Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Monday, May 10, 2021:

COVID-19: AIRBORNE TRANSMISSION

The CDC on Friday updated its public guidance on how COVID spreads, acknowledging that airborne transmission through microscopic droplets known as aerosols is a factor -- and  emphasizing that people can still get infected even if they’re more than six feet from an infected person because those aerosols can float in the air for an extended period of time. Meanwhile, Dr. Fauci now says he’s OK with loosening indoor mask requirements as more Americans become vaccinated. The rate of vaccinations in the U.S. continues to decline and some states are now turning down shipments from the federal government as their stockpiles grow. More than one-third of the population is fully vaccinated. AXIOS

STATE OF GOP

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is publicly backing Rep. Elise Stefanik of N.Y. to replace Rep. Liz Cheney in her leadership role of the party, all but ensuring Cheney will be ousted for failing to support former President Trump, likely this week. Republicans in Arizona are still in the process of auditing the 2020 election results, looking for evidence to support the false claims that the vote was rigged. Auditors are inspecting each ballot for bamboo fibers based on a conspiracy theory that a plane from South Korea flew to Phoenix with counterfeit ballots just after Election Day. AP

WEEKEND SHOOTINGS

COLORADO: A gunman killed six members of an extended family and himself at a birthday party in Colorado Springs on Mother’s Day. Police are still determining a motive, but believe the shooter was the boyfriend of one of the victims. COLO SPRINGS GAZETTE

NYC: Three bystanders, including a 4-year-old girl, were injured in a shooting in broad daylight in the middle of Times Square on Saturday. All of them are expected to survive. Gun violence in NYC has been on the rise since the start of the pandemic, with at least 463 people shot so far this year, nearly double the number in the same period of 2019, according to police data. NBC NY

AFGHANISTAN UNRAVELING

Violence in Afghanistan has gone from bad to worse since the U.S. announced it is withdrawing all remaining troops from the country. A triple bombing that targeted a high school in the capital killed at least 68 people, nearly all of them teenage girls. Rights groups say the brazen attack is likely a preview of what’s to come once U.S. forces are out of Afghanistan for good and the Taliban reconstitutes control. NY TIMES

PIPELINE ATTACK

A pipeline that delivers nearly half the fuel used on the East Coast is still shut down after a cyberattack threw it offline on Friday. Colonial Pipeline had to shut down 5,500 miles of the conduit because of a ransomware attack, and the company says there’s still no estimate on when the gasoline will be flowing again. It’s not clear yet if the disruption will impact gas prices, which are already flirting with $3 per gallon on the national average. REUTERS

LABOR MARKET

Friday’s incredibly disappointing jobs report -- 266,000 jobs added in April compared to expectations of 1 million -- is leading to increased calls to cancel the enhanced unemployment benefits extended in the last stimulus bill. The Chamber of Commerce is advocating for the extra $300 weekly benefit to be cancelled, arguing that it's creating a labor shortage that threatens to hold back the economic recovery. Even before the jobs report, South Carolina and Montana announced they’d kick people off the federal program at the end of June. YAHOO MONEY

JUICED 

The horse that shocked oddsmakers by coming behind to win the Kentucky Derby has failed a post-race drug test. Medina Spirit tested positive for excessive amounts of a steroid used to treat pain and inflammation, leading Churchill Downs to suspend Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and putting the colt’s Derby victory in jeopardy. Baffert denied any wrongdoing and promised to be transparent in the investigation. ESPN

MUSK ON SNL

Nearly 5 million people tuned in to watch Elon Musk host Saturday Night Live -- not huge, but still the third highest-rated episode of the season. Musk’s performance is getting mixed-to-decent reviews, with one columnist saying he brought a mix of “humility and hubris” and another saying he provided a much-needed “jolt” to the show. He also made a little news, announcing in the monologue that he has Asperger’s syndrome. The price of Dogecoin, the cryptocurrency favored by Musk, lost a third of its value after he called it a “hustle” during Weekend Update: WATCH THE MONOLOGUE

SPOTTED...

… J.Lo, serenading her mother with “Sweet Caroline” on stage at the Global Citizen Vax Live concert: WATCH

...Bo, the Obamas’ first pet, in a tribute posted to Instagram by Michelle Obama announcing his death. The 12-year-old Portuguese water dog passed away from cancer: SEE PIC

LEFTOVERS: ...MUST COME DOWN

The remnants of a 100-foot Chinese rocket splashed down in the Indian Ocean near the Maldives late Saturday night. There were no reports of damages or injuries from the falling wreckage. Despite the Pentagon saying it was tracking the rocket’s reentry, there were no alerts issued until Chinese media reported the landing after the fact. NASA blasted China for “failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris.” CNN

Listen to the N2K Podcast! Looking for more context and analysis on the big stories of the day? Check out our podcast! Hosts Jill and Carlo break down the headlines, every weekday morning Listen on Apple or Spotify, or watch on YouTube, and send us your feedback!

Share:
More In Culture
Leafly CEO on Celebrating 4/20, Ringing Nasdaq Opening Bell
Fresh off of ringing the opening bell on the Nasdaq on the marijuana holiday, 4/20, Yoko Miyashita, CEO of cannabis website Leafly, joined Cheddar News to discuss the future of cannabis in the U.S. and the growth of her company going forward. "I think this is a new a new high, pardon the pun, but really elevating 4/20 from what used to be sort of an insider cultural moment to something that we're recognizing across the industry, really memorials the impact that this industry has," she said.
Nyle Dimarco on Sharing Stories That Make Him Who He Is in 'Deaf Utopia'
Model, actor, and deaf activist Nyle DiMarco, along with interpreter Greyson Van Pelt, joined Cheddar News to talk about his new book "Deaf Utopia" and deaf representation in Hollywood. DiMarco gave a glimpse into what his book focuses on. "I've always felt like audiences think that they know me well, but there are so many other stories that really make me who I am. And I'm excited to share those," he said. DiMarco also hoped he was able to capture in its pages the centuries of oppression that have been faced by the deaf community.
Breaking Down the Budding Cannabis Industry With Item 9 Labs CEO
Marijuana legalization has spread across the country in recent years, and the number of Americans in support of legalization is at an all-time high. Andrew Bowden, CEO of the premium cannabis brand Item 9 Labs, joined Cheddar to break down the inner workings of the industry and how the industry can grow from here.
Breaking Down The Mixed Signals From The Housing Market
Home builder confidence has fallen to a seven-month low as surging mortgage rates and supply chain issues boost housing costs. At the same time, demand for homes is strong, with homebuilding unexpectedly rising in March, despite rising mortgage rates. But, as the Fed raises interest rates, some analysts are pointing to signs of cooling in the housing market. Tim Rood, Managing Director of SitusAMC, breaks down the latest data and what it signals about the housing market.
Will Rising Wages Keep Pace With Rising Inflation?
While rising wages might be positively impacting workers, inflation continues to rear its ugly head. Will pay increases be able to keep up with the costs of living? Mark Hamrick, a senior economic analyst at Bankrate.com, joined Cheddar News to talk about how the American worker is contending with inflation. "I'm a little skeptical whether wages are going to keep that pace that some are fearful about," he said. "We don't have a historical record that makes that case, and we think about how through the last economic recovery that we had before the pandemic really began to take hold in March and April of 2020 wage growth was really sort of the last part of that chapter."
Load More