Friday, September 17th, 2021
Capitol Rally Warning, Booster Debate & Primetime Emmy Awards
All the news you need in around 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp.com/newsworthy 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...
Weekend Rally Violence Warning
Hundreds of people are planning to gather at the foot of Capitol Hill tomorrow to show support for the suspects charged in the January 6th riot. There will also be a counter-rally that same day, also in Washington, D.C. The Homeland Security Department warns things could get violent today and tomorrow. An intelligence memo was sent to law enforcement to say some people online have been threatening or encouraging violence ahead of the rally. Temporary fencing has gone up outside the Capitol. National Guard troops are also going to be on standby along with several area police departments and federal agencies.
Read More: Reuters, NPR, CBS News, CNN, Fox News
Migrants Wait Under Texas Bridge
The U.S.-Mexico border has been overwhelmed with a huge surge of migration this week. Now, U.S. Border Patrol is holding about 10,000 migrants outside, under a bridge in south Texas. Authorities say it’s only a temporary solution, and border agents are working as quickly as they can to process the migrants and move them somewhere else. However, the crowds keep growing. Pictures of the scene show huge crowds sleeping on dirt in triple-digit heat with no running water and little food. There are also just a few portable toilets. Most of the migrants appear to be fleeing Haiti where a series of natural disasters left many people homeless.
Read More: WaPo, NY Times, CNN, Reuters
August Detained Migrant Numbers
New data shows American authorities stopped migrants nearly 209,000 times at the U.S.-Mexico border last month. It’s one of the highest monthly numbers recorded in the last 20 years. President Biden is facing tough criticism from both sides. Many Republicans say the president’s border enforcement policies are too lax, and that’s why so many undocumented immigrants keep trying to come here. Meanwhile, some progressive activists say the current system is inhumane and that Biden needs to lift more restrictions.
Read More: CBS News, Reuters, Fox News, ABC News, CBP
Lawyer Charged for Russia Investigation Statements
A prominent cybersecurity lawyer with ties to Democrats is now accused of lying to the FBI. Michael Sussmann allegedly hid that he was working with Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign when he sent a tip to the FBI with concerns about a connection between Trump and Russia. The indictment says that information could have provided necessary insight into Sussmann’s motivations for providing the tip. Sussmann’s lawyers argue this is about “politics, not facts.”
Read More: NY Times, AP, WSJ, NPR
Sequoia National Forest Fires
A couple of wildfires are growing near a popular national forest in California. The famous giant sequoia trees are threatened. A lightning storm late last week sparked both fires. Since then, they’ve burned through nearly 15 square miles. They’re expected to burn at least partially into Sequoia National Park’s Giant Forest. That’s home to the world’s largest tree, the General Sherman Tree. Firefighters wrapped the base of that tree and some others with fire-resistant blankets yesterday, hoping to keep them safe. The national park and a town nearby have been evacuated.
Read More: LA Times, AP, WSJ, KPIX, InciWeb
FDA Meeting About Boosters Today
Today, FDA advisors are expected to vote on the future of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. This is an issue that’s been dividing the FDA this week. Members have publicly shown support and opposition for making extra doses available to the general population in the U.S. Both Pfizer and Moderna have put out research that says three shots give people a lot more protection than two. However, some top scientists say the vaccine's effectiveness hasn’t worn off enough to warrant more shots. Today, more scientific advisors will review a lot of data and talk about who needs booster shots and when, if at all.
Read More: NBC News, CNN, Reuters, ABC News, WSJ
U.S. Poverty, Incomes Decline
The number of Americans living in poverty went down last year. The U.S. Census Bureau put out new data this week. It shows about 9.1% of Americans were poor last year. That’s down from about 11.8% in 2019. However, when you don’t count government aid and programs, the official poverty rate went up, and Americans saw their household income go down. It was the first significant income decline in nearly a decade. Officials see this as proof that government aid was crucial to keep millions of Americans afloat.
Read More: WaPo, WSJ, NBC News, NY Times, NPR, Census
Women are Half of New Gun Buyers
More women are buying guns than ever before. A new survey found 3.5 million women bought guns for the first time between January of 2019 and April of this year. In that same time, four million men bought their first guns. Traditionally, women have only made up 10-20% of all American gun owners. The researchers behind the survey and gun store owners say the shift is driven by fear. People are scared of the COVID-19 pandemic, violence in cities, and heightened political tensions.
Read More: WSJ, The Hill, WJXT
TikTok Trend Encourages Stealing
Schools around the country are dealing with vandalism and theft because of a TikTok trend. Kids are stealing school supplies, and they’re chronicling their escapades with videos and the hashtag #DeviousLicks. Some kids have stolen mirrors, sinks, ceiling tiles, and toilet stall doors from bathrooms. Others have gone for computers, film projectors, and other technology. Some have taken disposable masks, COVID-19 tests, and more. TikTok says it has started removing the videos from its platform. However, some are still up, and they’re getting millions of views.
Read More: USA Today, NBC News, Newsweek, Insider, TikTok
Rivian Rolls Out First Electric Pickup
The first electric pickup truck drove off an assembly line this week, ready for a paying customer. A start-up company called Rivian beat out the competition to be the first electric truck on the market. The vehicle is called the R1T. It can travel 300 miles before it needs to be recharged. It costs about $73,000. The company reportedly plans to hold events around the country so drivers can see it in person. Then, customers have to order online because Rivian doesn’t have showrooms.
Read More: CNN, TechCrunch, CNBC, Rivian
Emmy Awards This Sunday
The 73rd Emmy Awards are this Sunday night. This year’s event is happening outside, behind the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. A small audience will be there, but all guests have to show proof they’re fully vaccinated and a negative COVID-19 test. Netflix’s “The Crown” and Disney’s “The Mandalorian” are tied for the most nominations at 24 apiece. Shows with more than 20 nods include “Wandavision,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and “Saturday Night Live.” You can watch the Emmys starting at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday on CBS or Paramount+.
Read More: Insider, Rolling Stone, E! News, NBC News, Emmy’s
Feel Good Friday: Lawn Chair Movement is Reducing Violence
Some of the most violent neighborhoods are getting safer because a group of volunteers has decided to pull up a chair. All summer, community members have been hanging out in some of the city’s most dangerous street corners. Volunteers show up, sit down, talk to young people, and try to build a community around faith, family, and friends. Police stats show it’s been helping. Compared to last summer, homicide and other violent crimes have dropped. Similar efforts have started in Baltimore and Nashville. Crime has started falling in those areas too.
Read More: Good News Network, WaPo, 21 Days of Peace