Friday 03.25.22
Vacation mode: on. If you're on the West Coast, grab your sunglasses and head to the beach this weekend. Most of the western US will experience record-breaking heat for the next few days. However, not everyone is excited to get an early taste of summer. March is considered high season for many ski resorts in the Mountain West, and this weekend will be a seasonal shock. Here's what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On With Your Day.
By Alexandra Meeks |
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President Joe Biden attending a press conference after the special NATO summit at NATO headquarters. |
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Ukraine President Joe Biden will travel to Poland today, marking his second stop on a trip through Europe aimed at coordinating the West's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Yesterday's crisis talks in Brussels ended with Western leaders touting their unity and announcing new sanctions on hundreds of Russia's elite. Ukraine also updated its extensive wishlist of additional military assistance from the US government, saying it needs 1,000 missiles per day, according to a document provided to CNN. Less than two weeks into Russia's invasion, the US and other NATO members had sent about 17,000 anti-tank missiles and 2,000 anti-aircraft missiles into Ukraine. Since then, NATO countries, including the US, have kept the pipeline of weapons and equipment flowing, even as Russia has threatened to target the shipments. Separately, more than 3.5 million refugees have now fled Ukraine, according to new UN data. For its part, the US will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia's aggression, a senior administration official said yesterday. |
Capitol riot The House Select Committee investigating the January 6 riot at the US Capitol has in its possession more than two dozen text messages, 29 in total, between former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, a conservative activist and the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, according to multiple sources. The text messages, reviewed by CNN, show Thomas pleading with Meadows to continue the fight to overturn the 2020 election results. The revelation of messages between Thomas and Meadows, both key allies of former President Donald Trump, comes as progressives and some legal ethics experts see her activism as a potential conflict of interest for Justice Thomas' work on some Supreme Court cases. The committee is also considering whether to recommend that two former advisers to Trump be held in contempt for not cooperating with its investigation and to refer them to the Justice Department for possible prosecution. |
Supreme Court Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson wrapped up yesterday after four days. Jackson spoke about her judicial experience and addressed the historic nature of her nomination, which would make her the first Black female Supreme Court justice. The hearing also featured contentious moments of harsh questioning by committee Republicans. Sen. Lindsey Graham took issue with her sentencing of child pornography offenders and even criticized her as an "activist." On the other hand, New Jersey Democrat Sen. Cory Booker delivered a moving speech that brought tears to the nominee. The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Judge Jackson's Supreme Court nomination on Monday, April 4. |
Immigration The Biden administration has finalized a federal regulation that will help settle asylum claims at a faster pace. The new rule will help alleviate the immigration court backlog by giving asylum officers more authority to hear and decide asylum claims -- cases that are usually assigned to immigration judges -- when migrants present at the US southern border. The change comes amid growing concerns about a potential migrant surge at the US-Mexico border. There are 1.7 million cases pending in immigration court, according to a system which tracks immigration court data. The administration is still assessing who the rule will apply to and where it will be implemented, officials said, emphasizing that the rollout will start small. |
Climate change Australia's Great Barrier Reef is suffering its sixth mass bleaching event due to heat stress caused by climate change, the reef's managers confirmed today. The update comes mid-way through a 10-day monitoring mission by scientists who are considering whether to add one of the world's seven natural wonders to their "in danger" list." According to a biologist monitoring the project, more than half of the living coral seen from the air is severely bleached completely white and are producing fluorescent pigments in an attempt to protect their tissue from the intense sun during marine heatwaves. This is the fourth mass bleaching event in six years and the first since 2020, when about one quarter of the reef showed signs of severe bleaching. Previous bleaching occurred in 1998 and 2002. |
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Oscars producers say Sunday's show will 'respectfully acknowledge' Ukraine crisis This year's show will also be "an escape for folks out there that really need it," the show's executive producer said. Definitely count us in. Google searches for electric vehicles set a record this month The price of gas is so high… but so is the price of a new Tesla. Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place! You can cultivate your social media to make you happier and healthier Pro tip: Follow therapists on social media. They're always sharing uplifting content that's great for you mental well-being. Enter the lottery to attend the White House's Easter Egg Roll If you want to take your kids to the most epic Easter Egg hunt at the White House, the lottery for free tickets opens today! Sign up here. The second season of 'Bridgerton' begins today on Netflix Be right back. It's urgent that I go binge watch this… |
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What is the most popular dog breed in the US? A. Beagle
B. French bulldog
C. Rottweiler
D. Labrador retriever Take CNN's weekly news quiz see if you're correct! |
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That's how many people in the US filed for unemployment benefits last week, according to data released yesterday by the Department of Labor. The last time the weekly number was that low was in 1969, when 182,000 people filed for jobless benefits. And while the strong jobs numbers are an encouraging sign, they could lead the Federal Reserve to step up its pace of interest rate hikes to keep inflation in check. | |
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The Texas Legislature has made it clear that when it comes to sex education, parents -- not school districts -- are in charge. -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, arguing that Pride Week activities at schools that celebrate LGBTQIA+ students, staff and families are breaking state law. In a letter to the Austin Independent School District's superintendent, Paxton, a Republican, said the district's "curriculum and lesson plans deal head-on with sexual orientation and gender" and said Texas law requires parental consent in writing before students are taught about human sexuality. "We aren't worried about Paxton's letter," a district spokesperson told CNN. "Pride Week and sex education are different. Celebrating diversity and acceptance is completely legal." |
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Okay, now go! Start your weekend on the right foot! Enjoy this choreographed treadmill routine performed by OK Go. (Click here to view) |
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