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).

Share:
More In Business
Athletic Greens Raises $115 Million to Expand Footprint of Nutritional Drink
Nutritional supplement beverage company Athletic Greens has achieved unicorn status. The company announced a new $115 million funding round, bringing its valuation to $1.2 billion. The company's flagship product AG1 combines 75 different vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients into one daily serving. Athletic Greens says it is poised to reach the millions of consumers who are currently driving the health and wellness market's exponential growth. Athletic Greens founder and CEO Chris Ashenden joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Spotify Podcast Host Joe Rogan Responds to Controversy As Question Arises About Spotify's Accountability
Is Spotify a platform for content creators, or is it a media company? The streaming giant may have to find an answer sooner rather than later amid a controversy involving its most popular podcast host, Joe Rogan. Rogan has hosted guests who have made false claims about COVID-19 vaccines, and in turn, some musicians like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have removed their discographies from Spotify in protest. Rogan says he welcomes content advisories, and will balance out his guests going forward, but is it enough? And is Spotify liable in any way? John Freeman, Vice President of CFRA Research, joins Closing Bell to discuss Rogan's response to the controversy, whether Spotify should be considered a media company with responsibility for its content, and more.
Electronic Vape Giant Pax Labs to Release Its First Cannabis Products
Pax Labs, a leading electronic vaporizer company, plans to release its very first cannabis pod venture, of which different strands of cannabis will be available. COO Steven Jung spoke with Cheddar’s Chloe Aiello to talk about the release of the companies own line of 100 percent cannabis pods for use with its vaporizers. "I think this is the direction that most products are going," Jung noted. "If you look at the data, it would actually show you that most consumers are in fact looking for this kind of delivery mechanism in the product itself."
Sony Responds to Microsoft, Acquires Bungie for $3.6B as M&A Activity Heats Up
The gaming industry has seen multiple large scales deals this month alone, including Microsoft's megadeal for Activision Blizzard. And, seemingly in response, rival Sony, picked up Bungie for $3.6 billion, a studio once owned by both Microsoft and Activision. The sector is reportedly on track to spend $150 billion on mergers and acquisitions just this year alone, a record-breaking total, according to investment firm Drake Star Partners. Michael Metzger, a partner at the firm specializing in technology, media, and communications, joined Cheddar to discuss the flurry of deals in the gaming space and what might be behind the hot M&A activity.
Unpacking the Neil Young vs. Joe Rogan Vaccine Misinformation PR Crisis on Spotify
After classic rocker Neil Young demanded removal of his music from Spotify over vaccine misinformation coming from The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the platform made the decision to take down Young's songs and continue supporting Rogan with whom they have an exclusive contract. The move touched off a firestorm of controversy, leading to responses from both the streaming service and the podcasting host. Evan Nierman, CEO of Red Banyan Crisis PR, joined Cheddar to break down the latest on the fracas. "I think when [Spotify] initially said, we're not going to be commenting on that, that was a silly move because guess what? They did end up commenting about it, and nine times out of 10, when an organization says they're not going to be issuing a comment, they ultimately do," Nierman noted.
Load More