Friday, May 20th, 2022
Strictest Abortion Ban, States Miscounted & Stranded Influencer Saved
All the news you need in around 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by Pampers.com and kiwico.com (Listen for the discount code)
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...
Congress Passes More Ukraine Aid
In a show of bipartisan support, Congress pledged billions more in funding for Ukraine with the largest aid package so far, and President Biden says he will sign it. With that, Ukraine should get nearly $40 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to offset some of the cost of the war against Russia. That brings America’s total contribution to roughly $54 billion in just over two months.
Read More: Reuters, CBS News, Axios, Fox News, White House
Biden’s Trip to Asia
President Biden is on his first trip to Asia since becoming president. Advisers and analysts say the president is hoping to send a clear message to China: don’t even try to do what Russia did in Ukraine anywhere in Asia. However, American intelligence has seen signs China is planning to retake the self-governed island of Taiwan. President Biden is also planning to meet with several allies in South Korea and Japan. He’s expected to support their efforts to beef up their military powers and perhaps collaborate on things like technology or supply chain solutions.
Read More: WaPo, Politico, NY Times, Reuters
Okla Passes Nation’s Strictest Abortion Law
Oklahoma state lawmakers passed a bill that, if the governor signs it, will become the strictest abortion law in the country. It bans the procedure at any stage of pregnancy unless there is a medical emergency or if the pregnancy happened because of rape or incest that’s been officially reported. Like the law in Texas, it would rely on private citizens to enforce it. Anyone would be able to bring a civil lawsuit against anyone else who performs or helps someone get an abortion. If the lawsuits are successful, those who sue will get at least $10,000 on top of legal fees and damages for “emotional distress.”
Read More: AP, NY Times, WSJ, WaPo, HB 4327
Extreme Weekend Weather
Parts of the U.S. are set to get intense weather over the next few days. First, extreme heat and drought are causing “critical” fire conditions. Several fires are burning in the southwest. Today, there are still red flag warnings across nine states from California to Texas and up into the high plains states. Next, a powerful cold front moves through the northern Rockies. It’s expected to snow in Denver by tonight, and up to eight inches could fall. However, most Americans are going to be getting extreme heat. As many as 130 high-temperature records for this time of year could be tied or broken in parts of 20 states, especially on the east coast.
Read More: AP, Axios, Weather Channel, CBS News, CNN, NWS
Census Bureau Under/Overcounts
A new report found the 2020 Census did not count all 50 states’ populations accurately. Six states were undercounted like Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, and Texas. Eight were overcounted like Hawaii, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Utah. This is based on a follow-up survey from the U.S. Census Bureau. Despite the miscounts, the 2020 Census will not be adjusted. That said, the Bureau is studying whether this could help adjust annual population estimates, which also guide where some federal and state money goes.
Read More: WSJ, NPR, NY Times, WaPo, US Census
Twitter Adds Another Warning Label
Twitter is taking another step to try and stop the spread of misinformation, especially in times of crisis like armed conflict, a public health emergency, or a natural disaster. To decide if a tweet is misleading or false, Twitter says it will lean on credible, public sources like humanitarian organizations, open-source investigators, journalists, and more. If tweets are found to be problematic, they will get a warning notice, and all likes, retweets, and shares will be turned off. Twitter says this policy will not apply to opinions, commentary, or first-hand accounts.
Read More: TechCrunch, CNET, Reuters, Fox Business, Twitter
Boeing Crew Capsule Launch
This week, aerospace giant Boeing launched a test flight. Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft lifted off yesterday. It’s now headed for the International Space Station. There are no humans on board, but Boeing is hoping to prove to NASA that it can handle giving astronauts a ride. The test is a do-over since Boeing faced serious technical problems in both 2019 and 2021. This time, it’s off to a successful start, but the journey hasn’t been without its problems. Two of the four thrusters failed at one point, but the backups kicked in, and the mission wasn’t affected. If the rest of the trip goes well, NASA could choose to send astronauts on Starliner by the end of the year.
Read More: Space.Com, WaPo, WSJ, NY Times, Boeing
Apple Shows Off Headset
Apple’s next major product category could launch soon. Bloomberg says the company recently showed off its mixed-reality headset to its board of directors. It is said to have advanced processors and ultra-high-resolution screens. Apple has also reportedly ramped up development for software that will run on the headset. It will include core iPhone apps, as well as new apps meant for things like streaming immersive content and holding virtual meetings. Bloomberg says this suggests the product’s big debut could be coming in the next few months.
Read More: Bloomberg, The Verge, CNBC, CNET
Feel Good Friday: TikToker Raises Money for Hero Uber Driver
A woman and her TikTok followers found a way to pay back a generous Uber driver. Becca Moore says she got robbed while she was on vacation. The thief took her phone, credit cards, and the keys to her rental car. Her hotel called her an Uber, so driver Raul Torres showed up. He took her to the police station to report the robbery, the Sprint store to get a new phone, and Starbucks to help calm her down. Eventually, Torres told Moore both his daughter and father were fighting cancer. Once she got home, Moore started a GoFundMe page for his family and shared it with her hundreds of thousands of TikTok followers. As of this morning, that page has racked up more than a quarter of a million dollars to help Torres pay outstanding medical bills.
Read More: USA Today, Insider, KABC, E!, TikTok (1), TikTok (2), GoFundMe