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).
Big Apple workers who deliver for food apps like Doordash and Grubhub will now receive a number of legal protections provided through a package of new regulations that have started going into effect. These updated rules include more control over their deliveries, pay and tip transparency, a higher minimum pay rate, and access to restaurant bathrooms during the workday. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander joined Cheddar to elaborate on the regulations and how the platform holders reacted. "I have to say it's a mixed bag," he said. "Grubhub actually welcomed the legislation and said they recognize they need to do better by their deliveristas, but DoorDash, unfortunately, has actually been pushing back against the legislation."
Thomas Hoenig, Former CEO of Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and currently Distinguished Senior Fellow with the Mercatus Center, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he says the Fed's decision was no surprise, but believes the Fed is behind the curve on raising rates.
Legal cannabis businesses are having a hard time surviving in California with the high cost of doing business and a still-thriving illicit market. In response, nonprofit Supernova Women, founded by women of color, is advocating on behalf of Black and brown shareholders in the cannabis industry. Amber Senter, co-founder, executive director, and chairman of the organization, spoke with Cheddar News about calling for changes in the Golden State's taxation system for legal marijuana. "We're really leaning on the legislators now to support the industry and make sure that this industry, in particular craft cannabis, can survive," said Senter.
After being among the hardest-hit industries by the pandemic, restaurants are still having a hard time staying afloat, with owners claiming that business is worse now due to closures from staff shortages and customer decline than it was three months ago. Mike Whatley, vice president of state affairs and grassroots advocacy for the National Restaurant Association, spoke to Cheddar News about how the sector is reaching out to lawmakers for help. "Working with Senators Wicker, Sinema, and a whole host of bipartisan leaders, we're trying to get the Restaurant Revitalization Fund replenished," Whatley said.
Communities of color are disproportionately affected by climate change and continuously feel the impacts. Mark Magaña, founding president and CEO of Green Latinos joined All Hands to discuss.
The memoir, "COMPROMISED: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump", tells a familiar story from a bit of a different source: Peter Strzok himself, former FBI Counterintelligence Agents and Agency Veteran who spent most of his very long career investigating some of the most controversial inquiries, most notably in recent American history. Those inquiries were Hillary Clinton's email to even Trump Russia investigations. Former FBI Agent and Author of "Compromised" Peter Strzok, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
President Biden's first year did not come to the close that he had hoped after last night's Senate vote blocked the voting rights bill, a priority that Biden has promoted since his inauguration. Joining us to discuss the voting rights bill, and many others passing through congress is congresswoman Lori Trahan, representing Massachusett's 3rd district.
