These are the headlines you Need 2 Know.
* **Exit Interview:**
Outgoing White House chief of staff John Kelly has opened up about his tumultuous tenure in an interview. Kelly said that the administration abandoned the idea of a concrete border wall long ago and blamed former AG Jeff Sessions for the family separation policy that caused chaos at the border. Read more [here](https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-john-kelly-exit-interview-20181230-story.html).
* **Wall War:**
President Trump is using the wall at the Obamas’ home as validation for a border wall as the government shutdown enters week two. He tweeted Sunday the Obamas’ wall is “totally necessary for their safety and security. The U.S. needs the same thing, slightly larger version!” Read more [here](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/423273-trump-us-needs-border-wall-like-obamas-needed-privacy-wall-outside-dc).
* **Lion Attack:**
A 22-year-old woman was killed by a lion after it escaped its enclosure at a zoological park in North Carolina. The victim was an intern at Conservators Center. The lion was shot dead. Read more [here](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/12/30/lion-attack-worker-killed-after-lion-escapes-north-carolina/2445734002/).
* **Putin's Message:**
Russian President Vladimir Putin has written a New Year’s letter to President Trump, saying that he’s “open to dialogue” with the U.S. The Kremlin posted a summary of the letter on Sunday. Read more [here](https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/putin-tells-trump-years-letter-open-meeting-60077657).
* **Ebola:**
An American is being monitored in Nebraska after possible exposure to the Ebola virus. The person, who is not sick, had been treating patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is currently going through one of the deadliest Ebola outbreaks in history. Read more [here](https://www.npr.org/2018/12/30/681016402/american-flown-to-nebraska-after-possible-ebola-exposure).
* **Minimum Wage:**
The minimum wage will go up in 21 states and the District of Columbia as of tomorrow. The federal minimum wage remains at $7.25. See the map of increases [here](https://www.businessinsider.com/minimum-wage-2019-state-map-2018-12).
* **Fly Like an Eagle:**
Spectators at the Cotton Bowl in Texas got an eyeful when a bald eagle landed on two fans.The North American bald eagle was supposed to fly around the stadium during the national anthem ー but plans went awry. Clemson went on to blow out Notre Dame, 30-3. Watch [here](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46715373).
* **Spotted…**
Actor Kevin Spacey was spotted in a rare public appearance. The actor was seen delivering pizza to paparazzi as he awaits arraignment. See the pic [here](https://www.tmz.com/2018/12/30/kevin-spacey-buys-paparazzi-pizza-sexual-assault-arraignment-court/).
* **Bird Box Blowout:**
Netflix, which is famously mum about how many people watch movies on the service, said a record-breaking 45 million accounts streamed the Sandra Bullock hit Bird Box in the first seven days of release. Read more [here](https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/30/18161741/bird-box-netflix-45-million-accounts-statistics-views).
* **Ball Drop:**
Hundreds of thousands of revelers are expected to ring in the new year in a wet Times Square tonight, with the NYPD flying drones overhead as one of many security measures. A group of journalists will press the button that drops the famous ball, officially ringing in 2019. Live look [here](https://www.earthcam.com/cams/newyork/timessquare/?cam=tstwo_hd).
Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, NJ and Ayana Morris, co-director of the documentary 'Why Is We Americans?,' join Cheddar News to discuss the new documentary highlighting the impact of the Baraka family.
Former New York City mayor and lawyer to Donald Trump Rudy Giuliani made his singing debut on a taping of Fox’s The Masked Singer. However, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke, two judges on the competition show, reportedly left in protest when Giuliani was unmasked upon being eliminated.
All Hands celebrates Black History Month by highlighting achievements in inclusivity and paying homage to those who have fought for equal rights. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) joins Cheddar News to discuss voter suppression; Damali Peterman, CEO of Breakthrough ADR, elaborates on the biggest barriers for Black professionals; Andre Perry, senior fellow of Brookings Institution, dives into student loans and the racial wealth divide; and lastly, BET CEO Scott Mills discusses the company's initiatives for 2022.
All month long Cheddar News is celebrating Black History Month.
In our nation’s capital, Black history is being made right now.
cheddar's own Arielle Hixon puts the spotlight on three lawmakers making that happen, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).
Representative Maxine Waters (D-Calif. 43rd District) joined Cheddar News to talk about the current political climate in America, including efforts to roll back voting rights in multiple states in light of Black History Month. "Why do we have to deal with those who still believe that somehow this country only belongs to the whites of the country and that somehow they have to do everything that they can to undermine our voting and do voters suppression to keep us from being influential and at the table by which to solve problems?" she asked. Waters chided "two Democrats" who she said were stymying attempts to rectify the issue and also spoke on President Biden’s promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court.
Wall Street saw another volatile day after the Federal Reserve left rates unchanged for now, with plans to raise rates in March at its next meeting in order to ease inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed has not made decisions on the size of rate increases, adding that the Fed is not trying to get inflation below two-percent. Ken Johnson, CFA and Investment Strategy Analyst explains why Powell thinks that high inflation is a significant threat to the labor market.
Anu Gaggar, global investment strategist for Commonwealth Financial Network, joined Cheddar News to discuss how global supply chains could be disrupted even further by an armed conflict in Ukraine.
Solid-state battery maker Factorial Energy recently raised $200 million in a Series D round led by Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis. Factorial says the funding will be used to accelerate commercial production and deployment of its solid-state battery technology, which the company says is safer, and offers up to 50% more driving range than current lithium-ion technology. Factorial also has joint development agreements (announced in late 2021) with Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Hyundai, three of the top 10 global automotive manufacturers, to commercialize its batteries. Factorial CEO Siyu Huang joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
