Monday, May 2nd, 2022
Pelosi Meets Zelensky, May Day Protests & ‘Shrinkflation’
All the news you need in about 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 to review the latest happenings...
Kansas Tornado
Some people in Kansas could have years of cleanup ahead of them. A few powerful tornadoes tore through the Wichita area. One of them was so strong that the National Weather Service says winds could have topped 200 mph. Several people were hurt. Thankfully, they’re all expected to survive. More than 1,000 buildings were damaged, including hundreds that were destroyed. The same area could be in the path of more storms today that could also bring large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
Read More: Weather Channel, AP, NBC News, CNN, NWS
NM Wildfires Still Growing
People in the southwestern U.S. are still dealing with growing wildfires. One of the most intense ones is burning east of Santa Fe, New Mexico. So far, it has burned through nearly 163 square miles, an area larger than the city of Denver, Colorado. More than 1,100 firefighters are working on it. Thankfully, no one has been reported hurt. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed, and about 6,000 people have been ordered to evacuate.
Read More: CNN, NY Times, WSJ, Reuters, NOAA, InciWeb
Disinformation Governance Board
The Department of Homeland Security is setting up a Disinformation Governance Board. It says it will focus on a couple of things right away: fake news coming from Russia and misleading messages from human smugglers who have reportedly been spreading wrong information about U.S. border policy to migrants. The Biden administration says the board won’t monitor American citizens, but dozens of Republican lawmakers and other critics are voicing their concerns. They worry the board will target free speech and that the government may decide what should be considered true or false based on its own narrative.
Read More: CBS News, WaPo, Fox News, NY Post
Pelosi Meets Zelensky
A group of American lawmakers made a surprise trip to Ukraine. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the first official U.S. congressional delegation to visit since the war began. They met with Ukraine’s president in the capital of Kyiv. As many other Americans have done in the past, the lawmakers promised to support Ukraine until it secures victory against Russia. Congress is expected to start working on the latest Ukraine aid package this week.
Read More: WaPo, WSJ, NBC News, Fox News, Speaker Pelosi
Civilians Escape Mariupol
U.S. and Ukrainian officials say Russia’s highest-ranking uniformed officer was sent to the dangerous front line in eastern Ukraine. His presence there is unusual. One official told the New York Times that he’s probably there to work out some problems within the Russian ranks. Both Ukraine and Russia are accusing each other of launching attacks across the border. However, Russia and Ukraine also agreed on a temporary cease-fire in the port city of Mariupol. Because of that, civilians have been able to evacuate. About 5.5 million Ukrainians have fled the country since Russia first invaded.
Read More: NY Times, AP, BBC, CNN
May Day Protests
People around the world seized May Day with massive protests. It happens every May 1st as a way to celebrate the contributions of the working class and rally for better labor rights, among other things. This year, some of the largest rallies happened in Europe. Things got especially tense in France where some protesters smashed windows, and police broke up crowds with tear gas. However, other rallies were peaceful, including those that brought thousands of people out in New York City, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
Read More: Reuters, AP, USA Today, NPR
Beijing Covid Restrictions
Some places are loosening their Covid-19 rules, just as others are cracking down. China’s capital is one of the places where restrictions are getting tightened. Beijing banned all restaurant dining, shut down popular destinations like Universal Studios, closed schools, and ordered everyone who lives there to give proof of a negative Covid-19 test before they go into public venues. All the while, a month-long lockdown continues in China’s financial hub of Shanghai.
Read More: CNN, Reuters, NY Times
Italy, Greece Relax Covid Restrictions
Italy and Greece relaxed some Covid-19 restrictions over the weekend. Now, to get to Greece, you will no longer have to show proof you’ve been vaccinated or recently recovered from Covid-19. In Italy, you will no longer need the green pass to get into restaurants, theaters, or other venues. That pass was to show the same thing: that you’ve been vaccinated or recently recovered from Covid-19. If you plan to travel abroad, many places are still requiring masks, even if other restrictions have been lifted.
Read More: AP, Reuters, EuroNews
Russia Pulling Out of ISS
Russia is reportedly going to pull out of the International Space Station. The decision is said to be in response to the economic sanctions the U.S. and its allies have put on Russia because of the war in Ukraine. The head of Russia’s space agency says he’s not allowed to talk about the details publicly. However, as required, they’ll give a year’s notice to partners at the end of their work on the space station. For years, the U.S. and Russia have cooperated well in space, despite tensions between the countries on Earth. NASA says it plans to continue running the space station through 2030.
Read More: Bloomberg, Axios, The Hill, Business Insider
Missing Inmate/Corrections Officer
An accused killer who was in custody in Alabama is now missing with a corrections officer who was transporting him. Investigators say the corrections officer violated the policy by taking him by herself, and she lied about the reason she needed to drive him. At this point, investigators are assuming she was taken against her will. They say she is likely in danger. The inmate, Casey White, is charged with two counts of capital murder and was already in jail for a series of other crimes in the past. Local, state, and federal investigators are offering up to $10,000 for information that could help in the search.
Read More: NBC News, Fox News, NY Times, US Marshals
Naomi Judd Dies
The music industry is saying goodbye to a Grammy-winning country music star. Naomi Judd died unexpectedly at 76 years old. Her daughters announced her death, saying, “We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness.” Naomi and Wynonna Judd made up the famous group, The Judds. Together, they scored 14 number-one songs in a career that spanned nearly three decades. Other country legends like Tanya Tucker, Loretta Lynn, and The Oak Ridge Boys have been paying tribute to Naomi Judd on social media.
Read More: AP, Fox News, NBC News, Variety, People
Country Music HOF Inductions
More tributes poured in last night when The Judds were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony had been scheduled for a while, and the family insisted it go on in the wake of the tragedy. A few big stars sang some of The Judds’ greatest hits, and fans gathered outside. Three other performers were also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last night, including the late Ray Charles.
Read More: Variety, Deadline, AP, Country Music HOF
Met Gala
Tonight is fashion’s biggest night of the year, the world-famous Met Gala. As always, it’s going to be raising money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The annual event tends to make headlines for the iconic designs celebrities wear on the red carpet. This year’s theme is “In America: an Anthology of Fashion.” The dress code is “Gilded Glamour.” It will showcase a lot of fashion trends between 1870 and 1890, like gold, corsets, and big sleeves. Tickets to the Met Gala are $35,000 apiece, and it’s invitation-only.
Read More: Page Six, CNN, NY Times, USA Today
Eid al-Fitr
This week, nearly two billion Muslims around the world are marking an end to the holy month of Ramadan. They’re celebrating Eid al-Fitr. It’s one of the holiest occasions on the Islamic calendar. The name is Arabic for “the celebration of breaking the fast.” That makes sense since Muslims don’t eat or drink during daylight hours during Ramadan. Now that it’s over, they’re celebrating by feasting with friends and family. Some also mark the occasion by feeding and helping those in need.
Read More: USA Today, Newsweek, Times of India, BBC
Money Monday: Shrinkflation
Consumer advocates and grocery industry analysts say “shrinkflation” has been happening more often lately. It means businesses are making their products smaller and keeping prices the same. For example, Cottonelle mega roll toilet paper used to have 340 sheets a roll. Now, it’s down to 312 sheets. A bag of Doritos shrunk from 9.75 ounces to 9.25 ounces, and one bottle of Aleve has gone from 100 caplets to 90 caplets. Businesses say that’s a better alternative to keeping sizes the same but making them more expensive. However, some customers say they feel cheated.
Read More: Axios, MarketWatch, Forbes, Salt Lake Tribune