Wednesday, June 29th, 2022
Detailed New Testimony, Soccer Health Risks? & WFH Forever
All the news you need in about 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by Rothys.com/newsworthy and Zocdoc.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 about the latest happenings…
Sixth Jan 6th Hearing
The latest hearing from the January 6th committee featured some of the most thorough details we’ve heard yet about former President Trump’s actions during the riot. A longtime aide to Trump’s chief of staff, Cassidy Hutchinson, testified that during Trump’s rally on January 6th, he ordered security officials to allow in people with weapons. She also said Trump got angry when his secret service wouldn’t let him march to the Capitol with his supporters. She said while Trump was in the presidential SUV, he tried to pry the steering wheel away from the driver, cursed, and lunged at his neck. Then, once the mob was invading the Capitol, Hutchinson said Trump didn’t want to stop it. The former president called Hutchinson “a total phony” and said her stories were “sick” and “fraudulent.”
Read More: Jan 6th Committee, NY Times, AP, WSJ, Reuters
NATO Summit Latest
NATO is one step closer to one of its most significant expansions in decades. Turkey agreed to lift a veto that would have kept Sweden and Finland out. Both countries applied for NATO membership about a month ago, and all other members have already endorsed the idea. For Sweden and Finland, that means they would get more support if they were to come under attack. There are also advantages for NATO since Sweden and Finland have strong militaries. NATO is expected to formally invite the countries into NATO today.
Read More: President of Finland, AP, WSJ, Reuters, Al Jazeera
Ghislaine Maxwell Sentenced
Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for recruiting and grooming teenage girls to be sexually abused by her longtime friend, Jeffrey Epstein. Just before she was sentenced, Maxwell addressed the court for the first time since she was arrested, telling the accusers in the courtroom she was “sorry for the pain you have experienced.” After yesterday’s sentencing, the prosecutor said, “This sends a strong message that no one is above the law, and it is never too late for justice.” Maxwell’s lawyers still say they plan to appeal her conviction.
Read More: NBC News, Fox News, NY Times, WSJ
Flint Water Charges Void
The Michigan Supreme Court cleared charges against former Gov. Rick Snyder and eight other officials for their roles in the Flint water scandal. The crisis killed at least 12 people and sickened dozens more because the state switched Flint’s water source to one that wasn’t treated properly. This week, Michigan’s highest court said the lower court that charged officials with wrongdoing didn’t have the legal authority to do so. With that, officials are off the hook for now. Although, it’s still possible that state prosecutors will file new charges.
Read More: WaPo, WSJ, AP, Axios
New Monkeypox Vaccine Campaign
Monkeypox is still spreading. Now, clinics nationwide are getting vaccines from the federal stockpile. The U.S. Health and Human Services Department says it sent 56,000 doses out right away, and it will get a total of 1.6 million doses out by the end of the year. Some experts say that’s not nearly enough to make an impact. The CDC says anyone who has been exposed to monkeypox should be able to get a shot. Monkeypox is spread by close physical contact. It can lead to fever, aches, and a visible rash. In most cases, symptoms disappear on their own. However, for children, or people with weak immune symptoms, the disease can be deadly.
Read More: White House, NBC News, WaPo, NY Times, The Hill
New Breastfeeding Guidelines
For the first time in a decade, the American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its guidance on breastfeeding. The organization still recommends babies be exclusively breastfed for about six months. Then, complementary foods can be introduced in addition to breastfeeding. However, the group is now calling on pediatricians to support breastfeeding for two years or more, instead of just one, if both mothers and their babies want to. The AAP also says society needs to do more to help, like offering paid leave and workplace accommodations, supporting breastfeeding in public, ensuring insurance coverage for breast pumps, and more.
Read More: AAP, USA Today, NY Times, Motherly
First Documented CTE Case in MLS
For the first time, researchers diagnosed a former Major League Soccer player with a brain disease called CTE. It’s caused by repetitive hits to the head. CTE is tough to research because it can only be diagnosed after someone has died, and symptoms like memory loss and behavioral changes don’t set in until years after the blows. Now, researchers say former MLS player Scott Vermillion had it when he died of an accidental drug overdose. After hearing the news, the MLS Players Association called for a rule change. It wants the MLS to allow teams two extra substitutions in games for when a player gets a possible concussion.
Read More: MLS Players Association, NY Times, AP, USA Today
Emergency Contraceptive Limits
It seems demand for so-called “morning-after pills” is surging. Now, some major retailers are capping how much you can buy at once. Sales spiked after last week’s Supreme Court ruling overturned a constitutional right to abortion. Some retailers like CVS, Walmart, and Rite Aid said they limited the number of pills people can buy. Amazon has also limited some purchases. However, some say these limits change quickly based on demand.
Read More: WSJ, CNBC, CNN, The Hill
Google’s Spam Detection
Google has a new plan to keep campaign emails in your inbox and out of spam folders. Axios got a hold of documents showing Google asking the Federal Election Commission to give the new pilot program the go-ahead. If approved, it would make sure campaign emails from authorized candidates and political party committees are exempt from spam filters. Still, it would ask Gmail users if they want to keep getting those types of emails with the option to opt-out. It comes after a North Carolina State University study found that Gmail was more likely to mark Republican emails as spam as compared to other email services like Outlook.
Read More: Axios, The Verge, WaPo
Permanent Airbnb Party Ban
Airbnb is making its global ban on parties permanent. The home-sharing company says this includes unauthorized parties and events as well as open-invite gatherings. A temporary ban first went into effect a couple of years ago. Since then, Airbnb says it saw a 44% year-over-year drop in the rate of party reports. That, along with positive feedback, has led to the policy sticking around. Airbnb says guests who violate the rules may be suspended or removed from the platform.
Read More: Airbnb, TechCrunch, WSJ, CNBC, Fox Business
Work Wednesday: Remote Work Here to Stay
A new study from the management consulting company McKinsey found that 58% of American workers now have the option to work remotely at least one day a week, and 35% can work from wherever five days a week. Remote work options still depend on the job. For example, if you work in computers, you're much more likely to be able to get a remote position than a transportation worker. The same survey found young, educated people with high incomes have the most remote work possibilities. It’s an option for 75% of people who make more than $150,000 a year.
Read More: McKinsey & Company, The Verge, Money, Axios