Friday, October 22nd, 2021
Alec Baldwin’s Prop Gun Kills, Trump’s Social App & Winter Weather Predictions
All the news you need in around 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by kiwico.com (Listen for the discount code) and Policygenius.com
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...
Alec Baldwin Prop Gun Misfire
While working on the movie “Rust”, actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun, shooting a cinematographer and the director. Both were rushed to the hospital where the cinematographer was pronounced dead. It’s not clear how badly injured the director is. No one has been charged with a crime, but deputies are still investigating if it was an accident or not. The production company says the movie is now on hold, and the cast and crew are cooperating with the investigation.
Read More: Santa Fe New Mexican, CNN, Fox News, Deadline, SAG-AFTRA
Border Arrests Hit Record
Border Patrol agents have arrested more migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border in the last year than at any other time in history. New data shows more than 1.7 million migrants were taken into U.S. custody from October 2020 to September 2021, and arrests soared to the highest levels ever recorded. Things aren’t exactly slowing down now either. Officials are tracking a huge new caravan of migrants. It includes tens of thousands of people fleeing Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba, and other Latin American countries. Officials say if they reach the U.S., most will likely be turned away.
Read More: WaPo, NBC News, Fox News, Forbes
Climate Change’s National Security Impact
New reports from several American national security agencies say the effects of climate change won’t just impact our weather, but global security too. The documents explain how developing countries are the most at risk and the least adaptable when the effects of climate change hit. And, that could lead to “instability and possibly internal conflict.” Another report warned tens of millions of people are likely going to be displaced by 2050 because of climate change. The biggest takeaway to come out of the reports is a new government group made up of officials from several agencies who will come together to focus just on climate change and migration.
Read More: NY Times, CBS News, WaPo, Axios, White House
NOAA Winter Weather Outlook
The federal agency known as NOAA now predicts two-thirds of the U.S. will be warmer than average from December to January. As for the other third of the country, the Pacific Northwest, Northern Plains, and southern Alaska will likely get even colder than usual. When it comes to rain and snow, NOAA says the Midwest, Northwest, and Hawaii should all expect more than average. But, the South will have less. That said, NOAA says cold, wintery surprises are still possible, so everyone should prepare to bundle up and have winter survival kits ready, just in case.
Read More: USA Today, NBC News, ABC News, WaPo, NOAA
Queen Elizabeth Hospitalized
The world’s oldest and longest-reigning royal has been sidelined by her health. Britain's Queen Elizabeth, who is 95 years old, spent a night in the hospital for the first time in years. Royal officials typically don’t talk about health issues, only saying medical matters are private. All they’ve said is the Queen was taken in for tests that didn’t have anything to do with Covid-19. Either way, she’s now back at Windsor Castle and is said to be in good spirits. She should be well enough to take on some light duties today.
Read More: BBC, CNN, Fox News, Reuters
Trump’s New Social Media Platform
Former President Trump is launching a media network including a new social media platform called TRUTH Social. It’s reportedly going to be similar to Twitter. Trump says he wants to “stand up to the tyranny of big tech and give a voice to all.” He also says the company will be publicly traded and listed on the NASDAQ through a merger with another company, Digital World Acquisition Corporation. TRUTH Social is available for pre-order in the Apple app store, and a beta version will be available to invited guests next month. It’s expected to roll out nationwide early next year.
Read More: CNBC, Fox Business, AP, NPR, TMTG
Twitter Amplifies Right-Leaning Content
On the same day former President Trump doubled down on his criticism of major social media apps, saying they censor conservative voices, Twitter shared its research showing the opposite. Twitter’s analysis found its algorithms amplify right-leaning political and news content more than left-leaning content. But, Twitter’s team members admit they still don’t know why this is happening, nor did they define what Twitter considers to be ‘right leaning’.
Read More: Protocol, Mashable, Engadget, Twitter
Facebook Planning Rebrand?
Facebook is planning to change its company name as soon as next week. The Verge reports CEO Mark Zuckerberg wants the parent company to be known for more than social media. Instead, he wants the new name to focus on the metaverse, a virtual environment where users can hang out. Social media users have jokingly started brainstorming new names like Facetagram, Teenage Wasteland, and Boomerville.
Read More: The Verge, USA Today, Bloomberg, Reuters
REvil Kicked Offline
Governments are turning the tables on criminal hackers. Reuters reports the U.S. and other nations joined forces to hack and take down REvil, a Russian cybercriminal gang that's been linked to several major ransomware attacks this year. Reports say the governments’ operation used the same tactic the REvil cyberattackers like to use, but against them. That’s compromising backup systems.
Read More: Reuters, The Hill, Newsweek
Netflix Reopening SoCal Theater
Today, Netflix is reopening the legendary Bay Theater in Pacific Palisades, California. The first movie playing will be a Netflix original called “The Harder They Fall,” starring Regina King, Idris Elba, and more big stars. It’s also going to be playing two family-favorite animated films: “Vivo” and “The Mitchells vs. The Machines.” In the future, the streaming giant says it plans to use the venue for special events like Q&As, screenings of classic films, as well as premieres, and other movie releases. This is the third theater Netflix has teamed up with. It also runs the Paris in New York City, and it plans to reopen the historic Egyptian Theater in Hollywood next year.
Read More: LA Times, The Verge, Deadline, Hollywood Reporter
Feel Good Friday: Graduation Inside CA Prison
California State University, Los Angeles celebrated a new class of graduates this month from inside a prison yard. The program lets prisoners take one or two classes each semester and, as long as they pass all the required courses, they get a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications Studies. Friends and family were able to attend the graduation ceremony, along with university faculty, staff, and administrators. So far, 37 imprisoned students have graduated from the program, and 12 of them have since been released. Now, they say they want to strive to make the world better.
Read More: Today, CNN, Good News Network, KABC, CDCR