Friday, April 29th, 2022
‘Cost of this Fight’, Menthol Ban? & Dog Breed Myths
All the news you need in around 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by bollandbranch.com (Listen for the discount code) and Rothys.com/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...
Biden Requests Billions in Ukraine Aid
President Biden asked Congress to approve $33 billion more in assistance for Ukraine. If approved, most of this latest round of funding would go directly to the Ukrainian military with things like weapons and ammunition. It would also include billions in economic assistance and humanitarian aid. Both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have said they support sending the money to Ukraine, but that might not be easy since lawmakers might attach the Ukraine package to bills about other issues.
Read More: Reuters, Politico, CNBC, NY Times, WSJ, White House
Latest Fighting in Ukraine
Ukraine is still under attack from one end of the country to the other. That includes the capital of Kyiv. Russian troops bombarded the city while the head of the United Nations was visiting. The UN secretary-general was okay, but several other people got hurt. Meanwhile, Russian officials have been accusing western nations of encouraging Ukraine to launch strikes inside Russia. Russian gas depots and a missile factory have been burned or attacked in recent days. The U.S. secretary of state said it was up to Ukraine to do what is “necessary to defend against Russian aggression.”
Read More: NPR, AP, NY Times, WaPo, Axios, UN
30 Years Since Rodney King Riots
Exactly 30 years ago today, violent riots broke out in Los Angeles, sparking a five-day uprising in the name of Rodney King. He was a Black man who was pulled over for speeding near an LA apartment complex. A man who lived there taped police officers brutally beating King. He sent that tape to news stations, and the officers got charged with assault. Then, on April 29th, 1992, a jury found the officers not guilty. Hours after that verdict, riots started, and they didn’t end for several days. More than 60 people were killed, and another 2,300 were hurt in fires, looting, and violence. A peace gathering is happening today to mark the occasion.
Read More: LA Times, CBS News, Time, KTTV, USC, Eventbrite
U.S. GDP Drops
For the first time since the early days of the pandemic, the U.S. economy shrank. The latest Commerce Department report says the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) fell at a 1.4% annual rate in the first quarter of this year. Most of the damage has to do with trade since exports leaving the U.S. dropped sharply. Some businesses also had lower inventories because of supply chain issues. However, imports into the U.S. soared. Experts say that means there is a lot more demand for products in the U.S. than in the rest of the world. American consumer spending and business investment also went up.
Read More: CNBC, WSJ, Reuters, CBS News
Moderna Requests Authorization for Kid Vaccines
Moderna is hoping to have the first Covid-19 vaccine available for the youngest American kids. The vaccine maker asked the FDA to authorize its kid-sized shots for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. In trials, researchers found the two shots, which are about a fourth of the size of adult doses, were effective. Also, side effects were similar to what kids get from other shots that are already approved. Experts say it will likely take until June for federal regulators to review Moderna’s application. By then, Pfizer could have submitted a similar application, too.
Read More: Fox Business, WaPo, NY Times, Moderna
FDA Banning Menthols
The federal government has come out with a detailed plan to ban more than a third of cigarettes sold in the U.S. The FDA’s new rules would ban the sales of menthol cigarettes and all flavored cigars. However, they would not affect menthol e-cigarettes. The FDA says the ban could prevent up to 650,000 smoking deaths over 40 years. The agency points to the toll on young people and Black smokers since data has shown both prefer the mint flavor of menthols. However, at least two tobacco companies say they will sue over the rules. One company says the ban will just put the products into unregulated, criminal markets.
Read More: WSJ, WaPo, AP, Reuters, FDA
White House Correspondents’ Dinner
This weekend, lawmakers, journalists, and celebrities are getting together for a huge party in Washington, D.C. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is back. That’s the century-old gala that’s famous for having members of the press and government poke fun at each other. This year, for the first time in six years, the black-tie event will feature a big-name comedian and a sitting president. The Daily Show host Trevor Noah is hosting the event, and President Biden will attend along with Democratic and Republican lawmakers, top administration officials, and more.
Read More: The Hill, Deadline, Axios, WaPo, CNN
Google Expands Sensitive Ad Categories
Google is giving you more control over what ads may pop up on your screens. The search giant is adding new options to its sensitive categories list. It was first introduced as a way for people to avoid seeing ads about gambling and alcohol. Now, you can choose more things you may not want to see ads about, like weight loss, pregnancy, parenting, and dating. Once you choose, it will reportedly apply to ads across Gmail, YouTube, and everywhere else Google ads show up.
Read More: The Verge, TechCrunch, Gizmodo
Google Removes Doxxing Search Results
Google will allow people to remove their personal contact information from Google search results. That includes phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses, and passwords. Google says it’s meant to protect users from unwanted direct contact or physical harm. The only exception would be if certain information was considered newsworthy or of public interest.
Read More: CBS News, The Verge, TechCrunch, CNET, Google
Snap Pixy Drone
The company behind Snapchat is launching its first flying camera. It’s called Pixy, and it’s pocket-sized. Also, it has no controller. Instead, users tap a button to choose one of four preset flight paths. Snap says the camera can “float, orbit, and follow where you need.” Then, it gently lands on a user’s hand when it’s done with the video shoot. The videos are sent wirelessly to the user’s Snapchat account. Pixy costs about $230, and it’s available now in the U.S. and France.
Read More: TechCrunch, MarketWatch, The Verge, CNBC, Pixy Shop
Study: Dog Personalities Aren’t Dictated by Breed
Despite what a lot of people are led to believe, a new study found a dog’s personality has very little to do with their breed. Researchers looked at the genes of more than 2,000 dogs, paired with 200,000 survey answers from dog owners about their pets’ behaviors. They learned that breed only factored into a dog’s behavior by about 9%, and there was no genetic basis for aggressive behaviors or a link to any specific breed. Researchers think most of the differences between dogs come down to individual experiences, training, and environment.
Read More: AP, WSJ, WaPo, Science
Feel Good Friday: Boy Raises Thousands for Ukraine
A 12-year-old boy found a way to put his hobby to good use. Gabriel Clark typically spends hours a day woodworking. Lately, he’s been selling his creations to raise money for a mountain bike. Then, he found another cause to support. He made a bowl to raffle off, with all the proceeds going to the humanitarian organization Save the Children. He ended up raising more than $325,000 for the cause. Save the Children says the money will go to help distribute supplies to kids in Ukraine.
Read More: BBC, Sky News, People, Instagram, Save the Children