These are the headlines you Need 2 Know. * **Syria:** The U.S. will withdraw all troops from Syria on orders from the White House. There are currently 2,000 U.S. troops in the country. Trump tweeted Wednesday: “We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.” The decision reportedly blindsided the president’s advisers, who argued to keep troops in place to aid Kurdish allies and keep ISIS at bay. Read more [here](https://www.npr.org/2018/12/19/678150756/reports-white-house-intends-to-pull-u-s-troops-from-syria?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=cda896ca1c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_12_20_2018_7_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-cda896ca1c-316045885). * **Spending Bill:** The Senate approved a stopgap spending bill that will keep the government funded until February. The bill does not have any money for President Trump’s border wall. The House needs to approve it before it gets sent to Trump for his signature. He has said he would be “proud” to shut down the government over wall funding, though the White House more recently signaled he would look at the bill. Read more [here](https://www.apnews.com/fe0f970089634be19bd44935694a0afe?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=cda896ca1c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_12_20_2018_7_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-cda896ca1c-316045885). * **Church Sex Abuse:** An explosive report from Illinois’ attorney general found that the number of Catholic clergy accused of sex abuse is much higher than the Church had previously said. A total of 690 people have been accused of sex abuse, the attorney general says, rather than the 185 the Church had acknowledged. Read more [here](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-illinois-attorney-general-catholic-priest-abuse-20181219-story.html?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=cda896ca1c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_12_20_2018_7_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-cda896ca1c-316045885). * **Gatwick Airport:** London’s Gatwick Airport had to be shut down twice because of drones. The airport first closed Wednesday night, and for about six hours no flights could land or take off. As soon as it opened for business again, it had to shut down for a second time when another drone was spotted. Read more [here](https://abcnews.go.com/beta-story-container/International/londons-gatwick-airport-shut-due-drones-area/story?id=59925845&utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=cda896ca1c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_12_20_2018_7_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-cda896ca1c-316045885). * **Interest Rates:** The Fed raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, citing the strong economy. This fourth increase of the year was widely expected, though it sent markets lower. Read more [here](https://www.cheddar.com/videos/markets-take-sharp-turn-down-after-fed-hikes-interest-rates?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=cda896ca1c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_12_20_2018_7_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-cda896ca1c-316045885). * **Juul & Cigs:** The e-cigarette maker Juul, whose stated mission is to make cigarettes a thing of the past, is reportedly close to a deal with cigarette giant Altria, maker of Marlboro, which would value Juul Labs at $38 billion. That would make it worth more than SpaceX or Airbnb. Read more [here](https://www.wsj.com/articles/altria-is-nearing-a-deal-to-take-a-35-stake-in-juul-11545242422?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=cda896ca1c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_12_20_2018_7_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-cda896ca1c-316045885). * **LeBron Pep Talk:** A video making the rounds shows LeBron James giving his son a pep talk after a tough basketball game. James posted the video, writing: “After my guy Bryce and his team came back to win a game they had no business winning, I had a few words for him going forward.” Read more [here](https://www.instagram.com/p/BrktgnbhLO0/?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=cda896ca1c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_12_20_2018_7_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-cda896ca1c-316045885). * **Kevinnn!:** In a new ad for Google, actor Macaulay Culkin recreates scenes from Home Alone ー the holiday favorite that put him on the map. In the ad, the adult Culkin jumps on the bed and has dancing mannequins in the window. Watch [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKYABI-dGEA&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=cda896ca1c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_12_20_2018_7_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-cda896ca1c-316045885). * **Aladdin First Look:** The reaction was swift ー and largely negative ー after Entertainment Weekly released photos from the live-action remake of Aladdin, scheduled to hit theatres in May. Will Smith stars as the Genie. Comments like “this looks like hell” and “Did anyone ask for this? Does anyone want it?” flooded social media. See the reactions [here](https://www.mediaite.com/online/live-action-aladdin-photos-emerge-get-promptly-trashed-this-looks-like-hell/?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=cda896ca1c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_12_20_2018_7_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-cda896ca1c-316045885). * **Mom & Dad:** An American couple is desperate for their sons to meet women ー so much so that they placed an advertisement in a newspaper. The couple’s three sons have a trip to New Zealand planned, so their parents placed an ad in the New Zealand Herald, seeking some “nice NZ daughters” for their three unhitched sons. Read more [here](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6513481/American-parents-hilarious-classified-ad-asking-help-marrying-sons-goes-viral.html?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=cda896ca1c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_12_20_2018_7_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-cda896ca1c-316045885). Cheddar's Hena Doba gets into the latest. Subscribe to the Need 2 Know newsletter [here](https://theneed2know.com).
