These are the headlines you Need 2 Know. * **Shutdown Threat:** A government shutdown looms as President Trump, Democratic leaders, and the GOP-controlled Congress remain at a stalemate over $5 billion in funding for a border wall. Funding for key parts of the government lapses at midnight Friday. Read more [here](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/421592-gop-leader-faces-trump-test-in-latest-shutdown-crisis). * **Staff Shakeups:** Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke is leaving President Trump’s administration, the president announced in a tweet. Zinke, who showed up for his first day of work on horseback, has faced criticism for a land deal in his hometown that involved an organization run by his wife, and a blocked proposal for the expansion of a casino because of alleged pressure from MGM Resorts. Read more [here](https://www.npr.org/2018/12/15/663597698/ryan-zinke-is-leaving-the-interior-department). * **Chief of Staff:** Mick Mulvaney, President Trump’s budget director, will replace John Kelly as White House chief of staff on an acting basis. In a resurfaced video, Mulvaney called Trump a “terrible human being” during the 2016 election while explaining that he was still supporting him. A spokeswoman said Mulvaney made those comments before he met Trump. Read more [here](https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/15/politics/mick-mulvaney-trump-chief-of-staff/index.html). * **Obamacare Ruling:** A federal judge in Texas struck down the entirety of the Affordable Care act as unconstitutional on Friday night. A group of Democratic governors immediately promised to appeal to the Supreme Court, which has twice ruled in favor of the health law. For now, the law remains in place. Read more [here](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/health/obamacare-unconstitutional-texas-judge.html). * **Utah DUI:** Utah will soon have the country’s strictest alcohol law, defining "driving under the influence" as someone having a blood-alcohol level of .05 or higher. The nationwide standard is .08. The law goes into effect December 30. Read more [here](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/utah-set-drop-blood-alcohol-limit-05-strictest-country-n948536). * **Shopping Alert:** If you plan on ordering from Amazon and you aren’t a Prime member, you have until tomorrow for free holiday shipping — extended by four days. The company is also offering free one-day shipping for Prime members through December 23 and on Christmas Eve, there will be free same-day delivery for Prime members in certain areas. See where [here](https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=8729023011). * **Cauliflower & Lettuce Recall:** A California company has recalled cauliflower, red leaf lettuce, and green leaf lettuce over E. coli concerns. The company, Adam Bros. Farming, says it is voluntarily recalling the products out of an “abundance of caution” though none of its products have tested positive for E. coli. The cauliflower was distributed to wholesalers in ten states; lettuce was sent to seven states. See where [here](http://www.adambros.com/press-release-12132018.pdf). * **Football:** At the end of Week 15 in the NFL, the playoff picture is beginning to come into view. See where your team stands [here](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2018/12/16/nfl-playoff-picture-week-15-afc-nfc-seeds-patriots/2331757002/). * **HQ Founder:** Colin Kroll, the 34-year-old co-founder of the popular game show app HQ Trivia was found dead over the weekend in New York of a suspected drug overdose. Kroll had also co-founded Vine, the now-defunct video app, and had a controversial stint at Twitter. Read more [here](https://www.thedailybeast.com/nypd-colin-kroll-ceo-of-hq-trivia-found-dead-in-manhattan-apartment). * **Pete Davidson:** Pete Davidson appeared briefly on SNL after saying on his now-deleted Instagram account that he “does not want to be on this earth anymore.” The NYPD performed a wellness check on the comedian, whose post garnered an outpouring of support and concern — including tweets from ex-fiancée Ariana Grande who apparently showed up at 30 Rock — over his mental health. Read more [here](https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/pete-davidson-posts-disturbing-social-media-message-prompting/story?id=59840658)/ * **$$$:** American parents are spending money — lots of it — on their adult children, a recent Merrill Lynch study found. Seventy-nine percent of parents acknowledge spending money on their grown-up kids, from weddings and college to everyday expenses. A whopping $500 billion is spent annually on "adult" children. Read more [here](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/american-parents-are-spending-billions-on-their-adult-children/). * **Good Will Still Hunting:** Prince Harry is reportedly skipping out on the royals’ Boxing Day pheasant shoot—a family tradition—because Meghan Markle is opposed to hunting. Word of the prince bowing out comes amid rumors of tension with Prince William and Kate Middleton. Read more [here](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6500347/Prince-Harry-snub-traditional-Royal-Family-Boxing-Day-shoot-avoid-upsetting-Meghan.html). Cheddar's Hena Doba gets into the latest. Subscribe to the Need 2 Know newsletter [here](https://theneed2know.com).
