you need in less than 10 min:
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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 perusing the latest happenings...
Trump Celebrates Acquittal:
President Trump celebrated his acquittal yesterday with two speeches: one during a prayer breakfast and another during a live White House speech. He used profanity when referring to impeachment and went after Democrats and Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who was the only Republican to vote to convict Trump. Trump also thanked his defense team and the Republicans who backed him. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Trump’s comments inappropriate and vowed to keep overseeing his conduct.
Read more: The Hill, ABC News, AP, NYT, NYT, Washington Post
Dem Debate Tonight:
Tonight is the first of three Democratic debates happening this month. This one is in New Hampshire, which could have a big impact since it’s just days before the primary election there. It’ll be the second state to vote for who should represent each party in November.
Read more: TIME, The Hill
DNC Calls for Results Review:
The results of the Iowa caucus are in, and Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders are neck and neck for the top spot. There are still concerns about the accuracy of the results, so the Democratic National Committee is calling on party officials in Iowa to double-check results.
Read more: NBC News, CNN, NYT
Chinese Doctor Warned of Coronavirus:
A Chinese doctor who first warned people about the coronavirus, and was punished for it, has now died of the illness. He noticed the flu-like virus spreading at his hospital back in December and posted about it online, but he was silenced by the Chinese government. Before he died, he said the government could have done more earlier. The World Health Organization has organized a research conference next week to work on a vaccine.
Read more: AP, The Guardian
2/24: Honoring Kobe Bryant:
NBA legend Kobe Bryant’s public memorial will take place on February 24th at the Staples Center in LA. The date has significance: his daughter Gianna wore the number 2 when she played for her school’s basketball team, and 24 was Kobe’s number when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers. An all-star game before the memorial will also pay tribute.
Read more: Yahoo Sports, E! News
Last-Minute NBA Trades:
The NBA trade deadline has now come and gone. Teams that made major moves include the LA Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets and Miami Heat. The Rockets, Hawks, Timberwolves and Nuggets agreed to terms of a four-team, 12-player deal.
Read more: Sports Illustrated, NBA.com, USA Today
New Yorkers & Global Entry:
The Trump administration is banning New Yorkers from enrolling in "Trusted Traveler" programs, such as Global Entry. Tens of thousands of New Yorkers will immediately have their applications denied and more will be impacted as they attempt renewals. The new policy is in response to a new law that allows unauthorized immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses and does not allow federal immigration officers to see those records without a court order.
Read more: USA Today, WSJ
Gov’t Gives First OK to Driverless Vans:
The U.S. government just gave self-driving car company Nuro permission to put a car on the road that doesn't have a steering wheel, seats, or side-view mirrors on the road. Those features are usually required for drivers' safety, but this driverless delivery van isn't meant for humans at all. The federal government will keep close tabs on the company and its driverless vans over the next two years. Nuro plans to roll out the R2 delivery vehicles in Houston first.
Read more: The Verge, Business Insider, Axios
Happy Bday Google Maps:
Google Maps is releasing several new features to celebrate its 15th birthday. It will now focus on five icons at the bottom of the screen, which show things like commute times, nearby events, restaurant recommendations and recent reviews. Google Maps is also changing its icon.
Read more: CNBC, CNET, The Verge
Instagram Unfollow Feature:
A new Instagram update is making it easier for you to decide who to unfollow. It divides people you follow into batches, so you can see who shows up the most and who you interact with the least. Instagram hopes it will bring users closer to the people and things they care about (and therefore, stay on the app longer).
Read more: Engadget, TechCrunch
Oscars Preview:
The Academy Awards are on Sunday night at 8pm EST on ABC. This year’s Oscars will be hostless again, but Tom Hanks, Chris Rock, Natalie Portman and more 'big names' will present. Elton John, Billie Elish and other artists will perform. Netflix has 24 nominations, including Best Picture for The Irishman and Marriage Story. Joker is the most nominated movie, with 11 nominations.
Read more: Oscars.com, Hollywood Reporter
Snow Moon:
The first supermoon of the year will be visible starting tonight, and it could appear as one of the biggest full moons of 2020. The best view will come after midnight – early Saturday – though it will be visible all weekend, weather permitting. The second full moon of winter is known as the 'Snow Moon.'
Read more: CNN, CBS News
Feel Good Friday - Prisoners Learn Coding:
A program called The Last Mile is helping people in prison prepare for their futures. Software engineers teach convicts computer coding; once they’re released, they are connected with tech companies to help find jobs. The organization behind it says in its ten years, not one of its 100 graduates has reoffended.
Read more: WTXL, TheLastMile.org