These are the headlines you Need 2 Know. * **Romaine Lettuce Warning:** Americans and Canadians are being warned to avoid eating romaine lettuce — any brand — after a total of 50 people in the two countries contracted E. coli. The CDC is telling Americans to throw out romaine lettuce, whether it’s a head of romaine or included in a salad mix, and has also told restaurants to stop serving it. There have been 32 victims in 11 states here, and 18 victims in Canada. Of the U.S. victims, 13 were hospitalized and one had kidney failure but no one has died. Read the warning [here](https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-11-18/index.html). * **Trump Backs Saudis:** In a lengthy statement that aides say he dictated himself, President Trump reconfirmed the U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia in the wake of that country’s assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, essentially brushing off the CIA’s determination that the crown prince ordered the hit. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle responded to the statement with shock. Read more [here](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-defends-saudia-arabias-denial-about-the-planning-of-khashoggis-death/2018/11/20/b64d2cc6-eceb-11e8-9236-bb94154151d2_story.html?utm_term=.18dbabc50ff4). * **House Dems:** Rep. Martha Fudge of Ohio threw her support behind Nancy Pelosi for speaker in the new Congress in a surprise move, after Pelosi announced she would resurrect a subcommittee on elections and name Fudge the chair. Fudge was the only representative to publicly consider challenging Pelosi for the gavel, and her decision will make it far likelier that Pelosi once again becomes speaker of the House come January. Read more [here](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/417744-fudge-endorses-nancy-pelosi-in-surprise-move). * **Trump Bombshell:** President Trump reportedly instructed the White House lawyer earlier this year to prosecute Hillary Clinton and former FBI Director James Comey, two of his political rivals. The lawyer, Don McGahn, told the president he didn’t have the power and that Trump risked impeachment if he followed through. Read more [here](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/us/politics/president-trump-justice-department.html). * **Michigan State:** The former president of Michigan State University has been charged for allegedly lying to police during an investigation of the school’s handling of sex abuse accusations against disgraced doctor Larry Nassar. Lou Anna Simon is facing two felony and two misdemeanor counts. Read more [here](https://www.npr.org/2018/11/20/669845087/michigan-state-university-ex-president-charged-with-lying-in-larry-nassar-case). * **Zuckerberg Interview:** Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg sat down for a rare TV interview in an attempt to push back on media coverage of the swirling controversies at his company. Appearing nervous but defiant, Zuckerberg resisted calls for him to step down as chairman and said he hopes Sheryl Sandberg, his embattled deputy, will stay in her job for “decades more.” Read more [here](https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/20/tech/mark-zuckerberg-interview/index.html). * **Angry Uncle Bot:** A new A.I. chat bot will help you prepare for Thanksgiving by imitating your political opposite with a “five-step method to help people have difficult conversations.” Think of it as a choose-your-own-adventure for the digital age. Read more [here](https://www.cheddar.com/videos/angry-uncle-bot-will-make-your-thanksgiving-less-tense). * **Spotted:** First son Barron Trump headed to Florida with his parents for Thanksgiving. It’s the first time he’s been spotted in public since August. See the [photo](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6411457/Barrons-Trumps-youngest-child-spotted-time-AUGUST-heads-Mar-Lago.html). * **Sexy Photo Backlash:** Sarah Michelle Gellar is getting heat on social media after posting sexy photos from 2007, with the caption: “I’m just going to pin these up all over my house as a reminder not to overeat on Thursday.” In the photos from a Maxim photo shoot, the actress is seen in lingerie. She later apologized to those who accused her of fat shaming. Read more [here](https://people.com/health/sarah-michelle-gellar-sparks-debate-with-lingerie-photo-post-about-not-overeating-on-thanksgiving/). * **Turkey Pardon:** President Trump presided over the time-honored tradition of the pre-Thanksgiving turkey pardon. This year, two birds, Peas and Carrots, were granted clemency. Watch [here](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/president-trump-pardons-a-turkey-at-the-white-house-as-annual-tradition-live-updates-today-2018-11-20/). Cheddar's Hena Doba gets into the latest. Subscribe to the Need 2 Know newsletter [here](https://theneed2know.com).

Share:
More In Politics
What’s in the legislation to end the federal government shutdown
A legislative package to end the government shutdown appears on track. A handful of Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to advance the bill after what's become a deepening disruption of federal programs and services. But hurdles remain. Senators are hopeful they can pass the package as soon as Monday and send it to the House. What’s in and out of the bipartisan deal has drawn criticism and leaves few senators fully satisfied. The legislation includes funding for SNAP food aid and other programs while ensuring backpay for furloughed federal workers. But it fails to fund expiring health care subsidies Democrats have been fighting for, pushing that debate off for a vote next month.
Federal Reserve cuts key rate as shutdown clouds economic outlook
The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Wednesday for a second time this year as it seeks to shore up economic growth and hiring even as inflation stays elevated. The move comes amid a fraught time for the central bank, with hiring sluggish and yet inflation stuck above the Fed’s 2% target. Compounding its challenges, the central bank is navigating without much of the economic data it typically relies on from the government. The Fed has signaled it may reduce its key rate again in December but the data drought raises the uncertainty around its next moves. Fed Chair Jerome Powell told reporters that there were “strongly differing views” at the central bank's policy meeting about to proceed going forward.
US and China say a trade deal is drawing closer as meeting nears
U.S. and Chinese officials say a trade deal between the world’s two largest economies is drawing closer. The sides have reached an initial consensus for President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to aim to finalize during their high-stakes meeting Thursday in South Korea. Any agreement would be a relief to international markets. Trump's treasury secretary says discussions with China yielded preliminary agreements to stop the precursor chemicals for fentanyl from coming into the United States. Scott Bessent also says Beijing would make “substantial” purchases of soybean and other agricultural products while putting off export controls on rare earth elements needed for advanced technologies.
Load More