Friday, February 18th, 2022
Russia’s Playbook, American Immunity & All-Star Weekend
All the news you need in around 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by StitchFix.com/newsworthy and Masterworks.Art/newsworthy
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 reading the latest happenings...
Blinken at UN Security Council
American officials say Russia put its Ukraine invasion plan in motion. Both President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken made it clear they think Russia’s president has chosen war. At the U.N. Security Council, Blinken laid out what he believes is Russia’s playbook. He says an attack is coming in stages. First, he says Russia is manufacturing a reason to invade Ukraine. Next, he says Russia will stage emergency meetings to address the fake crisis. Then, he says the attack will start with Russian missiles and bombs across Ukraine, followed by soldiers and tanks.
Read more: CBS News, CNBC, Axios, CNN, State Dept.
Russia Responds to Offer, Expelled U.S. Diplomat
Moscow responded to security proposals from the U.S. and NATO. In them, the allies offered to increase communication and renegotiate a nuclear deal, but they didn’t meet Russia’s main demands, like ensuring NATO won’t expand further east. So in response, Russia said it would be forced to take “military-technical” steps if those demands aren’t addressed. Also this week, Russia forced an American diplomat to leave Moscow. So, the U.S. says there are now fewer American officials in Moscow than there are Russian officials in Washington, D.C. The State Department said that was an “escalatory step” and is considering how to respond.
Read more: WaPo, USA Today, The Hill, Reuters
Ukraine Shelling
On top of all the diplomatic tension, violence has been escalating in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels have been trading heavy fire. It’s happening in an area that’s been at war for years now. However, this time, both sides are accusing each other of firing across the ceasefire line. Ukraine’s president said the pro-Russian forces struck a Ukrainian kindergarten. Thankfully, the children had all been evacuated, so no one was hurt. On the other hand, Russia says it's the Ukrainians who are killing civilians. American officials say they’re watching the situation closely.
Read more: NY Times, Reuters, WSJ, ABC News
Govt Shutdown Averted
Once again, Congress has barely avoided a government shutdown. The Senate passed a bill to keep the government funded beyond today, but it’s only a temporary solution. It’s going to keep everything running as-is for another three weeks until Congress can approve a longer-term spending bill. Even the short-term measure didn’t come easy, though. Some Republicans threatened to delay the vote unless other priorities were addressed first. They proposed amendments, but they ended up failing in the vote. Now, the stopgap spending bill goes to President Biden for his signature.
Read more: WaPo, ABC News, WSJ, Fox News, NBC News
Most Americans Immune to Omicron
A new estimate from a highly influential research group says, for now, 73% of Americans are immune to the omicron variant. That’s because millions of people have gotten booster shots, and millions more have recovered from an omicron infection. Health experts say this will prevent or shorten new cases in people who have either kind of protection. It will also likely tamp down new waves of Covid-19. Health experts warn there still will be future outbreaks because immunity wanes, and new variants are likely to pop up. However, some scientists say they’re optimistic that future waves might not be as severe.
Read more: AP, USA Today, WSJ, NY Times, CDC
Virgin Galactic Selling Space Flights
You can now grab your seat to space on Virgin Galactic’s spaceplane. Tickets went on sale for the general public this week. However, they aren’t cheap. It costs $450,000 for a single seat on a future flight. Ticket holders will blast off from Spaceport America in New Mexico sometime this year. The company says the trip to the edge of space and back will take 90 minutes. That includes “several minutes of out-of-seat weightlessness and breathtaking views of Earth from the spaceship’s 17 windows.” You can start reserving your seat by filling out the application on the company’s website.
Read more: CNBC, Space.Com, USA Today, Business Insider, NY Times, Business Wire
Baby Formula Recall
The FDA is warning people not to use three popular types of baby formula. It comes after three infants got sick, and one died from bacteria infections after drinking the formula. Abbott Nutrition is recalling certain Similac, Alimentum, and Elecare formulas, all made at the same facility in Michigan but shipped all over the U.S. The FDA says it inspected the facility and found the same type of bacteria there.
Read more: Reuters, AP, USA Today, FDA
Check Formula: Similac Recall
LGBTQ Population Growing
U.S. adults identify as LGBTQ more now than at any time in recorded history. A new poll by Gallup says 7.1% of Americans consider themselves LGBTQ. In 2012, the number was half that many. The poll points to Gen Z for the rise. That includes people born between 1997 and 2003. Out of that generation, the poll found 21% identify as LGBTQ. The author of the poll expects the numbers to keep rising, too. Advocates say this is a sign of increasing LGBTQ rights and representation.
Read more: Axios, WaPo, NBC News, Gallup
More LGBTQ on TV
Broadcast TV now features a record number of LGBTQ characters. The advocacy group GLAAD found that nearly 12% of characters on primetime programming right now are LGBTQ. That’s a nearly 3% jump from the year before and a new record.
Read more: THR, Deadline, USA Today, GLAAD
Olympic Skating, Skiing Finals
Russian Figure Skater Anna Shcherbakova won the Olympic free skate competition, but there was not the usual celebration. Her teammate Kamila Valieva was favored to win, but she was under fire since she failed a pre-Olympic drug test. She fell a couple of times during her routine and went from 1st place to 4th. After her performance, cameras caught her coach scolding her while she cried. That caught the attention of the IOC president, who questioned her entourage and why they weren’t more supportive of her. He also says her situation raises questions about whether there should be a higher minimum age limit for the Olympics. She’s only 15 years old.
Read more: WSJ, AP, ESPN, USA Today, Olympics
NBA All-Star Weekend
Some of the best basketball players in the world will strut their stuff this weekend in Cleveland for this year’s NBA all-star weekend. There’s a handful of things to keep an eye on for the three days of festivities. The big game is being dubbed Team Lebron vs. Team Durant because Lebron James and Kevin Durant were picked as team captains. Kevin Durant won’t play, though, because of a sprained knee. Lebron James is still in it, along with 25 other top players. Before the big game, there are a lot of other buzzy events, like the All-Star celebrity game and the slam dunk contest.
Read more: CBS Sports, WJW-TV, SB Nation, NBA
Daytona 500 Preview
It’s time for the biggest and most prestigious race on Nascar’s calendar, the Daytona 500. The cars take 200 laps on the track for that 500-mile race on Sunday afternoon. This year is breaking barriers, too. Jusan Hamilton will become the first Black Daytona 500 director.
Read more: The Athletic, CBS Sports, Nascar
Feel Good Friday: First VS Model With Down Syndrome
A Puerto Rican model is a new kind of angel. She’s Victoria’s Secret's first-ever with Down syndrome. She joins 17 other women in the company’s new line and campaign called Love Cloud Collection. It’s supposed to be about inclusivity and highlighting women who reject limits put on them by others. It comes after the lingerie company began a major rebranding, following years of criticism that the company excludes most women. The latest angel celebrated her historic milestone on social media, calling it a dream come true.
Read more: People, NY Post, CNN, Sofia Jirau