These are the headlines you Need 2 Know. * **Divided Government:** The government may not be open, but it is, for the first time in two years, officially divided. The 116th Congress will gavel into session today, at which point Rep. Nancy Pelosi will become House speaker for the second time and the most powerful elected woman in U.S. history. Among the first orders of business for newly-empowered Democrats will be a vote on rule changes to promote diversity and attack the deficit, and short-term funding legislation that would reopen the government but is unlikely to pass the Senate. Read more [here](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/423517-dems-unveil-rules-package-to-promote-diversity-hit-deficit). * **The Wall:** A meeting between President Trump and congressional leaders failed to break an impasse over the border wall, with Trump reportedly saying he would “look foolish” if he reopened the government while the two sides continued to negotiate. Earlier, in a televised cabinet meeting, Trump repeated several false claims about immigration and praised the former Soviet Union for invading Afghanistan in 1979. Read more [here](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-defensive-trump-calls-a-cabinet-meeting-and-uses-it-to-boast-deflect-and-distract/2019/01/02/21600a3a-0ec3-11e9-8938-5898adc28fa2_story.html?utm_term=.2c8d0874c094). * **Dark Side of the Moon:** China successfully landed a rover on the far side of the moon, according to state media. It’s a historic first for human space exploration. The rover completed a “bull’s-eye” touchdown with help of its own satellite, which relayed information to Earth since radio frequencies can’t reach that side of the moon. The rover has already sent back its first images. See the pics [here](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/02/health/china-lunar-rover-far-moon-landing-intl/index.html). * **BP Meds Recall:** A blood pressure medication is being recalled after officials say trace amounts of a possible cancer-causing chemical were discovered. The medications being recalled ー 80 lots of them ー are Amlodipine Valsartan Tablets, Valsartan HCTZ Tablets, and Valsartan Tablets. They’re made by Aurobindo Pharma USA. Read more [here](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blood-pressure-medication-recall-aurobindo-pharma-valsartan-amlodipine-trace-amounts-carcinogen-chemical-ndea/). * **Apple’s Warning:** Apple’s CEO Tim Cook is warning investors that the company’s upcoming earnings report will show slowing sales. Cook says there were fewer iPhone upgrades than expected in China and puts some of the blame on the ongoing trade war. The warning, which came via a public letter to investors, is a rare one from the company and sent shares tanking. Read more [here](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/apple-warns-investors-iphone-sales-are-slowing-n954006). * **Bob Einstein:** Bob Einstein, a comedian whose career spanned more than 50 years and is today perhaps best known for his role as the deadpan Marty Funkhouser on "Curb Your Enthusiasm," died at 76. Einstein began his career on the Smothers Brothers in the 1960s. Read more [here](https://deadline.com/2019/01/bob-einstein-dead-curb-your-enthusiasm-super-dave-osborne-smothers-brothers-1202527938/). * **Big Soccer $$$:** Christian Pulisic is officially the most expensive American soccer player of all time. Pulisic, 20, will be paid nearly $73 million to play for Chelsea, but in the meantime is finishing out his season with Dortmund, a German club he’s played for since he joined at 16. Read more [here](https://www.npr.org/2019/01/02/681660236/with-73-million-deal-christian-pulisic-is-most-expensive-u-s-soccer-player-ever). * **Spotted:** Madonna, with what some fans are speculating to be butt implants. The singer appeared in New York City on New Year’s Eve with what appeared to be a larger backside. See pics [here](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6548273/Madonna-fans-question-singer-butt-implants.html). * **Kim & Kanye:** Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are reportedly expecting a fourth child via surrogate. The baby is said to be due in early May. Read more [here](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/baby-no-4-kim-kardashian-and-kanye-wests-surrogate-pregnant-with-a-boy/). * **Netflix Censored:** Hasan Minhaj is speaking out after Netflix removed an episode of his comedy show from Saudi Arabia. In the pulled episode, Minhaj is critical of the country in the wake of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Minhaj tweeted: “Clearly, the best way to stop people from watching something is to ban it, make it trend online, and then leave it up on YouTube.” He also pointed out “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis is happening in Yemen right now.” Read more [here](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/03/hasan-minhaj-responds-to-netflix-pulling-patriot-act-episode-in-saudi-arabia.html). * **Leftovers:** The Mediterranean diet is the best way to eat in 2019, according to the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings. It also named the fish-heavy, low in sugar, red meat and saturated fats diet the easiest plan to actually follow. See the list [here](https://health.usnews.com/best-diet). Cheddar's Hena Doba gets into the latest. Subscribe to the Need 2 Know newsletter [here](https://theneed2know.com).
