Friday, February 14th, 2020
AG Pushback, Pentagon Contract & Uber’s Phone Number
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...
Attorney General’s Frustrations:
Attorney General Bill Barr made an unexpected swipe at President Trump, saying Trump's tweets about the Justice Department make it "impossible" for him to do his job. Barr said Trump didn't ask him to do anything specific, but still, the tweets should stop. Barr added he won't be "bullied" by anyone, whether it's Congress, media or the president.
Read more: ABC News, WSJ, FOX News, NYT
War Powers Resolution:
Lawmakers are trying to limit President Trump’s war powers, specifically when it comes to attacking Iran. Eight Republicans joined all Democrats to pass a measure in the Senate which would require Trump to get Congressional approval before ordering any additional offensive strikes. Even if the House passes it, Trump has already said he would veto the measure.
Read more: CNN, ABC News, AP, NPR
U.S. vs. Huawei:
The U.S. is accusing Chinese tech company Huawei of racketeering and stealing trade secrets from six American companies. Huawei calls the accusations untrue and unfounded. The U.S. has accused Huawei of other crimes about a year ago, and the Trump administration has worried China will use the company’s equipment to spy on the U.S. and other foreign networks.
Read more: Bloomberg, WSJ, BBC
Pentagon, Microsoft & Amazon:
A federal judge has temporarily blocked a $10 billion contract between the Pentagon and Microsoft. The two were supposed to work together to build the government a “cloud network,” but Amazon sued, claiming the company was overlooked because of Trump’s personal dislike for CEO Jeff Bezos. The Pentagon denies it, but a judge put things on hold while the case is under review.
Read more: WSJ, Reuters, Axios
Hottest January on Record:
Last month was the hottest January on record. It was the 421st consecutive month that global temps have been above average. Experts say it’s concerning how fast the planet keeps warming. This year will likely be one of the five warmest years on record.
Read more: NBC News, Weather Channel, AP
Zillow Fights Homelessness:
Zillow is teaming up with Housing Connector to help fill vacant rental units. Housing Connector searches for places that are willing to lower rent and help out their clients, and Zillow will now include an “Accepts Housing Connector” checkbox on its property search. Housing Connector has already helped more than 400 people and families find homes and hopes the partnership will help cut wait times.
Read more: Engadget, Geekwire
Uber’s 1-800 Number:
Uber is testing out a 1-800 number for people who want to book a ride without using the app. Riders in Arizona can call 1-833-USE-UBER to book a ride as part of this test. It's meant for senior citizens who may need rides but don't know how to use the app. The new feature could be added to more states soon.
Read more: CNN, TechCrunch, The Verge
NBA All-Star Game:
The NBA All-Star Game is this weekend. This year will have a somber tone as players and fans remember Kobe Bryant. The teams will wear Kobe and his daughter Gianna Bryant’s numbers and there will be a special tribute during the fourth quarter. The game will be live on TNT at 8 p.m. EST Sunday. The All-Star Weekend kicks off tonight with the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game on ESPN at 7 p.m. EST.
Read more: Sports Illustrated, NBA.com, Fanside
Sonic the Hedgehog Release:
Sonic the Hedgehog will finally hit theaters this Presidents’ Day weekend. The movie was delayed after the first trailer dropped last year because fans weren’t happy with the way Sonic looked. The director took the rare step to postpone the release and made some changes. It’s expected to do well at the box office this weekend.
Read more: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
Happy Valentine’s Day:
Valentine’s Day is a time to show love, affection and friendship, and it can also be good for businesses! The National Retail Federation expects Americans to spend a record $27.4 billion on the holiday this year, up about 32% from last year. A new report also found millennials plan to give gifts that are more about activities and experiences over material things.
Read more: NRF, CNBC, USA Today, History, MarTechSeries
Feel Good Friday - Boy Pays Off Lunch Debt:
An 8-year old from Washington raised about $4,000 by selling keychains he made. He used the money to cover the lunch debt at his school and at six others. It all started with his school’s Kindness Week. He says helping others is important because it makes the world a better place.
Read more: CNN