These are the headlines you Need 2 Know. * **Southern Snow:** More than 300,000 people are without power after a messy snow storm caused havoc in the Southeast over the weekend. The Carolinas, Virginia and West Virginia were the hardest hit with some areas getting more than a foot of snow. Thousands of flights were cancelled and schools are closed throughout the region today. Read more [here](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-weather/winter-storm-kills-one-knocks-out-power-to-310000-in-u-s-southeast-idUSKBN1O80KS). * **Kelly Out:** President Trump’s chief of staff, Gen. John Kelly, is leaving by the end of the year. The move isn’t a surprise as his departure has been rumored for months. The chief of staff for Vice President Mike Pence, Nick Ayers was reportedly the president’s top pick to fill Kelly’s spot but he’s taken himself out of the running. Read more [here](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/09/us/politics/nick-ayers-trump-chief-of-staff.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage). * **Yellow Vest Protests:** French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to address his nation today, after more than 100,000 people took to the streets Saturday for the fourth straight weekend, protesting an increase in fuel taxes and the high cost of living. More than 1,200 of the protestors were taken into custody. Read more [here](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46499996). * **Russia Investigation:** Russian nationals interacted with at least 14 Trump associates during the 2016 campaign and into the presidential transition, according to records and interviews made public by the special counsel. In some of those conversations, high-level Russians offered the Trump campaign “synergy” as early as 2015. Read more [here](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/russians-interacted-with-at-least-14-trump-associates-during-the-campaign-and-transition/2018/12/09/71773192-fb13-11e8-8c9a-860ce2a8148f_story.html?utm_term=.d035593bb352). * **Moonves:** Former CBS chief Les Moonves is threatening to sue CBS over leaked documents given to the New York Times. The report found that Moonves allegedly destroyed evidence and had an employee on-call to perform oral sex. His $120 million severance package is at stake. Read more [here](https://nypost.com/2018/12/07/les-moonves-threatens-to-sue-cbs-over-sex-misconduct-investigation-leaks/). * **Musk Interview:** Elon Musk gave a revealing interview to 60 Minutes, in which he said Tesla would consider purchasing some of the plants that GM is closing. Musk also said he does not respect the SEC after the settlement over his tweeting, and that no one is approving his tweets. Read more [here](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-the-2018-60-minutes-interview/). * **Heisman:** Quarterback Kyler Murray of the Oklahoma Sooners is the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner, becoming the second straight QB from Oklahoma to win the top college football award. Shortly after the ceremony, Murray apologized after anti-gay tweets surfaced from when he was a teenager. Read more [here](http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25490250/heisman-trophy-winner-kyler-murray-apologizes-anti-gay-tweets). * **Markle vs. Markle:** Thomas Markle claims he’s been “frozen out” by his daughter, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. In an interview, he says he’s dreading this Christmas because he won’t be receiving a card from his daughter. Read more [here](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6475167/Meghans-father-Thomas-Markle-reveals-sweet-cards-proof-did-wedding.html). * **Top Dog Names:** Max, Charlie and Cooper are the top male dog names of 2018. Bella, Lucy, and Luna are the top three female dog names. The names were compiled by Rover, which found that booze-themed names (like Porter and Guinness) are increasingly more popular. Popular names for 2018 include Cardi B, Harry, and Meghan ー with the latter two up 130 percent. Read more [here](https://www.npr.org/2018/12/09/674596049/origins-of-the-top-dog-names-of-2018-pop-culture-brunch-and-baby-names). * **End of the Lullaby?:** Lullabies have reportedly lost their luster. Just 38 percent of parents sing lullabies to their kids, according to a new study. Of those who do sing, 70 percent are over 45 years old. Read more [here](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2018/12/07/end-lullaby-younger-parents-eschew-bedtime-ritual-survey-finds/). Cheddar's Hena Doba gets into the latest. Subscribe to the Need 2 Know newsletter [here](https://theneed2know.com).

Share:
More In Politics
Oregon Senator's Bill Tackles Legacy College Admissions to 'Level Playing Field'
In February, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y. 16th District) introduced the Fair College Admissions for Students Act. The bill looks to curb the admissions advantage given to the children of alumni and donors for colleges and universities. Sen. Merkley joined Cheddar news to discuss the push behind the legislation. "My dad was a mechanic. I was applying to schools around the country. I never thought about the fact that those students who came from the most privileged backgrounds also got a special advantage in applying to college," he said. "They take up 10-25 percent of the slots at many of our universities, and so this is kind of affirmative action for those who need it least rather than a level playing field for everyone else." If enacted, the law would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 doing away with legacy or donor status admissions for any school participating in the federal student aid program.
Stocks Close Sharply Higher On Eve of Fed Decision
Nancy Daoud, a private wealth adviser for Ameriprise Financial, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where she discusses what led to a sharp spike on Wall Street during Tuesday's session and what she will be watching for most closely when the Fed announces it latest policy decision on Wednesday.
Russia Could Default on Sovereign Debt After Foreign Reserves Frozen by Sanctions
Russia's economy is effectively at a standstill after it was slapped with extensive western sanctions, and now it has to make the first of four monthly interest payments on dollar bonds. It's likely the country will not be able to pay — so what happens next? Major credit ratings agencies have downgraded Russian sovereign debt, with Fitch issuing a 'C' rating and S&P Global Ratings issuing a 'CCC-' rating. Caleb Silver, Editor in Chief of Investopedia, joins Closing Bell to discuss what a Russian debt default could mean for Russia's economy, U.S. consumers who have pensions with exposure to Russian assets, and whether this could create a global financial crisis.
Harvard Students Build Ukraine Takes Shelter Website to Help Shelter Refugees
With the number of Ukrainians being displaced due to the Russian invasion surging, two students from Harvard took it on themselves to develop a website to help connect potential hosts with refugees seeking housing. The co-founder of the website Ukraine Takes Shelter, Marco Burstein, joined Cheddar news to discuss working together with fellow freshman Avi Schiffmann to streamline the effort to aid Ukrainian refugees. "We basically worked for three days straight developing the website, and since then the response has been pretty incredible," Burstein said.
What Happens Now For Brittney Griner?
Over three weeks ago, WNBA player Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia on drug charges. According to reports, the Star arrived at an airport near Moscow where authorities found Vape cartridges and hashish oil in her luggage. Grindr faces serious charges that could carry a possible sentence of 5-10 years in a Russian prison. Experts warn that Griner's arrest could be used as a bargaining chip. Partner at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, Thomas Firestone, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Ukrainian Fact-Checking Org on Putin Laying the Groundwork for Disinformation
On a live broadcast, an employee on a Russian state news television channel held up a sign protesting propaganda about the war in Ukraine. Ruslan Deynychenko, executive director of the Ukrainian fact-checking organization StopFake, joined Cheddar News to discuss what he called the misinformation spread to the Russian people about the invasion. "They are not about informing people they are about brainwashing people," he said. "Russian government uses their media as an instrument, as a tool, of their foreign policy."
White House May Extend Payment Pause On Student Loans
Student loan payments for millions of borrowers are set to resume on May 1st. However, signals from the Department of Education show that the date may be pushed back. Once again, it's been pushed back a few times. Initially, the Biden Administration stated loan payments would resume as the economy continues to show signs of recovery. Student Loan Expert and Author of "How to Appeal for More College Financial Aid", Mark Kantrowitz, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Load More