Wednesday, October 14th, 2020
Barrett on Landmark Rulings, Top Athletes Test Positive & Moon Agreement
All the news you need in 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by www.MagicSpoon.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…
SCOTUS Nominee Faces Questioning
Judge Amy Coney Barrett is in for another day of grilling from Senators today. However, don’t expect her to weigh in too much on any past cases. During the first day of questioning, lawmakers brought up certain controversial issues like Obamacare and gay marriage, but Judge Barrett said she wouldn’t be giving a thumbs up or down on any of the court’s past precedents or future cases. The committee’s chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, says Barrett could be confirmed by the full Senate by October 27th.
Read More: AP, WaPo, CNN, Reuters, WSJ, NYT on Superprecedent
FBI: Another Governor Kidnapping Discussed
The men arrested for an in-depth plot to kidnap Michigan’s governor had their first day in court. At the hearing, federal prosecutors revealed some disturbing new details about the case. One FBI agent said the suspects were not just after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, but they also discussed targeting Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam too. The agent said they had issues with both Democratic governors for issuing lockdown orders in the spring. For now, they’ll all stay in jail. A judge denied bail. If convicted, they face life in prison.
Read More: WaPo, AP, Detroit Free Press, Reuters
COVID-19 Antibody Trial Paused
Eli Lilly had to stop enrollment in its antibody treatment study. The drugmaker has been testing the antiviral drug Remdesivir with an experimental antibody. It’s similar to a treatment President Trump recently received. However, there was some kind of safety concern with this trial, so the drugmaker had to press pause. This is normal protocol and doesn’t necessarily mean the study is a bust. Safety issues can often be quickly resolved.
Read More: AP, Reuters, NBC News
Census Count Paused
The Supreme Court ruled that the Census Bureau is allowed to stop the 2020 census two weeks early. Now, you only have tomorrow to fill it out. The Trump administration has said it needs to stop right away to meet an end-of-year deadline, but civil rights groups have argued that ending it early could mean minorities could be undercounted. The Supreme Court ruling pauses the count until an appeals court sorts it out. Since we’re so close to the deadline anyway, that effectively ends the count until the year 2030.
Read More: NY Times, WaPo, Reuters, Axios, Census.gov
iPhone 12 Reveal
Apple unveiled its newest fleet of iPhones. The company revealed four different versions of its new iPhone 12 during its virtual event. All the phones will support 5G, even though the fast 5G network isn’t available everywhere yet. Apple says the new phones will also have better cameras. They will come in a wide range of sizes too. The iPhone 12 mini has a 5.4-inch screen. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a display that’s larger than 6.7 inches. The phones range in price from about $700 to $1,100. Preorders start Friday.
Read More: CNN, The Verge, AP, Apple
NASA’s New Moonshot Rules
Eight countries have signed an international pact for moon exploration. The agreement calls on participating countries to work together and explore sustainably. For example, people can’t leave space junk behind. All countries need to pitch in and help when there’s an astronaut emergency. The new rules also ban secrecy. Scientific data must be shared and everyone’s equipment must be compatible. So far, the United States, Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the UK, and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to the Artemis Accords.
Read More: AP, Axios, Reuters, NASA
NFL to Expand Testing
The NFL will start doing COVID-19 tests on game days, on top of the regular testing it was already doing. Also, the use of masks in walkthroughs is now mandatory and only play-callers will be permitted to wear face shields instead of masks or gaiters on the sideline. The new protocol will begin this week. Remember, two teams are already dealing with outbreaks, forcing the league to reshuffle its schedules a few times so far.
Read More: AP, NFL
Top Athletes Get COVID-19
The new coronavirus is still sweeping through the world of sports, affecting athletes at the top of their fields. The world’s top-ranked golfer, Dustin Johnson, has now tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing symptoms. He will sit out this week’s CJ Cup in Las Vegas. A soccer player, who many consider to be the best in the world, also tested positive. Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed he has the virus and is in isolation, but he’s so far not showing any symptoms.
Dustin Johnson Tests Positive: CBS Sports, ESPN
Cristiano Ronaldo Tests Positive: ESPN, AP
Billboard Music Awards
The 2020 Billboard Music Awards are happening tonight. Kelly Clarkson is set to host the event for the second year in a row. There will also be performances from stars like Alicia Keys, BTS, Demi Lovato, Garth Brooks, Post Malone, and more. Only the performers will be there on stage. There won’t be anyone in the audience. Post Malone was nominated for the most awards. He scored 16 nominations, including ones for Top Artist and Top Rap Song. The award show starts at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Read More: Billboard, ET, Hollywood Reporter
Work Wednesday: Women Leaving the Workforce
More women are quitting their jobs or getting fired this year. The nonprofit newsroom, The 19th, reports about 865,000 U.S. women left the workforce last month, compared to 216,000 men. There are reportedly a few reasons for the trend. Women make up the majority of the workforce in industries that have been hit hard this year, like retail and hospitality. Also, the coronavirus crisis has complicated childcare, forcing some women to leave their jobs to stay home, or start homeschooling their kids.
Read More: The 19th, NY Times, Business Insider, Labor Dept.