Friday, June 10th, 2022
Dramatic First Hearing, Alaska’s Wild Election & NASA Hunts UFOs
All the news you need in around 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 reading the latest happenings...
Jan. 6th Committee Hearing
Lawmakers investigating the Capitol riot have started to lay out the evidence they’ve gathered about January 6th, 2021. During the committee’s first public hearing, Americans heard from a Capitol police officer, a documentary filmmaker, members of former President Trump’s inner circle, and some rioters. The panel also played never-before-seen graphic video footage. In it, you could see thousands of people breaking into the Capitol, filling the halls of Congress, assaulting police, and sending lawmakers and their staff running for safety. Ahead of the hearing, former President Trump said in a statement, “January 6th was not simply a protest. It represented the greatest movement in the history of our country to make America great again.”
Read More: AP, NY Times, WSJ, CNN, Reuters, Fox News
March For Our Lives Protests
This weekend, people all around the world plan to protest for new gun reform. The group March For Our Lives says more than 450 gun-safety marches are planned in at least 45 states and other countries. The biggest is expected at the nation’s capital. In the National Park Service permit application, the group requested space for up to 100,000 demonstrators. At that rally, speakers will include survivors of gun violence, teachers, and activists. This comes as lawmakers are negotiating a set of new gun reforms.
Read More: Axios, WaPo, USA Today, March for Our Lives
MI Officer Charged with Murder
A white police officer who shot and killed a Black man in Michigan two months ago is now charged with murder. Ofc. Christopher Schurr first pulled over Patrick Lyoya for having license plates that didn’t match his car. However, Lyoya ran from him. Eventually, there was a scuffle, and Schurr shot Lyoya in the back of the head. Ofc. Schurr turned himself into authorities yesterday, and his first court hearing is scheduled for today. If he’s found guilty, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Read More: Detroit Free Press, Reuters, CBS News, NY Times
WH Plan to Vaccinate Kids
In less than two weeks, American babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are finally expected to be eligible for Covid-19 vaccines. The FDA is on track to authorize kid-sized shots for children as young as six months old soon. With that, the CDC this week outlined a plan to get doses ready. It says the White House has made 10 million of the kids’ shots from Moderna and Pfizer available to order, and they could start getting delivered next week to state health departments, doctors’ offices, hospitals, and elsewhere. The Biden administration expects young kids to be able to start getting the shots as early as June 21st.
Read More: CBS News, NY Times, WSJ, CNN, White House, CDC
Unusual Alaska Primary Election
Alaska is holding a primary election tomorrow. 48 people are vying to take over for Congressman Don Young, who held the state’s only U.S. House seat for 49 years until he died earlier this year. One-time vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is considered one of the front-runners. Other contenders include a former Trump administration official, a current Alaska state senator, an orthopedic surgeon, a contractor, a gold miner, and Santa Claus. Yes, that’s his legal name. Claus is a self-described “democratic socialist” who serves on the city council for the community of North Pole.
Read More: WaPo, AP, Newsweek, NBC News
NASA Hunts for UFOs
NASA is joining the search for the truth about UFOs. America’s space agency will launch a nine-month study of UFO sightings that it says will be done from a “scientific perspective”. One NASA official involved said it could discover a new scientific phenomenon, or it could come up with nothing new or interesting. NASA plans to recruit some of the leading scientists and other experts to take part. The agency says everything will be unclassified, public, and transparent. The study is set to get started this fall.
Read More: Space.Com, Politico, WaPo, NY Times, NASA
PGA Suspends 17 Golfers
The PGA Tour decided to officially suspend all players who take part in golf startup LIV Golf’s events, including Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson. PGA has dominated elite golf for decades. Now, the organization says, “these players have made their choice for their own financial-based reasons, but they can’t demand the same PGA Tour membership benefits.” It means they won’t be able to play in PGA tournaments for now. However, it’s not clear how long the players will be out. LIV Golf is also referred to as the Saudi Golf League because it’s backed by Saudi Arabia. Its inaugural event, the LIV Golf Invitational started yesterday and goes through Saturday.
Read More: ESPN, CNN, WSJ, SI, PGA Tour
Fanatics/Topps New College Trading Cards
Sports fans will soon be able to start collecting trading cards featuring college athletes. Sports card giants Fanatics and Topps say they made deals to start making collegiate basketball and football cards. Beginning this fall, they’ll release cards featuring current and former athletes from more than 150 schools. The school logos will also be on there for the first time. Some of the biggest names in college sports will be available right away. ESPN cited a source who said some players could make up to five figures, but others won’t get any money.
Read More: CNBC, USA Today, ESPN, Fanatics
Amazon Virtual Shoe Try-On
Amazon announced a new feature called Virtual Try-On for Shoes. With the feature, you’ll be able to use your smartphone’s camera to visualize how a pair of new shoes might look on your feet from multiple angles. Amazon will be using augmented reality, similar to how a filter on Instagram works. It will first launch on the Amazon shopping app on iPhones. Users will be able to tap a Virtual Try-On button for thousands of styles taking part.
Read More: TechCrunch, The Verge, CNBC, Amazon
Feel Good Friday: Averting Crime with Therapy
Chris Blattman, professor of global conflict studies at the University of Chicago, recently revealed stunning results from his mental health research overseas. Blattman says he modeled his study after a successful program in Liberia that turned some of the country’s harshest criminals into productive members of society through cognitive behavioral therapy and some cash. He decided to scale the program to include 999 of the most hardened criminals in Monrovia. He says after 10 years, the Monrovia men had cut crime and violence in half. Blattman says the findings are important and should be put into practice today in America.
Read More: Upworthy
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